“G’day mate!” This is the common greeting heard throughout the streets of Australia, but don’t be too surprised if you come across “Assalamu Alaikum Mate!” The people of Australia are as friendly as they are diverse; that was my impression during my visit this past fall.

After a long 13-hour flight, my husband and I arrived in Sydney. We were just as excited as we were exhausted, but with a map and camera in hand we were ready to get started on our Australian adventure.

Sydney is an active city that has something for everyone; from the beaches to harbors, Sydney has something to offer even the most fastidious traveler. Within the city you will find a different cultural district with each turn of a corner. The shop owners are courteous and kind; one shop owner thanked us for stopping by and pointed us in the direction of a halal restaurant.

Walking through the streets of Sydney, you’ll easily come across numerous halal restaurants, anything from Indian, Lebanese, Malaysian or Turkish.

With its endless distinct harbors, one could spend the day harbor-hopping , as each harbor has something all its own. Cruising in a ferry is also a great way to take in some gorgeous views.. One harbor houses an amusement park, another a zoo, while the other, an outlet mall. The most popular is Darling Harbor, home to many attractions including an aquarium, indoor wildlife park, museums, shops and restaurants. As we walked along the harbor we saw many Muslim couples and families, heard Arabic music in the background, and smelled the aroma of Middle Eastern cuisine. We almost forgot that we were in Australia until we remembered that our next stop was the Sydney Opera House. Even if opera isn’t your thing, its still worth a visit.  Take a tour of the inside and/or just marvel at the architecture. Then take a pleasant stroll through the Royal Botanical Gardens to a panoramic outlook of the Sydney Bridge and Opera House.

Just outside of Sydney are the Blue Mountains, we traveled there by a scenic train ride through the forest. Here we took in the serene nature as we hiked through rainforest trails, soared over the mountains in a sky tram and an experienced an exciting dash through the trees and down the mountain side on the steepest incline railway in the world! On the way back to the city we visited the Featherdale Wildlife Park where we got acquainted with the signature Aussie animals--cute cuddly koalas and played with kangaroos!
Next we headed southwest of Sydney where we enjoyed the diverse and artistic culture of Melbourne. This city has an amazing vibe on its own with medieval architecture paired with modern design. We spent our days in Melbourne admiring the contrasting yet complementing sites of the city. We visited Queen Victoria Market, a historical landmark selling traditional Aboriginal arts and crafts and international products. We also spent some time near the Yara River, a trendy hotspot where you can dine on international cuisine and walk along the river while watching street performers.

We headed south of Melbourne to take a scenic drive down The Great Ocean Road. Here we drove with the ocean on one side and the outback on the other. While driving along the coast, we admired the beautiful turquoise colored water crashing against the contrasting terracotta colored rugged cliffs. As we drove further we came to see the Twelve Apostles amazing rock formations standing tall in the ocean, surely a site to see. In comparison to Sydney’s beaches, the coast along The Great Ocean Road is mostly viewed rather than occupied by beach goers, thus a great place for Muslims to admire Allah’s creation.

As our trip only covered a small portion of Australia, it was amazing to see how beautiful this country is in so many ways. Vibrant cities, natural and architectural wonders, culture, and nothing short of unique experiences, a trip to Australia will leave you in awe.  So don’t let the distance deter you, chances are, once you arrive you will feel right at home.