What to do in Eastern Australia

Activities, attractions and tours

Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo provided by Tourism and Events Queensland

Places to Visit in Eastern Australia

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in Eastern Australia, Australia while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best Eastern Australia attractions from NZ$42, making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group Eastern Australia tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over 22 of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular Eastern Australia. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

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Top places to visit

1. Circular Quay

Circular Quay isn't just Sydney's premier transport hub, where boats, buses and trains converge in an endless and elegantly choreographed dance. It's the cove where Sydney was christened, and where Australia itself was born as a nation. The first British settlers arrived on this very spot in 1788, as part of the country's founding First Fleet. Sydney Cove it was named, and the 1,300 who made it across the 24,000-kilometre sea journey from Great Britain were to form the nucleus of New South Wales, Australia's first State.
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Circular Quay showing street scenes, a city and a sunset

2. Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is right up there with Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower, as a brand name for the exclusive elite of global cities. In fact it has long-since ceased to be just an Opera House. It's an icon. A powerful symbol, not just of Sydney, but of the whole of Australia. Those serenely simple, white-curving shells say something unexpected about this youthful nation. That Australians can do bold, as well as brash – and culture as well as brawn. When it opened back in 1973, it was a sign that Sydney, and Australians, were growing up.
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The bold lines of the Sydney Opera House speak more about Sydney than any other part of this cosmopolitan city of four million.

3. Sydney Harbour Bridge

You'll be hard-pressed to find a photo of Sydney Harbour Bridge without the Opera House. The two go together like koalas and cute. But the long lines of Sydney's 'coat-hanger' deserve more than just a passing glance. This feat of Oz engineering stands with a majestic yet 'gallant restraint' – a counter-weight to the showy cultural aspirations of the Opera House. This is a bridge that reaches across a mile of sea, held together by six million rivets, and which turned Sydney's separate halves into a true Harbour City.
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A colossus of engineering, the Harbour Bridge brings the pieces of Sydney together, and offers you a different perspective on the city's wide-angle drama.

4. Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade is a focal point for the city’s social life. With restaurants and gardens on one side, and overlooking the Trinity Inlet and Coral Sea on the other, this area celebrates the best of Cairns. Along the tree-lined walkway you’ll find playgrounds, barbecue sites, dedicated exercise areas and also a salt-water lagoon.
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Cairns Esplanade which includes a luxury hotel or resort, a pool and swimming

5. Rod Laver Arena

Whether you come to the Rod Laver Arena to see a tennis match during the Australian Open, cheer on another sports game or sing along with your favorite band under its retractable roof, you will be impressed by this top-of-the-bill events venue.
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Rod Laver Arena

6. Collins Street

Collins Street brings together many of the elements that make Melbourne so attractive to the visitor, with its urban sophistication, gourmet food, fascinating architecture, and attractive trams.
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Collins Street which includes a city, modern architecture and street scenes

Recommended things to do in Eastern Australia

Number of things to do
22
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Western Sydney Junior Ropes Course: NZ$42
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Eastern Australia

Discover the most popular places to visit in Eastern Australia

Circular Quay showing street scenes, a city and a sunset

Circular Quay

Trains, buses and boats all make a bee-line for Circular Quay, a place at the heart of Sydney's journeying – and so should you.

Circular Quay
Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

The bold lines of the Sydney Opera House speak more about Sydney than any other part of this cosmopolitan city of four million.

Sydney Opera House
Crown Casino

Crown Casino

Why not roll the dice by visiting Crown Casino where you can enjoy the games and entertainment of this top casino in Melbourne? Experience the acclaimed theatre scene and fascinating museums in this vibrant area.

Crown Casino
Marvel Stadium

Marvel Stadium

Catch an event at Marvel Stadium during your trip to Melbourne. Discover the top-notch restaurants and fascinating museums in this vibrant area.

Marvel Stadium
Melbourne Central

Melbourne Central

You can enjoy some retail therapy with a trip to Melbourne Central, a favourite shopping spot in Melbourne. Discover the top-notch restaurants and acclaimed theatre scene in this vibrant area.

Melbourne Central
Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge

A colossus of engineering, the Harbour Bridge brings the pieces of Sydney together, and offers you a different perspective on the city's wide-angle drama.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Cairns Esplanade which includes a luxury hotel or resort, a pool and swimming

Cairns Esplanade

Soak up the city’s relaxed atmosphere and admire the sunset over the Coral Sea as you wander along this popular walkway.

Cairns Esplanade
Rod Laver Arena

Rod Laver Arena

Take a tour of Melbourne Park’s primary tennis court, come here to witness an exciting Australian Open tennis match or see a major pop concert.

Rod Laver Arena
Collins Street which includes a city, modern architecture and street scenes

Collins Street

Skyscrapers sit comfortably beside heritage-listed buildings and the most fashionable shops on Melbourne's principal street.

Collins Street

Explore areas of Eastern Australia

Melbourne CBD showing outdoor eating

Melbourne Central Business District

4.5/5(20,262 area reviews)

Explore the magnificent Southbank riverfront, experience the city’s cultural charms in the arts precinct and see a glimpse of colonial history in central Melbourne.

Melbourne Central Business District
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Sydney Central Business District

4.5/5(8,551 area reviews)

Known for its captivating waterfront views and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Sydney Central Business District. Check out top attractions like Circular Quay and Sydney Opera House, and jump on the metro at Martin Place Station or St. James Station to see more of the city.

Sydney Central Business District
Surfers Paradise showing a sunset, a beach and a city

Surfers Paradise

Visit one of Australia’s most popular vacation spots and dive in the waves, spot humpback whales, go shopping or enjoy the fun family attractions and nightlife.

Surfers Paradise
Darling Harbour featuring night scenes, city views and a bay or harbour

Darling Harbour

4.5/5(3,097 area reviews)

The best place to get acquainted with Sidney's nautical passions – sailing, pleasure-boating, whale watching – or the Maritime Museum if you prefer dry land.

Darling Harbour
Broadbeach featuring skyline, a sandy beach and a high-rise building

Broadbeach

Visit one of Queensland’s most popular holiday spots with sparkling beaches, scenic canals, high-rise hotels, nightclubs, festivals and modern malls.

Broadbeach
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Brisbane Central Business District

4.5/5(5,095 area reviews)

Discover the beating heart of the capital of the Sunshine State with its shiny high-rises, subtropical parks, funky rooftop bars and classy riverside restaurants.

Brisbane Central Business District

 

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