Australian landmarks are fairly spectacular. From the enduring Nice Barrier Reef and Uluru to the lesser-known Wilpena Pound, many maintain the title of the world’s longest, largest, or oldest of their sort.
If you’re after jaw-dropping magnificence, you can not beat the various natural landscapes you get Down Below. Many are additionally on the coronary heart of Australian indigenous tradition.
Nice Barrier Reef
The Nice Barrier Reef is seen from outer house and is half the scale of Texas. It has 3000 particular person reefs, 1600 kinds of fish, and 600 types of coral. Stretching 1500 miles down the Queensland coast, the Nice Barrier Reef is the final word Australian landmark and a must-see once you get to Australia.
The north Queensland city of Cairns is the preferred base for trips to the Great Barrier Reef. You may cruise to reef-fringed tropical islands or enterprise to the outer reef. At both, you possibly can snorkel or dive with colourful fish, turtles, manta rays, and reef sharks.
Whereas dealing with challenges because of local weather change, the Nice Barrier Reef remains to be a mesmerizingly stunning jewel in any listing of Australian landmarks.
Ningaloo Reef
Having the biggest coral reef on this planet could be sufficient. However not for Australia. On the alternative coast to the Nice Barrier Reef, you discover Ningaloo Reef. It’s the longest fringing reef on this planet. The World Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef runs for 160 miles alongside the aptly named Coral Coast between the west coast cities of Carnarvon and Exmouth.
Ningaloo has the benefit over the Nice Barrier Reef of being nearer to shore. At Exmouth and Coral Bay, you possibly can snorkel on the reef proper off the seashore. In addition to its large coral gardens, Ningaloo is understood for its large marine creatures like whale sharks, humpback whales, dugongs, manta rays, and sea turtles. Occurring a tour to swim with them is a bucket list experience.
Uluru
The 1200-foot tall monolith Uluru, or Ayres Rock, dominates the arid Central Australian panorama. Remarkably, solely 15% of this sandstone iceberg is seen. Most of its bulk extends into the earth. Guests can stroll, fly, and even Segway round it. Watching the daybreak and nightfall Discipline of Mild show with Uluru within the background is a peaceable and delightful option to admire this Australian landmark.
Kata Tjuta
Lower than 45 minutes from Uluru, Kata Tjuta, as soon as referred to as the Olgas, is a big website for the native Anagu aboriginal individuals. Usually rated extra extremely than Uluru, Kata Tjuta has 36 large rock domes, the tallest over 1500 ft excessive. It’s a gorgeous panorama. The Valley of the Winds stroll is the proper option to see it.
Kakadu Nationwide Park
To begin a debate in Australia, go in your favourite social media channel and ask which Northern Territory Nationwide Park is healthier – Litchfield or Kakadu.
Each are unbelievable pure landmarks within the Prime Finish of Australia. To be diplomatic, each get a point out right here. Kakadu is extra distant and options wetlands just like the crocodile-infested Yellow Water Billabong, majestic Jim Jim, Twin Falls, and important indigenous rock artwork.
Litchfield Nationwide Park
Litchfield Nationwide Park is a extra leisurely day trip from Darwin. It’s well-known for its stunning waterfalls and swimming holes. Wangi Falls, Florence Falls, and Buley Rockhole all have crystal clear, crocodile-free water. There are walks by means of the monsoon rainforest and termite mound-studded savannah bushland. Whichever of those tropical pure landmarks you see within the Northern Territory, you’ll not be disenchanted.
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers Nationwide Park
You could possibly make a case for the southern island state of Tasmania to be thought-about an Australian landmark.
Over 40% of Tasmania is a nationwide park or reserve. In all places you look is a pure function of breathtaking magnificence. The 1000-foot-high dolomite cliffs on the Tasman Peninsula. Freycinet Nationwide Park’s jagged granite peaks and crescent-shaped Wineglass Bay. Nonetheless, let’s begin with Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers Nationwide Park on the west coast of Tasmania.
The tannin-stained Franklin and Gordon Rivers that run between mountains blanketed in historical temperate rainforests are a wild and pristine pure landmark. Strolling trails by means of the forest and cruises on the darkish, mirror-like Gordon River from Strahan is the proper option to discover what’s probably the final nice Australian wilderness space.
Bungle Bungle Ranges
It’s a testomony to the scale of Australia that this pure landmark remained largely unknown to European settlers till as late as 1983. The exceptional black and orange striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Ranges, or Purnululu, cowl an space of 900 sq. miles.
They’re within the far northwest of Western Australia. The closest city is Kununurra, which provides scenic flights over the domes. You can even discover the domes on foot to see the pure amphitheater at Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm. Wealthy in wildlife and historical plant species, touring the Bungle Bungles with an indigenous information is an unforgettable expertise.
Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are considered one of Australia’s most well-known pure landmarks, two hours west of Sydney. They’re a part of the Nice Dividing Vary, a sequence of mountains and plateaus that run alongside the east coast of Australia. It’s the third-longest mountain vary on this planet. The Blue Mountains get their identify from the blue-tinged air created by a response between Eucalyptus oil, water vapor, and daylight.
Pure landmarks within the Blue Mountains in your itinerary are the sandstone outcrops referred to as the Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls, and the views from Echo Level Lookout and Govetts Leap. Cable automobiles take you into dinosaur-era rainforests, and you may take the world’s steepest prepare trip to the ground of Jamieson Valley. The Blue Mountains are a straightforward day journey from Sydney, or base your self in Katoomba or neighboring villages for an prolonged keep.
Bunda Cliffs on the Nice Australian Bight
Stretching for 700 miles alongside the south coast of Australia is the Nullarbor Plain, a tract of land so desolate early explorers described it as ‘a hideous anomaly’. The attention-popping, neck-straining horizons right here could be fairly confronting for anybody unaccustomed to extensive open areas.
The Bunda Cliffs lengthen as much as 400 ft above the Southern Ocean alongside the coast of the Nullarbor Plain. As if wanting on the line of cliffs disappearing into the gap will not be breathtaking sufficient, additionally it is among the finest locations for whale watching in Australia. Every winter, a whole bunch of moms and calves search shelter on the base of the cliffs. The Head of the Bight Lookout on the Nullarbor Plain is a superb place to see each points of interest.
Twelve Apostles – Nice Ocean Highway
The most effective-known pure landmarks in southern Australia is the pillars of coastal sandstone referred to as The Twelve Apostles. Sadly, time has not been variety to the Twelve Apostles, as soon as the principle function of the Nice Ocean Highway in Victoria. Because of relentless wave motion, solely eight stay. Whereas The Eight Apostles may not have the identical ring, the remaining Apostles are nonetheless a powerful sight.
Nonetheless, there’s extra to the Nice Ocean Highway than the thinning Apostles. This stretch of shoreline has a number of different spectacular options carved by the wind and water. Loch Ard Gorge and The Grotto are dramatic websites pretty much as good because the remaining Apostles. This celebrated Australian street additionally has some pretty waterfalls. Hopetoun Falls and Erskine Falls are amongst one of the best.
Blue Lake – Mount Gambier
When you listing essentially the most volcanic locations on earth, Australia wouldn’t be on it. Nonetheless, there’s a patch of Australia between Adelaide and Melbourne the place the cones and craters of as much as 400 volcanoes lie dormant throughout the panorama. One of the crucial spectacular is Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake, a water-filled crater in southeast South Australia.
Because the water warms, calcium carbonate crystals react with the daylight every summer season. The result’s a lake of iridescent blue water, which is so vivid it appears to be like something however pure – however it’s. It’s an unbelievable sight. When you do a summer season street journey between Adelaide and Melbourne, it’s a must-see pure landmark.
Wilpena Pound – Flinders Ranges
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This oddly formed vary within the coronary heart of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges has been described as a meteor crater, bowl-shaped mountain, and (in case you are a geologist) a remnant elevated synclinal basin. Irrespective of its identify, the 10-mile lengthy, 5-mile extensive, and 4000-foot excessive oval vary is an uncommon and fewer well-known Australian landmark.
Simply considered one of a dozen historical, spectacular ranges within the South Australian outback, Wilpena Pound is wealthy in indigenous tradition and a haven for wildlife just like the uncommon yellow-footed rock wallaby. A scenic flight or helicopter trip over the pound is an unforgettable expertise. You can even hike to St. Mary’s Peak, the vary’s highest level.
Kings Canyon
If you’re in Central Australia to see Uluru, Kings Canyon is one other pure landmark so as to add to your listing. The easiest way to understand it’s on the 4-mile Kings Canyon Rim Stroll. At dawn, you stroll up 500 steps to the highest of the canyon. The daybreak mild adjustments the rocky panorama from hews of purple to orange and crimson.
When you recuperate from the ascent, you possibly can discover the beehive domes of the Misplaced Metropolis and the Backyard of Eden, a cycad-lined waterhole. A suspension bridge and lookouts allow you to peer 1000 ft under the canyon ground. It is likely one of the most spectacular pure landmarks in outback Australia.
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles is a haunting Australian landmark in Nambung Nationwide Park, two hours north of Perth. A whole bunch of limestone pillars as much as 15 ft tall cowl the yellow sand of the Pinnacles Desert. Created when the ocean retreated round 30,000 years in the past, the way it shaped is debatable. The indigenous Nyoongar individuals say they’re the stays of younger males who strayed onto the sacred floor of girls.
Right this moment, you possibly can drive and stroll by means of the Pinnacles. The panorama is most stunning at daybreak and nightfall when the Pinnacles’ lengthy shadows stretch throughout the sand, and the limestone pillars glow within the golden mild. It’s also one of the best time to see kangaroos and emus that feed on the sparse vegetation within the park. You will get to the Pinnacles on a day journey from Perth.
Cradle Mountain
With alpine moorlands, glacial lakes, and snow-capped peaks, Cradle Mountain is considered one of Tasmania’s and Australia’s finest pure landmarks. The steep stroll to Marions Lookout has gorgeous views of Cradle Mountain and Crater Lake. There are additionally brief, straightforward walks by means of the mossy forests of King Billy Pines, or get pleasure from panoramic views on a stroll round Dove Lake.
A function of Cradle Mountain is the wildlife. Count on to see wombats, echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies, and varied birds as you discover the totally different landscapes. A spotlight of the realm is the brilliant yellow foliage of the Fagus or native beech timber in autumn. Cradle Mountain is picture-perfect, lined in winter snow, too. You could possibly spend a number of days wanting round. There’s loads of cozy lodging.
Fortunate Bay
You can’t have an inventory of one of the best Australian landmarks and never embody a seashore. There are 12,000 of them in Australia. That’s roughly one seashore for each three miles of shoreline. Whereas Bondi Seashore in Sydney and Cable Seashore in Broome are worthy candidates, the seashore with the whitest sand on this planet is the #1 decide.
That honor goes to Fortunate Bay in Cape Le Grand Nationwide Park on the south coast of Western Australia. The tremendous high-quality, toothpaste white sand disappears into crystal clear turquoise water. To high it off, it isn’t unusual to discover a mob of kangaroos stress-free on the seashore through the day. First-time guests to Fortunate Bay may pinch themselves to verify they don’t seem to be dreaming. The view is unreal.
This text initially appeared on Wander With Alex. Featured Picture Credit score: [@bennymarty/DepositPhotos]
Natalie and Steve Klein handle Curious Campers, a preferred Australian journey web site that includes experiences, wildlife encounters and street journeys for individuals wanting data and inspiration whereas touring Australia. You may join with Curious Campers on their Fb group Expertise Australia.
