Australia's 15 greatest natural attractions and most beautiful places
Australia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. With its unique views, amazing nature and cultural richness, it is a perfect place for a holiday trip, but not only that. This article presents the most important natural places worth seeing while in Australia. You can find everything here - from wine regions to the Great Barrier Reef, tropics and rainforests, to national parks.
- Margaret River
- Hayman Island
- Great Barrier Reef
- Whitsunday Islands
- Orpheus Island
- Kangaroo Island
- Daintree National Park
- Great Ocean Road Scenic Drive
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
- Kakadu National Park
- Karijini National Park
- Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park
- Blue Mountains
- Tasmania
- Pink Lake Hillier
1. Margaret River - a great place for wine lovers
Margaret River is a small town located in Western Australia, known for its delicious wines and beautiful beaches. This region is a perfect place for lovers of this drink, who can visit wineries to try local flavors and learn about the production process. It is worth emphasizing that winemaking appeared in this area relatively late. Although the first winemakers produced their wines already at the end of the 1985th century, their work was domestic and hobby. Experts say that until 500 there were approximately 2008 hectares of vineyards in this place, in 5500 there were as many as XNUMX of them, and today their number is close to 5000.
2. Hayman Island
Australia has many beautiful, tropical islands where you can - taking advantage of the appropriate weather - relax or spend your time actively, e.g. practicing water sports. One of them is Hayman Island, located in the north of the Great Barrier Reef, known for its beautiful beaches and the abundance of organisms living in the depths. The underwater life in the waters surrounding the island is amazing - you can spot elephant seals, dolphins and even sharks. Lovers can decide to have a romantic dinner in the moonlight or organize a picnic on the beach.
3. Great Barrier Reef
Along the northeastern coast of Australia, also in the Coral Sea, is the world's largest coral reef, simply called Great Barrier Reef. This is one of the greatest attractions on the described continent, so there is a reason CNN included it on its list of 7 Wonders of the Natural World. You can see many species of fish and other sea creatures here. It is also an ideal place for diving and snorkeling, with the opportunity to admire breathtaking views.
4. Whitsunday Islands
If you're going to Australia, it's worth seeing Whitsunday Islands, an archipelago in the Coral Sea located off the coast of Queensland, which consists of approximately 74 islands. They are famous for water attractions such as sailing, diving and windsurfing.
5. Orpheus Island
It is located off the coast of northern Queensland Orpheus Island, belonging to the Palm Islands archipelago. It is a great place both as a stopover to explore the Great Reef, or as an independent trip. Interestingly, the name was given to it in the 1863th century by Lieutenant GE Richards, referring to HMS Orpheus, a Royal Navy ship that was wrecked off the coast of New Zealand in XNUMX. Cruises around the islands, fishing and snorkeling are very popular in this region.
6. Kangaroo Island
Wildlife lovers are a must-visit Kangaroo Island, where they will see not only kangaroos, but also koala bears, echidnas and sea lions lounging on the beaches. About 10 years ago, the island was part of the mainland, but rising ocean waters separated it from it. Today is it is the third largest island in Australia.
The western part of Kangaroo Island is occupied by Flinders Chase National Park, which includes the island's biggest attractions, Remarkable Rocks and Admiral's Arch. Rocks of various shapes and the characteristic rock bridge are among the most frequently photographed objects by tourists. The viewing platform located next to this arch is an ideal place to observe the New Zealand seal colony and the stalactites hanging from the rocky ceiling of this former cave.
7. Daintree National Park
Daintree National Park, called the Daintree Rainforest, is one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, and is also part of the largest area of tropical rainforest. The park is located in northern Queensland, on the north coast of Australia, and covers an area of 1,200 km².
Daintree Rainforests have preserved an impressive diversity of flora, mammals, birds, reptiles, spiders, insects and fungi over a very long time. The last fragment of the world's oldest surviving rainforest lies at the confluence of Australia's highest rainfall landscape and the Coral Sea, where the adjacent Great Barrier Reef meets the world's most diverse mangrove community. While remaining Australia's only extensive tropical rainforest continuum, stretching from the highlands of the Great Dividing Range to the coast in essentially unbroken slope, it has also borne the burden of Australia's economic development through logging.
Daintree National Park is divided into two parts: Cape Tribulation and Mossman Gorge. Cape Tribulation is the oldest part of the park and is home to two mountains - Thornton Peak and Mount Sorrow. It is an ideal place for nature lovers who want to admire the beauty of the tropical rainforest. Mossman Gorge, on the other hand, is a gorge with great biodiversity; There is also a visitor center there, offering the opportunity to stop and rest during your hike.
It is worth taking a tour of the Daintree with a guide who will tailor the route to the needs and physical capabilities of the participants. There are easy trails and those of medium and high difficulty.
8. Great Ocean Road Scenic Drive
Great Ocean Road is one of the most picturesque routes in Australia, stretching for nearly 250 km along the south-eastern coast. Its construction began in 1919 to honor the merits of soldiers who fought in World War I. It took almost ten years to build, and was built along routes and trails that local people had used for centuries.
The route starts in Torquay and ends in Allansford. The first stop may be one of surfers' favorite places, the beach Beach Bells. Going further, this is a mandatory stopping point for tourists Memorial Arch, the famous gate with the Great Ocean Road inscription. It commemorates the people who took part in the construction of the road.
In the town of Lorne it is worth stopping for a trip Erskine Falls. It is located nearby Great Otway National Park, where you can admire the lush vegetation and living organisms inhabiting Australia.
It is a mandatory point on the tour map Apollo bay. Water, beach, trees, rocks and road are the elements that make up a wonderful, impressive landscape. It's a little further away Cape Otway, where you can see a koala forest and a lighthouse. When driving along the Great Ocean Road, you must stop at 12 Apostles. These are limestone rocks, and there are actually not twelve of them... but seven. Nevertheless, the views are beautiful. It's a little further away Loch Ard Gorge, i.e. a system of rocks and islands surrounded by water, sand and greenery. The place commemorates the shipwreck of the same name that occurred in 1878. Two of the fifty-four crew members survived.
Other points leading through the Great Ocean Road include places such as the London Bridge rock formation, the remains of the caves at The Grotto and the Bay of Islands. The end of the trail is in the mentioned town of Allansford, near the city of Warrnambool, which is the largest city on this route.
9. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
It is one of the most famous and picturesque national parks in the country, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is located in the Northern Territory. It is famous for its many geological formations, including the Uluru volcano, which is one of the symbols and most frequently mentioned tourist attractions in Australia. The Uluru rock also attracts attention due to its unusual nature. The rock is a particularly important place for Aborigines. Its uniqueness results from religious reasons and its height, which is as much as 318 meters. The view of the rock and its intense red color make a great impression on visitors.
The Uluru rock formation located in the park has a huge circumference of 8 km. At the foot of Uluru there are many caves, the interiors of which were once decorated with paintings. The indigenous inhabitants of this area have their own sacred places, such as the Kata Tjuta group of rock formations, located only 30 km from the mountain.
10. Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park occupies part of the Northern Territory and an area of approximately 20 km2. It is surrounded by monumental red cliffs and green eucalyptus forests. This is a place whose image is complemented by clear, emerald-green lakes and the majestic Gunlom and Twin Falls. What's more, you can spot crocodiles hiding among the lotuses there.
Kakadu Park it is famous for the great variety of birds and other animals that live there. Among them are representatives of numerous species of waterfowl and birds that prefer wet areas, such as the Australian woodchuck, the red-legged frog and the white-bellied eagle. Bird lovers will also find scaled doves, masked aborigines, red-tailed mourners, rainbow jackets, Papuan crows and changeable ruffians. Kakadu Park is also a refuge for 26 species of bats - including four that are at risk of complete extinction. The park is also home to many species of honeyeaters that can be found in the forests. Visitors have the option of exploring the area by jeep, boat or on foot.
One of the interesting places are also the Nourlangie and Ubirr rock paintings, made by the ancestors of the Bininj and Mungguy tribes over 20 years ago. Visitors can journey along the Dreamtime Path and discover the secrets hidden in the heart of northern Australia.
11. Karijini National Park
Karijini National Park is one of the most beautiful places in Australia, famous mainly for its amazing gorges, waterfalls where you can swim and monumental rock formations. The location is the Pilbara, several hundred kilometers from the coast in north-central Western Australia, over 1300 km from Perth. This spectacular place, completely cut off from civilization, is known mainly for its rugged landscape and world-class trekking and tourist trails. The park offers many attractions worth seeing, the most important of which are: Hancock Gorge and Weano Gorge, Dales Gorge (with Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool), Mount Bruce, Hamersley Gorge, Kalamina Gorge, Joffrey Falls Lookout and Knox Lookout. These are just a few of the places you cannot miss during your visit to Karijini National Park. Hancock Gorge This is definitely the most famous tourist trail in the entire Karijni region.
12.Pinnacles Desert, Nambung National Park
Pinnacles Desert is one of the least obvious and most surprising places that Western Australia has prepared for you. Pinnacle – In English, this word means a pinnacle or tower. The Pinnacles Desert is a sandy desert with lots of fascinating limestone formations shaped like cones or termite mounds.
The desert is located in the Nambung National Park, near the small town of Cervantes, 240 kilometers north of Perth. Due to their remote location, the spectacular limestone formations remained largely unknown until 1967, when a reserve was established to protect the cones. Scientists have long concluded that mysterious rock structures reaching several meters high are the remains of a forest located in this part of Australia. The tree trunks remained naturally preserved, and after tens of millions of years, they petrified, creating one of the most extraordinary places on the continent.
According to Aborigines' beliefs, each of these cones is an enemy of the tribes, turned into stone pedestals by the Gods as punishment. Thousands of weathered formations rise dramatically above the desert. Together they create an incredible sight as sand from the coastal dunes continually blows through this otherworldly landscape. The Pinnacles are a popular tourist attraction. In between, western gray kangaroos can often be spotted, as well as the occasional emu and dingo. It is best to explore the desert area by off-road vehicle.
13. Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are located about 100 km west of Sydney and are one of the most picturesque and beautiful regions in Australia. They owe their name to the delicate glow created by the essential oils secreted by eucalyptus trees. One of the characteristic formations in the Blue Mountains are the Three Sisters - mountains Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedo. Local legends say that they are sisters enchanted in stone who fell in love with men from another tribe. The shaman turned the sisters into stones because he wanted to protect them from the effects of the tribal war. Unfortunately, the sisters will forever remain enchanted rocks, as the shaman died during the battle. If you are planning your trip to Australia near Sydney, this attraction cannot be missing on your trip to the Antipodes!
14. Tasmania
The mountainous island of Tasmania is located 300 kilometers south of the coast of Australia. This little-visited Australian island was discovered in the 10th century and became a penal colony in the mid-XNUMXth century. Its colonial past is documented by the former English buildings and the prison in Port Arthur. Tasmania is famous in the world for Tasmanian devils, i.e. carnivorous marsupial mammals. The island offers an interesting coastline and beautiful wild beaches, including the most famous Wineglass Bay. The spectacular Wineglass Bay beach is considered one of the XNUMX most beautiful beaches in the world in many rankings. Tasmania is covered with endemic vegetation and is the most forested area in Australia. Undoubtedly, Tasmania is an extremely charming part of Australia, where we will not see too many tourists. The island defends itself against commercialism and civilization progress, so it is worth going there on holiday during your trip to Australia to experience something extraordinary.
15. Pink Lake Hillier
One of the delightful and astonishing places in Australia is the pink-colored Lake Hillier. This lake has no outlet and is approximately 600 meters wide; only a narrow strip of land mixed with salt separates them from the ocean. The area is eucalyptus forests. This unusual phenomenon attracts the attention of visitors and scientists from all over the world. Lake Hillier is located on Middle Island, part of the Recherche Archipelago in Western Australia. The Recherche Archipelago is a group of approximately 100 islands off the southwestern Australian coast.
