Image via Tourism Australia
With the current restrictions on international travel, we’ve all been longing for our next overseas getaway. Just because the borders are still closed, doesn’t mean we can’t start planning it already.
Australia is a great place filled with all sorts of fun activities, delicious food and drink experiences and of course, nature escapes. Since everyone is being extra cautious about social distancing these days, you may prefer vacay spots away from the crowd.
Here are eight super cool things you can do while surrounded by nature and be away from as many hoomans as possible:
#1 Go camping at Jervis Bay, New South Wales
Jervis Bay, one of the safest beaches in the country, is located in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales, which is a three-hour drive from Sydney. Bring your camping gear, pitch it up on one of the coastal campgrounds and soak in the gorgeous aqua sea.
Camping with a view in Jervis Bay (Image via Visit NSW)
There are loads to do around here so you’ll never get bored. Some of the activities include sunset cruising, and dolphin and whale watching.
Once the sun sets and the stars come out, you’ll feel like you’ve transcended into another galaxy. Set up a camp fire, roast some marshmallows and get to sharing horror stories for the old-school camping experience.
Try a glamping stay at Paperbark Camp (Image via Hutchings Camps Pty Ltd)
If you prefer a greener scene away from the sea, you can even set up your tent at Bristol Point, Cave Beach and Green Patch campgrounds, which are all located in Booderee National Park. Another alternative to this is glamping in the bushlands if you prefer a more bougie camping experience. Give yourself a treat with a stay at Paperbark Camp which offers luxury tented accommodation that's all about enjoying a tranquil bush experience in comfort.
#2 Drive along the Great Ocean Road and check out the 12 Apostles, Victoria
If you’re one of those who loves going for long drives, then the Great Ocean Road is one the best routes to check out. With a gorgeous view of the cerulean ocean and the spectacular craggy limestone cliffs, you’ll want to take it slow along this windy road.
You can stop by one of the many lookout points to have a closer look at the famous 12 Apostles, which is a 275km drive from Melbourne.
The spectacular Great Ocean Road (Image via 12 Apostles Helicopters)
This natural wonder is created by 10 to 20 million years of erosion by waves and wind. They started out as caves at first, but they eventually became arches and when they collapsed, the 45m high rocks were isolated from the shore.
The best time to view the 12 Apostles is during sunrise and sunset because the colours of the scenery will change from dark and foreboding when dark to brilliant sandy yellow under a full sun.
Take in beautiful views of the 12 Apostles at sunset (Image via Tourism Australia)
Besides checking out the natural wonder, here are a few other things you can do along this road:
- Take a helicopter ride around the 12 Apostles, Bay of Islands, London Bridge, Shipwreck Coast and Cape Otway
- Stay at beachside villages
- Check out old volcanoes in Great Otway National Park
#3 Visit the Scenic Rim Trail and Experience a Farm Stay at Gold Coast, Queensland
The Scenic Rim is called the ‘richest place on Earth’ or ‘green cauldron’ thanks to its abundance of flora and fauna in one region. From iconic Tamborine Mountain to beautiful Lake Moogerah, rugged Mount Barney to welcoming Boonah and every breath-taking space in between.
The ancient 4,000km2 rainforest houses historic national parks, charming towns and villages, adventure parks, farm stays, galleries, festivals, camping, glamping and more!
Enjoy majestic views on the Scenic Rim Trail (Image via Spicers Retreat/Great Walks of Australia)
Due to its size, you can make it a four-day escape. Here’s a nifty itinerary you can follow to ensure you really cover every highlight of the region.
To really be in tune with nature, you should add a farm stay experience. Pop by Gold Coast, which is just two hours away from the Scenic Rim, and check into one of the many farm stays available. Rise at the crack of dawn and head out to the farm for loads of fun.
Try a farm stay experience (Image via Worendo Cottages)
Enjoy egg collecting, animal feeds and cow milking in the morning then play and interact with the many animals there. Enjoy the sunset with some fun games and amazing food and end the day by roasting marshmallows around the campfire.
#4 Walk along the many paths in Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
Cradle Mountain is a gorgeous place filled with natural beauty located in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Indulge both your eyes and soul in the moss-covered ancient rainforests, deep river gorges, snow-covered mountain peaks, wild alpine moorlands and glacial lakes.
There are many paths in this mountain ranging from brisk 40-minute strolls to eight-hour hikes.
Embark on a walk around Dove Lake (Image via Tourism Australia)
It’s the perfect place despite the changing seasons. If you visit during each season, you’ll find yourself in a whole new world every time. During the winter, it’s a snowy wonderland while autumn allows spectacular displays of yellows, oranges and reds across the mountain slopes.
During spring, you can watch as playful young joeys hop about, hungry echidnas awaken from their hibernation search for food, and fragrant wildflowers blooming. Take the opportunity to hop into the many lakes during a hot summer’s day too.
Enjoy a winter wander along the tracks (Image via Tasmanian Walking Company/Great Walks of Australia)
Other activities you can enjoy include visiting a Tasmanian Devil sanctuary, water rafting and horse riding.
#5 Take selfies with quokkas and cycle around Rottnest Island, Western Australia
The quokka is a cute marsupial species with adorable beady eyes. Prior to 2015, only Australians know of this adorable little animal. However, the internet saw a flurry of furry selfies early that year.
Dubbed ‘the happiest creature on Earth’, this shy but friendly animal isn’t hard to approach at all, and their ability to look like they’re smiling make for great picture opportunities. Quokka hotspots such as Rottnest Island became an instant hit due to the abundance of them in a concentrated area.
A quokka selfie is a must do (Image via 3yearsoflimerence/Instagram)
Rottnest Island is only a short ferry ride from Fremantle, Perth, where ferries depart regularly. Besides spotting the quokkas, you can rent a bicycle and explore the island’s many fun activities and natural beauty.
Though it’s only 19 km2 in size, the island has 63 stunning beaches, 20 beautiful bays and many coral reefs perfect for snorkelling. And if you’re looking for more to do, this is a great place for café-hopping and whale- and seal-spotting too!
Stunning beaches await you on Rottnest Island (Image via travel_masterpiece/Instagram)
If cycling is a bit arduous for you and you prefer a chillaxed way to sightsee, you can take the Bayseeker Bus that regularly runs around the island. The buses are the only vehicles allowed on the island, but they run on electricity, so it keeps the environment pollutant-free.
#6 Chill out with kangas and other awesome animals at Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Just 13km off the coast of South Australia, you can take a 30-minute plane ride from Adelaide or 2.5 hours ferry ride from Cape Jervis to get to Kangaroo Island. Like its name, the place is filled with the wild marsupial all over. They’re all friendly and you can easily approach them.
In fact, you can just lay on the green grass with them and watch as the clouds roll by!
Come and meet the local residents (Image via Tourism Australia)
Besides kangaroos, you can also stroll along the beach through a colony of rare sea lions. The Seal Bay Conservation Park is the only place in the world where you can walk among endangered Australian sea lions.
Enjoy incredibly fresh seafood too! If you’re a ‘shellfish’ person, you don’t want to miss out on the freshly caught oysters and abalones. If you prefer fish, make sure to order the King George whiting.
View the sea lions up close (Image via South Australian Tourism Commission)
You can even order a meal of freshwater marron—a native Australian freshwater crayfish which you can’t really get anywhere else in the world.
#7 Experience Aboriginal culture and desert adventures at Uluru, Northern Territory
Australia's Red Centre is an extraordinary landscape of desert plains, weathered mountain ranges and rocky gorges. It’s also home to some of Aboriginal Australia's most sacred sites, Uluru and Kata Tjuṯa.
You can explore and learn about the gorgeous desert with an Aboriginal guide who’ll also teach you their cultures. Kick-start your journey at the Cultural Centre to learn about the Anangu culture. They also exhibit Aboriginal art, which you can view and even purchase.
Learn about the local culture from your guide (Image via James Fisher/Tourism Australia)
Besides that, you can take a helicopter flight or motorcycle tour or see Uluru from the back of a camel on an early morning or sunset safari.
Another thing you mustn’t miss is how Uluru changes colours at sunrise and sunset. The jaw-dropping view is best enjoyed further from the rock formation so that you can watch the sun’s rays dance as they hit the rock formations.
Don’t miss out on the gorgeous Field of Light installation either. As the sun sets, you can also feast your eyes on the LED garden which will transport you to a whole new world.
The spectacular Field of Light installation (Image via Tourism Australia)
When you’re not marvelling at the colours of nature, you can also add quad bike riding and trekking to the rim of Kings Canyon to you list of things to do.
#8 Be ‘one’ with the trees at the National Arboretum Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
An arboretum is a botanical garden devoted to growing trees for conservation, scientific research or educational purposes. The National Arboretum Canberra is the only monocultural arboretum of its size in the world, housing over 44,000 rare and endangered trees across a 250-hectare site.
You can walk, jog or even cycle around their many tracks which total up to 20km in length, while soaking in the botanical beauty, including the living artworks in the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection.
Enjoy breath taking aerial views over the National Arboretum (Image via Tonking Zulaikha Greer Architect)
There’s a café where you can have a lovely brunch while overlooking the vast greenery. Meanwhile, there are loads of interesting outdoor sculptures to take your OOTD with.
If you love flowers, then you can check out the Gallery of Gardens, a living mosaic of unique gardens. Every garden has a special design with a variety of trees, plants, landscape features like a labyrinth, reflective pond, and stone walls.
Sour to great heights above Canberra (Image via nationalarboretumcanberra/Instagram)
Obviously, it’s also a great spot for photoshoots to fill up your Instagram.
So, how ‘bout that Aussie holiday? Book those tickets once it’s safe to travel
There’s no harm in planning right now. While you wait for the borders to open and for the respective governments to give the green light to travel for leisure again, start with a simple game plan for your next vacation.
As you go, you can draw out a more detailed blueprint for how you’d love to explore Australia. These eight locations and activities are just the tip of the iceberg. You can visit Tourism Australia’s website or Facebook page for hundreds more amazing adventures!
A friendly note: Make sure to follow the necessary SOPs on your travels—face mask, social distancing, hand sanitising… you know the drill. Most importantly, if you’re not feeling well, do NOT travel and get yourself tested immediately. Even if it’s not COVID-19, you’re still ill and will be more susceptible to catching other sicknesses.