June 6, 2023

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Opera Home, The Nice Barrier Reef and Uluru – everybody has heard of those iconic locations to go to in Australia, and they need to be on everybody’s journey bucket record of Australia experiences.

orange dirt, green bush and turquoise water of Broome as seen from Mangrove Hotel -
Oh the colors of Broome!

However Australia’s range stretches throughout a rustic nearly as massive because the US and is crammed with adventures that aren’t on the principle vacationer monitor.

When planning a visit to Aus, it’s vital so as to add some off the overwhelmed path locations in Australia to the plan too.

These hidden gems are the place you get to see the actual Australia. They’re locations that few worldwide, and native, vacationers enterprise into – making a extra significant and genuine expertise for many who do go to.

After spending 18 months highway tripping round Australia, we had been blessed to find many hidden gems in Australia which are off the overwhelmed path, which gave us particular tales to remove and bear in mind our expertise from.

Whether or not you’re in search of secluded seashores that you simply share with sun-baking crocodiles, or in search of nights spent sleeping in underground properties, or tenting the place koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies freely roamed round you – these beneath locations nice essentially the most distinctive Aussie journey experiences.

The Greatest Off-The-Overwhelmed Path Australia Experiences

Beneath you can find a few of our favorite hidden gems in Australia that take you off the principle vacationer path and into the wild…

1. River Pink Gum Nationwide Park, New South Wales

Bike riding through the River Red Gum Forest
River Pink Gum Forest, NSW, Australia

I can’t rave sufficient concerning the River Pink Gum Nationwide Park.

Kangaroos and koalas working freely within the wild, a nationwide park all to your self, free tenting, kayaking the Murrumbidgee River, Australia’s second longest river, and mountain bike driving beneath the cover of big river purple gums.

The River Pink Gum is positioned close to Wagga Wagga, NSW and near the Victorian border and is a really distinctive wildlife Australia experiences.

2. Glenworth Valley, Central Coast, NSW

Kalyra watching the horse mustering Glenworth Valley
Glenworth Valley, NSW, Australia

Glenworth Valley on the Central Coast is simply a 20-minute drive from our hometown and solely an hour north of Sydney.

We visited for the primary time final month. and spent the weekend horse driving, quad biking, abseiling, kayaking, and tenting within the lovely valley.

Glenworth Vally is likely one of the Australian experiences the place journey meets the tranquility of nature.

Don’t miss the horse mustering early within the morning.

3. Gibb River Street, The Kimberly, WA

car driving across the road covered in water
Gibb River Rd, The Kimberley’s,

That is the Australian 4WD highway journey expertise you most wish to have.

The Gibb River Street runs by way of the center of the Kimberley area in Western Australia, certainly one of Australia’s final wilderness frontiers.

You possibly can free camp alongside waterholes the place one other soul can’t be discovered and spend your days exploring gorges and waterfalls, savannahs and bushlands, and in case your recreation you’ll be able to even swim with freshwater crocs. Apparently, they don’t chew!

READ MORE ON THE KIMBERLEY REGION:

4. Tasmania

long stretch of white sand and turquoise water as seen from above of Hazards beach
Hazards Bay

Very excessive on my Australia bucket record is Tasmania. I’ve by no means heard something, however excessive reward heaped upon it as a really distinctive and delightful Australian off-the-beaten-path expertise.

Tasmania is called a pure state with pristine wilderness areas to discover, overland tracks to hike and a few of the greatest contemporary produce in Australia to take pleasure in alongside the way in which.

It’s additionally identified for its wild and untamed nationwide parks, the place you can find a few of Australia’s most original and rarest wildlife, together with the Tasmanian Satan, Emus, Wombats, and Grey Kangaroos.

Hobart, Australia’s second oldest metropolis, retains a lot of its historic and heritage buildings and environment and has the beautiful backdrop of Mt Wellington.

It’s an excellent base to discover lots of Tasmania’s prime locations to go to and rural off-the-beaten-path areas. Be sure you try Cradle Mountain and the wonderful mountaineering trails close by.

Launceston is one other metropolis in Tas that makes for an excellent base for exploration.

5. Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, NSW

A tree in a grassy field
Hunter Valley wineries

Newcastle has every little thing Sydney has however on a smaller scale, and but it’s solely 2 hours north.

It made Lonely Planet’s should see vacation spot record of 2011, and is the seventh largest metropolis in Australia – though it doesn’t really feel prefer it because it has a relaxed, surfer vibe and thriving artwork scene.

Newcastle has wonderful eating experiences, nice browsing seashores, and a laid-back life-style.

It’s also the gateway to implausible locations reminiscent of The Hunter Valley wine area; Stockton Seashore for dune buggy enjoyable; and whale watching (between June and November) within the aquatic playground of Port Stephens.

6. Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, Western Australia

A sandy beach next to a body of water
Coral Bay, Western Australia

Ningaloo Reef is The Nice Barrier Reef of the West Coast, besides this one is unspoiled and unpopulated.

You possibly can swim from the shoreline at Exmouth and Coral Bay straight onto the reef which is flourishing with sea life.

It’s also the place the place you’ll be able to expertise the as soon as in a lifetime swim with the mild giants of the ocean: the whale sharks.

It’s positioned midway between Perth and Broome.

7. Coober Pedy, South Australia

orange desert with small rock mound Coober Pedy South Australia
Coober Pedy

If you happen to prefer it scorching and quirky then head to Coober Pedy in the course of South Australia.

Coober Pedy is the opal capital of the world and it’s so scorching that a lot of the city is underground.

Sleep in an underground cave, discover underground museums, mines, and church buildings, and play a spherical of golf on the desert course – not a blade of grass to be seen.

Get pleasure from a beer in an underground bar and take heed to the tales that come from the three,500 individuals from 45 nations who reside in Coober Pedy – Vibrant!

8. Kakadu Nationwide Park, Northern Territory

woman swimming in gunlom falls waterhole in kaakdu
Gunlom Falls

If there’s one nationwide park you could expertise in Australia, it’s Kakadu Nationwide Park. Though it’s fairly well-known, it’s nonetheless off the overwhelmed path because it’s fairly a trek to get to. You need to first get to Darwin, after which take a drive for about 2.5 hours to the park.

Getting there by public transport goes to be extraordinarily troublesome, so you have to to rent a automobile.

Kakadu is likely one of the few locations on the earth that’s World Heritage Listed for each its cultural and pure values.

It’s additionally the largest nationwide park in Australia which implies there may be loads of room to get away from the crowds, nevertheless, we wouldn’t advocate you enterprise too distant from the trail as that is croc territory.

Kakadu is house to one of many oldest dwelling societies on Earth, the native Bininj and Mugguy individuals, in addition to a whole bunch of saltwater crocodiles different reptiles, birds, fish, mammals, and greater than 2,000 plant species.

Kakadu has six completely different landscapes and habitats and 6 completely different seasons.

If you happen to’re in search of some hidden gem experiences in Kakadu, then we advocate you benefit from the sundown at Ubirr, go to the gorgeous Gunlom waterfall, and go to the Nourlangie Aboriginal rock artwork web site. You too can take a Yellow Water Cruise (Cooinda) although that is fairly touristy.

For these desirous to expertise off-the-beaten-path locations in Australia’s Prime Finish, Kakadu shouldn’t be skipped.

9. The Central Coast, NSW

flowers with beach in the background
McMasters Seashore

The Central Coast Area is simply 90 minute brief drive north of Sydney. So make sure you come go to us if you arrive.

One in all our favorite spots is Terrigal Seashore, a small coastal city typically visited by celebs and well-known sports activities stars.

It’s quiet and surrounded by browsing seashores, a lagoon for arise paddle boarding and paddle boats, and The Haven for picnics, rolls down the Skillion and spectacular sundown views.

Take your wine and cheese and crackers and benefit from the magic.

Different highlights embody:

10. Port Macquarie, NSW North Coast

wide sweeping Pilots Beach, NSW, Australia
Sundown view from the Seashore Home

Port Macquarie is the full bundle for off the overwhelmed path Aussie experiences. Positioned on the East Coast, it’s concerning the midway level between Sydney and Brisbane.

Uncrowded, miles of white sand seashores with glorious surf, an 8km stroll alongside the shoreline, wild dolphin and whale encounters, vineyards, actions for households, and essentially the most magnificent sunsets.

Benefit from the sunsets on a Sunday with $20 cocktails on the Seashore Home on the waterfront. Magical…

11. Phillip Island, Victoria

Cowes Beach, Phillip Island, Australia
Cowes Seashore

Phillip Island, Victoria is a car-free out of doors journey land and is the proper off the overwhelmed path retreat from Melbourne.

It has small sleepy cities, coastal surroundings, wild surf, and wetlands.

Most individuals head to Phillip Island for the penguin parade, which is a reputation given to a colony of penguins who march out from the ocean at nightfall every day to burrow down for the night within the sand dunes. Too cute.

Though the penguin parade has develop into a little bit of a vacationer gimmick over time, not many individuals enterprise round the remainder of the island, so you’ll be able to at all times discover a good, secluded spot to look at the waves.

12. The Grampians, Victoria

pinnacles hike grampians national park victoria australia (4)
A fairly path all the way in which

I first heard concerning the Grampians, Victoria from my Swedish rock-climbing pal.

He’s rock climbed all over the world and stated the Grampians was his favorite, not only for the difficult rock climbs, however for the sweetness and the peace and tranquility that comes with it being an off the overwhelmed path Aussie expertise.

And it’s only some hours drive west of Melbourne.

You determine – journey or sit back within the mountains? Oh, heck why not have each? The Grampians are nonetheless an off-the-beaten-path journey in Australia ready to be explored.

13. Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Indigenous man standing at the edge of billabong in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory

A really distinctive Aboriginal cultural expertise can be a go to to Arnhem Land within the Northern Territory.

It’s not a straightforward journey and positively not a daily vacationer vacation spot, which is why you need to 100% make it a part of your off-the-beaten-path itinerary.

Amenities for guests are restricted and also you want a allow to enter. However what you get again is a wealthy and numerous cultural expertise and a option to be taught extra concerning the authentic house owners of this magical land.

Arnhem Land is a extremely protected space and is ruled by the Aboriginal elders of every of the small coastal communities. It’s positively a rewarding off-the-beaten-path expertise for tradition and untouched magnificence.

14. Cape York Peninsula, Queensland

Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula Credit score: Tourism Australia

Leap in your 4WD and discover the slim peninsula of Cape York on the tip of Australia. Whereas many individuals contemplate Fraser Island the perfect place for 4WDing – these individuals most likely haven’t been to Cape York.

Cape York is simply accessible by highway within the dry season between Might and November. After that, it’s minimize off by the ocean.

The Cape York Peninsula is a land of few individuals and prolific wildlife, wonderful fishing, beautiful surroundings, and plenty of historical aboriginal cultural websites.

Leap on a ferry over to Thursday Island to expertise the wealthy historical past and indigenous tradition.

The Coastal Route through Cape Tribulation close to the Daintree Rainforest, in addition to the Bloomfield Monitor to Cooktown additionally requires a 4WD and is extremely scenic. You’ll get rainforest and reefs in a single place!

15. Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Seal jumping out of waves on kangaroo island

Often known as ‘Australia’s Galpagos Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, is wealthy with wildlife and untouched by people.

A overwhelming majority of the island is a protected Nationwide Park and wilderness space. It’s a place to loosen up and unwind and see native animals of their pure habitat.

Kangaroo Island is the place for 4WD exploration with a lot of the island solely accessible with this car.

It’s a brief 45-minute ferry experience from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island.

16. Outback

cliffs and trees next to water

Whereas many individuals go to Alice Springs to discover the outback and don’t see greater than Uluru (Ayers Rock) and some different rock formations, you need to word that the Australian outback is 6.5 million sq. kilometres, making it the most effective locations to get off the overwhelmed path in Australia.

Rent a campervan and drive to Boodjamulla Nationwide Park, which is within the Queensland Outback.

It’s much like Uluru in that it has the enduring purple rock formations, however it’s additionally an emerald, inexperienced oasis with many swimming holes, craggy gorges, arid landscapes, and plenty of mountaineering trails, bush walks, and tenting websites.

It’s certainly one of our favorite nationwide parks in Australia and is iconic for its gorges. A few of our favorite issues to do within the park are canoeing on the Decrease and Higher Gorge, and strolling as much as the Higher Gorge lookout.

Closing Phrase on Off The Overwhelmed Monitor Australia

There you might have it, these are the perfect hidden gems and off-the-beaten-track adventures in Australia from a locals perspective.

In fact, there are a lot extra locations simply ready to be found, and a few that we felt are too good to share.

Probably the greatest issues about visiting off the overwhelmed path locations is that you simply get to expertise someplace nobody else has heard of, or only a few individuals ceaselessly go to.

It will be counter productive of us to share each hidden gem we visited on this information, as they’d not be hidden, so we urge you to exit and probe for your self.

However do take nice care when exploring the again roads of Aus and maintain a watch out for native wildlife!

Extra Australia Journey Suggestions

In fact, in addition to visiting the off-the-beaten-path locations in Australia, you also needs to be certain to go to some iconic locations too. Listed here are another assets that will help you plan your journey to Australia:

What different off the overwhelmed path experiences in Australia are you able to add to this record? Tell us within the feedback.