Packed with natural splendour and glorious beaches that are just a stone’s throw away from cosmopolitan cities, Australia is undoubtedly one of the most interesting continents in the world. Here are nine reasons why the Land Down Under is high up on our travel wish list… ?

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P.S. Planning to visit Melbourne soon? Find halal food, attractions and prayer spaces all on our website here!

1. Falling Aussie dollar

Credit: giphy With the general slowdown in the world economy comes a slight reduction in the value of the Australian dollar, which is currently at USD 0.79 per AUD (it used to be USD 0.80 per AUD just a year ago). This is good news for tourists in general!

2. Aurora Australis (Southern Lights)

Credit: giphy Seeing the northern lights in Norway, Alaska or Canada often appears on travelers’ bucket lists, but after this year, it’s predicted to dim for the next decade. Lucky for you, Australia has its own light show called the Aurora Australis - and it’s a lot closer to us!

Credit: James Garlick on Facebook Your best bet is to head to Tasmania in winter (late March - September) as its unique location means that there are higher chances for you to witness one of nature's most spectacular phenomena. From what we've read, South Arm Peninsula (40 kilometres southeast of Hobart), Dodges Ferry (40 kilometres east of Hobart), and Cockle Creek (120 kilometre south-west of Hobart) are fave spots for photographers.

3. Now more can fly to Australia for cheaper

Credit: giphy There are many airlines that can take you to Oz (Malindo Air announced daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Perth late last year), and if you’re looking for more affordable options, here’s what we found on Skyscanner for a trip during the month of November 2017:

Kuala Lumpur – Perth: $220 USD (approximately RM944) on Malindo Air
Singapore – Melbourne: $292 USD (approximately $398 SGD) on Scoot

4. Public pools look like this…

This isn’t your typical pool. Ocean pools are hammered out of rocks at the ocean’s edge so that waves can wash into the pool. There are about a hundred of these pools scattered along the New South Wales coastline, with Bondi Icebergs at the iconic Bondi Beach being the one we love best.

5. See the largest sculpture exhibition in the world… for free!

Credit: sculpturebythesea on Instagram This October till November 2017, check out Bondi for ‘Sculpture by the Sea’ - a free exhibition featuring over 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world.

Sculpture by the Sea showcases artworks from different artists hailing from all over the world! The idea of this exhibition is to make the sculptures more accessible to a wider range of audience ?

6. Epic coffee culture

Credit: thebabasus on Instagram Get this: Australia invented the flat white in 1985! So it’s only natural that they’re dead serious about their coffee, which might explain why 95% of cafés in the Land Down Under are independently owned. So it’s not surprise that Melbourne is one of the world’s great coffee cities, where you can even check out the annual coffee expo or discover the cafes that line Melbourne charming laneways via the Hidden Café City Tour!

7. Watch rock formations change colour in the light of day...

Credit: Chris Ford on Flickr UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uluru is one of Australia’s most iconic symbols. The massive sandstone rock formation changes colour throughout the day, from pink to purple to dark red - all of which you can experience from above by helicopter or hot air balloon, on a Harley or even on the back of a camel.

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… and watch 50,000 bulbs illuminate the majestic Uluru landscape.

As night falls, be dazzled by ‘Field of Light’, a light installation by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro, running till 31 March 2018!

8. Ride the world’s steepest railway

Credit: eleywfff on Instagram You can’t visit Sydney without spending a day at the Blue Mountains. It’s home to eucalyptus forests, waterfalls, bushwalk trails, wildlife and the steepest railway in the world - the Scenic Railway - which also offers sweeping vistas of the natural landscape with an incline of up to 52°!

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9. Whitehaven Beach is practically paradise on earth

Credit: backpackersworld on Instagram Want sun, sea and sand minus the maddening crowd? Get your fix of “vitamin sea” at Whitehaven Beach, off the coast of Queensland. This slice of paradise, with its azure waters and pure white sand will melt all your worries away! Wondering where to continue your travels in 2017? Australia is already in our list! We're so ready to head on over to the Land Down Under right now ?

9 Epic Reasons Why 2017 Is The Year You Conquer Australia