Not sure what to see in Australia? Australia is a unique country, hospitable and extraordinarily beautiful land that holds true wealth, including rare natural phenomena, as well as amazing representatives of flora and fauna. The natural sights of Australia are striking in their beauty. The untouched nature here contrasts with the most modern megacities. Fans of scuba diving and golf tend to come here from all over the world, and adventure lovers again and again follow the routes of local explorers. In short, these lands are a real treasure for tourists from all over the world.
1. Great Barrier Reef (Northeast Coast Australia)
Along the coast of Australia in the northwest stretches the Great Barrier Reef, which is a huge range of coral reefs and islands. The Great Reef or the National Reef National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is truly huge: its area is about 10% of the total coral reef area on the planet. Modern studies show that the first reefs began to form here about 18 million years ago. During this time, the old reefs were destroyed. and in their place new ones grew. Today, only a small part of corals is visible on the surface of the sea surface, and only scuba diving will allow you to contemplate the most complete and beautiful picture.
That is why for lovers of diving today there is no question what to see in Australia. The underwater world of the Reef is so beautiful that it resembles a certain fabulous illustration: just imagine how, against the background of huge coral gardens and numerous colorful plants, large shoals of incredibly bright, equally colorful fish float gracefully. This is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth!
2. Lake Hiller (Middle Island)
When you ask yourself what to visit in Australia, be sure to put a landmark such as Lake Hiller in your travel plan. The picturesque lake, the waters of which have an unusual pink color, is located on the island of Middle, covered with dense eucalyptus forests. If you look at this island from a bird's-eye view, then against the background of rich greenery of eucalyptus forests you will see a small bright spot, this is the pink lake Hiller. Even more expressiveness of the lake gives a spectacular frame of sand and salt, which are located on its shores.
The status of the sights of Australia Lake Hiller found precisely because of its originality. Travelers from all over the world come to the shores of a unique lake to see firsthand that the water in it is really pink. What is the secret of this shade of water? Despite numerous studies, this question to this day there is no exact answer.
According to one of the versions, the pink color is formed due to the pigment secreted by certain microorganisms living in the reservoir.
Another statement suggests that the pink shade is formed due to a combination of salts contained in the waters of the lake, and specific microorganisms.
Studies conducted in the 50s of the 20th century, refuted all previously put forward assumptions.
Thus, the mystery of Lake Hiller remains unsolved to this day.
3. Blue Mountains (New South Wales)
Fans to contemplate the natural landscapes, untouched by civilization, will surely find what to see in Australia, because on its territory there is a unique miracle of nature - the National Park "Blue Mountains". This locality acquired its name for a reason. A huge number of eucalyptus forests growing on the mountain range, constantly emit in the air a pair of essential oil. The rays of the sun, refracted in billions of tiny droplets of oil, form a bluish haze, creating an atmosphere of mysterious fabulousness.
In the conventional sense, the Blue Mountains are not mountains. In fact, this is a lot of mountain plateaus and cliffs, above which Mount Victoria rises majestically, at a height of about 1,300 meters above sea level.
Sandy plateaus, excised by gorges and canyons, are interspersed with many crystal clear mountain rivers and streams, creating an amazingly beautiful landscape. Not surprisingly, the national park has become one of the most popular attractions in Australia.
4. Mount Uluru (Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park)
If you are planning a trip, you will have no doubt that you should visit in Australia, because these lands are fraught with real wonders. The eighth wonder of the world, the Sacred place, the Red Mountain - all these honors were granted to the mountain Uluru, also called Ayers Rock. This is one of the most recognizable natural attractions of Australia, one of the main symbols of the continent. During the day, its red-orange rock is able to change color: at dawn, the mountain has the brightest shade, with the rising of the sun at the zenith is painted in purple-red, then pink and, finally, golden hue, and in the evening darkens.
How was Uluru formed? Millions of years ago, the mountain range was more like an island. Gradually at the edges of the rocks collapsed and subsided, forming a rock. Now, in the desert, where Uluru is located, winds are running, heavy rains are falling, creating deep cracks on the surface of the mountain.
The fantastic red rock, resembling a huge elephant, is not only unique in appearance, the age of the natural monument is also remarkable - the history of its existence is about 6 million years. This is confirmed by cave paintings, testifying to the life of ancient people.
5. Valley of the Yarra River (Melbourne)
South Australia is famous for its wine-making industry. And perhaps one of the most spectacular wine regions here is the valley of the Yarra River, where many grape varieties grow. The first grapevine was planted here in 1838, since then more than 40 wineries have been formed on these lands, which today produce excellent harvests.
Thousands of wine connoisseurs visit these fertile lands for tasting a luxurious bouquet of local wines. In addition, travelers can see here a lot of interesting things.
For example, you can visit one of the many reserves that exist here, admire the fascinating wildlife, and see representatives of the local fauna, such as kangaroos, wombats, emus and some species of birds of prey.
Everyone will find for themselves a memorable thing in the markets of local small towns located in the open spaces of the valley.
You can even take part in collective multi-day routes to get local flavor and learn as much as possible about the mysterious valley.
And in order to see the valley from a new perspective, you should go up in the air in a balloon, take a look at the bird's-eye view and land in one of the many vineyards to have breakfast with fresh products washed down with sparkling wine.
6. Opera House (Sydney)
The attractiveness of the Green Continent is not only in the extraordinary nature of the continent. The important role is played by the cities that have become centers of business and cultural life, where the most ancient sights of Australia are side by side with modern skyscrapers, parks immersed in greenery with lively avenues, historical museums with huge supermarkets.
For example, the landscape of Sydney is uniquely recognizable among thousands of other cities thanks to the world-famous sights - the building of the Opera House Opera House, one of the most famous in world architecture. This unique building was designed by a Danish architect named Jorn Utzon. Having designed the original form of the roof of the theater, the Dane presented Sydney with the symbol of the city, which now almost every inhabitant of the planet recognizes this city.
Many years after the construction of the famous building, the architect admitted that he was inspired to create a unique roof of the theater ... an orange peel taken from the fruit with triangular segments. The difference is only in scale. Sloping roof arches are covered with countless tiles that, reflecting the sun's rays, create an unusual color gamut. Opera House has always attracted the attention of tourists by its unusual forms, and therefore this architectural creation has become an almost integral part of any excursion in Sydney.
7. Kangaroo Island (St. Vincent Bay)
Perhaps everyone knows that since ancient times the true symbol of Australia is the kangaroo. But not everyone knows that there is a whole island dedicated to these amazing animals, it is called so - Kangaroo Island. On its territory extends a huge park, inhabited by rare species of ancient animals and relict plants. On the island several thousand years ago, the aborigines lived, after which they left this region, and all this time the land remained completely isolated from the outside world, giving local animals the opportunity to live in complete peace and security. And only in 1802, the European Flinders stepped onto Kangaroo Island, who donated this name to these lands.
In addition to animals, visitors to the park are attracted by interesting geological formations - the so-called Wonderful rocks, huge boulders of the most unusual and bizarre forms, located at a small height above sea level.
Not far from Remarkable rock is another attraction of Australia - Admiral's Arch. This creation of nature is a cave inside a huge boulder, from the depths of which it is so interesting to contemplate the beauty of the tides.
8. Lake Hippsland (Victoria)
Australia is rich in amazing places that attract the attention of tourists from around the world. Among them is Lake Hippsland, which is sometimes also called “Fire from the Underworld”. In the daytime, this lake is no different from any other body of water, but with the onset of darkness, real miracles start to happen here. From the water depths of the lake comes a fascinating bluish glow. This phenomenon has a very real scientific explanation, and has acquired the term "bioluminescence". The fact is that the waters of the lake are inhabited by plants and organisms endowed with bioluminescent abilities. It is this property that allows all living things in a reservoir to emit a kind of light that we see at night. In general, such light is emitted constantly, but only after dark, when the sun is completely hidden behind the horizon, can we see a real extravaganza of bluish lights along the shores of the lake.
In addition to the amazing views that open to the eye at night, during the day you can also enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the landscapes - the lake is surrounded by cliffs and fern forests around the perimeter.
9. The Royal Canyon (Vatarrka National Park)
Located in the Red Center of Australia, the Royal Canyon once had the status of sacred land for local Aborigines. Today, it has gained the status of the attractions of Australia, thanks to its unique appearance and unique natural beauty. Formed from sandstone sheer walls of the canyon, reaching 200 meters in height, formed millions of years, acquiring unusual forms under the influence of wind erosion. Inside the canyon grow thick thickets of ferns and cycads, palm forests, find shelter hundreds of animal species - all thanks to the walls of the canyon, which for the local flora and fauna play the role of protection from the desert drought prevailing outside the canyon.
To the edges of the canyon, from where travelers can enjoy an amazing view, there are several rocky climbs.
The most popular is the 6-kilometer route, which will take about 3-4 hours of time. This is an optimal route that allows you to enjoy the incredible panoramic landscapes of the canyon, to see the unusual rock formations of the Lost City, and descending into the canyon itself - to admire the beauty of Eden Garden, this is the name of the reservoir in the rock surrounded by lush vegetation.
The easiest and shortest route goes right along the bottom of the Royal Canyon, where you can view numerous boulders and gigantic eucalyptus trees, and this route ends on a viewing platform on a hill of a canyon, from where you can see the cliffs.
Finally, the most challenging traveler can conquer the most difficult route, 22 kilometers long, connecting the Royal Canyon and the city of Kathleen Springs.
10. Tasmania Island (Tasmania, 240 km south of the mainland)
To the south of the mainland there is another unique attraction of Australia - the island of Tasmania, famous throughout the world for its unique tropical forests.
The amazing nature of the origin of the island - the continent of Gondwana, which existed on the earth several hundred million years ago, united the lands of the future Australia, Africa, South America and Antarctica. As a result of the movement of the earth plates, the single continent gradually disintegrated into many parts, forming several separate continents, which have preserved this form to this day.
Fans of tropical beauty are sure to find what to see in Australia, because the island of Tasmania is a real gift of nature, full of lush vegetation. Just imagine: the majestic giant trees, mostly eucalyptus and ancient beech, have grown so tightly that it is impossible to get between them. Everything around is overgrown with thick greens, the undergrowth of a dense carpet complement the ferns and thick mosses, lash lianas hang down between the trees. In these parts live various representatives of the fauna - the famous Tasmanian devil, red wallaby, marsupial wolf and Tasmanian Bettong.
The whole valley is full of lakes, streams and mountain rivers - a real traveler will undoubtedly appreciate such a striking and exciting sight.
11. Fraser Island (Australia's East Coast)
The world of the Green continent is rich and diverse, and the Fraser Island, another interesting attraction of Australia, whitens a bright spot on the map of the mainland. The world's largest sandy island entirely consists of sand, which has been deposited by sea currents for thousands of years and fluttered by the winds, forming yet another amazing creation of nature - sand dunes. These are real mountains of white sand, reaching a height of 240-250 meters.
The amazing feature of the sandy island is that there are more than a hundred fresh-water lakes on its lands, washed by the salt waters of the ocean from all sides. Where on the island, not receiving power from the rivers or glaciers, so many lakes with fresh water? It's all about precipitation and groundwater, which constantly replenish reservoirs, not allowing them to dry up. The panoramas of these lakes are extraordinarily beautiful - the purest waters are framed by the border of white sand, and all this is surrounded by wild forests. Among the most picturesque reservoirs is Lake Mackenzie, located at an altitude of 100 meters above the sea, and the largest of them is Lake Boemingham, whose area reaches 200 hectares. In general, the climate of Fraser Island is more mild, compared to the climate of the rest of the continent, this is due to the large amount of moisture in the air and soil.
12. Big Pineapple in Queensland (Wumbai)
Sure, they will find something to see in Australia, and lovers of creative architecture. In Queensland, in the town of Vumbai, a large statue of pineapple has been pleasing tourists with its brightness and positiveness for many decades. The constant flow of curious travelers, eager to look at this creature, does not dry out year after year. A large 16-meter fiberglass construction was erected here in 1971, when the Taylor spouses, having built a small farm and a recreation park, decided to attract the attention of visitors. We have to admit that they succeeded perfectly, because a huge and bright statue in the shape of a pineapple attracts attention from afar.
The farm, by the way, exists to this day, home to both domestic animals - donkeys, pigs, and exotic - for example, alpaca, which valuable wool is used for the manufacture of various woolen products.
Here in the neighborhood you can visit a small zoo where kangaroos, deer, koalas and other representatives of the local fauna live.
Visitors also have the opportunity to observe how pineapples and Australian macadamia nuts are grown on local plantations.
13. Rock "Stone Wave" (Western Australia)
Amazingly beautiful sight of Australia in the form of an unusual form of rock formation is located in the west of the mainland. This is the “Stone Wave” rock, the name of which was due to its shape - apparently this natural wonder looks like a huge sea wave stirred up right in the middle of the land. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists come to see this stone statue. The visible part of the "wave" towering above the ground is about 15 meters in height, and over a length of more than a hundred meters.
For many centuries, this creation of nature has played a large role in the culture of the local population. It was once believed that it was in the place of the formation of this “wave” that the forces of spirit and nature accumulated and intertwined. Australians treat this statue with special trepidation to this day, making considerable efforts to preserve the beauty of the natural monument. To this end, in the 50s of the last century, a dam was built to protect the “Stone Wave” from natural erosion.
14. The Twelve Apostles Rocks (Victoria, Port Campbell National Park)
One of the most famous and recognizable sights of Australia was the group of rocks "Twelve Apostles", which became a symbol of the Great Ocean Road, stretching at an exciting height over the coast. It is the “12 Apostles” that are often depicted on numerous tourist booklets, and every year hundreds of thousands of interested tourists visit these places to observe the peculiar beauty of the rocks and their ability to change their color throughout the day. The most picturesque panorama opens up in the morning and evening, when the muted sunlight gives the landscape a mystery and richness of colors.
The age of these rocky formations is tens of millions of years: year after year the waves and the wind destroyed the soft limestone, forming cavities in the rocks, and the resulting arches collapsed over time, forming rocks up to 45 meters high.
Some interesting facts are connected with the cliffs of the “12 Apostles”.
In fact, having visited these places, you will find that there are not 12 rocks here, but only 8. There were 9 of them initially, but one of them collapsed in 2005.
Previously, the complex of rock formations was called “Pig and Piglets”, but with the aim of giving a more harmonious name to this name, this creation of nature was renamed “12 Apostles”.
15. Kuranda (State of Queensland)
And in what part of Australia can you most fully learn about the life of the indigenous people of the Green Continent? What to visit in Australia to get acquainted with their culture, features of life, characteristic features of their mentality? Perhaps the best place for this is the small hilly town of Kuranda in the north of Queensland. It is so small that it can be walked on foot in a matter of minutes - only 1 kilometer from the edge to the edge of the town, but there is definitely something to see.
For example, in local markets you can not only buy ordinary souvenirs, but also be more fully acquainted with the peculiarities of the craft and folk art of the indigenous people.
The birdworld is located under a large net canopy where you can safely walk among soaring birds, including parrots, quails, pigeons, cazouars.
"Koala Gardens" - so named a small zoo of wildlife of the continent. In addition to koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles, lizards and snakes live here.
The Aboriginal Learning Center is a village inhabited by the true indigenous people of the mainland. Here you can study the aboriginal culture and life as fully as possible, watch their traditional dance, watch a boomerang or spear throw, listen to the game on the old African instrument didgeridoo.
No matter what corner of the Green continent you are, you will certainly receive a warm welcome from the local population, and the nature of Australia will open before you the gates to the wonderful world of tropical forests, crystal clear lakes, untouched lands, far from the everyday routine and fuss of modern civilizations.
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