The discovery of gold in central Victoria over 150 years ago has left a rich and lasting legacy in almost every town in the Goldfields. Tour the impressive Victorian streetscapes of Bendigo and Ballarat with their grand hotels and public buildings or explore the quaint shopfronts and miners' cottages in townships such as Maldon, Castlemaine, Heathcote and Dunolly. Learn about gold rush history at the region's historic attractions. Sovereign Hill, The Eureka Centre and the Central Deborah Gold Mine offer fascinating insights into life above and below the ground during the 1850s and 1860s. Take a break from exploring the goldmines at a stylish local cafe or restaurant. Local restaurants make the most of the fine local produce of the region, and you can also sample the local wines, olives, apples and more, direct from the farm gate or cellar door. The Goldfields region is an arts and cultural haven boasting some of Australia's finest regional galleries with rich collections of local and European art. See visiting exhibitions at the Art Gallery of Ballarat and Bendigo Art Gallery and admire Edwardian and modern works at the Castlemaine Art Gallery. Take the kids to an event at the Central Goldfields Gallery, or hunt out smaller private collections and artist studios dotted all over the region. The region also offers many opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Relax and unwind in one of the elegant park-lands and historic botanic gardens or embark upon the 210-kilometre Goldfields Track. The Goldfields region is within easy reach of Melbourne via the Western Freeway, the Calder Highway or the Hume Freeway and the Northern Highway.

One of the last true wilderness areas on Earth, Australia's North West is a land of breathtaking contrasts covering billions of years in history and over one million square kilometres. From the sheer canyons of Karijini in the Pilbara to the curious Bungle Bungle Range in the Kimberley, it features some of the most extraordinary outback experiences. There are several hubs to use as a base for your outback adventure in Australia's northwest. Hop on a direct flight to the exotic pearling town of Broome from Perth, Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Fly from Darwin to Kununurra, Broome, Port Hedland and Karratha, or get more choice from Perth, with flights direct to Newman, Paraburdoo, Karratha, Port Hedland, Broome, Derby and Kununurra. The real beauty of Australia's North West is that it lets you be as adventurous and indulgent or as laid back as you wish. Walk, climb, swim or just stand and admire the beauty of Karijini, one of Australia's largest and most spectacular national parks, famous for its sheer gorges, waterfalls and cool swimming holes 350 million years in the making. Take an exhilarating helicopter flight over the magnificent beehive domes of the Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park. Ride the white waters of the spectacular horizontal waterfalls or follow the trail of legendary cattle drovers on the Gibb River Road. Immerse yourself in one of the world's oldest living cultures, seeing ancient Aboriginal stories come to life in the Bradshaw Paintings (also known as Gyorn Gyorn or Gwion Gwion) - believed to be some of the oldest artworks on Earth. Join a luxury cruise of pristine reefs and archipelagos. Witness the rare spectacle of the Staircase to the Moon. Take in a Cable Beach sunset from the saddle of a camel, or laze in chic beach-side eco retreats and resorts.

The legendary Gibb River Road Top Trail is an icon of outback adventure through the heart of the Kimberley in Western Australia’s North West. The moderate 660-kilometre dirt track passes through remote station country with magnificent scenery and plenty of opportunities to get out of your vehicle to discover one of the many freshwater gorges. The Gibb, as it is affectionately known, was built for droving cattle from Wyndham to Derby. Today it caters for a steady stream of four-wheel-drive vehicles. Trail signage varies as the area remains privately owned by cattle stations and Aboriginal communities. Every station has a range of beautiful rivers and gorges including El Questro Station – Chamberlain and Emma Gorges, Mount Barnett Station – Manning Gorge Waterfall Walk, King Leopold Conservation Park – Bell Gorge, Gibb River Station – Barnett River Gorge and Mornington Wilderness Park – Diamond Gorge. Beware of the fresh and saltwater crocodiles. The estuarine crocs inhabit the rivers that meet the sea such as the Durack and Pentecost, whilst the freshwater variety in-habit the likes of the Manning and Barnett.

For a true taste of the Western Australian outback head east to the Nullarbor Plain. This massive stretch of land is home to the Eyre Highway, one of the country’s self-drive best road trips, as well as the transcontinental railway line, used by the Indian Pacific train. The Nullarbor Plain stretches between Norseman in Western Australia and Ceduna in South Australia – at its widest point it's about 1,200 kilometres. Tackling the Nullarbor is an odyssey of self-discovery and a challenge to be met – you can even buy the car sticker proclaiming “I crossed the Nullarbor”. This great treeless plain includes the amazing sea cliffs of the Great Australian Bight accessible by a short detour from the highway. For a close-up view of the majestic southern right whales call into the Head of the Bight, May to October. Wildlife is plentiful – keep an eye out for kangaroos, emus, dingoes and wedge-tailed eagles. There are also many caves scattered throughout the area however most are not accessible due to the instability of the limestone. The Nullarbor Plain starts in Western Australia in Norseman which is a two-hour drive south of Kalgoorlie.

There is nothing quite like seeing a humpback whale launch itself out of the ocean a few metres away - and that's the experience you can have if you travel to Hervey Bay during whale season. Each year thousands of these gentle giants rest, play and nurture their young in the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay. The season runs from mid-July to early November and there are many whale watching vessels that head out daily and offer the chance to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures. Watching these guys still not quite close enough? Tick off a bucketlist moment when you experience swimming with these gentle marine mammals. With a range of accommodation from backpacker hostels to five-star resorts, Hervey Bay is a popular holiday destination particularly for those on their way to Fraser Island or Lady Elliot Island. The town is a great place for water activities like fishing, sailing, swimming and kayaking. Take an eco-tour to see dolphins, turtles and other marine life - or go diving at Hervey Bay's sheltered artificial reef, the largest man made reef in the Southern Hemisphere.