Kangaroo Island, South Australia

In my last post I listed some of my favorite natural wonders of Australia. In today’s post I will complete the list… once again they’re not listed in any particular order:

• Fraser Island, Queensland is the largest sand island in the world and is also world heritage listed. Fraser Island is the only place in the world where tall rainforests grown on sand. Besides a few tourists the only other thing you have to share the island with are Dingos!
• Wilsons Promontory in Victoria is the southernmost point of mainland Australia. Three hours from Melbourne the drive will take you through the picturesque Gippsland region. Wilsons Prom is filled with pristine beaches, hiking trails and campsites. My favorite hike is the one to Squeaky beach as the name suggests the fine sand squeaks when walking barefoot. Along the hike you maybe lucky and come across a popular but quiet Australian marsupial, a Wombat.
• Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. World heritage listed, Cradle Mountain offers hikers untouched natural beauty with spectacular mountains, native fauna and forests, rivers and alpine lakes. It’s also the starting point for the world famous 6-day overland hiking trip.
• Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Accessible by boat or light aircraft Kangaroo Island is sanctuary for Australian wildlife and a must for nature lovers. Besides Kangaroos you will see plenty of Australian wildlife including Wallabies, Koalas, Penguins, Seals and Southern Right Whales to name a few.
• Mount Dandenong, Victoria is a 1-hour drive from downtown Melbourne.  The area is filled with winding roads, rainforests, hikes, quaint villages, restaurants, lookouts and Puffing Billy! There’s no better way to spend an afternoon than driving around the Daenong Hills.

By no means is this the complete list of natural wonders of Australia. If you’re after a more comprehensive list checkout Australian Traveller’s top 100 things to do in Australia and I Live to Travel’s take on Australia. In my next post I will discuss culture in Australia and no it is not all sport related!

Rottnest Island, Western Australia

In my last post I wetted your appetite for traveling to Australia with my top five reasons why you should visit Down Under. In today’s post I’m going to tell you more about this amazing country we call, Australia. Just over 21 million people call Australia home with the majority of people living along the eastern- seaboard. Inland Australia is mainly desert which is one of the big reasons why most Australians live along the coastline.

The largest city in Australia is Sydney, with just over 5 million people followed by Melbourne and Brisbane. Sydney and Melbourne have a strong rivalry, similar to New York and LA. The best way to sum-up the two cities is Sydney has all the touristy things while Melbourne has the arts, cultural and nightlife… you decide which you prefer!

Over the next two days I’ll cover all my favorite natural wonders of Australia, starting with the first 5 today – they’re in no particular order.

• The Great Ocean Road, Victoria. I know America has the coast road between San Fran and LA and Cape Town has a similar stretch of road but Victoria’s goes one better! Like the other roads it hugs the rugged coastline for about 100 miles but the added bonuses are the opportunity to spot Koalas and the Twelve Apostles at the very end.
• Wineglass Bay, Tasmania. Often forgotten, Tasmania is full of natural beauty from old-growth forests and striking mountains to pristine beaches. Located on Tasmania’s east coast, Wineglass Bay is part of the Freycinet National Park and is one of Tassie’s best beaches. There are plenty of activities to do in the area from hiking and rock climbing to fishing and swimming. The most popular thing to do is to hike to the top of the mountain for spectacular views of Wineglass Bay.
• Rottnest Island, Western Australia. A 45 minute ferry ride transfers you from the port city of Freemantle to an island filled of untouched beaches, bikes and Quokkas! With no cars on the island, bikes and Quokkas rule!
• Byron Bay, Northern New South Wales. Famous for its hippies, surfing and natural beauty, Byron Bay is a relaxing destination without the high-rises and hype of other locations.
• Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. Located near the city of Darwin, Kakadu National Park is filled with amazing natural beauty and Australian wildlife. Managed by the traditional landowners, Kakadu is a world heritage listed site and a must for any tourist heading to the North of the country.

In tomorrow’s post I will list my five remaining favorite natural wonders of Australia. What’s your favorite spot in Australia? Leave a comment and share the love!