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Forget everything you think you know about Australian tourism. There are mind-blowing destinations across this sunburnt continent that most tourists never even dream of discovering and we’re about to blow your travel plans wide open. In this article, discover 10 secret spots in australia every traveler needs to see before they die, from hidden beaches to remote natural wonders.
The Hidden Gems That’ll Make Your Mates Jealous
Australia isn’t just about Sydney Harbour and the Great Barrier Reef. While those spots are ripper, the real magic happens off the beaten track.
We’ve hunted down 10 insane locations that’ll make your Instagram followers green with envy and your travel bucket list explode with excitement.
1. The Horizontal Falls, Western Australia: Nature’s Most Bonkers Waterfall
Imagine a waterfall that runs horizontally. Sounds crazy, right? Welcome to the Horizontal Falls in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. These massive tidal movements create a waterfall-like effect that’ll make your jaw drop faster than a kangaroo on a sugar rush.
Located in the remote Talbot Bay, this natural wonder is so wild that David Attenborough himself has called it one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.
Insider tip: Book a seaplane or boat tour to truly appreciate this geological freak of nature.
The massive tidal movements create a genuine waterfall effect that defies everything you thought you knew about water. Pro photographers, this is your dream shot.
2. The Pinnacles Desert, Western Australia: Alien Landscape Central
Imagine walking through a landscape that looks like it’s been beamed straight from another planet. The Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park is exactly that thousands of limestone formations jutting out of golden sand like a prehistoric forest turned to stone.
These limestone pillars, some reaching up to 3.5 metres high, create a surreal landscape that’ll make you feel like you’ve stepped into a sci-fi movie.
Photography buffs, this is your dream location. Sunset and sunrise here are mind-blowing, with shadows stretching across the golden landscape creating otherworldly scenes that’ll make your social media followers think you’ve travelled to another planet.
3. Lake Hillier, Western Australia: The Pink Lake That’ll Break the Internet
Forget everything you know about lake colours. Lake Hillier is PINK. Not a soft pink. Not a hint of pink. FULL-ON, BUBBLE GUM PINK. Located on Middle Island in Western Australia, this lake is so vibrantly pink that it looks like someone’s dumped a massive bucket of strawberry milkshakes into a natural landscape.
Scientists reckon the colour comes from a specific type of algae, but we prefer to think of it as nature’s most epic Instagram filter. The best part? The pink colour doesn’t change when you take water from the lake.
It’s like a permanent, natural magic trick that’ll have your followers double-tapping faster than you can say “Crikey!”
4. The Daintree Rainforest, Queensland: The World’s Oldest Living Ecosystem
Older than the Amazon and more mysterious than your grandmother’s secret recipe, the Daintree Rainforest is a living, breathing time machine.
This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to plants and animals that have existed for millions of years, making it a living fossil of biodiversity.
Imagine walking through a forest where prehistoric plants tower above you, where cassowaries (basically living dinosaurs) roam, and where every step feels like you’re discovering something that’s been hidden from human eyes for millennia.
This isn’t just a forest it’s a portal to another time.
5. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands: Australia’s Most Unknown Paradise
Tucked away in the Indian Ocean, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are so remote that most Aussies don’t even know they’re part of Australia.
Picture crystal-clear waters, untouched coral reefs, and a culture that blends Malay and Australian influences in the most unique way possible.
With just two inhabited islands and a population of around 600 people, this is the definition of an undiscovered paradise.
Surfing, kiteboarding, and diving here mean you’re experiencing something 99% of travellers will never see.
6. Carnarvon Gorge, Queensland: A Hidden Natural Wonder
Nestled in Central Queensland, Carnarvon Gorge is like nature’s own cathedral. Towering sandstone cliffs, crystal-clear streams, and ancient Aboriginal rock art create a landscape so breathtaking it’ll make your national park experiences look like backyard picnics.
The gorge is home to unique wildlife, stunning walking tracks, and geological formations that tell stories millions of years old. Photographers and nature lovers, this is your ultimate playground.
7. The Undara Lava Tubes, Queensland: Underground Volcanic Wonderland
Formed by a massive volcanic eruption over 190,000 years ago, the Undara Lava Tubes are like nature’s own underground highways.
These massive volcanic tunnels stretch for kilometres, creating an underground world that looks like something from a fantasy novel.
Some tubes are so massive you could fly a small plane through them. Walking through these ancient formations is like exploring the veins of the earth itself.
8. Wilsons Promontory, Victoria: The Southernmost Point of Mainland Australia
Often called “The Prom” by locals, Wilsons Promontory is a pristine wilderness that’ll make you fall in love with Victoria’s rugged beauty. Granite mountains, secluded beaches, and some of the most incredible wildlife encounters await.
Wombats wandering around campsites, incredible hiking trails, and beaches so pristine they look photoshopped this is Australian wilderness at its absolute best.
9. The Bungle Bungles, Western Australia: Nature’s Most Bizarre Landscape
Located in Purnululu National Park, the Bungle Bungles are a geological marvel that looks like giant beehives made of rock.
These distinctive orange and black striped domes were hidden from the wider world until the 1980s, making them one of Australia’s best-kept secrets.
Aerial tours offer the most mind-blowing perspective of this bizarre landscape. It’s like someone took a paintbrush to a landscape and created something completely unreal.
10. Lord Howe Island, New South Wales: The Most Perfect Island You’ve Never Heard Of
With a strict limit of 400 visitors at any time, Lord Howe Island is exclusivity personified. Crystal-clear waters, volcanic landscapes, and biodiversity that’ll make your nature-loving heart explode with joy, this is paradise, but not as you know it.
World Heritage-listed and offering experiences you can’t get anywhere else in the world, this island is the ultimate “I’ve been somewhere you haven’t” destination.
Your Next Adventure Awaits
These aren’t just travel destinations. They’re bragging rights, stories you’ll tell for years, and experiences that’ll change how you see Australia forever.
So grab your passport, pack your sense of adventure, and get ready to discover the Australia that most people never see.
Don’t just travel. Explore the extraordinary.
Hi, I’m Becca J, a social media manager, English teacher, and writer, as well as a mum of three boys. I’ve travelled through North and South America, Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and a few countries in the Middle East—learning so much along the way and loving every moment of it.
After living in Brazil and learning a new language, I truly understand the challenge of not being able to communicate in another language. That experience inspired me to share my love of travel and tips for learning a new language, especially my first language English, to help you communicate more confidently.
For me, travel is an incredible way to open our eyes to new ways of thinking, new people, customs, and ideas—it brings us all together. It’s a journey of learning and soul-enriching experiences, and I’m excited to share my tips for communicating in English, as well as my favourite places and travel insights, inspired by my mother tongue and the countries that use English as their main language.
