As a retired travel agent I often get asked to list the best things to do in any given destination. Here's my list about Australia.

1.The most popular departure point for those looking to snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a favoured destination to catch a chartered tour to the reef. There are several companies that offer a wide variety of different kinds of charters to the reef. You may choose between day-tours or extended cruises, which range widely in cost.If you aren’t yet qualified to scuba dive, but can’t possibly go on a daytrip to the Great Barrier Reef without doing so, you can easily pick up your certification in a few days at any Cairns dive school. They offer a 5-day dive course, which gives you your open water qualification and gives you the opportunity for several solo dives out on the reef. Virtually all operators have an green tourism certification, which means you don’t have to worry about damaging the reef while you are checking it out.

2.Held every February, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is now the largest of its kind in the world. Over a million people line Darlinghurst's streets to see floats so colourful, and outfits so outlandish that Brazilian carnevalists would be envious. Streets are blocked off, bars en-route are at capacity, and the gay and lesbian community party for days. It's their New Years. Straight folk are allowed along for the celebratory ride but this is a celebration of gay culture. The event began in the late seventies with a parade of 1000 people marking International Gay Solidarity Day. These were much less liberated times and there were disagreements with the law that led to arrests for 'lewd behaviour'. These days gay and lesbian police march openly - and even in uniform - in the parade. The whole thing involves thousands of performers. Religious types are always resentful of the wanton sexuality but are generally seen as part of the lunatic fringe during this festival. It's an unforgetable party and not to be missed.

3.An hour or so south of Cairns, Mission Beach is the closest mainland point to the Great Barrier Reef. The beach is a 8 mile long, white sandy beach, with fantastic views of Dunk and a couple of other islands just within sight. There is a quaint village there, where you can learn more about activities like snorkelling or scuba diving, though many would be perfectly happy soaking up the rays and taking in the beautiful views.You can stay in local accommodation, though most will be driving from Cairns. If you did not rent a car or motorhome for your trip, there is a bus service called Mission Beach Dunk Island Coaches, which takes the scenic road between Port Douglas, Cairns, and the Cassowary coast.

4.Tropfest is the world's largest short film festival and is held early in February each year in Sydney. Tropfest also screens around the country. The aim is to 'showcase the work of young filmmakers and to give them the opportunity to screen their films for their peers in a festive environment'. For everyone else it's a chance to watch free films while drinking beer on a warm summer's night. Each film must contain a 'signature item', something inanimate the organisers decided months previously to ensure the film was made for Tropfest. The event began in 1993 when a local actor/director John Polson screened one of his own short films at the Tropicana Café in Darlinghurst. 200 people crammed the café. The next year 2000 showed up and chaos reigned on the café strip. Last year it's estimated 100,000 watched the festival in The Domain, while capacity audiences filled the interstate venues.

5.The Big Day Out is a summer music festival and Oz's biggest travelling party. Like a mobile Woodstock the show has featured in recent years bands like Coldplay, and PJ Harvey. In the past top acts such as Nirvana and Iggy Pop have made the trip to Australia. From what started as a one day festival in Sydney on Australia day now travels all around the country and even to New Zealand. It's a not to be missed activity for anyone under 30, from Australia or overseas.

6.Called 'The race that stops a nation', The Melbourne Cup does just that. At 2.45pm on the first Tuesday in November, the whole country downs pencils and tunes in. People that have no interest in horse racing have a bet. School children are allowed home early to watch it on TV. The entire state of Victoria has a day off. Flemington, where the race is held, is a heaving mass of punters. At least 150,000 people attend the track, and the same happens at every other race track in the whole country. Australians go mad for 'The Cup', everyone becomes an analyst and sweeps are held in pubs and classrooms everywhere. As a way of seeing how Australians tick, getting to Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day can't be beaten.

7.The largest continuous area of rainforest in the country, the Daintree National Park is a protected area of lush rainforest a short drive north of Cairns . The park, which encompasses around 1200 square kilometers, is not only World Heritage listed, but is also home to a large variety of flora and fauna—including marsupials, frogs, birds and the endangered cassowary. Generally thought to be the oldest rainforest in the world, the Daintree forest is over 150 million years old and has more than 450 different species of bird, including 21 species that are found nowhere else in the world. There are numerous day walks that allow adventurers to experience parts of this giant rainforest on their own, as well as guided tours that can help teach you about the local history on your way.

8.Whitehaven Beach is located amongst the Whitsunday Islands along the Central Queensland coast and can be reached by sea or air. I have been to many beaches in my life and this is undoubtedly the most perfect, most incredible beach I have ever seen. If you can think of the softest, whitest, cleanest sand, the clearest, lightest, bluest water that's Whitehaven Beach. Airlie Beach is most often used as the base point to get to the Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Beach. The usual way to see Whitehaven is a sailboat liveaboard cruise. There are lots of sailing companies in Airlie Beach that take you there. There are also day tours to just Whitehaven or including a visit to another island such as Hamilton Island.

9.Check out the incredible view of the Sydney Opera House with the fantastic Harbour bridge in the background .The Sydney Opera House is widely recognized as the symbol of Australia, as well as being one of the most famous performing arts centres in the world. The main attraction is off course the unique design. On major celebrations in Sydney history, like New Years Eve and the Sydney Olympic games, the bridge has always been the focal point. For the adventurous, it's also possible to climb the bridge.

10.Coober Pedy is most famous for the strange lifestyle of a significant portion of it's local inhabitants who live in disused mines. This practice came about when local resident sought escape from the oppressive heat before the days of modern air conditioning. Also famous as the the Opal Capital of the World, Coober Pedy was first established as an opal mine in 1915. Today tourists can visit the old opal mines, visit underground churches, and lodge underground in a hotel. The local golf course, with sand instead of grass, is played at night with glowing golf balls. The area served as the backdrop for the post-nuclear apocalypse film titled Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome starring Australian son Mel Gibson. Find a Underground hotel and enjoy this must see highlight.

I hope these suggestions help any prospective travellers to Australia.