Travel update: ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred latest travel information for South East QLD and Northern NSW
Samphire, Rottnest Island, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
Australia Recommends: The Aussie Lifestyle
We do things a little differently Down Under. And you're welcome to join us. Get amongst the locals, or live like one – it's up to you. As voted by real Aussies, here’s how to live our lifestyle in 2025.
Wake up with an Australian coffee
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland © Tourism Australia
Rankins Lane, Melbourne, Victoria © Visit Victoria
Mount Mulligan Lodge, Mount Mulligan, Queensland © Tourism Australia
Eumundi Markets, Noosa, Queensland © Tourism Australia
Room for a Pony, Hobart, Tasmania © Osborne Images
Wake up with an Australian coffee
Voted: The best way to start the day
Mornings are something of a ritual in Australia. You'll be in good company if you're up at dawn, with locals rising early for ocean swims, avocado toast and a visit to their barista – who they're likely to know by name. Aussies take the quality of their coffee seriously. The result? Really, really good coffee. No matter where you are, begin the day at the local café. We recommend ordering a flat white – it's an Aussie invention, after all.
Peruse the local markets
Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets
Little Burley Market, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory © VisitCanberra
Fremantle Markets, Perth, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
Fremantle Markets, Perth, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
Peruse the local markets
Voted: The best place to meet the locals
We can thank our good weather for the opportunity for al fresco community markets. And according to locals, these markets are the best place to really get a taste of local life. Aussie markets tend to match the places they're held – quirky, secondhand markets in Melbourne, colourful fruit markets in Queensland, sizzling seafood markets in Darwin. Wander away.
Swap the city for sand
Twilight Beach, Esperance, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
Byron Bay, New South Wales © Sydney Bespoke Tours
Noosa Heads, Sunshine Coast, Queensland © Tourism Australia
Gibson Steps, Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria © Tourism Australia
Mission Beach Dive, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland © Tourism Australia
Swap the city for sand
Voted: The best place to escape the city
There’s no doubt our cities are beautiful, but even locals need to escape the excitement every once in a while. And where are they heading? Straight to the beach. Australian beach culture is something special. It’s all about a slower pace for enjoying the rolling waves and beachfront restaurants – but no worries if you're after some adventure. There's snorkelling, paddleboarding, sailing, turtle-spotting and 4WDing, too.
Seek out the hidden treasures of the Tiwis
Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Elise Cook
Tarntipi Bush Camp, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Helen Orr
Tiwi Islands Cultural Tour, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory © Tourism NT
Tarntipi Bush Camp, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Helen Orr
Ngaruwanajirri Art Centre, Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory © Tourism NT/Helen Orr
Seek out the hidden treasures of the Tiwis
Voted: The best place to experience Aboriginal culture
The Tiwi Islands – located north of Darwin – are relatively unknown. And it’s their under-the-radar nature that makes for a fascinating cultural landscape. Art is of utmost importance on these islands, and meeting the makers while admiring elaborate carvings and paintings is something few travellers have the privilege of experiencing. So come dance, paint, chat, weave and revel in the vibrant Aboriginal culture these islands offer.
