With so many things to do Australia, nobody could possibly see and do everything in one trip. Australia is world famous for natural beauty, the sun-drenched outdoor lifestyle and the friendly people. However, it's the modern and cosmopolitan that surprises first-time British travellers for Things to do Australia. One often discovers the best things to do in Australia aren't patting Koalas or snorkelling coral reefs, it's the amazing restaurant culture, the dangerously cheap shopping, and the difference of a drive for hours between country towns which in Europe would cross entire countries.

And don't forget that one pound buys almost three Australian dollars!

Things to Do in Australia: Sydney.

Sydney is the gateway of Australia. On January 26th, 1788, Captain Cook disembarked in Botany Bay and planted the Union Jack. With that act, Captain Jim single-handedly kept out the French and made sure Neighbours was produced in English. Not a bad achievement.

Sydney quick fact: It's got a rather nice-looking Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Residents called: Sydneysiders

Population: 4.2 million

Favourite Local Beer: Toohey's New (imagine marmite stirred into spumante without the pleasant aftertaste)

Favourite Sport: Rugby League

Most Popular Newspaper: Sydney Morning Herald

Famous Sydneysiders: Nicole Kidman, Clive James, Harry Kewell, Thomas Keneally, Russell Crowe.

Things to Do in Australia: within drive of Sydney.

Blue Mountains: Gorgeous rugged mountain range just outside of Sydney

World Heritage listed, the Blue Mountains are an awesome, breathtaking vista. Raw Australian bush meets romance, fine dining and fresh air.

Thredbo and Perisher Skiing: The world associates the Things to do Australia with summer and beaches. In winter, there are snow fields too. And warm fires by which one may indulge a warming beverage or three. Not quite the Alpines but it's a great place to go in winter and you will be blown away by the nightlife.

Hunter Valley Wine Region: The Barossa Valley has the fame, the Hunter is just as good but within drive of Sydney. One or two wineries per day. Use that corkscrew to make extra belt notches.

Jervis Bay Whale and Dolphin Watching: Don't see many dolphins off Dover. Dolphins aren't stupid. Pay, ride in a boat, and coo at the pretty fish.

Things to Do in Australia: Melbourne.

Melbourne is less thick with tourists than glamorous Sydney, but for Things to do in Australia, it's got the goods. Melbourne is to Sydney as New York is to Los Angeles; Sydney has the glitz but Melbourne promotes itself to have the style and substance. Melbourne is also internationally renowned for great shopping; think of London shopping, more boutique, and using Australian dollars.

Melbourne quick fact: It almost got named "Bearbrass".

Residents called: Melburnians

Population: 3.8 million

Favourite Local Beer: Carlton Draught (weak Fosters)

Favourite Sport: Australian Rules Football, called "footy"

Most Popular Newspaper: The Age

Famous Melburnians: Geoffrey Rush, Kylie Minogue, Shane Warne, Peter Carey, Cate Blanchete.

Things to Do Australia: within drive of Melbourne.

Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles: The most spectacular ocean drive in Australia, if not the world. A must do of all the things to do in Australia its got Fish and Chips, sea cliffs and rainforests and you will get to meet a lot of the friendly locals.

Yarra Valley Wine Region: Get smashed, civilized-like. Cheeses, wines, vines: you get the idea. The tour buses won't take you to all the cellar doors.

Philip Island Penguin Parade: Watch little seafaring McNuggets in tuxedos cutely waddle along the beach. Chicken of sea, indeed.

Things to Do Australia: Brisbane.

Be careful. Brisbane is the gateway to the Gold Coast, a place so seductive statistics say nearly half of all children born has at least one immigrant parent, the largest group of which are ex-pats of Mother England. A short visit for things to do in Australia can easily become permanent. The local catchphrase is, "Beautiful one day, perfect the next." A better line was coined by Goldilocks, "Not too hot, not too cold. Just right!" And there are plenty of Goldilocks on the golden beaches.

Brisbane quick fact: The city has a marathon-length stretch of unbroken beaches.

Residents called: Brisbanites

Population: 1.8 million

Favourite Local Beer: XXXX

Favourite Sport: Rugby League

Most Popular Newspaper: Daily Telegraph

Famous Brisbanites: Kevin Rudd, Allan Border, Bee Gees, Steve Irwin, Charles Kingsford-Smith

Things to Do Australia: within drive of Brisbane

Gold Coast: The grand tourist beach strip of Australia. Like Copacobana, Ibiza, and Miami beach but Australian.

Whitsundays: Of the things to do Australia, chartering a yacht and sailing out into the turquoise bliss will stay with you forever.

The Great Barrier Reef: Find and eat Nemo! A must of all the things to do Australia: scuba dive or snorkel the reef, feed sharks, eat shark! Designated as one of the natural wonders of the world there is no doubt that the reef will leave an impression that will last a lifetime

This is just a quick run down of the many things to do in Australia, its such a big country we couldn't possibly write them all down. The best thing to for you to do is give it a go yourself and find out what an amazing destination that Australia is.

Sam Philp is a graduate of Tourism from Swinburne University in Victoria, Australia. He has extensive experience traveling Australia and is regular writer on Cheap Car Hire Australia http://cheapcarhireaustralia.co.uk/