Adventure Travel in Australia

Australia’s landscapes are as dramatic as they are diverse. The world’s sixth largest country and smallest continent, Australia’s vast expanses of rugged outback, miles upon miles of coastline, tropical rainforest and national parks make it a top adventure travel and ecotourism destination. Factor in the culturally-rich urban areas of Sydney and Melbourne and it’s easy to see why Australia holidays are so popular.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef

Stretching for 1,240 miles off the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (map) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s seven natural wonders. It’s the only living formation on earth visible from outer space and the largest marine park in the world with over 900 islands, 2,900 separate reefs and one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. Up-close and in-person – through the lens of an underwater mask – is arguably the best way to experience Australia’s top tourist attraction.

Swim, snorkel and scuba dive, take a boat tour, helicopter tour or a cruise, and explore the nearby rainforest. Visit the Great Barrier Reef independently staying at one of the private-island resorts or opt, as many travelers do, for one of several organized Great Barrier Reef holidays and package tours.

Australian Outback

The rugged landscape of the famed Australian Outback consists of deserts, canyons, parched salt lakes, red rocky hills and flatlands. Explore the culture of the indigenous Aboriginal groups while visiting such attractions as Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (map), the MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon. Tour the Northwest Cape where the Outback meets the sea and journey inland to visit remote mining towns.

For a truly unforgettable experience, ride the rails through the Australian Outback on the famed Indian Pacific Railroad. Running between Sydney and Perth, it’s one of the last remaining coast to coast rail journeys in the world. Travel over the spectacular Blue Mountains, across the Sunbelt of Australia, past the country’s first mining towns and along the world’s longest length of straight railway track through the Nullarbor Plain.

Kakadu National Park

Australia’s northern territory is one of the country’s most sparsely settled regions home to several indigenous Aboriginal groups. Kakadu National Park (map) has been continuously inhabited for more than 50,000 years. Covering more than 12,000 square miles it’s the country’s largest national park with a variety of habitats and wildlife. The parks varying landscapes include sandstone plateau, savanna woodlands, forest, rivers, floodplains and mangroves.

Roughly fifty percent of the land in Kakadu National Park is held by Aboriginal land trusts and leased to the government for use as a national park. Several settlements exist within the boundaries of the national park. Explore the rich history of Aboriginal art and archaeological sites located throughout the region.

Tasmania

View from Cradle Cirque across Barn Bluff, Tasmania

An easily accessible island located 150 miles off the southern coast of Australia, Tasmania’s (map) wilderness remains largely unspoiled in part due to its isolation from mainland Australia. More than twenty percent of the island is World Heritage-listed wilderness and nearly a third is protected within the boundaries of the island’s vast national park system.

Active pursuits such as swimming, cycling, rafting and kayaking are all popular activities in Tasmania. Not-to-be-missed attractions include Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay, Cradle Mountain and Lake St. Clair National Park and the Huon Valley. The island’s Tamar Valley is increasingly recognized for its thriving arts scene, gourmet food and wine.

With so much to see and do in Australia it’s often challenging to decide how to best allocate your time. Many travelers opt to visit the country independently while others prefer package holidays to Australia. Regardless of what you decide, there’s no doubt you’ll be glad you chose to travel to Australia.

Photos: Great Barrier Reef by Sarah_Ackerman on Flickr; Tasmania by Jayegirl99 on Flickr

NOTE:  This post was sponsored by Qantas Holidays; the opinions expressed are solely those of the author.