Australia

Australia hits you with its sheer scale first – this is a continent disguised as a country, where you can drive for 12 hours and still be in the same state. The Red Centre around Uluru delivers that profound desert silence you've heard about, while Tasmania's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart will mess with your head in the best possible way. Skip the tourist traps in Cairns and head straight to Port Douglas for Great Barrier Reef access, or better yet, fly into Hamilton Island and island-hop through the Whitsundays.

The real Australia lives in places like Adelaide's Central Market on Saturday morning, where Greek vendors sell olives next to Vietnamese pho stalls, or in Melbourne's hidden laneways where street art changes weekly. Perth gets overlooked, but Cottesloe Beach at sunset and the Swan Valley wine region make it worth the cross-continental flight. Don't underestimate the food scene – Dan Hunter's Brae in regional Victoria consistently ranks among the world's best restaurants, and even roadhouse pies in Coober Pedy will surprise you.

Practical Information