Australia

While Sydney is mostly about sports and fun, the eternal rival Melbourne boasts its culture, shopping... streets and gastronomical variety. Australia's second largest city (3.7 million inhabitants) is located along the banks of the Yarra River. From the observation deck on the 55th floor of the Rialto Towers you can get a good first impression. To explore the inner city, it's best to start at Flinders Street Station, the most beautiful train station in Australia. From here it is not far to the shopping streets Swanston Street, Collins Street and Bourke Street with their beautiful passages. St. Paul's Cathedral, Windsor Hotel and the Parliament House are reminiscent of the city's Victorian roots. On the other side of the Yarra River the Victorian Arts Centre houses a concert hall, a theater complex and the National Gallery of Victoria. Right next to the large park Kings Domain you find the Royal Botanic Gardens, one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. And after the city tour you should definitely try one of the over 3,000 restaurants in the cosmopolitan metropolis. more

A variety of different landscapes can be seen in Australia's largest national park on an area of 20,000... km². It covers almost the entire drainage area of the South Alligator River. Monsoon rain forest, eucalyptus forests and arid rocky hills are home to more than 300 bird species, 75 reptile species, many mammals and countless insects. During boat trips on the Yellow Water Lagoon you have the chance to observe the unique bird life - and if you are lucky, you might even get to see a saltwater crocodile. In the southeast of the park you find the impressive waterfalls Twin Falls and Jim Jim Falls with a height of 200 meters. Further west at Waterfall Creek the film "Crocodile Dundee" was shot. The park is administered by the Aboriginal people who also live in this area. Their rock drawings, which are up to 20,000 years old, are still preserved in many areas of the park. The drawings at Ubirr Rock for example are extremely interesting - the "X-ray images" show skeletons and inner organs of humans and animals. The Bowali Visitor Centre is open from 8 am to 5 pm. more

Paying a flying visit to Tasmania as part of a trip to Australia is almost a sin - an entire vacation... could easily be spent on the green, unspoiled island with its many natural attractions. There are 19 national parks, ideal for hiking, mountain biking and canoeing. From Sydney or Melbourne you reach Devonport by ferry. From there it is not far to Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, which hikers can explore on the 80 km-long Overland Track. In the three adjoining national parks Walls of Jerusalem, Franklin-Lower Gordon Wild Rivers and South West you experience stunning wonders of nature. UNESCO declared the entire area, one of the last great rain forests of the world in temperate climates, a World Heritage Site. The picturesque city of Hobart in the southeast of the island has one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world and features numerous well-preserved colonial buildings. When visiting the ruins of Port Arthur you can still imagine the bloody past of the once notorious penal colony. The pretty fishing village of Stanley, Freycinet National Park and the Tasmanian Wine Route are other highlights on a trip to Tasmania. more