5 Destinations You Must See On Your Australian Vacation

The popular plateau is separated by a deep, 330 to 660 feet slot canyons and sheer-sided gorges. While the locals there, stockmen and Aborigines, have known about these beehive-shaped towers, the now-famous Bungle Bungles were not officially discovered by anyone else until some time in 1982. The area was designated a National Park in 1987 and an official World heritage site in 2003. 
You can reach the unique Bungle Bungles by driving approximately 50 miles on dirt roads in a four-wheel drive vehicle. You will also have to hike a bit to actually reach these remarkable formations. So grab your hiking boots and essential gear and head for the (beehive) hills. 

2. Canberra 
170 miles from southwest of the city of Sydney is the country’s capital--Canberra. It is roughly 410 miles northeast of the city of Melbourne and the country’s largest inland city to boot. There are 403,468 residents and they are known as Canberrans. 
In 1908, the location of Canberra was decided upon as a compromise between the country’s two largest cities: Melbourne and Sydney. What makes this an unusual city here is that it was actually planned out of any actual state like Brasilia in Brazil or the United States capital, Washington, D.C. Australians held a worldwide competition for design concepts for the city. 
The winning blueprints were those submitted by two American architects named Marion Mahony Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin. Construction crews broke ground in 1913. Today visitors who have an interest in the government of this nation are all sure to see the High Curt, and famous Parliament House, which was built on Capitol Hill. Other places of interest include the National Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, the National Film and Sound Archive, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. 

3. Castle Hill 
Just yards short of officially being a mountain, the legendary Castle Hill is a giant pink granite rock monolith that is located in in the famous suburb of Castle Hill in Townsville. At a height of 938 feet above sea level, it is the centerpiece of the town. Indeed, it is the dominating landmark of the entire city skyline. 
Accessible by paved roads, it is easy to visit. In fact, Castle Hill is visited by over 2,500 people every day. If you enjoy hiking, several trails are also available. Veteran visitors have reported that the 360-degree views from the top of this giant stone are worth the trip, especially at sunrise and sunset. 
History buffs will love Castle Hill, too. During World War II it was reportedly once used by United States soldiers. Locals tell the tale of American armed forces offering to demolish Castle Hill and use the pieces to construct a crude bridge to Magnetic Island. On one corner of this tremendous attraction, one can still see an observation bunker from the second world war. 

4. Coober Pedy 
Situated in the northern part of South Australia, Coober Pedy is 526 miles north of the city of Adelaide via Stuart Highway. Coober Pedy is derived from the Aboriginal phrase Kupa-piti which roughly translates to “boy’s waterhole.” The local population was last reported to be 1,762. 
801 women and 962 men reside there. Over 17 percent of the locals (302 people) are Torres Strait Islanders and/or Aboriginals. Most of the year these people live underground because of the incredibly excessive heat. 
Coober Pedy is well-known for its underground homes, named “dugouts”, which were specifically designed because of the daytime heat. If you have ever wondered what it is like to live underground there are many choices of subterranean accommodations. Also known as the world’s opal capital, because precious opals are mined there. 
The opal mining officially began on February 1, 1915, when the first opal was discovered. It provides the world with the majority of its opals. Interestingly, despite the 70 opal fields there, Coober Pedy actually counts on the tourist trade just as much as opal mining for employment.