10+ reasons to visit Australia at least once in your life

With so many good reasons to visit Australia, like its diverse landscapes, friendly locals and a long list of amazing ‘bucket list’ experiences, it’s clear why so many backpackers head here first. It’s unbelievable size and vastness means that there is a little something for every kind of traveller, whether you are looking for an island getaway, a unique cultural experience, an adrenaline fix, to get in touch with nature or an all-round party!
The East Coast alone stretches a gigantic 4000 km from Melbourne to Cairns and would take you around 50 hours of nonstop driving to cover the entire coastline. Australia is home to over 10,685 beaches, over 500 national parks and, drum-roll… 8,222 islands.  Here are some of the MANY reasons why everyone should visit Australia at least once in their lifetime…
Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and there aren’t too many other places in the world where you can drive a 4X4 on a legitimate sandy ‘highway’

📷: @lazytravellers

A visit to Uluru, the world’s largest monolith, is truly a spiritual experience. Uluru is around 600 million years old, standing taller than the Eiffel Tower and is a gigantic 9.4km in circumference

📷: @stfn_lxndr_schwhn

One of the most popular reasons to visit Australia is the snorkelling and scuba diving around the Great Barrier Reef. It’s the world’s largest living organism (so big that it has its own post box), and the entire Reef is bigger than the United Kingdom, Holland and Switzerland combined! The fact you can get up close and personal with some of the local wildlife as well makes it unsurprising that this a bucket list item for travellers from around the world.

📷: @greatbarrierreefqld

You may just ‘find yourself’ whilst stumbling upon Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands. The sand is so pure and white that you can actually clean your jewellery with it!

📷: @mazvrc

If you’re looking for more unusual reasons to visit Australia, did you know that the country has a number of Pink Lakes?

📷: @basebackpackersaunz

While it’s easy to assume one of the only reasons to visit Australia is for the stunning landscapes, you’ll be glad to know there are plenty of thriving urban environments for anyone who prefers some urban exploration.Some of Australia’s best cities aren’t just good, they’re world-class. Melbourne is constantly voted as the world’s most liveable city! Don’t forget to check out St Kilda, the hidden rooftop bars and graffiti lined laneways.

📷: @droneair_australia

Oh and the Great Ocean Road‘s Twelve Apostles are pretty good too…

📷: @nomadshostels

You can stay in a hostel on a tropical island paradise… like Base Magnetic Island!

📷: @basebackpackersaunz

With historical (and Instagram worthy) walking trails on your doorstep

Image: @linekirsten

And hostel retreats so “Byron Bay” that you may never leave, like the Arts Factory! Yes… this is where the Inbetweeners Movie was filmed

📷: @nomadsworld

Australia’s natives are extra good at selfies…

📷: @lauraaakch

And Sydney‘s Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk may leave you convinced that you want to move to Australia – permanently!

📷: @ishmael

A visit to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, will leave you realising that you really are in the middle of ‘nowhere’

📷: @tropical_traveller

And you may just find yourself stumbling upon your very own secluded beach in Noosa National Park

📷: @linasparrow

The towering waterfalls, natural swimming holes and gigantic gorges in the Northern Territory will blow you mind!

📷: @preshanova

And that is JUST the beginning…
If you want to take a more in-depth look at what the country has to offer, why not take a look at some more the best places to visit in Australia?
 
About the author:
Katie Tobias, a born and bred Australian, has travel blogged her way around Australia and New Zealand.