Australian Port Cities

Fun Facts About Australian Port Cities

• Albany was the first European settlement in Western Australia, established in 1826. It is also home to Australia's oldest shipwreck site dating back to the 1800s.
• Melbourne is considered Australia's cultural capital. It has more cafes, theaters, and art galleries per capita than any other city in the country. Plus it has the largest tram network in the world.
• Hobart is Australia's second-oldest city (after Sydney). It hosts the annual Sydney-to-Hobart Yacht Race, one of the most prestigious sailing races in the world.
• Derby is where you'll find the Horizontal Waterfalls, a natural phenomenon where ocean water flows through a narrow gap, creating waterfalls that flow sideways. It also has some of the highest tidal ranges on Earth, reaching over 36 feet.
• Brisbane is known for its man-made inner-city beach, as well as its annual Riverfire festival, which features one of the largest fireworks displays in the country.
• Cairns is the closest major city to the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system. It's clearly visible from space.
• Dampier is home to one of the largest and oldest collections of rock art in the world. It is estimated to contain 1 to 2 million rock engravings, some of them over 50,000 years old — far older than the pyramids or Stonehenge.
• Newcastle has been the largest coal-exporting port on the planet since the 19th century. The port manages over 4,400 ship movements annually, exporting around 150 million tons.