Australia's World Heritage bucket list
Purnululu National Park, East Kimberley, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia
Australia is home to a whopping 20 World Heritage-listed sites. From cultural treasures to natural gems, here are the ones to add to your bucket list.
Upolu Cays National Park, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland © Tourism Australia
Aerial view over a white and cay in turquoise water.
Aerial view over a white and cay in turquoise water.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta
National Park
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism Australia
A rugged landscape leading to a tall red rock.
A rugged landscape leading to a tall red rock.
Awash in hues of red and orange, Uluru and Kata Tjuta epitomise the beauty of Australia's deserts. Rising over 30 metres from the otherwise flat landscape, these rock formations carry the cultural stories of the Anangu peoples.
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Northern Territory © Tourism Australia
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
A city of skyscrapers surrounding blue harbour.
A city of skyscrapers surrounding blue harbour.
Considered a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture, the Sydney Opera House is a beacon that beckons you to explore the sparkling harbour. Not only is the exterior simply magnificent, but inside are stages and theatres for epic shows.
Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Purnululu National Park
Purnululu National Park, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
Aerial view over a landscape sprinkled with bright orange domes.
Aerial view over a landscape sprinkled with bright orange domes.
On the World Heritage list for its outstanding universal value, Purnululu National Park is home to the Bungle Bungle Range. These beehive-like domes are the result of 20 million years of interacting geological, biological, erosional and climatic phenomena. Just incredible.
Purnululu National Park, Western Australia © Tourism Australia
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island, New South Wales © Tourism Australia
A person swimming in a pool overlooking an island coastline and towering green mountains.
A person swimming in a pool overlooking an island coastline and towering green mountains.
Created by volcanic activity more than 2,000 metres under the sea, Lord Howe Island is an important habitat for endemic species - and it's no so bad to look at, either. The world's largest stick insect was feared extinct before its rediscovery on Balls Pyramid.
Lord Howe Island, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Great Barrier Reef
Quicksilver Pro Dive, Great Barrier Reef , Queensland © Tourism Australia
Two people snorkelling in the ocean past turtles and colourful fish.
Two people snorkelling in the ocean past turtles and colourful fish.
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's wonders – so it's no wonder it has a spot on the World Heritage list! Over 2,500 individual reefs, the largest collection of coral anywhere on Earth and 1,500 species of fish – now that's what we call 'great.'
Reef Magic, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland © Tourism Tropical North Queensland
Convict sites
Port Arthur Historic Site, Port Arthur, Tasmania © Tourism Tasmania
A historic, sandstone building on a grassy hill.
A historic, sandstone building on a grassy hill.
Australia has a fascinating convict history, and the World Heritage-listed sites are some of the best surviving examples of large-scale convict transportation. Visit Port Arthur in Tasmania to walk through penitentiaries and churches, learning the stories of those who lived and worked there.
Port Arthur Historic Site, Port Arthur, Tasmania © Tourism Australia
Shark Bay
Shark Bay, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia/Tourism Australia
Aerial view over orange sand and turquoise water.
Aerial view over orange sand and turquoise water.
Shark Bay in Western Australia boasts a healthy dugong population, but there's another reason this site has secured a World Heritage badge. Gardens of stromatolites – dome-shaped deposits of hardened algae – are some of the oldest life forms on the planet. Talk about history.
Shark Bay, Western Australia © Tourism Western Australia
Discover more UNESCO sites in Australia
Masons Swimming Hole, Cape Tribulation, Queensland © Tourism Australia