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Little question when your thoughts conjures up photos of Australia, your thoughts routinely involves its pure wonders.
Australia has all of it in the case of nature. It has blissful seashores, majestic mountains, spirited rainforests, tropical islands, an enormous outback desert and miles of wetlands.
It’s not the cities that I take into consideration when travelling in Australia, however the pure landscapes. I see photos of rock formations, or coral reefs, of wine areas and waterfalls.
Australia shouldn’t be in need of pure magnificence, and it wasn’t till our 18-month street journey across the nation that I absolutely realized how strikingly stunning my nation is.
I don’t know if there’s an official definition of a “pure surprise” however these are the pure locations I discovered “wondrous” and moved me bodily and emotionally.
Pure Wonders of Australia
1. Uluru
If there’s one space that differentiates Australia from different locations it’s the Outback.
Standing within the coronary heart of the outback is one critically huge sandstone rock. You might have heard of it, it’s fairly well-known, and it’s dominated each postcard from Australia for many years.
Previously generally known as Ayers Rock, and now goes by its aboriginal title, Uluru, this sacred rock formation to indigenous Australians is believed to be about 700 million years previous.
Uluru stands 348 metres above floor and is taller than The Eiffel Tower, and is 2.5 occasions the peak of Sydney Harbour Bridge.
It’s 3.6kms lengthy, 1.9kms huge, with a circumference of 9.4kms.
If you take a look at it on postcards, you don’t actually get a way of its enormity, however seeing it up shut is an entire totally different expertise.
Not solely is the scale and the way it dominates the outback horizon a momentous second, however witnessing the way it adjustments color at dawn and sundown is a really spectacular sight.
It might be sinful to come back to Australia and never make a visit out to see the nation’s most well-known pure surprise.
2. The Horizontal Falls
Whereas Uluru is world-renown, The Horizontal Falls shouldn’t be, and so we wished to share this hidden gem with our readers as a result of it was a pure web site that really wowed us!
The Horizontal Falls are a pure phenomena, created by two slender openings between two escarpments, inflicting the tides to ebb and movement into one another, giving the looks of horizonal waterfalls.
The tides on this area are among the largest on the planet, reaching as much as 12 metres. It’s these huge tides that create this distinctive phenomenon, and there’s nowhere else on the planet the place you’ll be able to see a waterfall fall sideways.
Taking over the falls in a jet boat is a thrill I received’t quickly overlook! However the easiest way to see the Horizon Falls is on a scenic flight.
The flight takes you over the shoreline of Broome, over the Buccaneer Archipelago, earlier than getting a birds eye view of the Horizontal Falls after which touchdown in Talbot Bay within the Kimberley Area of Western Australia.
3. The Nice Barrier Reef
The Nice Barrier Reef is the one residing factor on Earth seen from house and one of many seven pure wonders of the world, so of course it has to look on this checklist.
It has greater than 600 various kinds of coral and 1,500 species of tropical fish that inhabit the reef system.
Stretching 2,300km lengthy – the identical size as from Vancouver to the Mexican border, the GBR consists of 900 islands and 3,000 particular person reefs making it the world’s largest coral reef and the most important residing construction on the planet.
It’s not only a surprise of Australia however a real surprise of the world.
There are a lot of methods to expertise the GBR, from diving, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat excursions, and even scenic flights.
The principle gateway to the GBR is from Cairns, however there are numerous entry factors up and down the Queensland coast.
4. Fraser Island
Fraser Island is the most important sand island on the planet and was fashioned over 800,000 years in the past, when sand was dumped from locations so far as Antarctica when it was nonetheless joined with Australia.
It stretches for 123 km lengthy and 23 km huge, and is a Listed World Heritage Website as a result of it’s continuously transferring and evolving.
Fraser Island is the one place on the planet the place tall rainforests are discovered rising on sand dunes at elevations of over 200 metres. It’s a particular place and what I wish to name “nature’s excellent island.”
It’s additionally an adventurers paradise, for the reason that solely approach to get across the island is by four-wheel drive alongside its 75-mile seashore freeway.
It’s an amazing place for those who love tenting, seashore fishing, rainforests, swimming in inland lakes (there are 100 freshwater lakes), and recognizing migrating humpback whales off shore.
Watch our video of our expertise on Fraser Island right here…
5. The 12 Apostles, Nice Ocean Highway
The Twelve Apostles are the star of the present alongside the well-known Nice Ocean Highway in Victoria.
These large limestone formations tower 45 metres above the southern ocean and have been fashioned some 20 million years in the past as the ocean steadily eroded the tender limestone cliffs.
There are solely eight remaining limestone stacks (the remainder have fallen) that make up the 12 Apostles, framed by a backdrop of untamed, ferocious ocean and luxurious cliffs that reach as much as 70 metres excessive.
The perfect time to {photograph} and see them is at dawn – you’ll beat the tour buses and have the place nearly to your self – and at sundown.
You also needs to stroll the boardwalks across the cliff tops which give varied viewing platforms and take the Gibson Steps down onto the seashore for a detailed up perspective.
6. Ningaloo Marine Park
Earlier than beginning our journey round Australia, many different Aussies and vacationers advised us that Ningaloo Reef rivals the Nice Barrier Reef.
The Nice Barrier Reef is iconic, however it’s filled with vacationers, whereas Ningaloo is far quieter and no much less stunning.
Ningaloo Marine Park protects Ningaloo Reef – Australia’s largest and most accessible fringing reef that stretches 300 sq. kilometers.
The superior factor about Ningaloo is the simple entry, you’ll be able to simply stroll in off the seashore and be snorkeling 10 metres from shore.
The snorkeling and diving is world class, and it’s right here that you could swim with the whale sharks. In case you head to Coral Bay, you too can swim with manta rays within the Ningaloo Reef.
A number of the most superb seashores we’ve seen are positioned alongside this coast; Sandy Bay and Turquoise Bay.
7. Kakadu Nationwide Park
After spending 5 days exploring Kakadu Nationwide Park, I can’t consider some folks name it Kaka-Don’t.
Me, I put Kakadu up there within the prime three Nationwide Parks in Australia that we visited throughout our journey round Australia, and we visited loads of parks.
One of many few UNESCO World Heritage websites to be listed for each its cultural and pure options, Kakadu is famend for its wealthy Aboriginal historical past and biodiversity.
At 19,000 sq. kilometres, it’s nearly half the scale of Switzerland!
Kakadu provides journey, cultural experiences, beautiful sunsets, waterfalls, gorges, wetlands, Aboriginal rock carvings, floodplains, wildlife, distinctive natural world and a little bit of star-gazing.
It’s additionally one of many prime locations in Australia to see saltwater crocodiles, and the Leaping Crocodile Cruises are legendary sights within the park.
8. Kata Tjuta
Roughly 50 kilometres down the street from Uluru, is Uluru-Kata Tjuta Nationwide Park (previously the Olgas) are a pure phenomenon which can be stated to originate from an analogous time.
They’re made up of 36 domes that are unfold over an space of greater than 20 kilometres, making it greater than Uluru. The tallest dome rises 546 metres above the plain.
Kata Tjuta is a Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal tribe phrase which means ‘many heads’. They’re equally spectacular at dawn and sundown in comparison with Uluru.
There are a lot of mountaineering trails across the Kata Tjuta, however we advocate you do the Walpa Gorge Stroll and the Valley of the Winds Stroll.
9. Whitehaven Seashore / Hill Inlet
We haven’t set foot on all 10,000 seashores in Australia, however we’ve seen greater than most individuals, so we are able to confidently say that Whitehaven Seashore in The Whitsunday Islands of Queensland remains to be on the prime of the checklist!
We’re not alone in singing its praises – it persistently ranks within the finest seashores on the planet lists on Journey Advisor, and it’s the place Oprah Winfrey selected to have her beachside BBQ on her tour down below!
If it’s ok for Oprah, it’s ok for me!
The isolation, the pure white-soft-silica-sand and the swirling patterns of Hill Inlet are like nothing I’ve ever seen.
If you stroll on Whitehaven, you’re setting foot on an actual slice of Aussie paradise.
10. The Daintree Rainforest
How can one thing so previous, be so stunning?
Estimated to be 180 million years previous the Daintree Rainforest pre-dates even the Amazon and is the most important steady space of rainforest on the Australian continent containing an array of natural world and about 430 species of birds.
Only a quick 2.5 hour north of Cairns, the Daintree is a vacation spot in contrast to every other. It has such a large biodiversity, with temperate rainforest backing onto pristine shores and unspoiled ocean.
A number of the highlights of our go to to the Daintree included a go to to Daintree Discovery Centre and my favorite spot, Cape Tribulation.
11. Sydney Harbour
Sydney is undoubtedly one of the stunning cities on the planet, and a giant motive for that’s its beautiful harbour aspect location.
You’re in all probability not anticipating Sydney Harbour to look on a listing of wonderful pure wonders, however hear me out…
Positive it has the man-made icons just like the Harbour Bridge and the Opera Home, however it’s the pure fantastic thing about the harbour that all the time leaves a long-lasting impression on me.
With greater than 240 kilometres of shoreline and meandering waterways, on a heat sunny day it turns into one huge aquatic playground.
One of the best ways to expertise Sydney Harbour is from a ferry. You possibly can take the round Quay to Manly, which is a well-liked day journey from Sydney for these searching for a fast pure escape. Or you’ll be able to leap on a Sydney Harbour Cruise, going crusing on a historic Tall Ship, by kayaking in close by Center Harbour.
12. The Gordon River
A go to to Gordon River was a day to recollect. We cruised gently alongside the river and admired the place the plush and historic rainforest was mirrored within the mirror calm waters.
Right here you will see forests of Huon Pine, which is notable for its boat constructing qualities.
The World Heritage-Listed Gordon River flows 200 kilometres from its supply within the central highlands of Tasmania by means of the uninhabited wilderness of the Gordon-Franklin Wild Rivers Nationwide Park.
The whole course of the Gordon River is an uninhabited wilderness space till it reaches the Macquarie Harbour.
It’s pure, unspoiled, uninterrupted, pure bliss.
13. Bungle Bungle Vary, Purnululu Nationwide Park
The Bungle Bungles are a exceptional rock formation within the Kimberley area of Australia, within the UNESCO World Heritage listed Purnululu Nationwide Park.
These behemoth beehive-shaped, orange and black mountains are stated to be greater than 40,000 years previous, and are made up of Devonian-age quartz sandstone.
The rock formations rise as excessive as 300 meters in some place, and are surrounded by waterfalls, wildflowers, mountaineering trails, and naturally, beautiful views from the cliff tops.
What makes the Bungle Bungles so particular is that there are greater than 200 websites with rock artwork or aboriginal burial grounds.
It’s additionally extremely distant, and also you want a 4WD automobile entry the park. The street out to the Bungle Bungles is notorious for being one of many roughest within the nation!
14. The Pinnacles, Nambung Nationwide Park
One other pure surprise on the West Coast are the limestone formations of The Pinnacles in Nambung Nationwide Park, positioned 162 km northwest of Perth.
The Pinnacles are distinctive in that they’re made up of deposits of seashells, attributable to the receding ocean over a interval of 25,000-30,000 years.
You possibly can stroll round these distinctive rocky pillars, which stand as tall as 3.5 meters, and be merely amazed by the facility of nature.
15. Three Sisters Rock Formation, Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are probably the most well-known pure sights close to Sydney, and are famed for the placing rock formation generally known as The Three Sisters.
The Three Sisters are an uncommon in that they jut out of the cliff edge on the north escarpment of the Jamison Valley.
In accordance with native legend, the rocks was sisters however they have been become stone after a tribal love quarrel.
At present they’re a preferred landmark within the Blue Mountains, and are finest considered from Echo Level within the city of Katoomba.
Extra Pure Wonders of Australia Inspiration
Want extra inspiration about nature websites to discover in Australia? Try these different guides…
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