City Guides

Choose a city to find out what's on, where to go stay and what to do ...

ADELAIDE

Calming hills, crashing waves and a whole valley of wine. When the early colonists arrived and began building Adelaide they used stone. They wanted to build a solid, dignified city, a civilised and calm place, with a manner no other state capital in the country could match. Nowadays, much to the wowsers' chagrin, pubs and nightclubs outnumber the churches find accommodation in Adelaide

BRISBANE

Glam it up in the Queensland capital - viva Bris Vegas!
Brisbane has shucked its reputation as a backwater and emerged as one of the country's most progressive centres. It has several interesting districts, a good street cafe scene, a great riverside park, a busy cultural calendar and a thriving nightlife ... find accommodation in Brisbane

CANBERRA

A smooth lake, a glamorous gallery and a whole lotta politics.
Canberra is often described by Australians who haven't been there as a boring town, full of politicians, bureaucrats - and not much else. But those who go there find a picturesque spot with beautiful galleries and museums, as well as excellent restaurants, bars and cafes. Find Accommodation in Canberra

DARWIN

Welcome to a tropical metropolis with crocodile sunsets.
The 'capital' of northern Australia is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney, and closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so it should come as no surprise that it looks outward to Asia as much as it looks inland to the rest of Australia. ... Find Accommodation in Darwin and the Top End

HOBART

A pint-sized harbour city with gallon-sized charm. Hobart is Australia's southernmost capital city. The fact that it is also the smallest is the key to its particular charm. A riverside city with a busy harbour, its mountain backdrop offers fine views over the beautiful Georgian buildings, numerous parks and compact suburbs below ... Find Accommodation in Hobart & Tasmanian Sth-East

MELBOURNE

Multicultured, multilayered, marvellously arty Melbourne. Melbourne is dubbed marvellous for a reason. Healthy hedonism masquerades as high art: Melburnians are equally passionate about football and ballet, fashion and restaurants. They are ravenous for music and hot for theatre. It's a smorgasbord of a city that you'll want to sink your teeth into... Find Accommodation in Melbourne

PERTH

The beaches go on forever and the horizons just won't quit. Perth is a vibrant and modern city sitting between the cerulean Indian Ocean and the ancient Darling Ranges. It claims to be the sunniest state capital in Australia, though more striking is its isolation from the rest of the country - Perth is over 4400km (2750mi) from Sydney by road ... Find Accommodation in Perth

SYDNEY

White beaches, blue harbours, gilded lifestyles and lots of flash. Sydney is Australia's oldest city, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the country's capital in everything but name. It's blessed with sun-drenched natural attractions, dizzy skyscrapers, delicious and daring restaurants, superb shopping and friendly folk. ... Find Accommodation in Sydney

AUCKLAND

Pacific-lapped Auckland is perfect for water babies. This waterside city has a strong pulse and a nautical twinkle in its eye. Its location on a thin stretch of the North Island, sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, is complemented by the lush subtropical forests of nearby hills and the volcanic terrains of nearby islands ... Find Accommodation in Auckland

CHRISTCHURCH

Beneath the veneer of understatement lies a vibrant city of new ideas.
The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is perfect as a pleasant jumping-off point for the mountains, ocean beaches, rivers, lakes and wide-open spaces less than an hour from the city centre ... Find Accommodation in Christchurch

QUEENSTOWN

Come for the lake, stay for the adrenaline. Queenstown, on the northern shore of the serpentine Lake Wakatipu, is the epitome of the big-budget resort town, awash with organised tour groups. There's great skiing in winter and plenty of extreme substitute summer pastimes. Most activities are centred on the lake and many nearby rivers. ... Find Accommodation in Queenstown

ROTORUA

Things are pretty hot in the 'Sulphur City'. Rotorua is the most popular and, inevitably, the most commercialised tourist destination on the North Island. It has the most energetic thermal activity in the country, with bubbling mud pools, gurgling hot springs, and gushing geysers. It's also a great place to catch traditional Maori ceremonies. ... Find Accommodation in Rotorua

WELLINGTON

Come Te Papa.
Bound by its magnificent harbour, with wooden Victorian buildings terraced up steep hills, New Zealand's capital is home to its parliament and national treasures. Spectacular views, challenging walks, a thriving cafe and entertainment scene, and serious dedication to the arts make Wellington an enormously enjoyable place in which to spend a few days. ... Find Accommodation in Wellington