There’s no better reason to get away from work for a week or a month than to travel and see all the world has to offer. However, most who can afford it will think to look outside of Australia to get their taste of adventure. That doesn’t mean it’s necessary, however. Australia has everything you could want it to offer and in sites of tremendous natural beauty, it’s hard to beat. Next time you’re taking a break away from work, consider some of the locations below. You might not have to go far to get your fill of the outdoors and the exotic. You may have already seen some of these, we have no doubt. However, whichever you haven’t visited, they should definitely be on the bucket list.
The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road has to be included on the list not because it’s a fantastic place to visit if you’re a fan of natural beauty. But rather because it’s a whole collection of fantastic places to visit for natural beauty. Great Ocean Road tours can take you to all sorts of locations. Some of the greatest things to see here are the beautifully formed Limestone formations like the Grotto and the Twelve Apostles. Of course, as popular as it is, it has all kinds of rest stops and eateries on the road as well. A drive along the great ocean road can give you all you need. Gorgeous beaches, fantastic scenery and plenty of great camping spots when you want to set up for the night.
Shark Bay
Naturally, a lot of Australia’s most beautiful places are going to be by the sea. When you have this much to offer on your coast line, that’s a given. Not many countries can boast a place like Shark bay, after all. Around 12.5% of the world’s dugongs live here, so if you love marine life, you’ll see islands and beaches packed with them. They’re joined by bottlenose dolphins and even the mighty whale shark, depending on the season. If you’re a history buff, you’re sure to love Dirk Hartog island as well. From there, you can see Australia as the early explorers would have laid eyes on it for the first time. The geography of the islands and bays themselves are great, perfect for getting a bird’s eye view of it all.
Great Barrier Reef
If you like to travel, then you’ve probably had the opportunity to already get up and see the greatest coral reef in the world. If not, however, then it’s definitely something to go see at your next good opportunity. The Great Barrier Reef’s beauty is world famous for a good reason. There’s no better snorkelling or diving spot in the whole world. Seeing the colours and the flamboyant marine life playing before your eyes needs to be experienced to be believed. It’s hard to say how sustainable the reef is, as it stands, with current concerns over bleaching. So we recommend going to see it as soon as possible.
Uluru
Another place you’ve probably already seen if you’re a traveller. Yet, there are still plenty of Australians who have never seen it up close. Uluru, or Ayer’s Rock, is genuinely a breath-taking sight. If you have the luxury of spending all day there, then do so. The sky, sun and stars do a fantastic job of painting the rock in all sorts of different colours. There’s a lot to do there besides admiring an incredibly admirable rock, as well. The Sounds of Silence restaurant, for example, gives you a wholly unique setting to a great meal. If you don’t quite have the space in your wallet for that, however, the Uluru Outback Barbecue Dinner can be just as great a day out.
Fraser Island
You don’t have to stick to the mainland to see some gorgeous natural beauty, however. Taking a trip off Queensland’s Great Sandy region could land you on Fraser Island. There are 75 miles of gorgeous beach in this environmentally protected, eco-friendly vacation spot. If you’re enthusiastic about environmental holidays, you can even help. The rangers take all the assistance they can get in their efforts to preserve this unique spot. You can help remove marine debris, weeds and contribute to mapping. But there’s plenty of great vacationing to be had, too. The Maheno shipwreck makes for a real fantastic sight. Then there’s all the wildlife that’s entirely unique to Fraser Island. If you love national parks, then take a boat out to this island. It’s a great mix of vacation and conservation.
Kakadu
Of course, you can’t go talking about Australian national parks without making some mention of Kakadu. We recommend having some sort of guide or experienced traveller on this one, since no-one should go delving into a tropical jungle on their own. If you live in the city, it can almost be like getting into another world entirely. Or perhaps travelling into another time. Because the thing that Kakadu is probably most famous for is the whole host of aboriginal rock art on display. The earliest known rock art, in the Mimi style, could be as old as a hundred thousand years. Then there are also the over two-hundred strong species of fantastically colourful birds. If it’s the wilderness and a look into the world a thousand years old you want, Kakadu’s the place for you.
Pinnacles Desert
If it’s the almost eerie way time and weather can shape the very land you walk on, however, you’ll want to see Pinnacles Desert. The drive there can be risky, so be wary for kangaroos on the road. Once you get there, however, you’ll be surrounded by hours and hours of stark desert. So one that’s definitely worth servicing the car for. But it’s also well worth the trip. The pinnacles that the desert is named for stand like soldiers in stark solitude. Often described as melancholy or even unsettling, it’s an unworldly piece of terrain that’s not too difficult to get to. So definitely worth the visit.
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