Australia is the world’s smallest continent, but the largest island, so you know there’s a lot to see when you’re headed down under. Here are some of the best places to consider seeing when you’re planning a trip to Australia.

Sydney

Sydney might be most famous for its opera house, but the city offers both big town fun and also a laid back beach atmosphere. Two of the more popular beach options include Coogee and Bondi which are both good for swimming and hanging out in the sunshine. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is also quite a sight, whether you’re taking it in from a distance or going over it. The Royal Botanic Gardens are another popular spot, as is the aquarium.

The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most amazing natural wonders. The reef is located off the coast of Queensland and is so large that is visible from space. It’s even larger than the Great Wall of China. The Great Barrier Reef is actually the largest living thing that exists on the planet, and is made up of over 3,000 individual reef systems. When visiting the Great Barrier Reef you can choose to scuba dive or snorkel to get a close up view, or you can take tours on glass bottom boats and even helicopters if you’re interested in seeing the sky view. The reef also has over 100 islands, some of which you can stay on. Many of them are quite gorgeous and empty compared to the bustle on the mainland.

Melbourne

The city of Melbourne has all kinds of things to do, including zoos, museums, and attending sporting events. It has the National Gallery of Victoria which is the oldest museum in all of Australia, the Melbourne Cricket Ground where Aussie rules football is played, and even some wine country if getting out of the main town sounds appealing. The Queen Victoria Market is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere and has over 600 traders, so that’s a good spot to visit when you want to see people in action and pick up some interesting food.

Perth

Perth is one of those towns that has a pretty much perfect temperature all the time, and it’s the capital of Western Australia. There are lots of nature parks in Perth which make it a good place for spending time outdoors. Perth has tons of museums and galleries, including the shipwreck galleries, and also Fremantle prison where you can take tours of the once inhabited cells.

Brisbane

Brisbane is a good place to go when you want to really get a feel for the Australian culture. It’s the capital of the state of Queensland and is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia. The South Bank Parklands in Brisbane are a great spot to visit when you want to relax outdoors. There are tons of picnic areas, bike paths, and even an inner city beach for swimming. The bank can also be experienced from cruises on the water.