The best adventure holiday destinations
Unleash your spirit of adventure at these epic holiday destinations.
Home to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest and the world’s largest coral reef system, Queensland’s tropical north offers thrill-seekers a unique chance to connect with nature. Base yourself in Cairns and spend your days plunging into rainforest waterfalls, bungee jumping above a lagoon, diving into the colourful depths of the Great Barrier Reef and cruising beside crocodiles. It’s little wonder that explorer Sir David Attenborough dubbed this his favourite place.
Tasmania’s wild landscapes, rugged mountains and end-of-the-Earth-like peaks create the ultimate recipe for adventure. The state’s capital, Hobart, makes for a brilliant base, with adventure at reach in every direction. West of Hobart, mountain bikers can cycle 85 epic wilderness tracks. Drive north to Freycinet National Park – a hiker’s paradise where the azure ocean meets pink-hued mountains. Further south are wildlife havens like Bruny Island just waiting to be explored.
Christmas Island is 135sq km (52sq mi) of remote paradise located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Coated with dense rainforest and enveloped by turquoise ocean, every inch of this island invites you to play, wander and explore. This is no typical island escape – float in an enchanting sea cave, dive among colourful coral gardens and experience the unique red crab migration.
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, the Flinders Ranges is a destination up for the challenge. You’ll know you’ve arrived when the road blends into a dusty track and dramatic, red-tinged cliffs stand before you. Welcome to a 600-million-year-old landscape, home to some of the country’s most epic 4WD, mountain biking and hiking tracks. Stay in an authentic outback station, join a safari adventure and experience the land through the eyes of its Traditional Custodians.
Just 40km (25mi) northeast of Brisbane, Moreton Island is a small sand island that's home to big adventures. One of the island’s main attractions is the Tangalooma Wrecks, and you can explore them and their resident marine life by day or night with Moreton Island Sunset Safaris. On land, you can’t miss the freedom of flying down Mount Tempest – the world’s highest coastal sand dune – or cruising along beaches aboard quad bikes and four-wheel drives.
The Kimberley region is one of the world's last true wilderness frontiers. This vast pocket of Western Australia transports you to what feels like a different world. Imagine flying over rock formations formed over 350 million years ago, stepping into a real-life dinosaur footprint or traversing one of Australia’s most legendary 4WD outback adventures. Even the region’s luxuries are sprinkled with adventure, from discovering the region’s pearling history to sinking into a natural hot spring reserved for guests of the lavish El Questro Homestead.
The Northern Territory’s capital blends some of the state’s most brilliant charms with crocs, thundering waterfalls and Aboriginal experiences. Adventurers will feel at home around Darwin, exploring the ancient landscapes of Litchfield, Nitmiluk and Kakadu national parks. In the city itself, you’ll find adventures of a culinary kind, with bustling night markets and a strong Asian influence woven into the city’s food scene.
Australia’s highest peak offers something for every type of adventurer. Summer here sees keen mountain bikers pouring into the quaint village of Thredbo to tackle the mountain’s most thrilling descents, while hikers pursue the region’s walking tracks. Come winter, the region transforms into a snowy wonderland, primed for adrenaline-pumping winter experiences.
There is a running theme throughout many of the Grampians’ most popular experiences – nail-biting heights. Trek across clifftop trails, take to the sky for a thrilling helicopter tour, marvel at towering waterfalls or abseil down a sheer rock face. The best news? Once you’ve had your adrenaline fix, there are world-class vineyards and local providores at the ready to replenish you for your next adventure.
