Tours by Locals in Australia in 2026: The Best Sightseeing

Australia's sightseeing begins with the world's oldest continuous cultures: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artistic traditions that stretch back at least 65,000 years and continue in active contemporary practice. The national galleries and the convict transportation heritage sites carry the full sweep of the country's human history. The reef, the rainforest, and the outback extend the sightseeing into natural terrain of global significance. Melbourne's laneway culture, Sydney's harbour landmarks, and Canberra's institutional weight each represent different arguments about what Australia is. Indigenous cultural sites — the rock, the gorge paintings, the ceremonial landscapes — extend the geography into ancient depth. Blink and you'll miss it.