Regions of Australia

South Australia

This state, whose capital is Adelaide, is not considered by many to be the most "interesting" in the country. It's true that while the areas around the city, with its peninsulas (including the Eyre Peninsula) and especially Kangaroo Island, have a certain tourist appeal, much of the territory is desert-like and rather monotonous in many places. At most, those heading toward the "Red Centre" (home to the famous Ayers Rock) might make a stop in the Flinders Ranges range or the underground city of Coober Pedy.

• South Australia Guide

Western Australia

The vast Western Australia (a third of the country!) is a near-desert region except around its capital, Perth, which is home to 80% of the population. In fact, the state is largely a nature-adventure destination that, as always, will delight enthusiasts of water activities (surfing and diving in particular), ecotourism with its many parks and reserves, and "off the beaten track" exploration.

• Western Australia Guide

Queensland

This is Brisbane and the northeast of Australia, known to millions of holidaymakers for its endless sunny beaches, lively seaside resorts, and especially the Great Barrier Reef. While this coastline can sometimes feel a bit "crowded," it contrasts with a sparsely populated and rarely visited arid hinterland, as well as an "off-the-beaten-path adventure land" in the northern part of the state, particularly the vast Cape York Peninsula.

• Queensland Guide

Southeastern Australia

This region includes the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra). Along its coastline, it is the most populated part of Australia, featuring interesting cities like Sydney and Melbourne. Its shoreline offers great beach opportunities, along with some stunning landscapes (notably along the Great Ocean Road), while its hinterland provides plenty of outdoor and nature-based activities with the many national parks found there.

• Southeastern Australia Guide

Tasmania

Far from being the preferred Australian destination for tourists, especially foreign ones, the island nonetheless offers a different side of this vast country. Less about "sea, surf & sun" and fewer wide-open spaces, Tasmania remains a rugged and challenging land with sometimes dramatic landscapes that will appeal to nature-adventure lovers, if only through the many parks and reserves the state has to offer.

• Tasmania Guide

Northern Territory

This traditionally Aboriginal land is the most "wild" and off-the-beaten-path part of the country. With barely 0.2 inhabitants per km² (over nearly 1.5 million km²) and only three cities with more than 10,000 people, space is abundant and will delight, as always, lovers of "the outdoors", who can enjoy several renowned parks, particularly Kakadu and Watarrka. It is also here, in the famous "Red Centre" and more specifically Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, that the iconic Ayers Rock—one of the largest monoliths in the world and a symbol of Australia—can be found.

• Northern Territory Guide