For many travelers, visiting Australia is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With fantastic weather, road-trip-worthy highways, and remarkable scenery, the land down under is one of the world’s most visited destinations. Nevertheless, there’s no point in booking a long-haul flight and traveling halfway across the globe if you’re not going to get the most out of your trip.
Below then, we’ve collated 5 of the best Australian experiences to try that are guaranteed to make your visit truly memorable.
A Meal Under the Stars at Uluru
Where better to start than at the very heart of Australia, Uluru. Standing proudly from its surrounding red desert plain, Uluru is over 1.5 miles wide and sits within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and is considered a sacred resting place for spirits by the country’s aboriginal population.
While traveling to Uluru is worth the short three to four-hour flight in itself, to really experience the magic of the area, you’ll want to treat yourself to a sunset dinner in the presence of the monolith. While there are a few Uluru dinner experiences to choose from, the Sound of Silence meal is considered the most memorable.
As you enjoy pre-dinner drinks under the setting sun, you see Uluru change color before your very eyes, before then sitting down to a three-course candlelit dinner under the clearly visible milky way. For the star-spotters amongst us, there’s even a chance to use some powerful telescopes to get a better look at the heavens for the star-spotters amongst us.
Melbourne’s Great Ocean Road
Time for a road trip. Head to Melbourne, hire a car, and experience the beauty of Australia’s southwest coast by traversing the Great Ocean Road.
Hugging the cliffs of Victoria’s coast, the Great Ocean Road is 150 miles of stunning vistas and bucket-list ticking hotspots. Starting at Geelong and ending at the iconic limestone stacks known as the 12 Apostles, the trip is a great way to experience some breathtaking sights and sounds.
Spurring off the road allows you to see the beautiful town of Lorne, try and spot whales from Warrnambool, or experience nature in all its glory in Otway National Park where waterfalls and vibrant forests are home to an abundance of wildlife. Not one to be missed.
Canberra Hot Air Balloon Ride
If you’ve never been in a hot air balloon before but would love to experience the thrill of seeing the world from above, then Canberra has you covered. Renowned amongst the ballooning community for its verdant landscapes, calm winds, and spectacular view of Lake Burley Griffin, taking a hot air balloon ride above Canberra is an experience you’ll be talking about for years to come. Whatsmore, many balloon companies offer luxury food and drink while you glide from the natural landscape to the architectural marvels of Canberra. You won’t forget this one in a hurry.
Sleep Amidst the Great Barrier Reef
Located off the coast of Queensland in the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef is 1,400 miles long and considered the largest living structure on Earth.
While visiting this world, wonder is on many a person’s bucket list, to truly experience the majesty of the Reef, you need to spend a night or two sleeping among the coral, soaking in the atmosphere under countless stars. For the adventurous amongst us, sleeping on the coral is also perfect for divers to experience the Reef at night.
You can sleep on the Great Barrier Reef in a variety of ways, but the most popular is either a pontoon or aboard a large boat. If you’re after comfort, go for the liveaboard boat option. With comfortable beds and high-quality meals, you can sit back and relax while you witness the incredible Australian sunsets over the Reef. Pontoons are often fixed but typically have unique features like sub-aquatic observation points, glass-bottom boat trips, and of course, a water slide.
See the Crocs at Kakadu National Park
Located in the north, Kakadu National Park is Australia’s largest national park, spanning roughly 12,000 square miles. If you’re in Australia looking to make memories, then you need to visit Kakadu.
Reachable by a picturesque drive from Darwin, Kakadu is home to thousands of saltwater crocodiles, some of which can reach over 7 meters in length and weigh a metric tonne. While the crocs are abundant in Kakadu, it’s advised to hire a tour guide for the day to help you spot the sometimes-elusive predators and, of course, to keep you safe. While magnificent, the crocs aren’t known for their friendly temperament.
There’s nothing quite like seeing a living, breathing dinosaur basking in the sun before slipping silently into the water, looking for its next meal. Being but a few yards from these incredible creatures is something you will never forget.
