Lichfield National Park in Top End is a refreshing oasis that is particularly popular with Darwinites. Its natural pools amidst lush vegetation are fed by spectacular waterfalls. A great spot for swimming!

Nitmiluk National Park attracts a large number of tourists due to the Katherine River flowing through it with its several kilometres of superb gorges at the bottom of a magnificent canyon . You can explore this breathtaking site in a helicopter, a..

Stretching out for 400km on either side of Alice Springs, the MacDonnell Ranges feature a string of gorges , canyons and little oases of greenery. You can hike through West MacDonnell Ranges National Park , west of town, on the Larapinta Trail .

The Mary River east of Darwin flows into Van Diemen Gulf after offering visitors some unforgettable moments of natural beauty. Crocodiles, barramundis, herons and birds of prey inhabit this marshy area turned into a national park . A boat ride on th..

The Devil’s Marbles are actually amazing piles of huge, smooth rocks shaped by millions of years of erosion. This sacred Aboriginal site is a rare and awe-inspiring place.

Tasmania, an island on a human scale, is a must. Much of its superb natural beauty is on the UNESCO World Heritage List ; its shoreline is a paradise for divers and surfers; and its fine wines and restaurants promise excellent meals. You’re sure to ..

The Freycinet Peninsula, jutting out into the Tasman Sea, is a delightful place protected by a national park. Enjoy its superb natural environment full of birds and diverse flora, pink granite cliffs, white sandy beaches (see Wineglass Bay ) and num..

This was a prison hell for 12,000 convicts and exiles in Port Arthur from 1830 to 1877. It is now one of Tasmania’s most visited sites, where the model prison, asylum, Isle of the Dead and exhibitions evoke the tragic memory of this former penal colo..

Purnululu National Park (3,000 km 2 ), on the UNESCO World Heritage List, contains extraordinary sandstone rock formations in the Bungle Bungle Range shaped over millions of years. The amazing array of multi-coloured, banded shapes, gorges and canyon..

Shark Bay is a marine park and reserve boasting islands, peninsulas, landscapes and seascapes. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is an ecological and zoological sanctuary with dugongs , dolphins at Monkey Mia , endangered mammals, sea..

This desert-like part of Nambung National Park has a Surrealist look about it with thousands of limestone formations shaped by time and erosion as far as the eye can see. Some of the Pinnacles are several metres tall.

The wave would be a surfer’s dream - but this one is immobile and in multicoloured granite. 15m high and 110m long, Wave Rock is exceptional and truly grandiose. You feel really tiny standing next to it!

The first British settlers landed here in the 18C. The Rocks, once a rather unsavoury area, has become a popular tourist destination with its colonial houses, Museum of Contemporary Art , Rocks Market , galleries, cafés and restaurants. A pleasant..

The vast Art Gallery of New South Wales presents a superb panorama of European and Australian artwork, including a remarkable section devoted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, as well as Asian art. Frequent temporary exhibitions.

The Snowy Mountains boast snow-covered trails for skiers in winter( Thredbo and Perisher Blue resorts) and hiking trails for enjoying its magnificent landscapes in the summer. They also contain Kosciuszko National Park , named after one of its su..

Lord Howe Island, an untamed Pacific paradise on the UNESCO World Heritage List, offers visitors a unique destination (booking advised). Relax on its postcard beaches , go snorkelling in the transparent waters of the lagoon and hike up Mount Gove..

Barrington Tops National Park in the Hunter Valley was named after the plateau overlooking it (1,550 m). Its rivers, waterfalls, rugged trails and remarkably diverse wildlife have earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. All outdoor acti..

Rippon Lea (1868) is set in a vast wooded park with a lake. The superb Victorian-style estate reflects the prosperity of its first owners, the Sargood family. Other decorative elements were added in the 20C, creating an extremely attractive interior.

Lizard Island is a holiday island in the Great Barrier Reef , an exclusive island for a true dream vacation, featuring white sandy beaches and little coves with crystalline waters ideal for snorkelling. Need we say more?

There’s a lot to see in the area around Cairns . Atherton Tableland is one of them – a lush plateau with some parts reaching 900m, a rainforest , numerous cascades and volcanic lakes nestled amongst the vegetation. Hire a car, and take your tim..