Top 25 Things to Do in Australia & New Zealand: 2011 Viator Travel Awards

Hooray - it's time for Viator's Top 25 Things to Do in Australia & New Zealand!

Editor’s Note: This post is part of the Viator Travel Awards, an annual awards competition where we let our travelers select the top things to do and see in each of the major regions we serve, as well as the top things to do in our most popular tour categories. The awards culminate in the Viator Top Travel Destinations and our annual list of the world’s most travel-inspiring attractions.

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Welcome to the 2011 Viator Travel Awards: Australia & New Zealand Edition! We’ve combined input from traveler reviews and photos, data from the millions of travelers who visit Viator.com each year, plus data on which Australia & New Zealand tours generated the most bookings in 2011, in order to crown the Top Things to Do in Australia & New Zealand in 2011!

Our Australia and New Zealand tours offer visitors the chance to experience a place in a unique and memorable way. Tours outside of the major cities in often cover great distances and involve long and tiring car journeys. Let our guided tour operators do the hard work for you as you make the most of exploring and learning about Australia and New Zealand’s most special sights under the guidance of someone who lives there.

#25. Tour the Central Australian Desert

Sit back and relax on this 3-Day Tour from Uluru (Ayers Rock) to Alice Springs via Kings Canyon. Australia’s great Central Desert is a dry and other worldly place with a surprising amount of life in its lush gorges and canyons. This tour will guide you through the desert as you visit Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Olgas (Kata Tjuta), Kings Canyon and a working cattle station. Take your pick from a variety of sleeping options, from budget to deluxe.

Other popular tours in the central desert region include the Uluru Camel Express, Sunrise or Sunset Tours.

#24. Visit Kangaroo Island

Get acquainted with Australian wildlife at Kangaroo Island

This tour is a chance to experience a very special place that few Australians have seen. On a Kangaroo Island in a Day Tour from Adelaide you’ll fly or cruise across to Kangaroo Island – a place of unspoiled wilderness and award-winning fresh natural produce. See hundreds on sea lions on the beach and look for koalas in their natural habitat before enjoying lunch in the beautiful natural surrounds.

#23. See an Opera at the Sydney Opera House

If you are a lover of opera or have never seen an opera and always wanted to go, then there is no better place to see one than at the iconic Sydney Opera House. The Opera Performance at the Sydney Opera House experience offers you the chance to do just that. Take your pick from a roll call of world-class operas during the 2012 season, including The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro and Madame Butterfly.

#22. Take a Brisbane River Cruse

Eat your fill from a sumptuous seafood buffet on the Brisbane River Dinner Cruise. Departing at 7pm from Eagle Street Pier in Brisbane, you’ll get to see the lights switch on across the city as you cruise leisurely down the river.

#21. Cruise Sydney Harbour

See how the other half live as you take in Sydney‘s most spectacular sights on a Sydney Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise. Choose from a selection of delicious menu options when you book your evening dinner cruise. Drinks are included in the cost of the tour so all you need to do is sit back and watch the sunset over one of the world’s most spectacular harbors.

#20. Milford Sound Cruise

Cruise the spectacular Milford Sound at night on the Milford Sound Mariner Overnight Cruise. This two-day tour is a memorable way to experience New Zealand’s premier natural attraction. You’ll cruise the entire length of the fiord with kayaks available to get up-close to its many waterfalls, rainforests and wildlife. Enjoy a buffet dinner, private accommodation and, after a relaxing night’s sleep onboard the boat in the calm waters of the Sound, tuck into a hearty breakfast.

If you would like to tour the Sound without the bed and breakfast option check out our Full-Day Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park Tour including Milford Sound Cruise and BBQ Lunch from Queenstown.

Wake up to this sight at Milford Sound!

#19. Get Up-Close and Personal at Sydney Taronga Zoo

The Sydney Taronga Zoo General Entry Ticket and Wild Australia Experience gives you the opportunity for some close encounters with Australian wildlife as part of a small-group tour. As one of only eight participants you’ll get the chance to pet a koala and hand-feed a wallaby at this award-winning zoo on Sydney Harbour.

#18. Ride the Kuranda Scenic Railway

Experience the rainforest beauty of Far North Queensland on the Kuranda Scenic Railway Day Trip from Cairns. On this tour you’ll get to ride the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and choose from a variety of options including the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Tjupakai Aboriginal Cultural Park or the popular Rainforestation Nature Park.

#17. Ski Mt Buller

Yes, there is snow in Australia – and lots of it! Take a full-day, wintery Mt Buller Ski Tour from Melbourne to experience the crisp, white snow at Melbourne‘s most accessible ski resort. Sit back and relax as you get driven through Melbourne’s picturesque high country to the ski slopes and pretty alpine village of Mt Buller. Enjoy a day of skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing before heading back to Melbourne on the bus.

Play in the snow at Mt Buller!

#16. Ride the Puffing Billy Steam Train

The Puffing Billy Steam Train, Yarra Valley and Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary Day Tour is a great way to experience some of the highlights of Melbourne’s surrounding countryside in just one day. Ride the restored Puffing Billy steam train through lush fern gullies, enjoy a wine tasting and lunch among the vineyards of the Yarra Valley and get up-close to the cute and cuddly critters at Australia’s premier wildlife sanctuary.

#15. Experience Waitomo Caves & Rotorua

Our most popular New Zealand tour is the Waitomo Caves and Rotorua Day Trip from Auckland. On this tour you’ll see all the highlights of the Waitomo Caves and Rotorua in one day. This tour guides you through the stalactites and enchanting glowworms of Waitomo Caves, introduces you to a working farm and then on to the bubbling mud pools and geysers of fascinating (and smelly!) Rotorua.

#14. Explore Green Island

Snorkel, scuba and more at Green Island

Visit a tropical island paradise in the Great Barrier Reef on the Green Island Day Trip from Cairns. On this tour you can choose how to spend your day: take a glass-bottom boat tour, a semi-submarine coral viewing tour, go scuba diving or snorkeling or simply choose to lay on the beach! You’ll enjoy the comforts of an air-conditioned catamaran with a licensed bar that offers refreshments throughout the day.

#13. Cruise along the beautiful Swan Valley

The Swan Valley Wine Cruise from Perth is a fun and relaxing tour of Perth‘s Swan Valley wineries. Cruise to the upper reaches of the Swan River and stop for a three-course lunch at a riverside winery. Enjoy a wine tasting and a visit to the Sandalford Estate cellar door before cruising back to Perth on a fully licensed and air-conditioned boat.

#12. Hike Franz Josef

Explore remote parts of the Franz Josef Glacier

Find out why Heli Hiking Franz Josef is described by those who’ve done it as “a trip of a lifetime”. Only in a helicopter can you access the most remote and pristine areas of the Franz Josef Glacier.  This tour combines a scenic helicopter flight over Franz Josef Glacier with a two-hour guided walk through the ice caves, pinnacles and seracs of New Zealand’s South Island. Coming a close second to Heli Hiking in this category is the Franz Josef Half Day Glacier Experience.

#11. Go Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef

Enjoy five hours of snorkeling or diving on our most popular Great Barrier Reef cruise. The Great Barrier Reef Diving and Snorkeling Cruise from Cairns whisks you out to the outer reef on a fast boat so you can spend most of your time exploring the incredible coral and sea life up-close. As part of this tour you will receive free scuba dive lesson, a guided snorkel tour, and a delicious buffet lunch. There is also the option to include a 10-minute scenic helicopter fight!

#10. Cruise down the Gordon River

Glide past ancient rainforests as you sip Tasmanian wine and sample fine local cheeses on a Gordon River Cruise from Strahan. This cruise takes you through a World Heritage Area and a pristine landscape that has remained virtually unchanged in centuries. With a choice of seating on either a morning or afternoon departure, this six-hour cruise on the Gordon River allows plenty of time to explore the fishing village of Strahan and the surrounding area. The tour also includes a guided shore excursion to Sarah Island, a convict settlement dating back to 1822.

#9. Go Wine Tasting in the Yarra Valley

Enjoy wine and nice views in Yarra Valley

Melbourne’s picturesque Yarra Valley has a strong international reputation for producing fine wines. This full-day Yarra Valley Wine and Winery Tour from Melbourne takes in four of the region’s best known wineries, with a chance to enjoy a gourmet lunch, several wine tastings and an introduction to the intricacies and processes that go into making the very best Australian wine. Even teetotalers get a buzz out of this varied and interesting tour.

#8. Day Trip to the Blue Mountains

On this Blue Mountains Nature and Wildlife Day Tour from Sydney you’ll explore the beautiful World Heritage listed Blue Mountains on a full-day nature and wildlife trip. Visit quaint mountain villages and a wildlife park, walk to the impressive Three Sisters rock formations and learn about Aboriginal Dreamtime legends as you stroll through the eucalypts and rainforest. You can also opt to ride the Scenic Railway (the world’s steepest incline railway), the Scenic Cableway and lunch at Scenic World overlooking the Jamieson Valley.

Should you wish to combine your Sydney trip with a tour of the Blue Mountains, why not choose our popular 2-Day Combo: Sydney City Tour, Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruise and Blue Mountains Day Trip.

#7. See the Penguin Parade

The fairy penguins that live on Philip Island are the highlight of many a visitor’s trip to Australia. Only venturing to shore at dusk, these cute little birds waddle up the sand to their burrows just meters away from the boardwalks that hold a gaggle of excited travelers. Our two most popular tours include the Phillip Island Penguin Small Group Eco Tour from Melbourne, which includes a visit to a winery and a chocolate factory and the Phillip Island: Penguins, Koalas and Kangaroos Day Tour from Melbourne.

#6. Eat at the Sounds of Silence

Watch the sun set over Uluru at the Sounds of Silence Restaurant

Be seduced by an endless outback sky and the sounds of didgeridoo as you kick back and enjoy a gourmet Aussie barbecue on the Sounds of Silence Restaurant tour. Nibble canapés and bush tucker with native meats such as kangaroo, barramundi, crocodile and emu as you watch the sun go down over Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Olgas (Kata Tjuta). Spend the rest of the evening star gazing under the expert guidance of the outback’s resident astronomer.

#5. Tour the Great Ocean Road

No trip to Melbourne would be complete without touring the Great Ocean Road. On this award-winning full-day Great Ocean Road Small Group Eco Tour from Melbourne you’ll be driven along Victoria’s famous winding coastal road and receive a full commentary on all the amazing sights. See koalas in the treetops, go on a guided walk through the rainforest and visit the iconic rock formations, the Twelve Apostles. There is also an option to include a helicopter flight over the Twelve Apostles as part of your tour.

#4. Sightsee in Sydney

Hop-on, hop-off (or just hop!) around Sydney

Why exhaust yourself trudging around Sydney when you can explore the city sights from the top of a bus on the Sydney and Bondi Hop-on Hop-off Tour? Visit the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour, the historic Rocks and more as your bus stops at each location for 15 to 20 minutes. And if you miss the bus you can always catch the next one! Tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours giving you the opportunity to spend as much time at each sight as you wish.

If you’re planning to explore Sydney on your own, why not save some money with our popular Sydney Sightseeing Pass: See Sydney Card and Attraction Pass or the Sydney Sightseeing Pass – Aquarium, Sydney Tower, Wildlife World and Sydney Harbour Cruise.

#3. Cruise the Yarra River on a Dinner Cruise

Cruise along Melbourne’s Yarra River on a Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise as it cuts through the center of the city and out to the leafy eastern suburbs. If the weather’s fine you can dine under the stars on the top deck and lean lazily over the water between courses. Enjoy a gourmet meal as Melbourne lights up for another balmy evening on the town.

#2. Eat at the Sydney Tower

Enjoy panoramic views across Sydney and beyond as you enjoy a tasty all-you-can-eat meal at the Sydney Tower Restaurant Buffet. This tour is an opportunity to get a birds-eye-view of all the city’s famous sights including Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Hyde Park and more. Formerly known as Centrepoint Tower, the Sydney Tower Restaurant is Sydney’s tallest building and the highest revolving restaurant in the Southern Hemisphere. For more intimate fine dining in the same venue you may wish to consider the Sydney Tower 360 Bar and Dining option.

#1. Eat at the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant

Can there be any better way to see a city than being wined and dined on a classic tram? Our travelers don’t seem to think so! The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant Tour of Melbourne is a huge hit with locals and tourists alike. This top-rated tour takes you on a tram ride along the city’s main thoroughfares as you sit back and relax, drink in hand, and gaze contentedly out the window at Melbourne’s best sights. Expect to see Queen Victoria Market; Flinders Street Station; Federation Square; the Yarra River and Southbank; St Kilda and more as you enjoy a delicious meal of your choosing.

That’s Viator’s list of the Top 25 Things to Do in Australia & New Zealand in 2011. Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. Let us know what you think, tell us about your own travel experiences, and most important of all – happy travels in 2012!

- Viator Travel Team