Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne boasts famous shopping precincts, a passion for food and wine and a fabulous arts scene. In the maze of hidden laneways, you’ll find cute cafes, swanky bars, secret art spaces and off-the-beaten-track boutiques. Shop till you drop from Chapel to Brunswick Streets, watch the sun set over the St Kilda promenade and dance till dawn in Fitzroy. Soak up the aroma of good coffee in the gothic cobblestone laneways and visit the city’s landmark cultural space of Federation Square. Then hit the sporting grounds and savour a multicultural cosmos of cuisines.

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Learn about Australia’s culture, history and way of life in our nation’s capital. Explore our political past and modern democracy at Old Parliament House and Parliament House. Find out more about our sporting heroes at the National Institute of Sport and Science and see lightning being made at Questacon. Once you’ve exhausted the monuments and galleries, get into the great outdoors. This planned city – one of the few in the world - is famous for its lake, parklands and native bushland surrounds. Beneath the foliage, Canberra offers stylish restaurants, hip bars, boutique shopping and a non-stop calendar of festivals and events.

Brisbane, Queensland
Discover the gardens, sandstone cathedrals, classic Queenslander houses on stilts and skyscrapers that make Brisbane such a fascinating mix of old and new. Cruise down the Brisbane River, ride a bike through the City Botanic Gardens and abseil the cliffs of Kangaroo Point. Laze in the lush riverside gardens or swim in the lagoon of South Bank. When culture cravings hit, head to the nearby Queensland Cultural Centre or the Powerhouse arts centre. Explore the boutiques and bars of urban villages such as Fortitude Valley and Paddington. Just on Brisbane’s doorstep, Moreton Bay beckons with all kinds of water-based adventure.

Adelaide, South Australia
This elegant city is known for its colonial stone architecture, expansive parklands, lively festivals and incredible sense of space. Explore the museums and libraries of North Terrace, dine on dedicated ‘eat streets’ or picnic in gardens that sprawl over almost half the city. Go bike riding in Botanic Park or row past rose gardens in Rymill Park. Swim with dolphins or learn to sail in Glenelg or fish from the jetty in Henley. Just beyond the city centre you’ll find the picturesque Adelaide Hills and the world-class wineries of the Barossa Valley.

Perth, Western Australia
Bask in the sunshine in Perth’s alfresco restaurants, friendly pubs and clean and uncrowded beaches. Cruise the Swan River past parks and skyscrapers to Swan Valley vineyards or the Perth Zoo. Explore the bushland, landscaped gardens, lakes and lookouts of huge Kings Park. Then bike ride or kayak to Rottnest Island’s secluded beaches and bays. Feast on seafood and soak up the carnival atmosphere in historic Fremantle. Swim, surf, fish, windsurf and sail at Cottlesloe or Scarborough Beach, then skip between the boardwalks, beaches and marinas of the Sunset Coast.

Darwin, Northern Territory
Soak up Darwin’s balmy weather and melting pot of food and cultures in the many outdoor festivals and markets. Then learn about the city’s Aboriginal heritage and dramatic history – from World War II air raids to Cyclone Tracey – in the museums and galleries. Sail Darwin harbour at sunset, cruise next to crocodiles and bushwalk through monsoon forest. Swim in the crystal-clear waterholes of Litchfield National Park and visit the colourful communities of the Tiwi Islands. Darwin is also the gateway to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National Park and Arnhem Land.

Hobart, Tasmania
Don’t miss this small, scenic capital, famous for its Georgian buildings and crisp air. Browse bustling Salamanca Markets and run your hands over the sandstone buildings in Salamanca Place. Climb craggy Mount Wellington for sweeping views over Hobart and the wide Derwent River. Do a ghost tour in Battery Point, walk across Australia’s oldest bridge in Richmond and visit the cute coastal hamlet of Kettering. Wind past forest and farmland to the cool-climate wineries of the Coal Valley. See bright spinnakers on the water and dine on fresh seafood from one of Hobart’s waterside restaurants.

Cairns, Queensland
From this stylish international city, the islands, rainforest and reef of tropical North Queensland are on your doorstep. Snorkel, dive or do a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef – a World Heritage-listed spectacular of coral islands and marine life. Enjoy the oceanfront energy of the Cairns Esplanade and trawl the restaurants, shops and bars. Go white water rafting in the nearby rivers and take the scenic railway to the sleepy, butterfly-fringed village of Kuranda. Don’t miss a day trip to the magical Daintree Rainforest, thought to be the planet’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest.

Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Start your outback adventure in Alice Springs, in the heart of Australia’s Red Centre. Sail over the spinifex plains in a hot air balloon or bike ride to Simpsons Gap. Join a safari of quad bikes across the desert or fly over the MacDonnell Ranges. Peer into the traditions of the Aboriginal Arrernte people who have lived here for 20,000 years and browse contemporary Aboriginal art along Todd Mall. Connect to stories of Afghan cameleers, flying doctors and plucky pioneers in the many heritage sites around the town. This rollicking, modern town is also a day trip from the iconic attractions of Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon.

Gold Coast, Queensland
Get ready for 70 kilometres of beaches, World Heritage-listed rainforests, theme parks, shopping, nightlife and a lifestyle all about having fun. Surf the huge waves off Broadbeach or snorkel through a shipwreck off Main Beach. Shop till you drop in markets, malls and high-end boutiques and live it up in the glitzy nightclubs of Surfer’s Paradise. Get your thrills on virtual reality rides at Dreamworld, swim with dolphins at Sea World and watch movies being made at Warner Bros Movie World. Then discover the waterfalls, glow worm caves and native animals of the lush Gold Coast hinterland.

Broome, Western Australia
Meet camels and characters in Broome, an exotic pearling town that sits at the gateway to the Kimberley. Buy pearls and soak up the melting pot of nationalities in Chinatown, once the bustling hub of billiard saloons, brothels and opium dens. Ride a camel along the white sand of Cable Beach, the place to watch a blazing sun sink into the Indian Ocean. Check out dinosaur footprints preserved in rock and birdwatch from Roebuck Bay. Between March and October, you can catch the romantic magic of ‘Staircase to the Moon’, a silvery illusion created by the reflection of a rising moon.