Fodor’s Travel - Fodor’s Essential Australia

Australia has more cultural and natural treasures than is fair to many other countries. It also, fortunately, has the wealth and resolve to protect them as best it can. Eighteen sites across the country, including two offshore territories in sub-Antarctic waters, have been World Heritage listed.

Harsh glacial action over millions of years has put the wild in the Tasmanian Wilderness. Remote and subject to extreme weather, this vast World Heritage areait covers a fifth of Australias island stateprotects one of the few expanses of temperate rain forest on Earth. Here, too, are stunning landforms fashioned by complex geology, diverse habitats for flora and fauna found nowhere else, and evidence of tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal occupation. Angling, white-water rafting, and hiking national park walking trails, most of which are suited only to experienced hikers, are some favorite activities in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Remnant rain forest, shifting sand dunes, and half of the worlds perched lakes (lakes that are isolated above the groundwater table by rock or organic material) contributed to Fraser Islands World Heritage listing in 1992. The largest sand island on Earth, Fraser lies just off Queenslands coast, about 200 km (124 miles) north of Brisbane. This exquisite island is both ecologically precious and extremely popular for soft-adventure holidaysa sometimes problematic combination. Frasers dingo population is one of Australias purest, but be aware that visitors have had fatal interactions with these wild dogs. Humpback whales frequent Frasers west-coast waters June to November, and the spring tailor fish run lures anglers to the islands wilder ocean shore. Four-wheel-drives barrel along the 122-km (76-mile) ocean beach, which is Fraser Islands unofficial main highway.

One of Australias recent World Heritage properties is the countrys most recognizable building. A realization of visionary design and 20th-century technological innovation, the Sydney Opera House was listed in 2007 as a masterpiece of human creative genius. It is also a structure of extraordinary beauty. Danish architect Jorn Utzons interlocking vaulted shells appear to hover like wind-filled sails on their Sydney Harbour promontory. Floodlighting at night increases the sense of movement.

Awarded the project in 1957 by an international jury, Jorn Utzon never saw his creation finished. Utzon resigned and left Australia in 1966, amid funding controversies and political change, and his architectural sculpture was completed by others. Familiar to people around the world, the Sydney Opera House is a world-class performing arts venue.