Australia is a land of wonder and there are so many mind-blowing things to do that will leave you with memories you’ll never forget.
We’ve racked our brains for some of the best experiences you can find in Australia – some are popular, while others are a bit more obscure.
All of them are superb.
Visit Bamarru Plains
Located just west of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory Bamarru plains are the perfect place to experience the wildlife and serenity of Australia. The plains primarily consist of wetlands and are the perfect place to go bird watching (there are over 230 species that call the area home), go fishing and see larger animals like buffalo, crocodiles and wallabies.
The Bamarru plains luxury safari resort is a great place to experience the unique nature of Australia in plush surroundings they describe as ‘Wild Bush Luxury’. Activities include airboat tours, fishing, 4×4 safaris and even helicopter flights.
Sydney from the Air
Sydney is one of the world’s great cities and what better way to see it than from above? Flying over Sydney harbour, the bridge and Bondi beach is quite a sight. If you’re willing to spend a little extra, you can take a flight along the coast and stop at some of the most famous restaurants along the coast. The plane will wait for you to finish your food and fly you back to central Sydney. For a trip like this you should expect to pay roughly AU$400 to AU$500 per person, but we think it’s worth it.
Wine Tasting in Yarra Valley
Australia is one of the world’s major wine producing nations (it currently sits 4th in the list). There are vineyards in every state, but it’s the vineyards of Southern Australia that contribute the most, and some would argue the best, wine. The Yarra Valley in particular is renowned for consistently producing some of the finest wine and is the perfect place to go for a wine tasting experience. The landscape is absolutely stunning and there are countless hotels and vineyards to stay in. The Fergusson Winery comes highly recommended.
Located in the state of Victoria, the Yarra Valley is roughly 2 hours from Melbourne Airport by car. If you’re feeling athletic, cycling tours of the area are fantastic.
Drive a V8 Supercar
Australia loves motorsport and the most famous racing series in Oz is the V8 Supercars. The most famous race in the series is the Bathurst 1000 which takes place in October every year. If you want to get the adrenaline pumping then why not drive one of these 650bhp monsters? There are tracks all over Australia and you’ll meet a professional driving instructor who will teach you how to drive the car, the correct lines to take and the best way to set a fast lap. After that it’s out onto the track to put what you’ve learned to the test. These driving experiences cost anywhere from AU$100 – AU$500 depending on which package you choose.
redballoon.com.au/driving-experiences/v8-experiences
Dive the Great Barrier Reef
This is something that a lot of people visiting Australia put at the top of their lists, but there’s a reason for that; the Great Barrier Reef is one of the greatest wonders of the natural world. Located off the coast of Queensland, the reef can be seen from space and is home to thousands of different species of animals including turtles, sharks, whales, dolphins, myriad fish and other crustaceans.
There are countless companies that offer diving trips. Some are just for one day while on some others you can spend several days on the boat and see much more of the reef and get a better idea of just how large it is. Whichever company you choose, make sure they’ve come well recommended and have instructors who are fully qualified.
Surf Western Australia
Western Australia is the largest and one of least densely populated states in Australia, occupying roughly a third of the island. The waters of the Indian Ocean lap onto the shores of WA and produce some of the best spots for surfing in the world. Surfer’s Point is located at the mouth of the Margaret River and has consistently good waves. For the younger crowd, Scarborough Beach has good surf and plenty of clubs and bars that stay open all night.
Drive from Sydney to Melbourne
The coast road from Sydney to Melbourne is one of the best driving roads in the entire world, and unquestionably something everybody should experience if they get the chance. Although it can be done in 12-14 hours, we really recommend taking at least a few days to complete it and stopping off along the way at some of the amazing camp grounds and national parks. Wilsons Promontory is one of Victoria’s best loved parks due to the amazing coastline, the wildlife and the endless walking trails that allow you to freely explore the scenery.
Mt Oberon should be top of your list to visit. Although it’s a bit of trek, you get to see where the southern-most tip of Australia reaches meets the Southern Ocean. It’s particularly beautiful at sunrise.
Visit the Tropical Rainforests of Queensland
The rainforests of North-Eastern Australia are noted for their huge abundance of plant life and are one of the best places to get a true understanding of the evolution of plant life. To get a unique look at the top of the rainforest canopy, take a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. A complete journey takes around 2.5 hours but we obviously recommend that you take the time to get off at the stops and explore the rainforests. The Kuranda Railway is also a beautiful way to take in the tropical rainforests. A one way ticket for an adult is $47.
Watch the Melbourne GP
Melbourne is often known as the cultural capital of Australia and since 1996 has traditionally played host to the F1 season opener at the Albert Park Street Circuit, just south of the city centre. The event usually takes place in March and tickets go on sale late in the previous year. The start/finish straight is unsurprisingly one of the most expensive places to sit, and turns 1, 2, and 3, 6, 9 and 13 are usually guaranteed some good action but often sell out fastest. The city of Melbourne is also a great place to spend a few days just walking around and being a tourist in a big city.
Go Snowboarding
‘Snowboarding’ and ‘Australia’ are two words that don’t usually go together but there are some top quality ski and snowboard resorts in NSW and to a lesser extent in Victoria and Tasmania. If you want good, consistent snow then Perisher Blue, Falls Creek or Thredbo are some of the better places to go. Thredbo is also quite well known for its nightlife. Mt Buller is by far the easiest to get to for international visitors as it is only 3 hours from Melbourne.
The snow season is generally quite short in Australia, running from June through to October depending on the resort.
Main Image by Nathan Siemers
