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While the bushfires are still burning in some places, they’ve significantly reduced in number thanks to recent rainstorms that have put out the flames. Many parts of Australia are safe to visit and explore now, and Australians are welcoming the tourism with open arms.
If you’ve always wanted to see all that Australia has to offer, now’s the time. Below, we’ve listed the best places to visit now that the wildfires are settling.
You’ll find several interesting attractions in Canberra. Things like Parliament House, the National Gallery, and the Australian War Memorial will keep you busy with fun. You’ll also be in close proximity to the towns that are recovering the most from the fires. If you feel like it while you’re there, the town would surely love help with their relief efforts.
Just an hour and a half south from Canberra, you’ll come across Batemans Bay. Here, you can enjoy a scenic view and a delicious lunch at JJ’s at The Marina. This area is often full of locals from Canberra escaping for a weekend.
If you have a sweet spot for animals, be sure to stop by Birdland Animal Park to cuddle on some baby wombats.
Keep driving south from there, and you’ll stumble upon Moruya just along the coast. Need a car to make the drive? Just hire a cheap people carrier for the journey. From there, feel free to hop on a flight to Sydney or Melbourne. Now that the smoke has cleared, you can even take a ride on a South Coast Seaplane to see lush forests and New Zealand fur seals in their colonies along a nearby island.
If you stayed in Moruya, you could keep going south as you were to get to Narooma. Here, you’ll have about a 95 percent chance of seeing a whale if you come between May and November. Over 30,000 whales take the “Humpback Highway” as they migrate.
For one of the best scenic views out there, stop by the cliffs along the coast or even play golf at Narooma Golf Club.
You might know Bega for its famous cheese. It also has a rich indigenous history, but it has become a dairy country as of late. While you’re there, don’t forget to drop into the Bega Cheese Heritage Centre for a few tastings with a view of the nearby river.
Bega to Eden is an easy trip, and it’s worth it if you plan a fun excursion like kayaking, birdwatching, or fishing while you’re there. While the area surrounding Eden burned in the fires, the town remained untouched and is ready to see tourists back.
Love a good book? You may want to visit Clunes during May. During this time, the town’s population swells by the thousands for its annual Clunes Booktown Festival. The rest of the year, it’s a great stop to see an incredibly well-preserved gold rush era town.
East of Melbourne, the seaside village of Metung sits quietly along the Gippsland Lakes. Here, you can find many areas that haven’t seen flames. You can also find delicious seafood, fantastic fishing, and exciting watersports.
With so many incredible options still on the table, what is still keeping you from buying the ticket? Although the recent fires may be keeping some away, Australia still has so much to offer and is waiting for you.