Cat Woods

Call us biased, but we reckon Australia is one of the most astonishing and varied places to explore on Earth. A sizeable place – (you know, continent-sized), it can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to working out how to tackle the Great Southern Land – but that's where we come in. From turquoise beaches with sugar white sand, to ancient tropical rainforests, to flaming red deserts, to buzzy metropolitan cities, we've picked out the 25 most incredible places you should visit in Australia.  No matter who you are, or what you like, rest assured – there's something on this list for everyone.  RECOMMENDED: Follow the rainbow to Australia's most colourful landmarks. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

Justifiably one of Victoria’s most popular tourist destinations, the Great Ocean Road snakes all along the southwest coast of the state, starting in Torquay (1.5 hours from the CBD) and finishing up just before Warrnambool. This winding stretch of road provides ample opportunity to reconnect with the ocean, the bush and the sounds and sights of nature whether driving, walking, horseriding, surfing, sailing or cycling. It's about a four-hour drive without stops, but heed our warning: you'll definitely want to take it slow. There's just too much happening along the coast not to. Take a day trip, stay the weekend or just pack up and move there – there's plenty going on down the Great Ocean Road. If you're planning a trip down Victoria's most famous road, you'll need tunes. Warnambool indie artist Tom Richardson has put together a playlist of some of his favourite music, specifically tailored for a trip down the Great Ocean Road. Read more about Victoria's best getaways with our guide to the Bellarine Peninsula, Ballarat and East Gippsland.