Australia

Australia is a vast and unforgettable destination, where golden beaches, reef-fringed islands, vibrant cities, ancient landscapes and open-road adventures create a holiday unlike anywhere else.

Australia

Australia is not a place to simply visit; it is a place to experience properly. Its scale is part of the magic, from the bright harbour energy of Sydney to the café culture of Melbourne, the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef, the wild beauty of Tasmania, the red heart of the Outback and the sweeping coastlines that seem to run forever.


What makes Australia such a must-visit destination is the sense of space, light and possibility. Days can begin with a swim in the Pacific, continue with lunch in a waterside neighbourhood, and end beneath stars in a landscape that feels older than imagination. It is a country for travellers who want more than one kind of holiday: beach time, wildlife, food and wine, city life, island escapes, road trips, rainforest, reef and big skies all sit within the same extraordinary destination.

Visa

UK and Irish citizens need a valid visa before travelling to Australia, even for tourism or short holiday visits. British citizens can usually apply for an eVisitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authority, while Irish citizens may also be eligible for an eVisitor visa or an Australian Electronic Travel Authority depending on their circumstances.


These electronic visitor options generally allow short tourism stays, but requirements, eligibility and processing times can change, so travellers should always check the latest official guidance before booking and again before departure.

Climate

Australia’s climate changes dramatically from region to region, so the best time to visit depends on where you plan to travel. The seasons are the reverse of the UK and Ireland, with summer running from December to February and winter from June to August. Southern cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart are at their warmest in the Australian summer, while spring and autumn are often excellent for touring, sightseeing and road trips.


Tropical northern areas such as Cairns, Darwin and the Whitsundays are usually best during the dry season, roughly from May to October, when humidity is lower and conditions are more comfortable. The Outback can be extremely hot in summer, so cooler months are often better for places such as Uluru and the Red Centre.

Transport Options Around Australia

Australia is a huge country, so travelling well means planning distances properly, with domestic flights, trains, coaches, ferries, city transport, private transfers and car hire all playing an important role depending on whether you are exploring cities, coastlines, islands, reef regions or the Outback.

Air Travel

Domestic flights are often the most practical way to move between major regions, with key airports including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, Gold Coast, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra, helping travellers combine long-haul gateways, beach resorts, reef access points, island stays and touring routes without losing too much time on the road.

Train

Train travel in Australia is more about comfort, scenery and experience than speed, with useful city and regional rail networks in some areas, as well as famous long-distance journeys such as The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern for travellers who want to see the scale and drama of the country unfold at a slower pace.

Bus

Coaches and buses are useful for regional travel, budget-friendly routes, city-to-city links and organised touring, particularly along popular east coast routes, although distances can be long and journey times should be checked carefully before building them into a holiday plan.

Car Rental

Car hire is one of the best ways to experience Australia’s freedom and scenery, especially for coastal drives, wine regions, national parks and self-guided touring routes, but travellers should plan fuel stops, distances, road conditions and one-way fees carefully, particularly in remote or Outback areas.

Latest Offers

Our latest Australia offers include city stays, beach holidays, escorted tours, reef adventures, wildlife experiences, multi-centre itineraries and tailor-made long-haul escapes, helping you bring together flights, hotels, internal travel and must-see experiences in a way that makes sense for the time you have.

Our Top Destinations in Australia

Australia is too large and varied to reduce to one single holiday style, but for travellers planning a first big trip or a special return visit, these four destinations show why the country deserves its place on so many travel wish lists.

Sydney and New South Wales

Sydney is one of the world’s great harbour cities, with the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, Manly, the Rocks and coastal walks all giving it instant appeal. Beyond the city, New South Wales adds the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley wine country, laid-back beach towns and scenic drives, making it a superb starting point for a first Australia holiday.

Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef

Queensland is where Australia feels at its most tropical, with reef, rainforest, islands, beaches and sunshine all within reach. Cairns and Port Douglas are gateways to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, while the Whitsundays, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast offer very different styles of beach holiday, from island luxury to family-friendly resort life.

Melbourne and Victoria

Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital in spirit, known for its laneways, coffee, restaurants, galleries, sport and neighbourhood atmosphere. Victoria adds enormous variety around it, including the Great Ocean Road, Yarra Valley wineries, Phillip Island, Mornington Peninsula and spa country, making it ideal for travellers who enjoy food, coastal scenery and stylish city life.

Uluru and the Red Centre

Uluru and the Red Centre offer one of Australia’s most powerful travel experiences, with desert landscapes, ancient culture, wide horizons and colours that change beautifully throughout the day. This is not a destination to rush; sunrise, sunset, guided walks, Aboriginal cultural experiences and the sheer stillness of the desert are what make it unforgettable.

Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors

  • Do not underestimate the distances: Australia is enormous, so it is better to plan a few regions properly than try to cover the whole country in one trip.
  • Build in recovery time after the flight: The journey from the UK or Ireland is long, so a gentle first day can make the rest of the holiday much more enjoyable.
  • Match the season to the region: Summer may suit southern beaches, but the tropical north and the Outback often need more careful timing.
  • Use domestic flights wisely: They can turn an overambitious itinerary into a realistic one, especially when combining Sydney, Queensland, Melbourne, Perth, Tasmania or the Red Centre.
  • Respect local safety advice: Swim between the flags, take wildlife warnings seriously, carry water in hot areas and check conditions before walking, driving or heading into remote places.

Travel Tips for Experience Explorers

  • Look beyond the east coast: Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory offer some of the country’s most memorable landscapes with fewer crowds.
  • Spend longer in fewer places: Australia rewards depth, whether that means several days in one city neighbourhood, a slow coastal drive or time in one national park.
  • Add food and wine regions to the route: The Barossa Valley, Margaret River, Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley and Mornington Peninsula all add a more indulgent layer to the trip.
  • Consider shoulder seasons: Spring and autumn often bring excellent travelling conditions across many parts of the country, with more comfortable temperatures and better availability.
  • Book key experiences early: Reef trips, island stays, Uluru experiences, popular wildlife encounters and high-demand city hotels can fill quickly during peak travel periods.

Australia, Beyond Expectation

Big skies, bold journeys and holidays with real scale

Australia is a destination that gives travellers room to breathe. It has world-famous sights, but its real power often comes from the moments between them: a morning swim, a coastal road, a glass of wine at sunset, a ferry crossing, a rainforest walk or the quiet drama of the desert after dark. It is bold, beautiful and generous, with each region offering a very different version of the Australian experience.


For Tullys Travel customers, Australia is ideal for a holiday that feels special, carefully planned and genuinely memorable. Whether the dream is Sydney and the reef, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, a Red Centre adventure, a family beach escape, a honeymoon, a wildlife journey or a once-in-a-lifetime multi-centre itinerary, Australia delivers scale, sunshine, character and a sense of freedom that few destinations can match.