Australia is filled with natural beauty from the Great Barrier Reef on the Gold Coast to Shark Bay near Perth. Every corner of the continent holds impressive natural beauty.
Here’s out list of 10 Natural Wonder of Australia that should be on your bucket list.
1 – The Pinnacles
Australia is home to an array of rock formations, like the Pinnacles in Western Australia that leave visitors in awe. Both the formation and material of the Pinnacles might still be a mystery to naturalists and visitors alike, but that does not stop wild kangaroos and emus from exploring the area.
2 – Bungle Bungles
Western Australia is also home to the Bungle Bungles, beehive shaped towers which formed nearly 375 million years ago and have been shaped by millions of years of rainfall.
3 – Shark Bay
Almost 10,000 sea cows also call Western Australia Home in an area called Shark Bay. Shark Bay contains around 12.5% of the entire world’s population of sea cows as well as many bottlenose dolphins. In fact, some of Shark Bay’s bottlenose dolphin population exhibit one of the few known cases of tool use in marine mammals!
4 -MacKenzie Falls
A geological tour of the province of Victoria, in south-eastern Australia might lead you to discover the MacKenzie Falls Trail in the Grampians National Park, a place name which pays homage to Australia’s colonial history.
5 -Twelve Apostles
Victoria is also home to the Twelve Apostles which rise up from the Southern Ocean just off the coast of Victoria. The Twelve Apostles began formation between 10 and 20 million years ago. Upon an early morning visit, you encounter dark and foreboding caves but as the sun climbs overhead become a brilliant sandy yellow.
6 -Ayers Rock (Uluru)
If you travel 450 kilometers by road from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, you will reach Ayers Rock, or as the Aboriginal people call it, Uluru. Uluru, one of the icons of Australia, has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Although Uluru looks massive, standing 1,142 feet high, the bulk of it actually lies underground. Not unlike The Twelve Apostles, Uluru also changes color at different times of the day, making it an exciting visit whether at dusk or dawn.
7 -Kakadu National Park
Directly north of Uluru by 2,000 kilometers lies Kakadu National Park. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kakadu National Park is the largest national park in Australia, covering almost 20,000 square kilometers – almost half the size of the country of Switzerland. Over half the park is owned by the local Aborigines who have lived in Kakadu for over 50,000 years. Kakadu is also home to more than 10,000 crocodiles which is around one croc per every two square kilometers!
8 – Blue Mountains
Even the more densely populated eastern coast of Australia has many natural treasures in store. The Blue Mountains, which lie just west of Sydney, is another UNESCO World Heritage Centre which is home to the Three Sisters rock formation, which live on in an Aboriginal dream-time legend.
9 – Great Barrier Reef
A scenic drive up the Gold Coast from Sydney to Brisbane brings you to the edges of the world famous Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest coral reef system, which stretches over 1,400 miles. The Great Barrier Reef has lately come under threat with some reports saying that it has lost over half its coral since 1985, however much of the reef is protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park which attempts to slow the direct impact of humans on the reef. As a world famous snorkeling destination, divers and snorkelers might run into whales, dolphins, clownfish, coral trout or six different species of sea turtles while exploring this underwater world.
10 – Fraser Island
Also off the coast of Queensland is Fraser Island, the largest sand islands in the world. Visitors flock to Fraser Island for camping, fishing and a chance to see a dingo in its natural habitat. Fraser Island might be home to some of the last remaining pure bred dingoes in Eastern Australia. A great place to go whale watching, Fraser Island is visited by Humpback Whales, dolphins and sea turtles.
Whether snorkeling through the Great Barrier Reef or watching dolphins in Shark Bay, there really is nothing like Australia. Australia is home to some of the largest natural parks in the world, some of which are also managed by the people who have been living on the land for tens of thousands of years.
There is always more to explore in Australia. Many escorted Australia tours incorporate visit to these 10 Natural Wonders of Australia as well as vibrant cities.
Australia’s natural wonders are among the world’s most spectacular. For everything you need to know before you go, see our complete Australia Travel Information guide.
