Australia is many people’s dream, it immediately evokes the impression of open and wild spaces, and it also evokes the impression of a modern metropolis overlooking the sea, where you can surf at any time. If you’re looking for adrenaline, get ready to swim with sharks at Ningaloo Reef or swim with dolphins at Monkey Mia – the possibilities are endless! If you want to be a true pioneer, you can go up to Ghan and then cross the country from Darwin to Adelaide. Here are 5 of the best places to go in Australia.
1-Great Barrier Reef
Queensland
Off the coast of Cairns in northern Queensland is the Great Barrier Reef, one of the largest coral reefs on the planet, large enough to even be seen from space! It is longer than the Great Wall of China and just as spectacular. In the turquoise ocean, between abandoned atolls and islets colonized by thousands of birds, the huge coral reef is delighted with its colors. The Great Barrier Reef and more… hundreds of islands off the coast of Queensland await you to walk, dive and see more than 400 types of coral, thousands of sponges, mollusks, turtles and fish up close. True tropical paradises, these wonderful and unspoiled islands, surrounded by a gigantic coral reef, offer wide white beaches and an extraordinary variety of birds, butterflies, flowers and plants; and in some of them excellent resorts offer the opportunity to live this wonderful experience in total relaxation. The Great Barrier Reef is a mosaic of 2,900 individual coral reefs off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia. The vast coral reef is visible from space and is not only the largest coral reef system in the world, but also the largest structure on Earth composed of living organisms.
2-Daintree Rainforest
Queensland
The World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest is so beautiful that its ancient ferns, emerald green vines and lush greenery were the inspiration behind the Avatar movie. Here you can roam the jungle and discover plants and animals that are not found anywhere else on our planet. Fly through the trees on the rope from a bird’s eye view. Cruise along the winding waterways of the Daintree River in search of saltwater crocodiles. And go to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. When Sir David Attenborough calls something “the most unusual place on earth”, you know it must be good. The rainy season, which coincides with winter here, is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the lush Daintree Rainforest. Curious native animals roam among purple ferns, lianas, mangroves and orchids, such as flying foxes – giant bats – annoying cassowaries – colorful plumage halfway between emus and peacock – plus colorful butterflies and parrots.
3-Freycinet National Park
Tasmania
Freycinet National Park, with its magnificent pink granite peaks, is located on the east coast of Tasmania. The park is famous for Wineglass Bay, recognized by Outside magazine as one of the ten best beaches in the world. The park offers rock climbing, zip lines, and mountain walks, while the coastal moorland offers fantastic walks during the day. Bird lovers can see a white-tailed eagle flying above them or a large Australian gannet diving into the ocean in search of food. The Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve, just outside the park along Coles Bay Road, is a wetland of international significance. Tasmania resembles New Zealand due to its cool climate, forests and large natural parks. Among them is the magnificent Freycinet National Park with a winding road between eucalyptus and gum trees. Throughout the park you can choose from numerous walking routes of varying length and difficulty. Longer walks can be more difficult, so be prepared by bringing basic first aid equipment, snacks, and raincoats when the weather changes. Photo courtesy of Tourism Tasmania and Geoffrey. There are also many scenic drives worth visiting around Freycinet, including Cape Tourville and The Friendly Beaches.
4-Kangaroo Island
South Australia
Kangaroo Island, 13km off the coast of South Australia and just a 30-minute plane ride from Adelaide, is filled with native animals, traditional food, epic rock formations, and even the best beach hotels in the world. There is enough to do here to fill the days, but don’t forget to follow the example of the locals and enjoy the fresh air, great food and unique nature. It is called Kangaroo Island, but here there are not only kangaroos: between seals and penguins, the island is an immense natural park, a clean and pristine treasure. We are about two hundred kilometers south of Adelaide, but they seem light years: life flows quietly between vineyards and headlands overlooking the sea, cliffs and steep banks, bays and immense beaches.
Seal Bay Conservation Park, on the south coast of Kangaroo Island, is the only place in the world where you can walk among the endangered Australian sea lions. You can walk the 900-meter-long wooden boardwalk on the Boardwalk Tour and watch animals swirl in the ocean waters or bask in the sun on the sand, or you can join the Seal Bay Experience on a 45-minute guided beach tour. There is also a two-hour tour, the Twilight Beach Tour. Sample craft beer at Kangaroo Island Brewery or sip wine at the island’s vineyard cellars, including Dudley Wines near Penneshaw and Bay of Shoals Wines near Kingscote . Kangaroo Island Spirits produces handmade Australian gins, liqueurs and liqueurs that can be tasted right in the cellar.
5-The Pinnacles
Western Australia
The Pinnacles Desert is one of Western Australia’s most popular attractions. These extraordinary geological structures are found in Nambung National Park and are easily accessible on a day trip from Perth. The Pinnacles are unique limestone formations that have formed over the course of tens of thousands of years and create a stunning lunar landscape that has not been seen anywhere else in the world. The landscape of Australia’s Wild West is a mine of surprises – one of them is in the heart of Nambung National Park and the scenery is something of a dream. The Pinnacles, a forest of limestone peaks, look like many yellow stone trees, but they are actually ocean fossils that appeared over 30,000 years ago.
The Pinnacle Desert is located in Western Australia’s Nambung National Park, near the coastal town of Cervantes. The journey from Perth to Pinnacles is 200km and takes approximately 2 hours from the city center. From Perth, the most scenic route to Pinnacles is along Indian Ocean Drive on the beautiful coral coast. The Pinnacles can be visited all year round. There is no perfect time of year to visit Pinnacles, but like anything else, a bright, sunny day is best. Many people prefer to see the Pinnacles in the early morning or late afternoon as the shadows create an even more unique aura. The sunset also changes the colors of the Pinnacles.
