Australia

Reasons to go:

1. Sydney

  • Australian Museum (free). Minerals★ - an incredible collection of rocks from around Australia and around the world. 200 treasures, that includes Eric the plesiosaur, is great. Still on my wishlist - the rest of the museum, including Arachnology section.
  • White Rabbit Gallery★ - Chinese contemporary art, without the censorship.
  • The Art Gallery of New South Wales. Also check out Artspace nearby.
  • Sydney Opera House - see it up close and from the Mrs Macquarie’s Chair viewpoint. See it during the day and at night.
  • The Rocks neighbourhood. Rotunda Observation Deck - great views of Sydney Opera House, especially at night. Gelato Messina Circular Quay is great. Still on my wishlist: Observatory Hill, Sirius Building.
  • Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Don’t miss the Succulent Garden and the Fernery.
  • Newtown neighbourhood - the street art destination. I followed this guide by Justin Steele. If you don’t have much time, start from Camperdown Memorial Rest Park and explore in the west and south directions. Also Sydney’s vegan mile is here (King Street). My favourites were Vandal Taqueria (vegan Mexican), Cow & The Moon (non-vegan gelato) and Uncanny Bar Newtown (cocktails). Still on my wishlist - Little Turtle (vegan), Calle Rey (vegan), Tian Ci Vegan and La Petite Fauxmagerie (vegan cheesemonger).
  • Queen Victoria Building is architecturally exciting. And don’t miss this art installation - Forgotten Songs: Angel Place Birdcages.
  • St Mary’s Cathedral is pretty on the outside.
  • In central Sydney, Esteban (Mexican with vegetarian options) and Mother Chu’s Vegetarian Kitchen are both awesome.

Still on my wishlist:

  • Bondi Beach. The walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee, exploring Waverley Cemetery on the way.
  • Manly Beach and Manly Wormhole (40-metre seaside tunnel chiselled by fishermen a long time ago) that connects Queenscliff Beach to Freshwater Beach.
  • Crossing Sydney Harbour Bridge on foot. And visit Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden.
  • Chinese Garden of Friendship - find the lizards.
  • Museums: Sydney Bus Museum, Museum of Human Disease, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (with great views from the rooftop cafe).
  • Carriageworks Farmers’ Market (Saturdays).
  • Restaurants: Hạnh Phúc Vegan in Surry Hills, Green Sprouts Vegan Restaurant in Neutral Bay, Maydanoz Restaurant Bar.
  • Cocktail bars: Double Deuce Lounge, Apollonia, PS40, Old Mates Place, The Baxter Inn, Now & Then, Jangling Jack’s.

Notes:

2. Perth and around

  • The Pinnacles Desert★ in Nambung National Park. Open 24/7. Best time to visit - when the Discovery Centre is open (it’s a good one) and/or at sunrise/sunset for great views. Tickets (for entry to all national parks in the area) must be purchased at (-30.603168, 115.154708) from a person or a machine (depending on the time of visiting). Options include a 1 day ticket and a 5 day ticket, which is great for visiting several national parks over a weekend. If you are driving from Perth, there are interesting places to stop on the way - Lancelin Back Beach (-31.032569, 115.33677), Nilgen Lookout (-30.930716, 115.3627), Wedge Lookout (-30.792082, 115.22498), Molah Hill Lookout (-30.39427, 115.0807), etc. Still on my wishlist - Guilderton, with a small sandbar that separates the Moore river from the Indian Ocean.
  • Lesueur National Park. Open 24/7. Best time to visit is in spring (September to November) when most plants are in bloom. Tickets (for entry to all national parks in the area for 1 or 5 days) must be purchased at (-30.183376, 115.140718) from a machine. The hike from (-30.162463, 115.19887) carpark to Mt Lesueur (-30.177157, 115.19919) and back via this viewpoint (-30.162685, 115.201767) is stunning. Still on my wishlist - a harder hike from (-30.139002, 115.15071). After visiting the park, it is worth it to drive north via (-30.066397, 115.120273) to spot kangaroos and emus, and to stop at Green Head for great viewpoints (-30.069905, 114.96498). Still on my wishlist - Grigsons Lookout.
  • Stromatolites in Lake Thetis (-30.506801, 115.07814) near Cervantes - a rare sight. Cervantes is a nice place to stay while visiting Nambung and Lesueur National Parks. Just a couple of minutes drive outside Cervantes (in any direction) offers awesome stargazing opportunities. In the morning locals go dolphin watching at this beach (-30.509581, 115.06649). Still on my wishlist - the Thirsty Point lookout.
  • Rottnest Island. Three main reasons to visit the island include the world’s largest wild quokka population (they are nocturnal, so evenings and early mornings are best, but you can always spot some in the settlement, especially around the bakery), hiking (Gabbi Karniny Bidi hike through inland salt lakes is stunning, and there are many more to choose from) and beaches (many near the settlement are just boat parking lots, but starting from Little Parakeet Bay (-31.98994, 115.51612) and heading further out the beaches are gorgeous). On your way to the island, try to spot black swans in the Swan river.
  • Perth. Kings Park and Botanic Garden (free) - a great place to encounter local plants and birds. The Floating Stone artwork (-31.952708, 115.85906) by Richard Williamson. Supreme Court Gardens are nice, Elizabeth Quay is nice for a stroll in the evening. Hygge Bar - the cocktails are not bad. Still on my wishlist: Cottesloe Beach, Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA), Perth Mint.

Notes:

  • Pre-paid sim cards can be bought in supermarkets (Woolworth, Kmart, etc.) and activated online. Passport required for activation. I used Telstra - good coverage even in remote areas.
  • Woolworths and The Good Grocer were my favourite supermarkets.
  • Plugs - Australian.
  • To get a visa, I created an ImmiAccount that allows to browse through visa options based on your passport, reasons for visiting and the length of your stay.