Australia is a vast, sunlit blend of ancient landscapes and everyday ease. Find your favourite corner, where locals know which beaches glow at sunrise, which cafes brew the best flat white, and which outback towns still move to a wide-open, unhurried rhythm. Updated 2026. Skip the overcrowded hotspots and postcard cliches. This local expert Australia travel guide reveals the must-see highlights and the hidden gems - like a coastal walk known only to early-morning swimmers, a family-run bakery, Aboriginal cultural centres where stories are shared, and remote roadhouses where travellers and locals linger over conversation. Discover eucalyptus forests alive with birdsong, red-earth deserts stretching to the horizon, waterfall-lined gorges, and neighbourhood markets where regulars are greeted by name. Navigate Australia's cities and wild spaces with Marco Polo's signature pull-out maps, designed for seamless exploration. From Sydney's ferries and trams to coastal highways and outback routes, move confidently between harbour cities, surf beaches, rainforest ranges, vineyard valleys, rugged national parks, and coral-rich seas. Experience Australia at its most authentic - relaxed, welcoming, and deeply connected to land and community. What You'll Discover: Secret Australia experiences - quiet beaches, local cafes, regional towns, and landscapes beyond the tourist trail Australia navigation mastery - Marco Polo's pull-out maps covering cities, road trips, national parks, and scenic drives Authentic Australian food culture - modern cafe classics, regional produce, seafood, bush flavours, and local wines Australia cultural confidence - First Nations perspectives, local customs, and practical tips for respectful travel Smart travel in Australia - transport advice, budget tips, free viewpoints, and practical money-saving guidance Perfect for couples, families, and nature lovers seeking the real Australia - this guide reveals why locals treasure everyday rituals, from sunrise swims to long lunches and evenings spent outdoors. From coastal mornings to star-filled desert nights, discover a country where space, stories, and simple pleasures shape daily life. Australia is more than beaches and road trips - it's the stillness of ancient landscapes, the humour of small-town encounters, the pull of the ocean, and the freedom of open roads. Find your way with Marco Polo.
Marco Polo One of the leading and most trusted travel publishing brands in Europe, Marco Polo has been guiding travellers around the world since 1991. All titles are researched on location and written by locals or authors who have spent the majority of their time living and travelling in the destination. With nearly 35 years of travel guide publishing under our belts and approaching 100million copies sold, you can rely on our experience to ensure you have a wonderful trip. What do we do? We create well-researched, high-quality guides to guarantee you have a wealth of detailed, reliable information about places to visit and how to get there. We print on high-quality, environmentally-friendly paper which ensures all the lovely colour photographs, maps and attractions are presented in the best way possible to bring your destination to life. What makes our guides and maps different? Marco Polo's renowned 'Insider Tips' ensure you enjoy an authentic local experience, creating travel memories that will last a lifetime. Our guides and maps are regularly updated by local experts who live, work and travel in the destination, ensuring current, first-hand information is included. We focus on the best selection of attractions and experiences saving you precious time so that you can search less and discover more.
36 Regional Overview 38 Sydney 52 Around Sydney 54 New South Wales 58 Byron Bay 59 Port Macquarie 61 Batemans Bay 63 Canberra 66 Broken Hill 70 Victoria 74 Melbourne 83 Grampians 86 Queensland 90 Brisbane 95 Airlie Beach 98 Townsville 99 Cairns 106 Northern Territory 110 Darwin 114 Kakadu National Park 116 Katherine 117 Alice Springs 122 Western Australia 126 Perth 129 Margaret River 132 Exmouth 134 Broome 137 Kimberley 138 Kununurra 140 South Australia 144 Adelaide 152 Coober Pedy 154 Tasmania 158 Hobart 160 Launceston 162 St Helens 163 Devonport 164 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 165 Strahan
