Choose from 889 Fun Things to Do in Australia And The Pacific
Adelaide Central Market
Remember the days of buying your fresh fruit and vegetables direct from the people who grow it? The thrill of bargaining, and buying according to what's in season, with a recommendation of what's best tasting at the moment and how you should eat it? You can still experience that at Adelaide Central Market.
For 140 years this market in the heart of the city has been providing residents with fresh produce. Over 80 stalls selling direct from the producers, include fruit and vegetables, meats and seafood, bakeries, cheeses, small goods and plants and flowers. There are cafes to rest in with a coffee or snack after an invigorating session of bargaining.
Practical Info
The market is located right in the heart of the city so it's easy to get to. The City to Bay tram stops right outside the door, as does the Free Adelaide Connector Bus.
Adelaide River
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Alice Springs Desert Park
The Alice Springs Desert Park offers the opportunity to experience the main desert environments in Australia. Wander through sand, woodland and river deserts and learn about their different plant and animal inhabitants. You will also learn about the traditional owners of the land, the Arrernte.
Animals rarely seen in the wild are on display in the nocturnal house which mimics the night desert offering a peek at rare and endangered animals that only come out in the dark like bilbies and carnivorous ghost bats.
The aquarium offers you a look at the animals you might find in a waterhole including fish, yabbies, burrowing frogs and turtles.
Practical Info
Guided audio tours are available. You can take the short route through the park or explore further afield to find kangaroos and birdlife.
The park is 10 minutes by car from the center of Alice Springs. Alternatively, the Larapinta bike track will take you to the entrance.
AAMI Park
Located only one kilometre from the city centre, between the sweeping Yarra River and the internationally-loved MCG, AAMI Park is Melbourne’s premier medium-sized soccer, rugby union and rugby league venue.
AAMI Park’s star teams include the National Rugby League's Melbourne Storm, Melbourne’s Super Rugby team, the Melbourne Rebels, and soccer’s A-League teams, the Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart.
The stadium has a capacity of more than 30,000 spectators and boasts a popular roof design that offers seating cover and a notable lack of pillars and walls obstructing the view.
Recognizing the unique value of this Melbourne attraction, in 2012 AAMI Park was awarded the World’s Most Iconic and Culturally Significant Stadium by the Stadium World Congress.
Practical Info
Trams from Flinders Street and Richmond Stations stop at AAMI Park Stop 7D. Richmond Station, Jolimont Station and Flinders Street train stations are within walking distance to AAMI Park. Buses link between the city and the sports precinct. Visitors can also walk from Federation Square in the city, along the Yarra River.
Onsite car parking is limited and fees apply. Event days are more expensive than non-event days.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach may be two-horse small, but it's the main point of departure for many Whitsunday cruises so it's always got the lively feel of constant movement. In the day, the pace is laid back and mainly revolves around the town's artificial lagoon. This is a giant swimming pool (and we mean giant - more than the equivalent of six full-size pools) built by the council to give the town's inhabitants and visitors somewhere to swim when jellyfish season closes the beach.
The lagoon is surrounded by landscaped gardens and everything you'll need for a lazy day spent between the water and the picnic basket - BBQs, showers and toilets are all on tap.
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At night, the town sparks up and the backpacker population join the locals on Shute Harbour Road, the main center, to do the rounds of its bars, pubs and clubs. Shute Harbour Road is where you'll find most of the accommodation and eating options, which are reasonable to good. If you're taking a cruise out to the Barrier Reef or the Whitsunday Islands, you'll probably be leaving from Shute Harbour, about 10 minutes drive away from Airlie Beach itself.
Adelaide Gaol
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Abrolhos Island
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Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Stroll, jog or find yourself a grassy patch to read a book in the splendid, city-fringe Adelaide Botanic Garden, established in the 1850s. Highlights here include a unique prefabricated palm house (1877), the Museum of Economic Botany (check out its stencilled ceiling), and the 1988 Bicentennial Conservatory, which recreates a tropical rainforest environment.
Comprising the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide are two other sites: the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and Wittunga Botanic Garden. Mount Lofty is less than half an hour from the city centre and has plants which thrive in cooler climates than those of the plains below. Wittunga in the Adelaide Hills was once the private Garden of Edwin Ashby and has been open to the public since 1975. It is a popular place for picnics.
Practical Info
The Adelaide Botanic Garden is an easy walk from the city. Free 1½-hour guided walks depart from the kiosk at 10:30am
Alice Springs Reptile Centre
Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve
One of the twelve stops along the overland telegraph route the Alice Spring Telegraph Station Historical Reserve is a great place for a picnic. The reserve has walking tracks, swimming holes, a cycle path and shady spots to rest. There are also free electric barbeques. Several colonies of rock wallabies share the reserve with plenty of other native wildlife and some pet camels.
Many of the buildings in the old Telegraph station have been restored and offer a look at how messages were sent across Australia in the days when the trip took weeks by horse. In the Post and Telegraph Room you can still post a letter and send a telegram (email) to a friend. In the cooler months (May - Oct) the wood-fired oven is lit and damper ('outback bread') and scones are served.
Practical Info
Access to the reserve is free but there is a cost to visit the historic buildings. There are free 45-minute tours through the Telegraph Station or you can self-guide with the map provided.
The park is about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) north of Alice Springs. You can drive, catch a cab or walk or cycle the path from Wills Terrace and Undoolya Road.
Albert Park
Only three kilometers from the city center, Albert Park is crown land that stretches more than 188 hectares into the south of Melbourne, making it a popular place for runners, dog-walkers and those in need of some fresh, green space.
There are three main picnic areas to enjoy in Albert Park, all with picnic shelters, electric barbecues, shady trees, toilets and tables. From Aquatic Drive, you can take a stroll along the lakeside boardwalk, enjoy fine service and a steak at The Point restaurant, and watch sail boats tack across the lake.
Sports lovers can enjoy the public golf course within Albert Park, try their hand at sailing from the boat shed or take a dip at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. For those less energetic, perhaps try a coffee from the kiosk and relaxing to the sound of song birds in the parkland wilderness.
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Agrodome
- This educational experience is suitable for all ages and allows families to participate in farming activities; children under 5 years old enter free.
- Choose between an Agrodome Farm Show or Farm Tour, or select both.
- Day trips combine the North Island’s top attractions, such as the Hobbiton Movie Set, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, and Rainbow Springs Nature Park.
Alofaaga Blowholes (Taga Blowholes)
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Admirals Arch
Originally an ancient cave, Admirals Arch has been shaped by the intense winds and surf that pound the coast of Kangaroo Island. Stalactites still hang from the rocky ceiling whilst the floor has been eroded to a smooth finish. The Arch has been designated a geological monument, and is one of 27 geological monuments on the island.
The boardwalk runs along the cliff face, providing uninterrupted views of the ocean. Dolphins can often be spotted, and whales migrate along the coast from May to October. Year round entertainment however, is provided by the colony of fur seals that live and play on the rock platforms beneath the cliff. Pups are born in December, and remain with their mothers for a year, playing in the rock pools under the Arch.
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Akaroa Harbour
- Akaroa Harbour is a marine mammal sanctuary where encounters with wildlife are regulated.
- No touching or harassment of wildlife is allowed, and in events such as mother animals seen swimming with babies, or dolphins appearing to be feeding, guests can view the wildlife from the boat as opposed to getting in the water.
- Boat crews brief passengers on how to safely observe the world’s smallest and rarest (and endangered) dolphins.
- If getting on—or in—the water isn’t your preference, it’s easy to meander around the charming village, browsing shops, bistros, bakeries, and cafés.
A Maze'N Things
- A Maze'N Things is suitable for all ages, but there are age restrictions on some activities and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
- On-site facilities include a café, picnic and barbecue area, gift shop, and playground.
- The Maze takes an average of 45 minutes to complete, but plan up to three hours to enjoy all the park’s activities.
- Some of the park’s attractions are wheelchair accessible.
Adelaide Oval
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Agincourt Reef
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Adelaide Zoo
Around 1,800 exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish reside at the 8-hectare Adelaide Zoo, comprising 300 species. Major attractions include the Southeast Asian rainforest exhibit, Immersion, a walkthrough jungle environment where tigers and orangatuns feel within reach. Also the giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi!
Opened in 1883, it is Australia's second-oldest zoo and the only not-for-pro fit zoo in the country. Many of the structures are National Trust registered although these, such as the elephant house, these days are used for educational exhibits while the animals have moved to more natural environments. There is a Children's Zoo where you can pet animals including kangaroos and koalas, and the Envirodome, an education/interactive center.
Practial Info
The zoo is on the edge of the city next to the Botanical Gardens. Catch bus 271 or 273 from Currie Street to Frome Street directly outside the zoo. You can take a water cruise to the zoo from Elder Park, in front of the Festival Centre, on Pop-eye.