Immerse yourself in the extraordinary stories and experiences of the world’s oldest living culture. Aboriginal Australians invite you to explore their art, spirituality, culture, history and dance. Be amazed. Be inspired. Leave transformed.

The Aboriginal people of Australia have a rich, living culture stretching more than 50,000 years. You’ll find opportunities to immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture throughout the country, from urban festivals to rock art tours, celebrity chefs serving delicious bush tucker to storytelling around a campfire. Meet the guides, listen to the stories and embark on a journey across place and time

From gateway destinations like Sydney to Central Australia or the red earth of the Kimberley, Aboriginal people across the country are waiting to tell their stories and share the meaning of their cultures and way of life.

Discover Aboriginal Experiences
Looking for an extraordinary travel experience? You’ve come to the right place.

Exquisite art, exclusive accommodation, ancient pilgrimages and modern culinary journeys: welcome to Australia’s signature collection of authentic Aboriginal travel experiences.

This is no ordinary collection. Despite spanning the breadth of the Australian continent, offering a far-ranging group of activities in locations both urban and remote, these Discover Aboriginal Experiences all share one commonality: excellence of the highest order.

Importantly, this involves the use of Aboriginal guides, for who better to show you around than a traditional custodian of the land? Aboriginal guides aren’t just warm, welcoming and extremely generous of spirit, affording a unique means of bringing Australia’s landscapes to life; as the owners of the stories they share with you, they offer a means of connecting with Australian places and cultures quite unlike anything else you’ll find.

From adventure seekers and cultural enthusiasts to foodies and nature lovers, there really is something for everyone in this collective with over 130 experiences on offer.

Canberra
Canberra might be smaller than Sydney to its north and Melbourne to its south, but there’s still plenty to discover. The small town vibe means it’s easy to get around and the locals are eager to share the best of their food, wine, beer and attractions. Within the city limits you’ll find museums, galleries, breweries and modern architecture, but just minutes away lies the quiet nature of mountains, valleys and everything in between. It’s no wonder the locals here love the lifestyle and landscape.

 

Darwin
With everything from Asian food markets and crocodile encounters to open-air movies and sunset cruises, Darwin is as easygoing as it is exciting. Welcome to the Northern Territory’s unhurried capital, Darwin, with its balmy nights, colourful characters and outdoor adventures. As well as markets, crocodiles and cruises, you’ll find strong Aboriginal cultures here, as evidenced by the array of languages spoken in the streets and the vibrant Aboriginal art that fills the city’s galleries and museums. The city’s proximity to Asia means you’ll also find strong Asian influences, especially in the energetic food scene and night markets.

 

Gold Coast
From theme parks to shopping, and surfing to ancient rainforest, here’s how to make the most of the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast’s star attraction is its beaches, including the world-renowned stretch of sand at Surfers Paradise. Beyond the beaches, discover laid-back neighbourhoods, a booming culinary scene and the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks. And be sure to leave enough time for a trip into the subtropical hinterland for rainforest walks and waterfalls.

 

Hobart
With daring art, a dynamic food scene and a wealth of natural attractions, Hobart is a small city with big ideas. Climb a mountain and view captivating modern art in the same day. Eat fish and chips from a floating fish punt in the docks, or dine in the finest and freshest of restaurants. Add thriving markets, an unsurpassed natural setting and a tangible sense of history, and Tasmania’s capital city really does have it all.

 

Cairns
The gateway to Queensland’s tropical north, Cairns is a laid-back city best enjoyed outdoors. Visit Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest, but don’t miss the great things to do in and around town. You’ll find brilliant cafés, bustling markets and plenty of beaches nearby. Relax by a resort pool or spend your days exploring this tropical oasis.

 

Broome
Built on the pearling trade, these days Broome is a popular holiday hub and gateway to the wild Kimberley region. Broome’s rich and colourful history has created a multicultural melting pot that is reflected in the town’s welcoming and laid-back feel. Warm temperatures and palms deliver a tropical vibe that fits perfectly with the many holiday resorts and the stretch of white sand known as Cable Beach.

 

Alice Springs
In the heart of Australia lies Alice Springs, a surprising town brimming with arts, culture and history. Surrounded by ochre sands and hauntingly beautiful mountain ranges is Alice Springs, a city perhaps surprisingly full of arts, events and culture despite its remoteness. Known to locals simply as “Alice”, it’s the beating heart of Australia’s Red Centre and one of the largest towns in the Northern Territory. Alice is also a fascinating spot to explore Australia’s Aboriginal culture and unique wildlife. While there is plenty to do in the town itself, Alice Springs is also a great base for exploring the natural wonders of the outback, including Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges.

 

Adelaide
Adelaide is quickly becoming the lifestyle capital of Australia. Once considered a sleepy city, Adelaide has undergone a rapid transformation with a burgeoning small-bar scene, world-class art and music, and a festival calendar to rival that of any other Australian city. Discover its laneway secrets, take in the stunning flora at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, and find delicious treats around every bend.

From weekend hikes to a jam-packed sporting calendar, adventure and sports play a huge role in the Australian way of life.

Get your thrills diving or snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef or white water rafting down Tasmania’s Franklin River. Australia is a mecca for surfers, and we’ll tell you where first-class waves crash across the country, from Western Australia’s Margaret River to Bells Beach on the Great Ocean Road. Sports fans will find everything from cricket matches to camel races to get their heart pumping. Whether you like to cycle through the countryside or cheer along at world-class sporting events, you’ll find all the sports and adventure you need in Australia.

7 adrenaline rushes found only in Australia
Pump up the adrenaline on your Australian holiday with these exciting adventures.

Australia is an adventure playground, with more ways to get your heart racing than just about anywhere else. Whether you like your thrills sky high or wet and wild, Australia offers awesome adrenaline-inducing activities to suit every kind of thrillseeker.

 

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Where: Sydney, New South Wales

It’s a long way down from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but the view of the sparkling harbour and glittering city is unbeatable. It’s no wonder that climbing the arch of Sydney’s iconic bridge is known as a must-do.

Before you go, BridgeClimb will get you kitted out with a climbing suit and a harness that is linked to a secure, static line. It’s an easy walk, but has lots of steps. Sunrise, daytime, sunset and night-time climbs are available, as well as climbs that go just halfway if you’re nervous about heights.

Climbs can take anywhere from 1.5 to 3.5 hours depending on the type of experience you choose, so give yourself plenty of time.

 

Do the world’s highest dam abseil
Where: Gordon Dam, Tasmania

If getting ready to step into the void on the world’s highest commercial abseil doesn’t get the adrenaline pumping, nothing will. The Gordon Dam in south-west Tasmania, about 2.5 hours from Hobart, is several metres higher than the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and an abseiling adventure will have you descending 140 metres (459 feet) in one continuous drop.

This is an extreme adventure that’s not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re game, it’s a thrill that you’ll find only in Australia. Tours are run from Hobart by Aardvark Adventures.

 

Swim with whale sharks
Where: Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Nothing is guaranteed to make you feel small like swimming with a 14-metre (46-foot) long, 15-tonne (16.5-ton) whale shark. But don’t be put off by the name. These massive fish are truly the gentle giants of the deep. Located in the north-west corner of the country near Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef is the only place in the world where whale sharks are known to visit so close to the coast each year.

The best time to visit is between late April and early July when dozens of whale sharks swim close to the surface. Choose from snorkelling alongside these majestic creatures, or going deeper with a scuba dive adventure. Either way, it’s a wildlife encounter you’ll never forget.

You can reach Exmouth on an epic road trip along the Coral Coast, or fly to Learmonth Airport.

 

Dive with great white sharks
Where: Port Lincoln, South Australia

Coming face to face with a great white shark is an incomparable adrenaline rush. In the waters off the southern tip of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, you can climb into a cage where nothing stands between you and a great white but steel mesh. You’ll be suspended just below the surface, breathing through a ‘hookah’ as you scan the ocean for the first glimpses of a shark – sometimes almost six metres (19.5 feet) long.

Plan a road trip to Port Lincoln and book a cage diving tour with Adventure Bay Charters or Calypso Star Charters.

 

Raft through an ancient rainforest
Where: Franklin, Tasmania

Rafting the Franklin, one of the world’s last untamed rivers, is a magnificent wilderness adventure. Your rafting ride will begin in tranquil gorges and Tasmanian rainforest, but don’t let this fool you. Soon you’ll be navigating exhilarating rapids and splashing over river drops.

Rafting season runs from November through March, and most trips take between five and ten days. Numerous rafting companies specialise in Franklin River expeditions and depart from Hobart and Launceston.

 

Walk through the sky
Where: Gold Coast, Queensland

The Gold Coast is famous for its high rise towers, and you’ll get a great view of them from the top of the beachside strip’s tallest building. Even better, you won’t be on the inside of the building, but the outside.

At 270 metres (886 feet) high, the SkyPoint Climb to the summit of the Q1 Resort building is the ultimate high-altitude adventure. It’s the highest external building climb in Australia. Attached to a safety harness, you step outside onto the launch platform on level 77 (240 metres, or 787 feet high) then climb to the top of the spire. If the stairs don’t take your breath away, the view certainly will.

 

Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
Where: Denmark, Western Australia

The trees of southern Western Australia are among the tallest in the world, soaring up to 75 metres (246 feet) high. In Denmark, about 4.5 hours from Perth, you can get a view from the very top.

The Tree Top Walk is a 420-metre (459-yard) long steel truss walkway that takes you up into the treetop canopy for views that will take your breath away. Looking down from the walkway’s highest point – 40 metres (132 feet) above the ground – you’ll see why they call this place the Valley of the Giants.

20 must-do activities in Australia
These incredible activities could all be highlights of your trip to Australia. How will you choose which ones to do?

Cruise the remote coastline of the Kimberley region, sample produce in one of the world’s most famous wine regions, or take a road trip along the Great Ocean Road. These experiences will be sure to take your breath away.

 

Island hop on your own private yacht (it’s affordable!)
The Whitsunday Islands offer some of the world’s finest sailing, with mostly perfect winds, calm seas, beautiful scenery and 74 islands to hop through (69 of which are uninhabited). It’s called bareboating: hiring a boat, stocking it with provisions and friends and sailing off into the sunset. Even if you have no sailing experience, companies such as Cumberland Charter Yachts will give you a yacht and a safety briefing and then set you free, with the requirement that you respond to their twice-daily radio schedule to say where you are and where you’re going. Leave from the coastal town of Airlie Beach or have your vessel delivered to Hayman or Hamilton Island.

 

Ride a luxury train across the continent
Named after the Afghan camel drivers that used to roam Australia’s centre, this unforgettable train journey takes in 2979 kilometres (1851 miles) of tropics, the mountains of the Flinders Ranges, scorched desert, Katherine Gorge and the Red Centre. The Ghan takes three days to cross the continent, from Darwin to Adelaide or vice versa, including fascinating whistlestop tours in Katherine and Alice Springs. You can also opt for a trip on the Indian Pacific, a four-day journey from Sydney to Perth or vice versa.

 

Enter another world at the Pinnacles
On the Turquoise Coast of Western Australia, 250 kilometres (155 miles) north of Perth, you will find the Pinnacles Desert, where hundreds of ancient limestone pillars look like extraterrestrial tombstones. The park is fringed by secluded white beaches, wildflowers, unique fauna and excellent fishing. Stay in the nearby fishing village of Cervantes or journey up the Indian Ocean Drive to discover all the colourful beauty and incredible wildlife interactions along the way.

 

Take a foodie road trip around Tasmania
Start with a breakfast of fresh doughnuts and bagels at the Farm Gate Market in Hobart then spend a few days feasting through Tasmania. There is lots of local produce to sample, with rarely more than an hour’s drive between gourmet towns and stores. Eat apples at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, a ciderhouse turned museum in the Huon Valley; just-shucked Tassie oysters at Bangor Wine & Oyster Shed in Port Arthur; Belgian-style chocolates at the House of Anvers near Latrobe; and the triple cream brie or chilli camembert from Wicked Cheese in historic Richmond. Tasmania is famous for its cool-climate wines, and the Tamar Valley, running north from Launceston, is Tasmania’s premier wine region. Don’t miss the pinot noir, Tasmania’s signature wine variety, from the state’s oldest vineyard at Providence.

 

See the Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve fireworks
One of the first places in the world to welcome the new year, Sydney Harbour puts on a spectacular show. The fireworks at 9pm and midnight on New Year’s Eve are not to be missed, with pyrotechnics from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Opera House, and light shows and more fireworks from barges on the harbour. There are vantage points to suit every budget. Plant a picnic rug at one of the many parks around Sydney’s foreshore, jump on a ferry or boat cruise to view from the water, book into a waterside hotel room or attend one of the many ticketed events such as the parties on Fort Denison and Shark islands or the family celebrations at Taronga Zoo Sydney and Darling Harbour.

 

Cruise the Kimberley
One of the best ways to see the Kimberley – one of the last true wilderness areas on Earth – is by cruise ship, and there are lots of options. You’ll get up close to the rocky shores, secluded beaches, ochre coloured gorges, lush waterfalls, and complex river systems as you enjoy gourmet meals and luxury sleeping quarters.

 

Ride roller coasters and water slides on the Gold Coast
For fun, not much beats the Gold Coast’s theme parks, offering huge thrilling rides, water slides and wildlife. You can bundle Dreamworld with WhiteWater World next door, or buy a combination pass for Sea World, Warner Bros Movie World and Wet’n’Wild. The ”big five” fun parks are between The Spit and Coomera, north of Surfers Paradise, where there is plenty of accommodation with excellent proximity to the Gold Coast beaches.

 

Dine under the stars at Uluru
In this unforgettable, intimate dining experience overlooking Uluru and the distant domes of Kata Tjuta, you’ll watch the sun set to the sound of a didgeridoo, sit on top of a dune to savour a degustation feast under the many stars (while learning all about them), then listen to Dreamtime stories by the campfire. Tali Wiru (“beautiful dune” in the local Anangu language) operates four times a week from April to mid-October, with hotel transfers from Ayers Rock Resort an hour before sunset. There are no more than 20 guests at any one time, making for an unforgettable experience.

 

Enjoy a gourmet feast by the beach in Margaret River
The annual Western Australia Gourmet Escape (held each November) is one of Australia’s largest food and wine festivals, celebrating the delights of Western Australia with delicious food and wine, pop-up events, cooking classes and celebrity chefs. The Margaret River region is the perfect place to experience the festivities. You’ll find wineries, restaurants and beautiful beaches to explore. From Perth, hire a car to drive three hours south to Margaret River or fly to Busselton, a town 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Margaret River.

 

Dive with great white sharks in Port Lincoln
Being underwater with a great white shark (even if you are in a strengthened aluminium cage) is an adventure to tell your friends about. Calypso Star Charters and Adventure Bay Charters run one-day great white shark tours to Neptune Island, 70 kilometres (43 miles) off Port Lincoln, a 50-minute flight from Adelaide. No scuba experience is necessary (air is fed into the cage via a hose). If you’re looking for something equally as memorable but without the cage, you can also swim in open ocean with the gentle but giant whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia between March and August.

 

Stay in a unique, luxury Australian hotel
Many of Australia’s luxury lodges and resorts offer unique experiences. Longitude 131 is an intimate wilderness camp with luxury tents in the heart of Australia, where you can enjoy spectacular views and the wilderness of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, bespoke safaris and gourmet meals. Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is a spa resort set in a conservation and wildlife reserve within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, with private pools, wildlife tours and delicious food. Sun lovers should experience qualia, a wonderful adults-only experience on Hamilton Island. At Tasmania’s Saffire Freycinet, top-quality produce, service and coastal views are front and centre.

 

Watch turtles hatch in Queensland
Watching baby turtles hatch, then make their disorientated run into the sea, is a very special bucket list experience. One of the most popular places to see marine turtles nest in Australia is at Mon Repos Conservation Park, near Bundaberg in Queensland. Between November and March rangers operate nightly guided tours on the beach. Other hotspots for catching turtle nesting and hatching include the islands of Lady Elliot, Heron and Lady Musgrave. From January onwards, witness the race to the water as the hatchlings start to push their way out of their sandy nests and scurry down to the ocean – it’s quite an incredible sight.

 

Drive the Great Ocean Road
Hire a car in Melbourne and journey along the stunning Great Ocean Road. See the famous surf spots of Torquay and Bells Beach, the many kangaroos on the Anglesea Golf Course, the laid-back town of Lorne, and the spectacular rock formations of the 12 Apostles. Walk through waterfalls and lush forests in Otway National Park and whale watch from historic Warrnambool. You could drive it all in three hours non-stop but we recommend taking at least two days to take in the many sights.

 

Explore Tropical North Queensland
From Cairns up to Cape Tribulation, there’s a lot to explore in the space of just a few hours’ drive. Head out for a full-day excursion to snorkel or dive the incredible Great Barrier Reef, departing either from Cairns or the relaxed resort town of Port Douglas. Take a walk through the lush Daintree Rainforest – the world’s oldest living rainforest – with an Aboriginal guide at the Mossman Gorge Centre. Cape Tribulation is the only place in the world where two World Heritage-listed sites meet, and it also happens to be the best place in Australia to spot the elusive cassowary. Enjoy the adventures by day and indulge in a luxury eco-escape by night at Silky Oaks Lodge.

 

Hit the ski slopes
Australia may be best known for its beaches, reefs and outback, but it’s also home to the third longest land-based mountain range in the world. The Great Dividing Range offers up hiking trails and vistas from end to end, but towards the southern end of the range you’ll find some great places to shred an Aussie ski slope. Skiing and snowboarding in Australia is a unique experience. There aren’t many places in the world where you can find downhill ski runs lined with gum trees. Even if you don’t ski or snowboard, Australia’s snowfields have plenty of winter activities to keep you busy – from dog sledding to snow shoeing.

 

Visit Lord Howe Island
Hike, surf and handfeed fish as one of only 400 visitors on the World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island, in the Pacific Ocean just a two-hour flight from Sydney. It’s one of the greenest spots in the world, with 75 per cent of the island’s original natural vegetation intact and undisturbed, leaving remarkable geology, natural beauty and coral, and a rare collection of birds, plants and marine life.

 

Drink in Melbourne’s laneways
There are dozens of charming small bars hidden in the many colourful laneways of Melbourne’s inner city, offering a great way to enjoy local food, drinks and people. Don’t miss a Smoky Rob Roy cocktail on the leather banquettes at the stylish, award-winning Eau de Vie. Other recommendations include Lily Blacks, Bar Americano and Shebeen. Or discover your own small bar, and start making friends with the locals.

 

Fly over Lake Eyre in flood
Lake Eyre contains the lowest natural point in Australia, and on the rare occasions that it fills, is the largest lake in Australia, covering 9500 kilometres (5900 miles). It can attract thousands of birds – pelicans, banded stilts, silver gulls and more – and, for a month in spring, wildflowers. Even when the lake is not full, the vastness of this park, the whiteness of the salt lake and the surrounding low red dunes of the desert seen from a scenic flight give you a true sense of the outback. Scenic flights depart from Marree, Hawker, Ceduna, Rawnsley Park, Wilpena Pound and William Creek in South Australia, and interstate.

 

Hot air balloon above Australia’s capital
Canberra is renowned among international balloonists as one of the best places to balloon, with calm conditions, green scenery and the view of Lake Burley Griffin mixed with interesting architecture, monuments and sculptures, as well as multiple take-off and landing areas. Afterwards, you can celebrate with a champagne breakfast at the Park Hyatt Hotel.

 

White water raft the Franklin River
The Franklin River, on Tasmania’s wild west coast, is pure nature, yet it’s never more than 150 kilometres (93 miles) from Hobart. World Expeditions and Franklin River Rafting offer rafting trips ranging from eight to 11 days along the scenic 125 kilometres (78 miles) of the Franklin to the Gordon River, camping on the riverbanks at night.

Australia’s best diving spots
Diving in Australia isn’t limited to the Great Barrier Reef – read on to discover some of the best dive spots around the country.

The Great Barrier Reef attracts divers from all over the world. It’s really no surprise – the reef is awash with vibrantly coloured corals and a spectacular selection of marine life. But did you know that Australia’s dive sites extend beyond this natural wonder of the world to nearly all of our country’s states and territories? From our spectacular coral reefs to purposely sunken ships, here are some of the best dive spots that Australia has to offer.

 

The best dive sites in Queensland
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the heart and soul of diving in Australia. This 2,300-kilometre (1429-mile) stretch of interconnected reefs and islands has a huge selection of dive sites. From Cairns or Port Douglas, you can access the exclusive Outer Great Barrier Reef on a liveaboard dive boat with Pro Dive Cairns. In the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island has more than 20 nearby dive sites to choose from, all of which have an abundance of tropical fish and corals. Lady Elliot Island gives you the opportunity to swim with manta rays, and nearly all the resorts on the Whitsunday Islands will offer diving trips out to see the natural beauty of the reef. Take your pick of destination and get diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

SS Yongala Wreck
You might be surprised to know that Queensland’s coast offers more to dive enthusiasts than the reef. From Townsville, you can do an exciting dive out to the Steam Ship Yongala shipwreck, which sunk during a cyclone in 1911. The wreck, which is still mostly intact and lies 14-28 metres (46-92 feet) below the surface, wasn’t found until 1958. It’s been an attraction for divers ever since. A day trip with Yongala Dive will allow you to do two dives to explore the historic underwater remains.

Tangalooma Wrecks
The Tangalooma Wrecks are another great option for shipwreck exploration. Located just off the shore of Moreton Island, this long chain of ships were deliberately sunk in 1963 to create a safe mooring area for boats. Dive tours and equipment hire are available to book through Tangalooma Island Resort, which is only an hour away from the city of Brisbane via ferry.

 

The best dive sites in Western Australia
Ningaloo Reef
Australia’s second largest coral reef, Ningaloo Marine Park, sits just off the coast of Western Australia. This reef offers a unique opportunity to swim alongside whale sharks, which pass through this area between March and August each year. Daily dive tours depart from the town of Exmouth with Dive Ningaloo.

Rowley Shoals
If you’re looking for an exclusive dive experience, this is it. Rowley Shoals is a group of three ring-shaped reefs located about 300 kilometres (186 miles) off the coast of Western Australia. Divers who are keen to explore these pristine and remote reefs must take a charter cruise from Broome, which generally last between four and eight days.

Christmas Island
Christmas Island is located far off the coast of Western Australia, and while its location is remote, it actually hosts some of the most amazing dive sites in Australia. Not only is the island surrounded by coral reefs, it’s also perched near the rim of the Java Trench (the Indian Ocean’s deepest point), which means that you can take a trip out with Wet n Dry Adventures to access some of the longest drop-offs in the world just a short distance from shore.

 

The best dive sites in South Australia
Port Lincoln
If you’re feeling adventurous, cage diving with great white sharks is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Port Lincoln, which is just a 50-minute flight from Adelaide, is the only place in Australia where you can have this unique dive experience. A day trip with Adventure Bay Charters will take you out to the Neptune Islands where you can see these majestic creatures up close in their natural environment. Tour operators will lure the sharks with bait or via acoustic attraction to swim around the metal cage.

Glenelg
On the outskirts of Adelaide, Glenelg offers multiple dive options for beginners to pros. For a shallow dive, you can swim out from the shore to explore the jetty which holds a variety of marine life including nudibranchs, crabs, and sea stars. For a deeper dive, head out to the Glenelg Dredge and Glenelg Barge wrecks with Adelaide Scuba, or visit the Glenelg tyre reef which was set up in 1983 as a fish breeding ground.

 

The best dive sites in New South Wales
Shelly Beach
This shore dive site is just a stone’s throw away from Manly – one of Sydney’s most popular beach suburbs. Shelly Beach provides a maze of boulders and sea grass to wind through, and the nearby dive site of Fairy Bower is another popular spot with frequent sightings of eels and rays. If you’re lucky, you might even spot the resident octopus or blue groper. Go out on your own, or explore the area with Dive Centre Manly.

Solitary Islands
This collection of rocky islands is located off the coast of Coffs Harbour (a short flight or just under a six-hour drive north of Sydney). There are plenty of spots to dive around here, but South Solitary Island is the most popular with nine dive sites. Some dive options include Manta Arch, where there are often more than 30 grey nurse sharks hanging around, or The Gantry, where you can seek out the wreckage of a collapsed crane that was once used to load supplies on to the island. It’s easy to get to the Solitary Islands from the coast by booking a half-day trip with Jetty Dive.

Lord Howe Island
As there are only 400 tourists allowed on Lord Howe Island at any one time, it’s nearly guaranteed that you will have the dive sites all to yourself. The jagged rocky outcrop of Balls Pyramid, accessible via boat with Pro Dive Lord Howe Island, is a popular spot for divers. Here you can explore caves lined with rocky columns and reefs that hold deep-sea species of Ballina angelfish, which are usually only found at depths of over 100 metres (328 feet).

 

The best dive sites in Victoria
Portsea Pier
Victoria has several piers that are great for diving, and Portsea makes a name for itself as one of the best. This jetty on the Mornington Peninsula is easy to enter from the shore or from ladders along the pier and is known for sightings of weedy seadragons and seahorses. Some other great options are Blairgowrie Pier, Rye Pier, and Flinders Pier.

Port Phillip Bay
There are plenty of interesting dive spots in Port Phillip Bay, including over 50 shipwrecks, four WWI submarines, and a 136-metre (446-foot) guided missile destroyer. Departing from Portsea or Queenscliff, Red Boats can take you out to see some of the wrecks hidden beneath the surface of the bay.

 

The best dive sites in Tasmania
Bicheno
With nearly 20 local dive sites, Bicheno is one of the best places to dive in Tasmania. As the waters here are temperate, the visibility may be less clear than Australia’s tropical waters, but the increased levels of plankton mean that there will be plenty of marine life around.

Tasman Peninsula
The Tasman Peninsula is known for its large colonies of fur seals. If you want to check out these playful creatures in their natural habitat, sign up for a scuba with the seals through Eaglehawk Dive. This area also has giant kelp forests, underwater caves, and deep water sponge gardens.

 

The best dive sites in the Northern Territory
Darwin Harbour
There are more than 90 shipwrecks scattered throughout Darwin Harbour, many of which were sunk during the WWII bombing of Darwin. Access to the wrecks can be tricky to time perfectly with tides and variations in water clarity, but when you do get the chance to head down, you can explore remnants of the Mauna Loa, the USS Peary, the Zealandia, or the Catalina 4 with Sea Darwin.

Vernon Islands
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to dive into an ocean sinkhole, here’s where you can try it. A two-hour boat transfer from Darwin with Sea Darwin will take you out to the Vernon Islands, where it’s possible to see sheer cliffs of coral descending into the depths, all while swimming alongside the rays and turtles that live in these sinkholes.

Australia’s best snorkelling spots
Just beneath the surface of Australia’s coastal waters lies a vibrant array of underwater treasures. Here’s where you can see them for yourself.

Australia’s amazing natural scenery isn’t limited to what you see above the ground – once you glance beneath the surface of our coastal waters, you’ll be treated to vibrantly coloured corals, tropical fish, massive rock formations, and historic shipwrecks. If you’re itching to take a look under the water on your trip to Australia, try jumping in to one of these incredible snorkelling spots.

 

The best spots to go snorkelling in Queensland
The Low Isles
The holiday town of Port Douglas in far north Queensland is one of the best places to access the Great Barrier Reef. Just 15 minutes away by boat is the Low Isles, where you can snorkel among corals beside the local population of sea turtles. You can visit the Low Isles on a day trip or even a half-day trip with Reef Sprinter if you’re short on time.

Green Island
Just a 45-minute catamaran ride from Cairns is Green Island – a 6,000-year-old coral cay that holds the Great Barrier Reef’s only rainforest, along with over 120 native plant species and colourful coral. An Ocean Free tour carries a maximum of just 25 guests and sails to an exclusive mooring. Grab your goggles to see a stunning coral garden below the surface. Nearby are unique coral cays to be discovered. Hop aboard an Ocean Freedom tour to explore Upolu Cay Reef and Outer Edge Upolu Reef. When conditions allow, natural sand banks appear above the water for the ultimate castaway experience. You can visit Green Island on a day trip, or stay overnight at Green Island Resort.

Michaelmans Cay
Just off the coast of Cairns is Michaelmas Cay, a small sand island only 360 metres (394 yards) long and 50 metres (55 yards) wide. On a day trip with Ocean Spirit Cruises, you can visit the cay to snorkel the surrounding reef (which is known for having an abundance of giant clams) and learn about the 23 species of seabirds that use the island as a habitat during migration.

Heron Island
Heron Island, which is accessible via boat transfer from Gladstone, offers something special for visitors looking for an amazing snorkelling experience. Here, you can gear up on the beach then walk straight into the ocean to spot bright blue starfish and giant sea cucumbers. There’s nothing to do but relax around here, so you can spend all day floating over the corals if you want. Just remember to come in after sunset to watch turtles nesting on the beach.

Lady Elliot Island
On the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef lies Lady Elliot Island, accessible only by scenic flight from Brisbane, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, or Gold Coast. The island has a world-class eco resort committed to protecting the surrounding reef environment. Manta rays are a common sight around here, so prepare to share the waters with some aquatic friends.

Moreton Island
The Tangalooma Wrecks at Moreton Island are only an hour away from the city of Brisbane via ferry. This long chain of shipwrecks were deliberately sunk in 1963 to create a safe mooring area for boats, and the wrecks are now a popular snorkelling spot for travellers. You can take a snorkelling tour through Tangalooma Island Resort, or strong swimmers can do a self-guided tour of the wrecks. If you’re lucky, you might even see some lionfish or wobbegongs in the area.

 

The spots to go snorkelling in New South Wales
Lord Howe Island
Snorkelling at Lord Howe Island, which is only a two-hour flight from Sydney, is a unique experience. Not only will you be one of just 400 tourists allowed on the island at any one time, you will also have your choice of snorkelling location just beyond the shore at Lagoon Beach, Ned’s Beach, Old Settlement Beach, Erscott’s Hole or Blinky Beach. Take your pick.

Julian Rocks
Julian Rocks is a popular snorkelling spot for visitors to Byron Bay, just a two-hour drive south of Brisbane. Situated within the Cape Byron Marine Park in northern New South Wales, a boat trip out with Byron Bay Dive Centre will allow you to see the clear, shallow waters around Julian Rocks, which are filled with both tropical marine life and animals from the Southern Ocean. You might even see some dolphins or whales nearby.

Shelly Beach
Just north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge lies the beachy suburb of Manly, home to the calm, clear waters of Shelly Beach. You can head out on your own, or join an EcoTreasures snorkelling tour to discover more than 200 fish species, including the famous Blue Groper.

 

The best spots to go snorkelling in Western Australia
Ningaloo Reef
As Australia’s second largest coral reef, Ningaloo Marine Park is the perfect place to go snorkelling. The reef stretches along 260 kilometres (162 miles) of coastline and is easiest to access from the town of Exmouth, which is just a two-hour flight north from Perth. With Ningaloo Reef Dive, you can cruise out to the reef and spot some of the 500 species of fish and wide variety of marine life that live in these waters.

Rottnest Island
The marine environment surrounding Rottnest Island includes a huge number of secluded beaches and incredible snorkelling spots. Popular spots for snorkellers include The Basin, Parakeet Bay, Parker Point, Little Salmon Bay and Little Armstrong Bay.

Busselton Jetty
A 2.5-hour drive south of Perth is the city of Busselton, which features the longest wooden pier in the Southern Hemisphere. The 1.8-kilometre (1.1-mile) long jetty is home to some brightly coloured coral and fish, so visitors can take a snorkelling tour with Dive Busselton Jetty or do a self-guided exploration of the jetty’s marine life.

 

The best spots to go snorkelling in South Australia
Port Noarlunga
Visitors to McLaren Vale wine region should spend a morning snorkelling in Port Noarlunga. You’ll spot a large variety of fish including zebrafish and old wives as well as sea stars. Confident swimmers can head out to explore the Port Noarlunga Reef. Built in 1994, the reef trail is part of the Port Noarlunga Reef Aquatic Reserve.

Stony Point, Eyre Peninsula
For a truly memorable experience with some of the sea’s most unusual creatures, join the Swim with the Giant Cuttlefish tour in South Australia. This two-day tour itinerary, which has departures available to book during the cuttlefish migration season in July, is packed with added benefits that include exclusive cuttlefish insights by a marine expert, sightseeing through the wilderness of the Southern Flinders Ranges and hiking along the rugged Alligator Gorge in the Mount Remarkable National Park. The tour includes return transport from Adelaide and all equipment.

Baird Bay
In the calm waters of Baird Bay, 284 kilometres (176 miles) from Port Lincoln towards Streaky Bay, Baird Bay Ocean Eco Experience will take you snorkelling with resident pods of bottlenose dolphins and inquisitive sea lions in their natural environment. Snorkelling with the sea lions takes place in a safe shallow area, while the dolphins swim in deeper ocean. Both are suitable for all levels of swimmer.

 

The best spots to go snorkelling in Victoria
Mornington Peninsula
Flinders Pier, located in Flinders on the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula, is regarded as the ultimate spot to see weedy seadragons. While you’re in the water keep your eyes peeled for rays, cuttlefish, crabs and various species of fish. The pier is quite long but you’ll find plenty of ladders along its length for easy exit and entry points if you don’t wish to enter from the shore.

Australia’s clean air, stunning spas, world-class health retreats and wide open spaces all offer the opportunity to relax, refresh and reconnect.

In Australia, you can embrace the wellbeing of your body, mind and soul. Not only can you focus on wellness within world-class spas and health retreats, but you can also reconnect with yourself and with nature on Aboriginal culture walks or within remote accommodation. Indulge in a body clay ritual or practice yoga next to crashing ocean waves as you take a wellness journey through Australia.

Australia’s best health and wellness retreats
Revive, refresh, detox or just simply chill out at these outstanding health and wellness retreats around Australia.

Pop into these top health retreats to feel shipshape again. One has a celebrity co-owner, another includes archery and tennis, and another has a revitalising pool right next to a creek. In some cases the program is about tough love while others take a more gentle approach. Say om.

Embrace the solitude on the Gold Coast
Stay for two days or stretch it out to seven at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland (courtesy transfers are available from Gold Coast Airport). Try the ancient art of qi gong (a form of tai chi) while watching the sun rise over the distant Pacific Ocean. Explore the 16 walking trails or join a dance session before refuelling with an organic lunch. Afternoons are designated as dreamtime: nap, swim or read a book. Stay in a room in a reconstructed Queenslander (an elevated timber house that is a common sight throughout the state) or swan around an open-plan villa with a private plunge pool.

Get fit and be pampered near Byron Bay
Gaia Retreat & Spa, in the lush Byron Bay hinterland of northern New South Wales, comes with a celebrity connection (Grease star, Olivia Newton-John, is a co-founder). The day spa, with 14 treatment rooms and more than 35 healers and therapists, is central to the pampering Gaia experience. After starting the day with yoga, choose from activities that include clay sculpture or Let’s Get Physical fitness and boxing. Meals draw on Gaia’s own organic garden and, at dinner, guests can even enjoy a glass of organic wine.

Retreat to the world’s oldest rainforest
The treatment menu at the delectable Daintree Ecolodge and Spa, set within the wilderness of the world’s oldest rainforest in Tropical North Queensland, was developed out of respect and with approval of the elders of the local Kuku Yalanji tribe. Using 100 per cent natural ingredients, the spa creates a healing experience in harmony with nature. The signature treatment, called Walbul-Walbul (meaning ‘butterfly’), incorporates the contrasting sensations of oil and desert salts, and uses exclusive Australian indigenous products and massage techniques not found anywhere else across the globe. Relax under the canopy of the rustling rainforest and unwind with the extensive spa menu.

Soak away your cares in Victoria
Wade into the healing waters of Victoria’s spa country (home to 141 mineral springs) at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa. The historic spa, which has been around since 1895, is today a thoroughly modern affair, with communal bathing (swimming costumes are mandatory) in the mineral relaxation pool and salt therapy pool, as well as private tubs in the spa. The complex also includes an outdoor creekside spa pool and a Moroccan-style hammam. The Hepburn area’s therapeutic mineral springs are rich with potassium, magnesium, silica and chloride.

Take detoxing to the next level on Kangaroo Island
Head to South Australia’s rugged Kangaroo Island (known as Australia’s Galapagos) for a complete lifestyle reboot. Kangaroo Island Health Retreat’s five day Dynamic Detox program isn’t for the faint of heart: only six people at a time with reasonable fitness can undergo the program at the haven overlooking Emu Bay on the island’s north coast. Daily activities include beach and country walks of up to 10 kilometres (six miles), while meals include soups and fruit platters.

Unwind near Margaret River
Just three hours south of Western Australia’s famous Margaret River is the town of Yallingup, home to the stunning Injidup Spa Retreat. The retreat features ten adult-only villas, offering the perfect getaway to recharge and reconnect. As well as a gourmet breakfast hamper on arrival, each villa has a private plunge pool and views overlooking the ocean. During your stay, participate in private yoga classes, indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments and enjoy the serenity on the expansive outdoor balcony.

Harmonise near Hobart
At Harmony Harvest Health Retreat, a 30-minute drive south of Hobart in Tasmania, it’s possible to check in for just a day’s worth of rejuvenation. The one-day Relax Retreat program includes healthy meals delivered to your two-storey eco cottage (where a spa bath sits in a striking glass-walled sun room), along with deep tissue massages and a detox mud treatment for two. Stay five nights and treatments include reflexology, an organic facial, chakra healing massage, spiritual consultation and more. An eight-day weight loss program is also available.

6 of Australia’s prettiest farmstays
Experience life on an Australian farm in these spectacular locations.

It can be a pretty good life on a farm – especially when you’re just visiting. Feel like milking a cow or making butter? Go for it. Rather just sit back with a glass of wine and soak up the views? Well, you are on holiday, after all.

On a farmstay, how much you participate is up to you, and all of these properties are about letting guests experience the country atmosphere, the fresh air and the fresh produce.

 

Australia’s prettiest farmstays
Near Brisbane
Just over an hour from Brisbane, in the Lost World section of the Scenic Rim (an amazing World Heritage landscape of mountains and rainforests), is Tommerup’s Dairy Farm, a small-scale operation that produces not only dairy but ethically raised pork and veal. The farm has been in the family for 140 years, and the present-day Tommerup’s are determined to give guests a taste of real country life, in a farm-to-fork adventure.

Accommodation is in 19th-century buildings that combine rural charm with modern conveniences, and activities include milking cows, feeding pigs, goat, sheep, calves and chickens, and collecting eggs, as well as fishing, kite flying and bird watching. “We want it to be an authentic experience,” says Kay Tommerup, who runs the farm, and oversees all the activities, with husband Dave. “We want people to see how milk gets from the farm to the carton. And relax, too.”

Also in Queensland is Spicers Hidden Vale, a gorgeous rambling property combining luxurious accommodation with family-friendly activities.

 

In Tasmania
There are lots of reasons to like the Rustic Hut farmstay in Tasmania’s north-west. Firstly, it’s near a seaside town called Penguin, which is a great name for any town, but especially one that is home to a penguin rookery and a three-metre (10-foot) tall ferro-cement Big Penguin on the esplanade.

Secondly, the farmstay offers options: you can sit back and relax in one of four rustic huts, embark on bushwalks (everything from strolls around the farm to an eight-day hike to Cradle Mountain), or get a taste of farm life by milking cows, churning butter, feeding animals (everything from cows to goats to guinea pigs) and collecting eggs.

A kids’ Aussie Adventure Club gives parents time on their own and you can get home-cooked meals to complete the genuine farm life experience. “We want to show people what we do every day,” says Tania Farrell, who owns the farm with husband Phillip. “People especially love making butter – they find it fascinating.”

 

Near Perth
A petting pen for little kids to meet little critters, canoeing and fishing on a three-acre dam, a games room and playground, and the chance to help feed more than 100 animals – from alpacas to turkeys to kangaroos – are all part of the family-friendly (and pet-friendly) experience at Diamond Forest Farm Stay.

Near Pemberton, in the tall-trees region of south-west Western Australia (about a 3.5-hour drive south of Perth), the farmstay offers accommodation in private, self-contained, timber cottages with slate floors and verandas boasting suitably bucolic views.

“We mostly cater to young families,” says Kerriann Turner, who runs the farm with husband Mark. “Kids get to meet farm animals up close in a safe environment, and they absolutely love it. Even if they start off a bit timid, by day two they are having a great time.”

Also worth putting on your Western Australia bucket list is El Questro, in the remote Kimberley region. A vast cattle station, it offers stunning outback waterholes, prehistoric gorges and some seriously luxurious accommodation.

 

Near Melbourne
A working Angus beef farm, Rivendell, in Victoria’s far east Gippsland district, has been transformed since Peter Thomas and his wife Annette bought the property in 2003. They’ve added stunning gardens, a 200-tree orchard, a truffière, and farmstay accommodation in the form of two self-contained cottages: the four-bedroom Arkenstone Cottage and the quirky one-bedroom Bag End. There’s also an on-site restaurant that can provide breakfast or dinner using farm and local ingredients.

Guests can feed sheep and chickens, groom horses, hang out with the peacocks, have a picnic and a swim at a private beach on the Tambo River, or explore further afield, where they’ll find wineries, trout fishing and boating on the Gippsland Lakes.

If you need to unwind after all that activity, the spa house in the orchard is a pretty good place to do it. “You leave the world behind when you come down the drive,” says Peter. “This is the most peaceful place you could find.”

Also in Victoria is the Royal Mail Hotel, the home of two highly regarded on-site restaurants, stylish lodgings, dedicated kitchen gardens and a food ethos centered around sustainability and seasonality.

Near Sydney
Tucked away in the hills behind the surf town of Ulladulla, four hours south of Sydney (or two hours east of Canberra), Cupitt has a little something else going for it, too: it’s home to a winery, brewery and fromagerie.

Need any more convincing? OK, well accommodation is in a charming, two-bedroom, 100-year-old heritage cottage, secluded from farm activities behind a stand of trees. “There’s a large deck with lovely sunsets over the vineyard,” says functions manager Mel Louth. “It’s an oasis, really.”

While you can’t milk cows or feed animals here, you can take a behind-the-scenes tour to see the kitchen garden and where the wine, beer and cheeses are made, attend on-site growers’ markets, and stretch your legs on the two-minute walk from your cottage to the award-winning restaurant, offering seasonal food with French and English influences.

Also in New South Wales, though located in Sydney’s Blue Mountains region, you’ll find Farm Panaroma, a 50-acre hobby farm owned by prominent Sydney chef Sean Moran who uses the farm to grow produce for his iconic Sydney restaurant.

From elusive echidnas to adorable wombats, Australia boasts some of the most unique wildlife on the planet.

Nowhere else in the world can you watch kangaroos hop across beautiful pastures, spot koalas sleeping in gum trees or snorkel with schools of fish on the Great Barrier Reef. See saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat, snap a selfie with a quokka or swim with Australian fur seals in wildlife experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

Unique Australian wildlife experiences
Australia is celebrated for its extraordinary wildlife and provides many opportunities for close and personal interactions with some amazing animals, from floating beside a magnificent whale shark, cuddling a koala or spotting a crocodile on the banks of a billabong.

Australia’s wildlife is incredibly unique, with many species found nowhere else in the world. While zoos and wildlife parks offer great opportunities to see animals up close, there are also plenty of other places to see Australian animals in their natural habitats. You can watch Tasmanian devils play-fight, spot kangaroos relaxing by the beach, get a photo with a quokka and, if your nerves are up to it, get nose to nose with a great white shark. Here are just a few of Australia’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences.

Dive with the ocean’s gentle giants: whale sharks and humpbacks
About halfway up the West Australian coastline, Ningaloo Marine Park is the only place on the planet where large numbers of whale sharks are known to reliably visit so close to land. Join a one-day marine tour in holiday towns of Exmouth or Coral Bay from April to July and snorkel alongside these 14-metre (46-foot) harmless vegetarians. Western Australia’s whale sharks share the warm waters with tropical fish, manta rays, turtles, dolphins and whales, and from July to October, you can also swim with migrating humpback whales off Ningaloo Reef. These gentle whales are also found migrating along the coast of Queensland between July and November, known as the ‘Humpback Highway’ among locals, offering another chance to see them up close. Sunreef departs from Mooloolaba, just a 15-minute drive from Sunshine Coast Airport, and offer half-day tours.

Spot koalas sleeping in the trees
Victoria’s Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most breathtaking drives. It winds along the state’s south-west coast, taking in cliffs, forests, hairpin bends and seaside towns. It also leads to clusters of grey koalas, hidden high in the treetops. The best place to find them is along Lighthouse Road, Cape Otway, which diverts off the scenic route about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the town of Apollo Bay. Koalas are everywhere, but they’re well camouflaged, so you may not see them at first. Train your eyes and soon you’ll be spotting them like a pro. Here’s a tip: don’t stop at the first bunch of cars parked beneath a tree – just beyond you should get koalas all to yourself. Continue to the end of the cape to visit Australia’s oldest surviving lighthouse.

Meet a Tasmanian devil
Tasmania’s Saffire Freycinet, one of Australia’s top luxury hotels, runs a retirement home for Tasmanian devils, where guests can observe these endangered animals enjoying their daily feed in a one-hectare (2.5-acre) enclosure that mimics their natural surrounds. If you’re visiting Cradle Mountain, Devils @ Cradle is another nearby sanctuary where you can see and learn more about these unique native animals. 

Snap kangaroos relaxing on the sand
It’s an unusual sight, and one you’re not likely to forget. The eastern grey kangaroos at Pebbly Beach, on the South Coast of New South Wales, love to relax and soak up the sunshine. You’ll see them in large numbers on the grass and sand. Many of them at the popular surfing and bushwalking spot, about 270 kilometres (168 miles) south of Sydney, don’t mind posing for photographs either. In Western Australia, head to Lucky Bay (just a 40-minute drive from Esperance) to see them lounging on the white sands, while in Queensland you’re guaranteed to spot ‘roos and wallabies on the beach at Cape Hillsborough, near Mackay.

Watch saltwater crocs swim by
Feel the hairs rise on your arms, even as the sun warms your skin when you first lay eyes on the ridged back of a Northern Territory crocodile. These massive reptiles move through the water noiselessly, causing only minor ripples as they slide just beneath the surface. In the heart of Kakadu National Park, a two-hour cruise on Yellow Water billabong is an unforgettable way to watch this proficient predator in its natural habitat.

Float over a reef with sea turtles
When you snorkel over the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef, you may feel as though your mask isn’t big enough to take everything in. Just off the sandy shores of Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay at the southern end of the World Heritage-listed reef, sea turtles flit through the aquamarine waters. You’ll likely encounter them along one of the many snorkelling trails, which you can swim on your own using a free map, or by joining a guided snorkel safari. The lagoon on the eastern side of the island is particularly rich with sea life. If you’ve never snorkelled before, you can take one of the island’s free lessons. If you’d rather stay dry, jump aboard the glass-bottomed boat for views of tropical fish and colourful corals.

Smile at foraging wombats
As dusk falls over the beautiful Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria (a three-hour drive south-east of Melbourne), solid, rotund animals with short legs and twitching noses emerge. Wombats are naturally shy, nocturnal creatures, but at dusk they emerge from their burrows to feed on grasses, and can often be seen at the entrance to the main beach and thumping heavily through the camping grounds. While you’re here, expect to also come across kangaroos, emus, echidnas and rosellas.

Snap a selfie with a quokka
Western Australia’s quokkas are among the cutest marsupials around. On Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth, they hop around cheerfully, stopping to watch as people relax at the pub, play a round of golf or cycle on the car-free island. Rarely seen anywhere else in the state, they have a social nature and those in the settlement area are happy to pose for selfie photographs, something that’s become a trend after numerous celebrities, including Hugh Jackman, Chris Hemsworth and Margot Robbie, posted their snaps online.

Get face to face with a great white shark
This one is for the thrill seekers. If the chance to jump in a cage, be lowered underwater and face a great white shark powering towards meat dangled in front of you sounds like fun, then be our guest. In the deep waters off the coast of Port Lincoln, on the southern tip of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, specialist charter boats steam out to shark-infested waters for full-day experiences. Safety is, naturally, priority number one, but that doesn’t make the adrenaline rush any less acute. If you prefer to stay dry, a glass aqua-sub is another option, or for some extra scare factor, go at twilight.

Dive with the dwarf minke whales
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef offers many wonders, but there’s no way you should pass up the opportunity to swim with pods of dwarf minke whales. Famous for being highly inquisitive, minke whales have been known to spend hours swimming with humans, even bringing their calves with them for an introduction. The Great Barrier Reef is the only place on Earth they’re known to congregate and feed between the months of May and August each year. You can meet them on a day trip or overnight expedition departing from Cairns or Port Douglas.

Tiny Turtle hatching
Green and loggerhead turtles love Heron Island, just off the Gladstone coast, because the reef here touches the shoreline, meaning the shallow waters are full of food for nesting season. The coastal reef makes Heron an excellent place for daytime snorkelling, too, but you’ll want to stay overnight during hatching season. Heron Island Resort – the only accommodation on the island – has spacious rooms with reef views and an al fresco restaurant worth writing home about. Back on the mainland, the beach within Mon Repos Conservation Park, on the outskirts of picturesque Bundaberg, is another haven for turtles – in fact, more mothers nest at Mon Repos than anywhere else on the east coast. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service run ranger-guided night-time turtle encounters during hatching season.

Penguins on Phillip Island
Located just a 90-minute drive south of Melbourne, Phillip Island is a wildlife haven. One of the area’s most popular events, the Penguin Parade allows visitors to catch a glimpse of the island’s native little penguins as they come back ashore after a day of fishing. Head to Summerland Beach for a 180-degree viewing of the parade on their tiered seating. There are also several VIP and guided tours on offer for up-close viewing and ranger commentary. Alternatively, try to catch a glimpse of them in their burrows from the elevated timber boardwalks around the island. With over 32,000 little penguins living on the island, you’ve got a good chance of spotting a few.

Salute the sea lions
If their name isn’t already a dead giveaway, Australian sea lions are endemic to Australia. These friendly ‘puppies of the sea’ are incredibly playful, and naturally inquisitive, and will often swim right up to humans nearby. They patrol the waters off the West Australian coast, Victoria, and South Australia. You can get up close and personal on the Coral Coast (three hours north of Perth), where the local sea lions are commonly spotted sunbathing on the beaches of Jurien Bay Marine Park, or you can take a boat from Jurien Bay or Green Head and jump in the water for a snorkel as they swirl around you. There’s also a large colony that live in Kangaroo Island’s Seal Bay, and visitors are encouraged to take a research tour held at either sunrise or twilight led by an experienced guide.

Play with a platypus
In Queensland’s Mackay region – a tropical area known for its waterfalls, rainforests and ancient volcanic soils – you’ll find a very rare, very special experience indeed. The native Australian platypus (famous for its duck-like bill and webbed feet) is notoriously shy, but in a remote rainforest you can dive with them. Dives take place at dawn and dusk, when these beautiful animals are most active. Slip underwater and look out for turtles, fish and other fascinating marine life, too. If you’d rather not get wet, then head to the Healesville Sanctuary in Badger Creek, where you can play zookeeper for the day to touch, play and feed the platypus on site.

Glide with manta rays
With a wingspan of up to seven metres (22 feet), the manta ray is the world’s largest ray. Despite their impressive size, these majestic creatures are safe to swim, snorkel or dive with as they don’t have the sharp barb of other rays. The giant rays can be found feeding throughout the year at Lady Elliot Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef or at Coral Bay on the famous Ningaloo Reef. Watch closely and you may see the acrobatic skills of the males on display as they compete for female attention.

Spot wild dingoes
Not quite a dog, and definitely not a wolf – the Australian dingo is a wild animal and an Australian icon. While they are generally recognised by their rich copper coat, they come in whole heap of colours. They can be white, which means the dingo comes from the alpine regions of Australia, and they can also be black, usually found in forest and rainforest areas. You can find them at the Australian Reptile Park (just outside of Sydney) and at most zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, but if your heart is set on seeing them in the wild, your best bet is to visit Queensland’s Fraser Island where visitors can observe the local wildlife in their own habitat.

Seasonal wildlife events
Time your trip to Australia with these incredible seasonal wildlife events.

Australia is home to an extraordinary array of wildlife, much of which can be spotted all year round. There are, however, a series of spectacular seasonal fauna events that take place around the country which are bound to impress even the keenest wildlife-watcher. Pack your binoculars.

Walk the red crab carpet
When: November – January
Where: Christmas Island

Christmas Island, off the far north-west coast of Australia, is home to an estimated 40-50 million bright red land crabs. Each year, at the start of the wet season, a spectacular awakening occurs. Mother Nature literally rolls out the red carpet as hordes of crabs emerge from the island’s forests and march their way down to the ocean to breed. Timing is linked to the phases of the moon, so that eggs can be released into the ocean at the exact turn of the high tide. It’s a sensational sight – the crabs move in streams, climbing down cliff faces and over obstacles, following the same routes used year after year. After several weeks, the larvae-turned-tiny crabs emerge from the ocean and begin the week-long journey inland. The red crab carpet then disappears into the forests, not to be seen until the crabs reach adulthood – and the cycle begins again.

 

Take in the tiny turtles
When: November – January (nesting), January – March (hatching)
Where: Southern Great Barrier Reef

If you love turtles, Queensland is the perfect location to see their incredible cycle of life for yourself. Although turtles can be found in a few key hotspots around Australia, they tend to be particularly prolific in the Southern Great Barrier Reef region, which spans from the coastal town of Bundaberg to Yeppoon. If you’re visiting in summer (November to January), you’ll be treated to the sight of massive female green and loggerhead turtles hauling themselves onto the beaches of mainland Mon Repos and the tiny islands of Lady Elliot, Heron and Lady Musgrave to lay their eggs. From January onwards, witness the race to the water as the tiny hatchlings start to push their way out of their sandy nests and scurry down to the ocean – it’s quite an incredible sight.

 

Welcome Australia’s whale sharks
When: March – July
Where: Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

For a chance to swim next to the largest fish in the ocean, head to Western Australia for the incredible whale shark migration. These gentle giants gather annually off Western Australia’s Coral Coast, which is home to the famous Ningaloo Reef. Although whale sharks’ exact migration patterns remain a mystery, they seem to arrive around March each year and stick around until mid-winter (July or August). So, what’s the best way to see these colossal creatures up close? The simple answer is to dive right in. Local tour operators in Exmouth and Coral Bay run whale shark swim tours, where you’ll get to float alongside these gargantuan fish. A helicopter flies overhead as a spotter, so in case you were envisaging hours of treading water waiting for whale sharks to make their cameo, there’s no cause for concern. Simply relax in comfort on the boat, then when a whale shark is spotted it’s time to jump in.

 

Observe a gathering of orcas
When: Late January – April
Where: Bremer Bay, Western Australia

If you haven’t heard of Bremer Bay, you’re probably not alone – it’s only been a few years since this tiny community on the remote south coast of Western Australia was thrust into the eco-tourism spotlight with the discovery of the ‘Bremer Canyon’. In a nutshell, the Bremer Canyon is a series of oceanic rifts 70 kilometres (43 miles) from shore which funnel cool, nutrient-rich waters upwards, attracting an abundance of marine life. While photos and newspaper clippings of this local phenomenon have adorned the walls of the Bremer Bay pub for decades, the hype only set in when ABC documentary ‘The Search for the Ocean’s Super Predator’ was aired in 2013. The program revealed a deep-sea battlefield that takes place every autumn, where apex predators including orcas, giant squid and great white sharks come to feast each year. Orcas are the highlight – you can join a daily research boat tour where the sighting rate is 98% – making it a highly reliable expedition and one of the largest congregations of killer whales in the southern hemisphere.

 

Spot birds of a feather
When: July- November
Where: Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

Voted Australia’s number one bird watching destination by Australian Geographic, a trip to Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory should be on any keen twitcher’s bucket list. Home to more than 280 types of birds – that’s around a third of Australia’s species – birdwatchers will be in paradise in this lush national park near Darwin. The best time to birdwatch here is during the dry season (May to October) – especially towards the end, as the water recedes, and the birds congregate on shrinking billabongs and waterholes. Large water sources such as Yellow Water Billabong and Mamukala Wetlands become a haven for magpie geese, plumed whistling ducks, brolgas, jabirus and egrets, which makes for phenomenal photography.

 

Find manta ray mayhem
When: May – August
Where: Lady Elliot Island

Although they can be spotted in various locations on both the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef throughout the year, there’s a tiny island off the coast of Bundaberg in Queensland that is undeniably the cream of the crop when it comes to spotting manta rays. Known as ‘the home of the manta ray’ and featured in David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef documentary, Lady Elliot Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef has made a name for itself as a hotspot for these giant kites of the sea. Mantas can be seen feeding around the island year-round, but aggregate in larger numbers during the winter months (July to September). And, if conditions are optimal and plankton is abundant, you might be lucky enough to witness what’s known as a ‘feeding frenzy’ – the sensational sight of large groups of mantas feeding at the water’s surface.

 

Cruise the humpback highway
When: May – November
Where: West and east coasts of Australia

Ok, so you’ve been whale watching, and you’re thinking ‘what’s the big deal?’. The big deal is the sheer number of whales that migrate along Australia’s east and west coasts – we’re talking tens of thousands of humpbacks, not to mention a solid smattering of southern right and blue whales. The whales head north to the warmer waters of Tropical North Queensland and the Kimberley to calve then back down the coast, resulting in the longest whale watching season in the world. Hotspots on the east coast include the Whitsundays, Hervey Bay, the Gold Coast, Sydney and the Sunshine Coast, where you can even swim with humpback whales. Over in Western Australia, your best whale watching spots are the coastal towns of Albany, Augusta, Busselton, Fremantle and Broome.

 

Swim with dwarf minke whales
When: July – September
Where: Cairns or Port Douglas

There’s only one spot on the planet where you can swim with dwarf minke whales – and only a few lucky people get the chance to do so each year. These six-tonne (6.6-ton) creatures are renowned for their fascination with humans – they’re so curious they have been known to spend hours swimming back and forth around divers, making eye contact and even bringing their calves for a look. However, they only congregate on the Great Barrier Reef for a brief period each winter (July to September) and swimming with them is a fiercely guarded privilege. Whether you take a day trip from the town of Port Douglas or join a multi-day liveaboard expedition from the region’s main city, Cairns, your interaction doesn’t start until the whales decide to approach. Once your boat is in the right area, you’ll slip into the water and float, snorkel mask on, while holding onto a rope. Then you’ll simply wait until the curious creatures decide to come to investigate – usually, something that happens within a matter of minutes. It’s definitely a bucket list experience for an avid diver or wildlife lover.

 

Snorkel with colourful giant cuttlefish
When: July
Where: Stony Point, Eyre Peninsula

Swim with the Giant Cuttlefish is a tour in South Australia that takes you snorkelling with the amazing giant cuttlefish at Stony Point, located on the coastline of the Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park in the Eyre Peninsula. Their two-day tour itinerary, which has departures available to book during the cuttlefish migration season in July, is packed with added benefits that include exclusive cuttlefish insights by a marine expert, sightseeing through the wilderness of the Southern Flinders Ranges and hiking along the rugged Alligator Gorge in the Mount Remarkable National Park. The tour includes return transport from Adelaide and all equipment.

Whale watching in Australia
Spot southern right, dwarf minke, humpback whales and even orcas as they make their annual migration along Australia’s coasts.

The Australian coastline provides bountiful opportunities to observe any number of whale species on their annual migration. Spectators on both the east and west coasts have the chance to enjoy their own whale show, twice a year, as the mammals travel to and from Antarctica for what should be known as ‘the world’s longest lunch’ – feasting on all types of fish, krill, and plankton. At the tail-end of summer, they begin the long journey north to warmer waters for their breeding and birthing season, as young calves don’t yet have enough blubber on them to withstand the winter temperatures. Between May and November, you can spot southern right whales journeying to the temperate breeding waters off South Australia and Victoria, while energetic humpback whales continue north to the Great Barrier Reef and the Kimberley and orcas congregate off the southern coast of the state of Western Australia.

Here are the best spots around the country to take in their majestic beauty.

Near Hobart
When: May – July, September – December

Where: Legend has it that the residents of Hobart’s suburb of Taroona used to complain about being kept awake by the sounds of whales in the River Derwent. While whaling in the 19th century had a dramatic impact on the population, the whale numbers are recovering, and Tasmania’s east coast is still one of the best places to spot them on their annual migration. See humpback whales and southern right whales coasting through the clear waters of Great Oyster Bay off the Freycinet Peninsula, an area renowned for its pink granite cliffs and secret white beaches. Frederick Henry Bay is another great spot to grab a glimpse of the passing whales while still on dry land. Southern right whales and humpback whales often travel past the bay on the way to their breeding areas, but occasionally will stick around to give birth in Tassie, giving people the chance to see them from shore. You may also glimpse whales with their calves in Mercury Passage off Maria Island, a natural wildlife sanctuary.

How: Try a three-hour tour with Bruny Island Cruises to see whales taking shelter in Adventure Bay. Pennicott Wilderness Journeys also operate cruises and day tours from Hobart.

 

 

Near Perth
When: June – November

Where: In Western Australia, the south coast is the best place for spotting whales. Humpback whales and southern right whales frolic in Augusta’s picturesque Flinders Bay (in the Margaret River wine region) from early June, and then watch rare blue whales and their calves join bottlenose dolphins in Geographe Bay in Dunsborough in September. Further south, Albany’s rugged coastline makes another scenic grandstand as southern right whales take shelter in Albany’s bays to mate and calve before returning south. Just under two hours east of Albany is Bremer Bay, home to one of the largest congregations of killer whales in the Southern Hemisphere. Head out on a research boat to spot them. Visitors to Albany can also learn about whales at the historic Whaling Station, an interactive museum built in the headquarters of the last whaling company to cease operations in Australia. From June to November, humpback whales can also be spotted travelling north-west to Broome (a 2.5-hour flight from Perth). And while Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth is famous for its swimming with the whale shark experience, it also sees the highest number of humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere. Around 30,000 pass through Exmouth between June and November on their way to their birthing grounds off the Kimberley coast. A number of operators in the area offer small-group tours that allow you to swim with these incredible mammals

How: Naturaliste Charters offer ocean adventures that depart from Albany, Augusta, Dunsborough, Busselton and Bremer Bay. Ningaloo Coral Bay Boats run a four-hour cruise out of Coral Bay, and Live Ningaloo offer a swim with humpback whale tour departing from Exmouth.

 

 

Near Sydney
When: May – late November

Where: Occasionally lucky Sydneysiders walking the famous Bondi to Coogee coastal track will catch a glimpse of passing humpbacks travelling north. The most common period is the last week of June and the first week of July. Then, in early September you’ll have another great chance of the mothers and calves passing by Sydney as they head back south. From land, Sydney’s best vantage point is The Gap at South Head in Watsons Bay. Outside of the city, head for Jervis Bay, a three-hour drive south of the city, where you’re almost guaranteed a whale sighting in the calm, clear waters. The Shoalhaven Heads, Crookhaven Heads Lighthouse and Penguin Head at Culburra Beach offer great outlooks. Or hop onto one of the cruises leaving daily between May and November from Huskisson. Continue 3.5 hours further south to the coastal town of Merimbula on the beautiful Sapphire Coast, for both shore-based whale watching and charters. The town of Eden celebrates their arrival each year with the Eden Whale Festival, with live shows, a parade and local produce stalls. You can also see the same huge, graceful creatures from June in Byron Bay, playing just offshore from the Cape Byron Lighthouse.

How: Book a three-hour Discovery Cruise with Whale Watching Sydney from Circular Quay out into Sydney Harbour, where humpbacks make their way up the east coast. Jervis Bay Wild offers eco-cruises that leave from Huskisson and travel around Jervis Bay. Merimbula Marina offers regular whale watching cruises from May through to November with 100 per cent success rate.

 

 

Near Adelaide
When: June – September

Where: Victor Harbor, located 80 kilometres (49 miles) south of Adelaide, is a significant historic location for both the Ramindjeri people and the early colonial settlers alike who prized the area for its rich lands, sheltered waters and whales. Holiday goers now flock to the coastal destination to enjoy its clear turquoise waters and abundant wildlife, including the majestic southern right whales who come year on year to breed. Stand atop the steep cliffs around Victor Harbor’s Encounter Bay to watch these visitors frolic in the calm waters below. Or better yet, book a tour to see them play with their calves further out in the waters of the Fleurieu Peninsula. Further along South Australia’s jagged coastline in Ceduna, you can watch the whales do slow-motion somersaults from the viewing platform or beach.

How: The Big Duck Tour offers both group and chartered cruises that depart from Victor Harbor, Granite Island Causeway and Adelaide. Ceduna Tours will take you to the head of the Great Australian Bight Whale Sanctuary where you can get up close to southern right whales in their breeding ground near the towering Bunda Cliffs.

 

 

Near Brisbane
When: May – November

Where: Queensland’s whale hot spot is at Hervey Bay, around 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of Brisbane. This tranquil spot is protected by Fraser Island, affording humpback whales the opportune location to hang around a while, either to mate, breed or nurse. To increase your chances of seeing the precious baby whales, time your visit around the first week of September. Each year in July and August, the arrival of the humpback whales is celebrated at the Hervey Bay Whale Festival, with concerts, street parades and displays. A bit further south, on the Sunshine Coast, adventure lovers can experience what it feels like to be part of a pod when they head out with Sunreef Mooloolaba to swim with humpbacks. If you keep travelling north until you reach the Whitsunday Islands, you can also get quite a show of humpback whales who tend to move into the area between May and September, enjoying the shallow, sheltered waters while they nurse their newborn calves. For a truly unforgettable experience, book in with one of the specialised operators to swim with dwarf minke whales. It is the only place in the world where people can dive with these highly intelligent, curious creatures and it only happens for a brief period in June and July. The encounters are always whale initiated and controlled, as swimmers are dropped into the appropriate area of water with their snorkels and instructed to hold onto a rope. The curious whales will then almost always come in for a closer look and have been known to spend hours swimming back and forth around divers, making eye contact and even bringing their calves for a look.

How: See the playful antics of the humpback whales aboard the Spirit of Hervey Bay, while legendary guide Vicky Neville from Tasman Ventures is often referred to as ‘the whale whisperer’. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions is one of the few lucky operators on the Great Barrier Reef who takes tour groups out to dive with the dwarf minke whales.

 

 

Near Melbourne
When: May – September

Where: Head to Logans Beach in Warrnambool, a three-hour drive out of Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road, and watch southern right whales calve in a nursery close to shore. They stay here for several weeks, helping their babies build strength for the long journey back to sub-Antarctic waters. You can capture the mother-and-calf interactions from the viewing platform on the sand dunes. Also try Lady Bay in Warrnambool, where the new mums often come close enough to spray you with breakwater. Travel a further 1.5 hours along the Great Ocean Road to see rare blue whales in their last feeding month at Cape Nelson near Portland.

Go beyond well-known destinations to discover Australia’s beach and island gems. You’ll soon learn why the sand and sea hold such a special place in our national identity.

From city beaches to secluded spots where you’ll share the sand with more wildlife than humans, there are gorgeous beaches and islands across the country. Sail through the Whitsundays, marvel at a sea of red crabs on Christmas Island or embark on a coastal drive in search of the perfect spot for a surf. It won’t take long to find.

Australia’s best beaches
Bright blue waters, soft sand and incredible surf are just a few things you’ll enjoy at any one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches.

Beaches are a favourite Australian pastime. Whether it’s a game of cricket, an early-morning surf or a lie in the sunshine, beach culture truly encapsulates the ‘no worries’ attitude that defines so much of Australia. The beach is a place that exudes calm and relaxation, and with so much coastline to go around, it’s not hard to find a quiet space of sand all to yourself.

 

Beaches near Perth
Cottesloe Beach
While many of Western Australia’s most impressive beaches lie in remote locations, you’ll find one of the state’s best beach attractions just a 30-minute drive from Perth. A favourite for both locals and visitors, Cottesloe Beach is divided into three sections. The main area of Cottesloe Beach is perfect for swimming and walking, while North Cottesloe Beach is home to Peter’s Pool – a great spot for snorkelling. South Cottesloe doesn’t have any sand for sunbathers, but it does have amazing waves for local surfers.

Lucky Bay
Down in Western Australia’s southwest corner, Lucky Bay is a stunningly beautiful crescent of white sand and turquoise water, sitting untouched within the protection of Cape Le Grand National Park. Views of the islands of the Recherche Archipelago, and sharing the beach with sunbaking kangaroos, make a trip to Lucky Bay an unforgettable experience.

Cable Beach
In Broome, located on the northern border of Western Australia, you’ll find Cable Beach. This beach is famous for its 22 kilometres (14 miles) of soft white sand, where visitors can enjoy the serene surrounds and calm blue water. Cable Beach is also known for its camel trains, where guests traverse the beach on the backs of camels for a memorable way to watch one of Western Australia’s epic sunsets.

 

Beaches near Darwin
Mindil Beach
Near the Northern Territory town of Darwin is Mindil Beach. Although swimming isn’t recommended, the beach is still well worth a visit because of the festivities that happen along its shores during the dry season. At the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, you’ll find food from all over the world as well as an incredible view of the town’s famous sunsets. If you need to cool off, visit Darwin’s Waterfront Precinct. Located just a five-minute walk from the city centre, you’ll find a man-made lagoon for children, a popular wave pool, a saltwater beach and several great eateries.

East Point Reserve
The Northern Territory is known for its remarkable red dirt, but it also boasts some beautiful beaches. While many of the state’s beaches aren’t recommended for swimming because of their marine life, you’ll find a lovely saltwater lake at East Point Reserve, located just 15 minutes from Darwin. Lake Alexander is a popular spot for paddleboarding and swimming as well as beachside yoga and reading. Nearby, you’ll find a paved nature walk that takes you along the coastal cliffs.

Wagait Beach
On the opposite side of Darwin’s harbour, you’ll find Wagait Beach. The quiet, secluded beach is often considered one of Darwin’s local secrets, offering stretches of sand and green forest walks. Wagait Beach is a 90-minute drive or 15-minute ferry from Darwin.

 

Beaches near Adelaide
Henley Beach

As the coastal capital of South Australia, Adelaide is home to several metropolitan beaches. Henley Beach, home to white sand and gentle surf, is popular among locals and visitors. Walk along the jetty out to sea, or stop by one of the many bars and restaurants along the shore to taste local wine and beer.

Glenelg
Glenelg is perhaps Adelaide’s favourite family-friendly beach. Here, you’ll find a tree-lined beach with calm, blue waters. Take a walk down the nearby Jetty Road to find busy cafes and bustling shops.

Sellicks Beach
Near the relaxed wine country of McLaren Vale you’ll find beaches that seem to stretch forever. Spend a morning at Sellicks Beach where you can swim, surf and fish. Or take a drive over to Goolwa Beach to spot dolphins from the sand, cast a line out in the water or dig for cockles with your feet.

Stokes Bay
If you’re keen to get out of the city, don’t miss the incredible experiences at Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island, about 3.5 hours from Adelaide. Stokes Bay Beach may have an unusual entrance through a natural rock tunnel, but visitors are rewarded with a secluded stretch of stunning white sand. But the scenery isn’t all you’ll enjoy at Stokes Bay. Atop the grassy cliff, you’ll often find kangaroos enjoying a meal. Stay at the Waves & Wildlife Cottages to see native wildlife right outside your door.

Gunyah Beach
Gunyah Beach, located on the Eyre Peninsula, is known for its spectacular surfing, showcasing some of Australia’s biggest rips. But the surf isn’t the only thing that makes this beach famous. Just off the beach lies the amazing Gunyah sand dunes, which stretch as far as you can see.

 

Beaches near Cairns
Queensland is home to some of the most iconic beaches in Australia. The Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the Great Barrier Reef all create their own unique stretches of sand and surf.

Whitehaven Beach
Perhaps the most famous is Whitehaven Beach, and it’s no mystery why. Located in the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands, the sand seems impossibly white as it swirls together with pristine turquoise water. Visit the beach during a variety of Whitsunday cruises, or stay on Hamilton Island and take the 30-minute boat ride.

Cape Hillsborough
About 1.5 hours south of the Whitsundays lies a beach with bountiful wildlife. Cape Hillsborough plays host to kangaroos and wallabies each day at sunrise, when the sand reflects the golden sky. Wake up early and bring your camera to capture the spectacle.

 

Beaches near Brisbane
Noosa
Drive just two hours north from Brisbane and you’ll stumble upon Noosa, a sleepy seaside town with impeccable beaches. Visit Noosa Main Beach for calm waves and beautiful blue water. Sunshine Beach offers 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) of open beach bordered by tropical palm trees.

Burleigh Heads Beach
The Gold Coast, just over an hour south of Brisbane, is another hot spot for beautiful beaches. Burleigh Heads Beach, simply called Burleigh by the locals, is a favourite for a surf, swim and barbecue. Find calm, sheltered waters just out from the sand, or great surf waves when you move to the other side of the seaside cliffs. Step off the sand to find a shady spot for a picnic or barbecue.

For a beach experience of the adventurous sort, start off in Noosa and spend four days on The Great Beach Drive. Along the way you will take your 4WD on the sands of Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island as you spot whales, dolphins and even dingoes en route.

 

Beaches near Sydney
Shelly Beach
Thousands of people soak up Sydney’s beaches every year, but there’s more to explore than the big name beaches of Manly and Bondi. Manly Beach’s lesser-known neighbour, Shelly Beach, is not only great for surfing but also snorkelling and scuba diving. The shallow marine reserve offers sheltered water perfect for families as well. After your swim, take the easy track up the headland for scenic views out to the ocean. Alternatively, grab a bite to eat at The Boathouse Shelly Beach, one of the area’s buzzy cafes.

Palm Beach
Drive along the coast north from Sydney and you’ll find a chain of beaches aptly named the Northern Beaches. Palm Beach, located just over an hour from Sydney, is known for its clean golden sand and great bush walks. Beyond the beach, you can play a few holes at Palm Beach Golf Club, take a Hidden Treasures cultural tour or dine at acclaimed restaurants like Jonah’s.

Main Beach
In New South Wales’ beachy city of Byron Bay, you’ll find several world-class beaches. Main Beach stretches straight out from the town, offering soft golden sand and crystal clear water. Other local favourites include Wategos Beach and Seven Mile Beach.

Coalcliff Beach
If you’re headed south along the stunning Grand Pacific Drive, don’t miss Coalcliff Beach in Wollongong, less than two hours from Sydney. Surrounded by rocks and cliffs, the beach is a great spot for swimming, surfing and fishing. Head to the southern tip of the beach to find a calm saltwater pool perfect for a relaxing dip. Coalcliff faces east, so arrive at sunrise to witness some spectacular colours reflected on the water.

 

Beaches near Canberra
Jervis Bay
Because the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is landlocked, it doesn’t have any ocean beaches. However, you don’t have to go far to find a stretch of sand by the sea. Head to the Jervis Bay region of the South Coast, located in New South Wales about 2.5 hours from Canberra, for countless beautiful beaches. One of these is Pretty Beach. With glassy water and lush greenery, its name is well-deserved. You may even spot friendly kangaroos sharing the sand.

South Broulee Beach
Huskisson is also a frequented area where you can find stunning white sand beaches perfect for spotting dolphins from shore. South Broulee Beach offers nearby sand dunes that are great for a picnic, while Guerilla Bay provides sheltered waters, dramatic rock cliffs and a secluded spot of sand.

 

Beaches near Melbourne
Brighton Beach
Victoria offers expanses of wilderness to explore, but one of the state’s best beaches is just 30 minutes south of Melbourne. On Brighton Beach, you’ll savour the soft golden sand and calm ocean water, as well as the exceptionally photogenic bathing boxes. Over 80 small, colourful wooden structures line the foreshore, making Brighton Beach one of Australia’s most charming.

Ninety Mile Beach
Further from the city, escape to secluded beaches in Gippsland, a region in southeast Victoria boasting forests, mountains, rivers and villages. One of the most stunning beaches in Gippsland is Ninety Mile Beach, a 145-kilometre (90-mile) stretch of sand that separates the Gippsland Lakes from the Bass Strait. Meander down the coastline, keeping an eye out for dolphins and whales that may pass by.

Bells Beach
If you’re driving Victoria’s striking Great Ocean Road, you’ll pass one of the state’s best surf beaches. Bells Beach, located an hour and a half from Melbourne, is the arena for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, which draws some of the most impressive surfers from around the world. The beach is enveloped by rock cliffs, giving visitors a sweeping view of the sand below.

 

Beaches near Hobart
Seven Mile Beach
Tasmania is renowned for its jaw-dropping nature, including some exceptional beaches. Just 20 minutes from Hobart lies Seven Mile Beach, a long crescent of sand dotted with hills, pine forests and luxe resorts. Take a dip on the beach’s western end, or embark on a bushwalk across the headland.

Wineglass Bay
Wineglass Bay is one of Tasmania’s most famous beaches, and it won’t take long for you to discover why. Located about 2.5 hours from Hobart among the wild beauty of Freycinet National Park, Wineglass Bay is a perfectly curved expanse of white sand bordered by incredibly clear blue water. Although you can walk to the beach itself, one of the most beautiful ways to enjoy the beach is from a lookout above the bay. Set off on the 3-kilometre (1.9-mile) return hike from the Wineglass Bay carpark to see the vibrant colours from a new perspective.

Bay of Fires
Some of the most unique beaches you’ll find in Australia lie within Tasmania’s Bay of Fires, located a 2.5-hour drive from Launceston. Famous for its brilliant white beaches, turquoise water and bright orange rocks, the Bay of Fires is as stunning as it is secluded. Nearly 30 kilometres (18 miles) of white sand stretches the coast. Head to Binalong Bay to dive into the crystal sea.

Australia’s most beautiful islands
In the open ocean or just off the coast, Australia is home to some of the world’s most enviable island experiences.

Australia is surrounded by stunning islands. Luxurious, adventurous, rugged or remote – there’s an island suited to every paradise seeker.

Here are Australia’s best and most beautiful islands.
Islands near Perth

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
This idyllic Indian Ocean outpost of 27 islands boasts dazzling white-sand beaches, world-class diving and a unique cultural blend – yet it receives only a handful of visitors each year, perhaps due to its remote location off Australia’s west coast. Those who do make the trip from Perth (via Christmas Island) will be handsomely rewarded: divers of all abilities can marvel at coral reefs and shipwrecks with Cocos Dive; curious historians can take a guided tour to learn about the local Cocos Malay people; and explorers can visit the territory’s untouched southern islands on an outrigger canoe safari. Don’t miss calm Cossies Beach on Direction Island; it’s been called Australia’s best beach.

Rottnest Island
Rottnest Island, just a short ferry ride from Perth, has one tiny attraction you can’t see anywhere else. The quokka, a pint-sized marsupial, is known for its friendly nature, which is why photographers love to snap their picture. The island is a true sanctuary: private cars are not allowed, so most visitors explore the place on foot or by bicycle, wandering between 63 charming beaches with snorkels in hand. Families will love the Just 4 Fun Aqua Park, and there are some great places to scuba dive. If you’re keen to cover the entire island, the hop-on hop-off Island Explorer bus is a great option. Stay in a luxury eco-tent nestled behind the sand dunes.

Christmas Island
If you’re chasing an island experience that’s as remote as it is unknown, then Christmas Island is one to put on your list. Reached via a flight from Perth, Christmas Island is known not only for its incredible red crab migration, but also its untamed rainforest, lively coral reefs and luxury retreat. Each year during October or November, more than 40 million red crabs carpet the island during their migration. You can snorkel and scuba dive nearly 60 sites all year round, and with almost two-thirds of the island covered in national park, there are plenty of cliffs, rock pools and beaches to discover. You’ll find the ultimate island getaway at Swell Lodge, a single glass-fronted eco chalet offering views of the surrounding wilderness.

 

Islands near Darwin
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Islands, located 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Darwin, overflow with culture, art and beauty. Take a tour with AAT Kings and be welcomed with a smoking ceremony before watching Tiwi women weave baskets and learn some of the complex rituals associated with the Pukamani (burial ceremony). Avid anglers will love a guided sport-fishing experience with Tiwi Island Adventures; there are more than 40 fish species to catch.

 

Islands near Adelaide
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island, 13 kilometres (8 miles) off the coast of South Australia, has everything you need for a unique adventure. Wildlife, natural attractions, gourmet produce and delicious spirits all make an appearance. Head to the western side of the island to explore Flinders Chase National Park, home to large boulders covered in orange lichen; they’re called Remarkable Rocks for a reason. You don’t want to miss Seal Bay Conservation Park, where you can walk among endangered Australian sea lions. The two-hour Platypus Waterholes Walk will give you a chance at spotting Australia’s elusive platypus. Indulge in the island’s culinary creativity at Penny’s Restaurant, Kangaroo Island Spirits and Dudley Wines.

 

Islands near Brisbane
Fraser Island
Wild dingoes, breaching whales and beaches that double as roads are just a few of the things you’ll find on Fraser Island. Located about a six-hour drive north of Brisbane, Fraser Island is the perfect getaway for those who like to roam free. Discover the island’s welcoming waters at Lake McKenzie and Lake Wabby; you won’t be able to resist a relaxing swim. Driving along the island’s incredible beaches is a way of life on Fraser Island. Visit Aussie Trax 4WD Hire for a vehicle and a quick lesson on navigating the sandy highways. Visit during migration season (August through October) to spot giant humpbacks on a whale watching cruise. At dusk, try to spot wild dingoes with a local guide before settling into your campsite on the beach or resort accommodation. If you have a few days to spare, consider trekking the Fraser Island Great Walk, where you’ll reconnect with nature along the winding coastal path.

Moreton Island
Made entirely of sand, Moreton Island is the perfect setting for a laid-back beach getaway. Stay at Tangalooma Island Resort for stunning views over Moreton Bay and the Glass House Mountains. You can even hand-feed wild dolphins here. Snorkel among the sunken ships of the Tangalooma Wrecks, a man-made dive site that’s now home to fish, dolphins and dugongs. You can’t stay on the sand island without a bit of sandy adventure; take a Desert Safari tour to sail down the golden dunes on a toboggan. There are also plenty of walking and hiking trails to tackle, from the easy Blue Lagoon to the more difficult, but rewarding, Mount Tempest Lookout walk.

North Stradbroke Island
Wild kangaroos, white-sand beaches, and humpback whales come together to create the perfect island adventure on ‘Straddie,’ the local’s nickname for North Stradbroke Island. The island is an easy ferry or water taxi from Brisbane, and offers all-day sunshine with a good dose of rugged nature. Head to Cylinder Beach, Flinders Beach and Frenchmans Beach to enjoy long stretches of sand, or climb to Point Lookout with a pair of binoculars to spot whales from late May and early October. Hike to Blue Lake and Brown Lake, which are areas of special cultural significance for Quandamooka people. Stay in comfort under the stars at the Minjerribah glamping tents.

 

Islands near Cairns
Whitsundays
The Whitsunday Islands, located in Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, boast some of the country’s most beautiful nature. There are 74 islands in the Whitsundays, but only some offer the chance to stay amid the azure waters and white sand. Hamilton Island is home to qualia, one of the most luxurious stays on the reef, while Daydream Island offers a one-of-a-kind Living Reef, along with breathtaking views and aquatic activities. Hayman Island is a private island paradise. Check into InterContinental Hayman Island Resort for a huge swimming pool, suites and villas, seaplane adventures and a trip to the famous Whitehaven Beach or Heart Reef.

Magnetic Island
It only takes 25 minutes on a ferry from Townsville to arrive at the palm-fringed paradise of Magnetic Island. Although the island is a part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, it’s rocky landscape dotted with boulders makes it beautifully unique. Snorkel and dive through coral and shipwrecks, or explore atop the water with a kayak or jet ski tour. After you emerge from the sea, head to the Bungalow Bay Koala Village to visit the furry residents at the koala park. There is even the option to have breakfast with the koalas. Finally, enjoy the sunset the Australian way – from a boat on the open sea. Big Mama Sailing and Pilgrim Sailing offer sunset cruises. There are plenty of beautiful places to stay, too, including Lotus House and Peppers Blue on Blue.

Lizard Island
Lizard Island rests within the blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef, so it’s no surprise that a trip here is all about reef and relaxation. Your stay at the five-star Lizard Island Resort offers equal parts luxury and adventure, with experiences ranging from fishing and diving to spas and private dining. Don’t miss your opportunity to snorkel some of the reef’s most incredible dive sites, including Cod Hole, where you can swim alongside grey reef sharks and schools of tropical fish. After a day in the water, unwind with a private picnic or fresh seafood on the waterfront. For a jaw-dropping view of the swirling blues surrounding the island, hike the four kilometres (2.5 miles) to Cook’s Look.

 

Islands near Sydney
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island’s undulating, pine-tree-covered hillsides hide a dramatic secret: this speck in the ocean was once Australia’s most notorious penal colony. These days, it’s better known for its gorgeous scenery and fiercely proud residents (many of whom are convict descendants) – but the original penal buildings still stand in the Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area, providing a vivid look at the past. Once you’ve brushed up on your history, play a scenic round of golf on one of the world’s only courses located in a World Heritage Site; laze on the golden-sand beach that fronts Emily Bay Lagoon; or check out the island’s immense basalt and sandstone cliffs on a kayak tour. On-island accommodation and dining options are plentiful, and flights depart regularly from Sydney and Brisbane.

Cockatoo Island
Australia has hundreds of islands, and you don’t have to venture far from the city to find them. This is especially true in the case of Cockatoo Island, located within the glistening Sydney Harbour. You can get there on a ferry from Circular Quay, and there’s plenty to explore after you arrive. The island has a colourful history as a jail and shipbuilding yard, and you can discover it’s heritage on a range of tours. Embark on the Cockatoo Island Ghostyard tour or Haunted History tour for a few ghost stories. You can even spend the night. Choose between heritage houses, apartments and waterfront camping tents.

Lord Howe Island
It’s just a quick flight from Sydney or Brisbane, but lush Lord Howe Island feels much further away – partly because only 300 people live there and just 400 visitors are allowed at any one time. The island’s big draws are its biodiverse coastline and mountain-studded interior, both of which can be explored by novices and pros alike. Experienced adventurers should hike Mount Gower for jaw-dropping views and dive near Ball’s Pyramid, an offshore rock, to see endemic species. A less strenuous – but no less impressive – option is a glass-bottomed boat trip with Lord Howe Environmental Tours. On-island accommodation ranges from the elegant Pinetrees Lodge to the luxury boutique Capella Lodge.

 

Islands near Melbourne
Phillip Island
Just a 90-minute drive south of Melbourne is Phillip Island, famous for its abundance of wildlife. Begin your animal adventure at the Koala Conservation Centre, where you’ll stroll through the bush to spot koalas in their native habitat. Next, take a trip with Wildlife Coast Cruises to Seal Rocks to see one of the largest colonies of Australian fur seals. Alternatively, visit Nobbies Centre, where you can see Australian fur seals from the land for free. Afterwards, stroll the boardwalks with terrific views of Phillip Island’s rugged south coast and blowhole. One of the island’s must-dos is watching the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, where wild little penguins emerge from the sea and waddle across the beach to their dune burrows.

 

Islands near Hobart
Flinders Island
The wild, green islands of the Furneaux Group dot the Bass Strait, a stormy patch of ocean that stretches between mainland Australia and Tasmania. The largest of the islands, Flinders, is the most captivating of the lot: it’s full of sandy beaches, rambling hillsides and tracts of thick bushland. Tasmanians love the place for its atmosphere and its incredible seafood, particularly the famed Flinders Island crayfish – book a Rockjaw Tour to catch some yourself. Take a walk through Strzelecki National Park to admire its moody granite mountains and little-known Aussie marsupials such as Bennetts wallabies, Tasmanian pademelons and potoroos. Or book a room at Sawyers Bay Shacks for barefoot luxury and genuine relaxation. Flinders can be reached via plane from Launceston or via ferry from nearby Bridport.

Bruny Island
Bruny Island is a wildlife and wilderness haven. After a 30-minute drive from Hobart and 20-minute ferry from Kettering, hop on a wilderness cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys to discover the wild coastline of the island, as well as Australian fur seals, dolphins, migrating whales and sea birds. Spend your afternoon collecting culinary delights on the island by visiting Get Shucked Oyster Bar, Bruny Island Cheese Company, Bruny Island Premium Wines, or Bruny Island House of Whisky. After such an eventful day you’ll want nothing more than to enjoy a chilled out evening. Book in at Hundred Acre Hideaway and take advantage of your cottage deck, positioned to overlook 100 acres of bush, rainforest and meadows.

Australia’s coral reefs
No doubt you’re familiar with the Great Barrier Reef, but did you know that Australia’s incredible coastline is also peppered with other reef systems waiting to be discovered?

Millions of visitors make the pilgrimage to see the Great Barrier Reef every year. Snorkelling and diving among the colourful fish and coral; spotting turtles, sharks and whales; or even experiencing the wonders of the reef while staying dry in a glass-bottom boat, helicopter or seaplane.

There are so many unique ways to experience the reef, and it’s a bucket-list item that every traveller should tick off. Yet while the Great Barrier Reef often takes centre stage, it’s not the only incredible reef system you can find in Australia. The country’s northern, western and south eastern coastlines are also underwater playgrounds with their own unique ecosystems waiting to be explored.

Discover each of Australia’s unique and diverse reef systems for yourself.

The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef may be Australia’s most well-known natural asset, and it’s no wonder this natural wonder of the world is a huge bucket list item for travellers of every age. It’s simply spectacular.

At 2,300 kilometres (1,430 miles) the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. It’s home to over 1,600 species of fish, 411 species of hard coral and 150 species of soft coral, more than 30 species of whales and dolphins and six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles.

Whether you snorkel, scuba or view this underwater playground from a glass-bottom boat, be sure to keep track of your progress as you attempt to catalogue the reef’s “Great Eight” – manta rays, whales, turtles, clownfish, potato cod, giant clams, maori wrasse and sharks. You can also experience sailing and fishing charters as well as helicopter and seaplane adventures that showcase the reef from above. A scenic flight above Heart Reef is a romantic excursion that every couple will cherish.

As the reef spans two thirds of the north eastern coastline of Australia, you’ll find many jumping off points for accessing the incredible adventures that await you here. Cairns in the tropical north and Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays region are perhaps the two best known gateways towns. Explore the stunning tropical surrounds and luxury resorts of Hamilton, Hayman and Daydream Islands. Or opt for a secluded getaway on Orpheus, Lizard or Bedarra Island. Visit the koala population on Magnetic Island or take a scenic flight and spend an afternoon on a temporary island. Vlasoff Cay will be your private playground for a few hours at low tide where you can swim, sunbathe and picnic in total serenity.

 

The Southern Great Barrier Reef
While technically part of the massive Great Barrier Reef system, the southern end of the reef offers unique experiences that differentiate it from the areas found in the tropical north. Starting in the coastal city of Bundaberg (about a 4.5-hour drive north of Brisbane) and stretching up the Capricorn Coast, the Southern Great Barrier Reef is home to colourful coral cays, authentically Aussie seaside towns and island jewels waiting to be discovered.

The idyllic islands that dot the Southern Great Barrier Reef offer eco escapes, extraordinary snorkelling and easily accessible diving opportunities. From Heron Island you can snorkel right off the beach, or take a boat just 15 minutes to reach 21 different dive sites. Lady Musgrave is the perfect day trip for experienced and first-time snorkellers alike, while Lady Elliot ranks in as one of the world’s top five places to dive with giant manta rays. At Great Keppel Island you can choose to relax and disconnect or find adventure by walking into the water and snorkelling the fringing reef from one of 17 quiet beaches that circle the island.

The Southern Great Barrier Reef is also the perfect place to witness all the stages of a turtle’s life cycle for yourself. From watching turtles nest on Heron Island to witnessing hatchlings scamper to the sea on Mon Repos Beach, it’s a unique opportunity to get up close to this incredible phenomenon.

 

Ningaloo Reef
Ningaloo Marine Park is a World Heritage-listed site that sits about 1,250 kilometres (777 miles) north of Perth.

Start your journey in the hub town of Exmouth (if you plan to drive, there are plenty of worthy stops along the way, otherwise you can fly to Exmouth from Perth) where you’ll be introduced to the crystalline waters that harbour the world’s largest fringing reef. At 260 kilometres (162 miles) long, Ningaloo Reef’s coral system is swarming with turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, humpback whales and the elusive whale shark.

Whale shark season (every year from April to July) is one of the most exciting times here, as there is no other place on Earth where these gentle giants reliably congregate in such large numbers so close to land. Swimming with one of these beautiful creatures is one of life’s most breathtaking experiences. Strict protections are in place to care for threatened species and all charter boats collect data for scientists and conservationists to ensure Ningaloo’s aquatic visitors stay safe. Join a tour in Exmouth or Coral Bay and pick a boat with its own spotter plane for best results. The Exmouth Visitor Centre can provide you with the many tour options available.

More than 500 species of fish also live in these waters, so grab a snorkel and see how many you can spot at popular snorkel spots such as Bills Bay and Purdy Point at Coral Bay, or Oyster Stacks and the Turquoise Bay Drift in Cape Range National Park. Look for elegant angel fish and Moorish idols, vibrantly coloured parrot fish and butterfly fish, and tiny damselfish. Divers can get up close with even more varieties of fish at sites such as Exmouth’s Navy Pier, where big schools of snapper and massive grouper fish are frequent visitors.

There are also three species of turtle found on Ningaloo Reef – the green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles. At the Jurabi Turtle Centre, outside the town of Exmouth, you can learn more about these extraordinary animals, and even take part in a guided turtle viewing experience. From December to March you can watch turtles laying their eggs. Or come six weeks later to see the hatching process, when the tiny turtles dig their way out of the sand and race towards the ocean, trying to escape waiting predators including ghost crabs and spangled emperor fish.

 

Montgomery Reef
Montgomery Reef, in the Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park on the Kimberley Coast, is one of the most spectacular places in the Kimberley. Covering nearly 300 square kilometres (116 square miles) across the Indian Ocean, the tidal movements here vary by up to 10 metres (33 feet) causing the reef to emerge from the sea at low tide. The result is a cascading waterfall from the top of the reef as an abundance of marine life comes into view. Navigable channels through the reef allow boats to tour the area and view the spectacle.

While cruising Montgomery Reef you’ll be sure to spot a variety of marine life, including six species of turtle, Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, dugongs, saltwater crocodiles and several species of sawfish as well as humpback whales, minke whales and false killer whales.

The marine park is also the most important humpback whale nursery in the Southern Hemisphere. From June to November each year up to 20,000 humpback whales migrate from their Antarctic feeding grounds to their breeding grounds on the Kimberley Coast.