Australia

New South Wales

As both the most populated state and the most visited it is clear that few can pass up the chance to experience New South Wales and the jewel in its crown, Sydney. Australia's most populated city is beautiful and glamorous and the views of Sydney Harbour are stunning. North of Sydney you'll find plenty of classic, laid-back Australian surf towns lining the coast. New South Wales is also home of the Blue Mountains; a landscape of striking mountains and cliff faces dotted with quaint villages where you can get a fantastic cream tea.

Queensland

Tourists flock to Queensland to explore its most famous attraction, the Great Barrier Reef, or to surf on the Gold Coast. But that's not the extent of Queensland's attractions; the state benefits from an abundance of World Heritage sites and astounding natural beauty. Daintree Rainforest is a staggering 110 million years old, and you can meet Koalas at the world's oldest Koala sanctuary in the state capital, Brisbane.

Victoria

Most visitors to Victoria are there to visit cosmopolitan Melbourne, Australia's second biggest city. The city has a more European feel than elsewhere in Australia, owing in part to its temperate climate and partly to its vibrant culture and coffee shop scene. The rest of the state comprises of sweeping coastlines, fertile winelands, and forests rich in flora and fauna. Victoria's comparative small size (by Australian standards) means that most attractions are within daytrip distance of Melbourne.

Western Australia

Western Australia is a beautiful and sparsely populated state covering one third of the continent, with only one major city, Perth. The rest of the territory is made up of spectacular beaches, wild forests and kangaroos. Off the coast you'll find one of Australia's best kept secrets, beautiful Ningaloo coral reef. Coral Bay or Exmouth are good jumping off points to explore the reef and you can even organise trips to swim with whale sharks. To the south of the territory explore the Margaret River wine region or the soak up the culture in Perth, consistently ranked as one of the world's most liveable cities.

Northern Territory

A visit to the Northern Territory is all about enjoying big open spaces. And with an area twice the size of California, yet a population smaller than that of Derby there's plenty of space to go round. Urulu is the territory's major tourist draw, but visitors can also enjoy river adventures and wetlands alive with birds and crocodiles at Kakadu National Park and tropical beaches around the vibrant city of Darwin.

South Australia

South Australia is famous for its wine regions and opal fields. Its Mediterranean climate lends itself to whiling away afternoons in the vineyards, parks and mountains that make up the lush landscape. Popular trips include taking a paddle steamer through the deep limestone canyons that line the River Murray or exploring the state capital, Adelaide, also known as the City of Churches.

Australian Capital Territory

This tiny landlocked state is home to Australia's capital, Canberra, set on the shores of the artificial Lake Griffin. As Australia's capital city, Canberra offers some of the country's most sophisticated culture and entertainment. Many of the museums and galleries explore Australia's cultural history, and the zoo, aquarium, parks and botanical gardens showcase the nation's astonishing biodiversity.

Tasmania

Australians comment that the pace of life is slower on the island of Tasmania, the last stop before you reach Antarctica. More than one third of the island is dedicated to national parks which boast forests, alpine wilderness and some of the world's best trout fishing destinations. Visit the historic waterfront capital Hobart, or hire a car for a self drive holiday through the highland moors, dense rainforest and spectacular mountain passes.