Fly to the Southern Hemisphere for Chinese New Year and embrace the sunshine and seas of Eastern Australia

Can't stand the damp and cold weather during the winter holiday? The best place to "escape the cold" at this time is down under in Australia. It’s summer in Australia right now—not only can you wear light clothes and stroll around, but you can also soak up the sun on the beach, go snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef to see beautiful corals and tropical fish, and indulge in modern Australian cuisine along with a few glasses of classic Aussie red or white wine.

Sydney, Brisbane, and Cairns are the three major tourist cities along Australia’s eastern coast. Travelers can choose any two based on their schedule. Among them, the most well-known Sydney is not only a vibrant yet laid-back metropolis, but also a transportation hub for New South Wales. Brisbane, known as the “Koala Capital,” enjoys an alluring subtropical climate year-round with an average of 7.5 hours of sunshine daily, hence earning the nickname “City of Sunshine.” Close to the equator, Cairns is dubbed the “Tropical Capital” and also known as the adventure city. On its outskirts lies the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, while offshore is the world’s largest coral reef system—the Great Barrier Reef.

Blue Mountains National Park is part of Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area. It not only features the famous Three Sisters rock formation but also boasts many quaint towns rich in retro and artistic charm. About a two-hour drive from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is the closest wine region to Sydney and one of Australia’s major wine-producing areas. Wine tasting and sampling gourmet food in the Hunter Valley is a real treat. The Great Barrier Reef, listed as a Natural World Heritage site in 1981, is locally referred to simply as the “Reef.” Stretching about 2,300 kilometers along Queensland’s coastline, the Reef spans a total area of 350,000 square kilometers—nearly 10 times the size of Taiwan—and is both a World Heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

To truly experience the lifestyle of Australians, wander through the streets and alleys to explore interesting markets, observe how locals shop, and maybe even uncover some unexpected treasures to take home. Sydney offers several noteworthy markets, including the weekend Rocks Market and the trendy Paddy’s Markets, which feature a wide range of artisan crafts and souvenirs. Additionally, there’s the iconic Sydney Fish Market, where visitors can feast on fresh oysters, fish, prawns, and other seafood delights.

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