Why go to Australia and what activities can you do there?

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Australians love to spend time outdoors. Sport is part of their lives, whether active or passive. On their lunch break, they slip on their running shoes and head to the park.

It generally follows that the main activities they travel to Australia for are outdoors. Whether it's playing sports, exploring the incredible and vastly varied natural beauty or even diving and snorkelling on the famous Great Barrier Reef.

Natural beauty and national parks

Australians are active people, they love nature and walking in national parks. And there's plenty to choose from - from day hikes to multi-week treks.

Australia has the largest number of national parks of any country in the world, currently around 650! Does that tell me that conservation is really taken seriously here and that you'll always have something new to discover?

What are some of the most famous national parks?

Victoria

Australia's southernmost mainland state is known for temperate rainforests, beautiful green landscapes or breathtaking limestone coastlines:

• Port Campbell National Park - the famous coastline of the Twelve Apostles
• Great Otway National Park - temperate rainforest with dense forests along the Great Ocean Road
• Wilsons Promontory National Park - the southernmost cape of mainland Australia
• Alpine National Park - the vast mountain ranges of the Australian Alps

New South Wales

This state is one of the most mountainous in Australia and its location near the largest city , Sydney, also makes its national parks the most accessible.

• Blue Mountains National Park - beautiful mountains just a few tens of minutes drive from Sydney
• Mount Kosciuszko - Australia's highest mountain
• Royal National Park - the second oldest national park in the world is located right on the outskirts of Sydney and is famous for its beautiful beaches and deep forests

Northern Territory

The northern part of Australia is home to one of the world's most famous natural landmarks.

• Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park - two of the most famous natural attractions, the monumental rock formations of Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa, are located in this national park
• Kakadu National Park - the second most visited national park in Australia is famous for its biodiversity, tropical forests, wetlands and savannahs

Queensland

Australia's northeast is an extremely diverse area with several top national parks.

• Daintree National Park - typical tropical rainforests
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park - the most extensive coral reefs in the world

Tasmania

Australia's southernmost island is entirely in the temperate zone and has magnificent mountains.

• Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Claire National Park - a great place for mountain treks

South Australia

The dry and flat state with its largest city Adelaide is one of the least visited but still has great national parks:

• Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park - a small red earth mountain range with breathtaking expansive views of the landscape

Western Australia

Australia's largest state is located around the city of Perth and has a mostly drier landscape with many savannahs and interesting mountain ranges.

• Kalbarri National Park - a hilly area with iconic views

Surfing

Australia is a paradise for water sports. Surfing on a surfboard is a special discipline. If your travels take you to the East Coast, be sure to ask around for a surfboard rental or surf training at Byron Bay, Seven Mile Beach or Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

Surfers Paradise is also along the Great Ocean Road in southern Victoria.

Snorkelling and diving

Australia's waters are rich in underwater life.

You can snorkel almost everywhere, especially the unforgettable Whitsundays Islands or the largest Great Barrier Reef. You'll see Nemo, turtles, dolphins, sharks and, if you're really lucky, whales. This tends to be a popular attraction, especially in the winter months when whale migrations are observed.

And where is the best place to learn to dive? It is in these locations that the underwater world offers an incredible experience. There is no better place to try your first "Discovery Dive".

If you're feeling adventurous, be sure to visit Port Lincoln, where you can see great white sharks up close in their cages. A truly unforgettable experience is swimming with the world's largest sharks in northwest Australia at Ningaloo Reef near Exmouth.

Beaches

Without doubt the most beautiful beach is Whitehaven beach (Heavenly White Beach) in the Whitsundays.

Every day the water turns differently there, so you'll have a totally unique photo every day. There are daily boat trips from Airlie Beach.

Next is without a doubt Turquoise Bay at Exmouth or the beaches on Rottnest Island in Western Australia near Peth.

A wonderful day trip where you can hire a bike and cycle around the island and stop at one of the beautiful beaches.

Iconic of course are the city beaches in Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Australian beaches are sandy, the water is usually cooler and the waves are steep. Some beaches have designated sections where swimming is not allowed for safety reasons, mostly due to undercurrents and strong waves. Public beaches are usually patrolled by lifeguards.

Nightlife

Australian nightlife can be wild too. The pubs and clubs are usually frequented by young people, locals or backpackers from different parts of the world.

If you want to visit the most famous club in Sydney, we recommend IVY on George Street.

Melbourne, the second largest city, is also alive at night.

Sporting events

Australians love to go to Australian rules football, cricket and rugby matches and enjoy watching motor sports, especially F1 at the Melbourne circuit.

Of course, we must also not forget the importance of tennis matches, such as the most famous Australia Open in Melbourne and especially the very popular horse racing sporting festival Melbourne Cup, which is watched by almost every Australian.

Winter sports and resorts

When people say you can do anything in Australia, it's true.

Australia has its mountains, specifically Kosciuzsko National Park. This name also owns the highest mountain in Australia, called Mount Kosciuzsko. You can ski down the hill in the Snowy River area, for example.

The biggest ski resorts are:

• Perisher (1 605 - 2 034 m).
• Thredbo (1 365 - 2 037 m)
• Mt Buller (1 380 - 1 780 m)
• Falls Creek (1 500 - 1 780 m)

The main ski season runs from late June to late September.