It would be impossible to see the country and experience all it has to offer on a single trip.
But these 25 places and activities should be at the top of any traveler's bucket list, whether she's a foreign tourist flying in from afar or a native Australian looking to explore his own country.
Enjoy a drink at the Opera Bar before seeing a performance at the Sydney Opera House.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/enjoy-a-drink-at-the-opera-bar-before-seeing-a-performance-at-the-sydney-opera-house_tumb_660.jpg)
Journey to the remote outback town of Birdsville for its annual horse racing weekend.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/journey-to-the-remote-outback-town-of-birdsville-for-its-annual-horse-racing-weekend_tumb_660.jpg)
Drive by the 12 Apostles — a collection of limestone stacks — on a trip along Great Ocean Road in Victoria.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/drive-by-the-12-apostles-a-collection-of-limestone-stacks-on-a-trip-along-great-ocean-road-in-victor_tumb_660.jpg)
Witness a sunrise at Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock), a massive sandstone rock formation in the Northern Territory.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/witness-a-sunrise-at-uluru-also-known-as-ayers-rock-a-massive-sandstone-rock-formation-in-the-northe_tumb_660.jpg)
Check into the Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, which topped Travel + Leisure's 2015 list of the best hotels in Australia.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/check-into-the-southern-ocean-lodge-on-kangaroo-island-which-topped-travel-leisures-2015-list-of-the_tumb_660.jpg)
Climb the steps, ladders, and catwalks of Sydney Harbor Bridge.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/climb-the-steps-ladders-and-catwalks-of-sydney-harbor-bridge_tumb_660.jpg)
See the incredible sea life along the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/see-the-incredible-sea-life-along-the-great-barrier-reef-off-the-coast-of-queensland_tumb_660.jpg)
Explore Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art, which showcases the collection of Tasmanian gambler-turned-art collector David Walsh.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/explore-tasmanias-museum-of-old-and-new-art-which-showcases-the-collection-of-tasmanian-gambler-turn_tumb_660.jpg)
Go wine tasting in the Barossa Valley outside of Adelaide.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/go-wine-tasting-in-the-barossa-valley-outside-of-adelaide_tumb_660.jpg)
Get lost looking at art, shopping, and snacking in the Laneways of Melbourne.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/get-lost-looking-at-art-shopping-and-snacking-in-the-laneways-of-melbourne_tumb_660.jpg)
Take the 6-km coastal cliff walk from Bondi to Coogee in the Sydney suburbs.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/take-the-6-km-coastal-cliff-walk-from-bondi-to-coogee-in-the-sydney-suburbs_tumb_660.jpg)
Bike around the beaches of Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/bike-around-the-beaches-of-rottnest-island-off-the-coast-of-perth_tumb_660.jpg)
Head to Melbourne in January for the Australian Open, one of tennis' four Grand Slams.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/head-to-melbourne-in-january-for-the-australian-open-one-of-tennis-four-grand-slams_tumb_660.jpg)
See the first leg of the Surfing World Tour in the Gold Coast.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/see-the-first-leg-of-the-surfing-world-tour-in-the-gold-coast_tumb_660.jpg)
Sip on whisky at Lark Distillery in Tasmania.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/sip-on-whisky-at-lark-distillery-in-tasmania_tumb_660.jpg)
Spend a day perfecting your lawn bowling game at the Clovelly Bowling Club near Sydney.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/spend-a-day-perfecting-your-lawn-bowling-game-at-the-clovelly-bowling-club-near-sydney_tumb_660.jpg)
Hike through the eucalyptus forests of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/hike-through-the-eucalyptus-forests-of-the-blue-mountains-in-new-south-wales_tumb_660.jpg)
Explore the stunning caves of the Margaret River region.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/explore-the-stunning-caves-of-the-margaret-river-region_tumb_660.jpg)
Stuff yourself at Flower Drum, a famous Chinese restaurant in Melbourne.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/stuff-yourself-at-flower-drum-a-famous-chinese-restaurant-in-melbourne_tumb_660.jpg)
Tee off at the RACV Royal Pines golf course on Queensland's Gold Coast, home of the Australian PGA Championship.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/tee-off-at-the-racv-royal-pines-golf-course-on-queenslands-gold-coast-home-of-the-australian-pga-cha_tumb_660.jpg)
Traverse the continent by rail on The Ghan, a three-day journey from Darwin to Adelaide.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/traverse-the-continent-by-rail-on-the-ghan-a-three-day-journey-from-darwin-to-adelaide_tumb_660.jpg)
"Rap jump" — or run down the side of a building — in Melbourne. It's an adrenaline junkie's dream.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/rap-jump-or-run-down-the-side-of-a-building-in-melbourne-its-an-adrenaline-junkies-dream_tumb_660.jpg)
Tour the forests, beaches, and swamps of Fraser Island in a four-wheel drive vehicle.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/tour-the-forests-beaches-and-swamps-of-fraser-island-in-a-four-wheel-drive-vehicle_tumb_660.jpg)
Roll the dice at Crown Perth, a massive casino, entertainment, and nightlife complex.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/roll-the-dice-at-crown-perth-a-massive-casino-entertainment-and-nightlife-complex_tumb_660.jpg)
Surf "The Pass" at Byron Bay on a longboard.
![](/uploads/tumb/img/201510/surf-the-pass-at-byron-bay-on-a-longboard_tumb_660.jpg)