TripAdvisor®, the travel planning and booking site, today announced the winners of its Travellers’ Choice® awards for Landmarks in Australia.
For the second consecutive year, Sydney Opera House has clinched the #1 spot in Australia and South Pacific. Coming in second in Australia was the Australian War Memorial, followed by the Sydney Harbour Bridge in third. Globally, Cambodia’s Angkor Wat won the title of top landmark in the world.
“The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Landmarks highlights some of Australia’s attractions that have topped the list for the global travel community,” said Janice Lee Fang, Director of Communications, Asia Pacific, TripAdvisor. “From moving memorials and heritage buildings, to structures of architectural significance, Australians can look to this list to better understand the rich history behind some of their country’s most loved landmarks.”
TripAdvisor has also identified highly-rated tours and experiences at these award winning landmarks. TripAdvisor has more than 100,000 bookable tours, activities and experiences worldwide to help travellers see and learn more of a place than they would on their own.
Top 10 Landmarks in Australia:
- Sydney Opera House – Sydney
Designed to relate as naturally to the Sydney harbour as the sails of a yacht, the iconic Sydney Opera House is regarded as one of the greatest architectural achievements of the 20th-century. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed landmark is one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres, drawing 8.2 million visitors annually and showcasing over 2,000 performances in its concert halls, theatres and studios.
Discover this landmark with a behind-the-scenes tour of the performance centre and access to off-limits parts of the house – tour prices start from $40 per person.
- Australian War Memorial – Australian Capital Territory
The Australian War Memorial, which comprises of a museum, a shrine and an extensive archive, is a national monument dedicated to citizens who have participated or sacrificed their lives in wars involving the Commonwealth of Australia. Through interactive displays, old film footage and photos and descriptive narratives, the memorial enables visitors to commemorate, interpret and understand the experience of war and its lasting impact on Australian society.
Discover this historic landmark as part of a guided day trip from Sydney – tour prices start from $189 per person.
- Sydney Harbour Bridge – Sydney
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, affectionately known by locals as the 'coat hanger' due to its arch-based design, is one the world’s most renowned steel bridge. Its arch spans 504 meters and its highest point stands tall at 134 metres above the harbour. Completed in 1932, the bridge plays an integral part in the city’s transport infrastructure, connecting over 200,000 cars daily from the northern suburbs of Sydney to the city centre.
Discover this landmark by climbing up the bridge – tour prices start from $168 per person.
- Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) – Melbourne
Known by locals as “the G”, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of Australia’s largest, oldest and most popular sporting venues. Aside from hosting major sporting events such as the 1992 World Cup and the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the stadium has also seen music concerts headlined by international acts. Travellers can learn about the rich Australian sporting history through priceless pieces of memorabilia at its National Sports Museum.
Discover this landmark by going on a behind-the-scenes tour of the arena, including areas not open to the general public – tour prices start from $25 per person.
- Shrine of Remembrance – Melbourne
Created and built by veterans of the First World War, the Shrine is Australia’s memorial of citizens who served in global conflicts throughout the nation’s history. Opened in 1934, the landmark pays a moving tribute to the sacrifices made by fallen soldiers with features such as an Eternal Flame which symbolises eternal life for those who have served.
Discover this historic landmark as part of a comprehensive afternoon tour of Melbourne's highlights – tour prices start from $71 per person.
- Queen Victoria Building (QVB) – Sydney
With over 180 fashion boutiques, jewellery shops, cafes and restaurants, Queen Victoria Building, better known by locals as QVB, is one of Sydney's renowned and prestigious shopping centres. Visitors are often captivated by the design of the centre which includes a central dome, stained glass windows and an original 19th-century staircase.
Discover this historic landmark during a half-day tour of Sydney city – tour prices start from $125 per person.
- Port Arthur Historic Site – Port Arthur
Port Arthur Historic Site was once a major penal colony used to house Britain’s worst offenders that has since been restored. The landmark comprises of 30 buildings, ruins and period homes set amongst in 40 hectares of landscaped Victorian gardens. Visitors are encouraged to set aside at least 4 to 6 hours in order to soak themselves in the rich history of the site.
Discover this historic landmark with a deep dive into its history though a guided tour – tour prices start from $132 per person.
- Fremantle Prison – Fremantle
Built by convicts in the 1850s, Fremantle Prison is a six-hectare site that includes cellblocks, gatehouse, cottages and underground tunnels. The landmark provides insight into prison life and is recognised by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for being the last and most well-conserved British colonial prison in Australia.
Discover this historic landmark with a self-guided audio tour – tour prices start from $27 per person.
- HMAS Sydney II Memorial – Geraldton
The HMAS Sydney II Memorial was created in honour of the 645 Australian sailors who were lost off the Western Australian coast during the World War II battle. The tribute features a silver dome made up of 645 sculptured seagulls, each honouring a life lost during the battle and bronze statue of a woman gazing at the distant horizon waiting for the return of a loved one, a symbol of loved ones left behind as a result of the tragedy.
- Kings Park War Memorial – Perth
Completed in 1929, the State War Memorial at Kings Park commemorates Western Australian servicemen and women who have served in all wars and conflicts involving Australia. The landmark which comprises of a Cenotaph, Court of Contemplation, Flame of Remembrance and Pool of Reflection and an elevated landscaped park offers visitors a panoramic view of Perth City and the Swan River.
Discover this historic landmark with a customisable Perth sightseeing pass – tour prices start from $325 per person.
Top 10 Landmarks in the World:
- Angkor Wat – Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Plaza de Espana – Seville, Spain
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- St. Peter’s Basilica – Vatican City, Italy
- Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba – Cordoba, Spain
- Taj Mahal – Agra, India
- Duomo di Milano – Milan, Italy
- Alcatraz Island – San Francisco, USA
- Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, USA
- Parliament – Budapest, Hungary
Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period. This year’s awards recognised 759 landmarks across 67 countries and eight regions across the globe.
For the complete list of the 2018 Travellers’ Choice Landmarks winners, as well as reviews and candid traveller photos, go to: www.tripadvisor.com/TravellersChoice-Landmarks.
Notes to Editors
All prices are in Australian dollars.
