Travel

The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Australia

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @ladygageler

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Tourism Australia’s Instagram page has just amassed over five million followers on Instagram, making it easily the most followed national destination page in the world. By comparison, other countries such as the USA (225k), England (409k), Japan (516k), New Zealand (1.1mil) and Canada (1.8mil) are only a handful of the audience size.

If you’re wondering why we attract so much attention, well, it’s our cute and cuddly animals of course. Although Quokkas and koalas aren’t the only reason Australia is loved by the world. It’s our landscapes, our beaches, and the content itself that led to the milestone. Tourism Australia mainly posts user-generated and industry-supplied content, which encourages travellers to continue sharing their own stories and experiences on an ongoing basis.

Each post aims to inspire the audience, motivating them to make the decision to travel around Australia by sharing bookable experiences. And it works. In 2020 this post of a belly scratching roo’ was picked up by none other than Oprah herself. From this, Waves to Wilderness on the NSW North Coast saw their own following go gangbusters and received bookings from people who found them on Instagram.

If that’s not convincing you that Australia is the best, here are the 10 most beautiful places in this sunburnt country.

Top 10 most beautiful places in Australia

10 most beautiful places australia
Photo: Jordan Robins Photography – IG: @jordan_robins

Jervis Bay

New South Wales
Jervis Bay on the NSW coast is beaming with small coastal towns, white sand beaches, calm, blue waters, and a plethora of nature and wildlife encounters. Although it’s perhaps most famously known for Hyams Beach, which has the whitest sand in the world, and the magical bioluminescent waters that occur during some parts of the year.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @merrwatson

Shark Bay

Western Australia
Shark Bay isn’t as scary as it sounds. Here you will find a UNESCO World Heritage site lined by some of the largest seagrass beds in the world, a population of dugongs, and the famous stromatolites, you probably remember from school. They are amongst the oldest forms of life on earth. There are plenty of beaches to visit and admire the bright red sand dunes.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @_markfitz

Heron Island

Queensland
Like everything in the Great Barrier Reef, Heron Island is surrounded by world-famous waters, offering unique underwater adventures, luxury accommodation, and an unforgettable eco-experience. You can swim with turtles, sharks and stingrays, kayak and paddleboard around the island, and enjoy a peaceful sunset cruise.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @david.jaske

Lake MacDonnell

South Australia
South Australia is known for its wine region, but if you travel 15km south of Penong, you will find the bubblegum lakes, also known as Lake MacDonnell. Due to their high salt concentration, the lakes sport a bright, bubblegum pink, which contrasts strikingly with the deep blue of the adjacent lake. It’s a sight to see to be believed.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @eyesaboutaustralia

Kakadu National Park

Northern Territory
Kakadu is home to lush rainforests, rocky gorges, natural rock pools, ancient rock art, and some pretty terrifying crocodiles, but also some magical Top End moments, that can only be seen in this intimidating landscape. It’s an adventure-lovers paradise, with rock climbing, kayaking, abseiling, and a lot more to do.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @rowan.petersen.au

Tasmania

Tasmania
Suffice to say any part of Tasmania is beautiful, from Cradle Mountain to Freycinet National Park and everything in between. While you will find wombats and idyllic landscape scenes, the real magic here is the Aurora Australis—the southern hemisphere’s version of the northern lights. Pair that with winter snow, and it doesn’t get any better than that for Tasmania.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @ladygageler

Lucky Bay

Western Australia
Australia is known for its beaches, but it’s also known for its local kangaroos. Lucky Bay in WA is a fairly off-grid destination, growing in popularity thanks to the amazing images being posted on social media. Here, you’ll find white sand, incredible clear blue waters, and kangaroos—lots of them. They are the perfect picture moment, set against a background of paradise blues.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @kyle.bowman

Lord Howe Island

New South Wales
It’s hard to believe this island in the middle of the Tasman Sea is part of NSW, but it is. Lord Howe Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the last relatively untouched islands in the world. Only 300 people live here, and only 100 tourists can set foot on the island at a time. The island boasts beaches, dizzying cliff drops, two remnant volcanoes, and a thriving community. For a digital detox or escape from life, this island is the place to be. Snorkel, swim, hike, or relax in paradise.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @walking_perspective

Melbourne

Victoria
Melbourne is synonymous with world-class dining, laneways, underground bars, and the all-around reputation of being the cool kids. Amongst the concrete islands is a world of mountains, beaches, lakes, and rivers waiting for you. Even the Webb Bridge in the Dockland’s area is a spectacular sight to see.

most beautiful places australia
Photo: @aj_zammit

Uluru

Northern Territory
There’s no beautiful places list in Australia without Uluru. The gigantic monolith has attracted visitors to the country for years. It’s a marvel to witness, and even better from above. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll catch it change colours in the rain, and watch as the sunset and sunrise liven the red of the rock. It’s definitely a bucket list experience not to be missed.

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