Melbourne is Australia's refined, contemporary cultural capital: liveable, multicultural, and full of art, museums, fine dining, and street art. Famous for its coffee culture, laneways, rooftop bars, and global cuisine, it pairs outdoor living with award-winning food and nearby wines. It's also a sporting powerhouse, home to the 100,000-seat MCG and major events like the Melbourne Cup, Formula One, and the Australian Open.

Once known as the Steel City, today Newcastle is one of Australia's hippest cities. It's flanked by the Pacific Ocean and six beaches on its eastern side and a harbor on its west side. Gentrification began when the steel mills closed in 1999. Nowadays the old wharves and warehouses form part of the lively Honeysuckle precinct, which buzzes with hotels, cafés, and restaurants.

Fraser Island is a World Heritage site known for its beauty and diversity. Though it is a sand island, it has over 100 lakes and shifting dunes. More than 350 bird species have been recorded, and it is listed as an Important Bird Area and on the Australian National Heritage list. Explore it by 4WD, coach, or kayak. It also has rich Butchulla Aboriginal culture. Highlights include Lake McKenzie for a swim and Central Station, where you can walk beside Wanggoolba Creek through rainforest.

The Willis Islets, about 450 km east of Cairns beyond the Great Barrier Reef, are three remote, little-visited islands in the Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve. They host huge numbers of seabirds, turtles and other wildlife, with limited boat access by permit only. South Island has a weather station manned year-round since 1921; Cyclone Yasi severely damaged it in 2011 and reshaped the coast.

Airlie Beach is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands, with fine sand, turquoise water, rainforest, cafes, bars, and a lively adventure vibe. Relax at the Airlie Beach Lagoon, dine with views over Pioneer Bay and its 74 islands, and watch for humpback and pilot whales in the warm sheltered waters. Adventure options include Conway National Park rainforest walks, snorkeling among colorful marine life, and seaplane flights over the islands. Finish with a picnic on stunning Whitehaven Beach.

Mooloolaba, 97 km from Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast, has grown from a fishing village into a top Queensland holiday resort. Its beaches are among the world's best, with great surfing for beginners and experts and a March surf festival. Beyond the sand, it offers shopping, local art, famous Mooloolaba prawns, boat cruises, whale/dolphin/turtle spotting, and seaplane tours.

Sydney is Australia's showpiece city: a sparkling harbour, iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, golden beaches, world-class food, Indigenous culture, and lively beach life. Enjoy harbour views by boat, climb the Harbour Bridge, relax at Bondi Beach, surf, swim in ocean pools, or walk Bondi to Coogee. Beyond the city, fly to the Blue Mountains for the Three Sisters, or visit wildlife sanctuaries for kangaroos and koalas.