Australia's Major Regions

"Any Season, Any Road, Any View - A Variety To Ponder Over"

Typical Major Geographical Regions of Australia

Typical Geographical Regions of Australia

There are literally dozens of regional areas throughout Australia, all with their own unique sights to see and places to visit. Some of the best places in Australia to holiday are the country and coastal regional areas with the rugged outback, long deserted sandy beaches and the landscapes.

There is quality lodging of any style in most ares and something to suit all budgets so you will have every opportunity to see Australia in comfort.

The Tropical North

Not confined to Northern Queensland, the whole of the Northern Australia Coastal fringe above the Tropic of Capricorn has warm tropical temperatures most of the year, rising to above 35 degrees (celsius) much of the year and enjoying a tropical, sometimes monsoonal, wet season in the summer from October to March.

Far North Queensland

Photo: Trinity Beach Cairns Queensland [Lyle Stacpoole]

Sandy white beaches, palm trees and tropical forest. Unique wildlife only found in the Daintree National Park and the hills climb up to the scenic Atherton Tablelands.

VISIT THE FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND REGIONAL GUIDE

SEE ALL OF THE TROPICAL NORTH REGIONS

The Central Outback

The Outback can refer to any 'bush' country away from the major metropolitan centres, however the Central Outback refers to those remote ares of Western Queensland and New South Wales, northern South Australia, the Red Centre of course and a large part of Western Australia. It's hot, mostly dusty, remote and extraordinarily enticing with its strange eerieness and silence. Even out here there are great places to stay and relax, even enjoying a meal in view of Uluru at sunset is an experience whether by a campfire or at the 'local' restaurant!

The Red Centre - Alice Springs

Photo: Uluru Central Australia [Ray Norrie]

Those who live in the Alice would not seem to want to live anywhere else. The lifestyle is very unique though remote and it is only a short (well out here 200kms IS short) drive to a host of wonderful and unique sights.

VISIT THE RED CENTRE AND ALICE SPRINGS REGIONAL GUIDES

SEE ALL OF THE CENTRAL OUTBACK REGIONS

The Coastal Fringe

Beside the tropical northern beaches the 10,000 kilometers of Australia's coastline has some beautiful coastal townships. As the main highways are mostly a little inland the majority of these towns have remained relatively bustle free and quietly relaxing for a weekend or holiday getaway. Care needs to be taken if thinking about entering waters that are unfamiliar and unpatrolled but there are a number of hidden treasures like Hallidays Point, Tin Can Bay and Geraldton.

The South West Coast of Victoria

Photo: Great Ocean Road Victoria [Lyle Stacpoole]

One of the most spectacular and popular drives in Australia is the Great Ocean Road along the South West Victorian Coast. As well as being specially scenic it also has some wonderful towns with great accommodation, great walking tracks and sandy beaches for the family.

VISIT THE VICTORIA SOUTH WEST COAST REGIONAL GUIDES

SEE ALL OF THE COASTAL FRINGE REGIONS

The 'Wheat Belt'

Though no longer 'just' wheat in times past the term was used for the 'wheat, sheep and cattle' growing regions of Australia. Barley and oats were also regular crops planted by most farmers but today the yield is far more varied. Rice, millet and sorgum are among a host of diversities that the modern Australia Farmer grows.

South East of South Australia

Photo: Mount Gambier Blue Lake [Lyle Stacpoole]

Across the border to the west, in South Australia the wheat belt' continues around the major town of Mount Gambier, known more for its Blue Lake.

VISIT THE SOUTH EAST SA REGIONAL GUIDES

SEE ALL OF THE 'WHEAT BELT' REGIONS

The Great Divide

While the Great Dividing Range makes up most of the 'division' between coastal fringe and the open country plains beyond from Atherton in the Far North Queensland Tropics all the way to the Grampians in Western Victoria, other Mountain ranges also form this 'Divide'. The Adleaid Hills that extend north to the Flinders and the Darling Range in Western Australia also form a demarcation between the caostal plains and the 'wheat belt' beyond.

The Blue Mountains

Photo: Three Sisters Katoomba Blue Mountains [Scott Phillipe]

It was a number of years before the legendary trek of Wentworth, Lachlan and found its way across the fortress of ravines and mountains that we today call the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.

VISIT THE BLUE MOUNTAINS REGIONAL GUIDES

SEE ALL OF THE GREAT DIVIDE REGIONS

Murray River Valley

Most of the river systems in the eastern half of Australia end up in either Lake Eyre or the Murray River. The Murray is one of the longest in the world as it gathers water from nearly half of Australia's land mass and dumps it in the Great Southern Ocean at Goolwa, yet another strange yet wonderful Australian phenomenoum.

Sunraysia

The Murray in flood at Euston 2011 [Lyle Stacpoole]

Situated between the junction with the Murray of the Murrumbidgee and the Darling Rivers the Sunraysia District is known for its sunshine, oranges and grapevines. It is a river playground with the Murray River at Robinvale/Euston particularly 'friendly' for water sports like skiing and wake-boarding.

VISIT THE SUNRAYSIA REGIONAL GUIDES

SEE ALL OF THE MURRAY RIVER REGIONS