Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have in our own backyard.
This is despite the mass of astounding natural attractions sprinkled all over the country.
Some of these fascinating wonders wouldn’t be out of place on another planet. Others are so ridiculously beautiful, you could stare at them all day.
It’s time to celebrate Mother Nature’s brilliance with this collection of mind-boggling natural attractions.
Girraween is peppered with gigantic granite boulders that are simply astounding. This is particularly the case for those that appear so precariously placed it’s as if they’re flouting the rules of gravity. Walking tracks lead to such creations as Balancing, Castle, and Turtle rocks as well as The Sphinx. Girraween is 95km south of Warwick.
Visit from: BIG4 Freedom Lifestyle Holiday Park Warwick or Country Style Holiday Park, Stanthorpe.
The Grampians receives loads of footprints each year yet pay a visit and you’re likely to feel that still, somehow, this area is vastly underrated. Sure, there are tourists around but it’s easy to opine that the area should be swarming with them. Best not to wonder too long and instead enjoy the spine-tingling experience of standing directly underneath or atop the craggy, towering sandstone mountain ranges. The Grampians thoroughly deserves to be regarded as one of the best national parks in Australia.
Visit from… Breeze Holiday Parks - Halls Gap, Breeze Holiday Parks - Grampians or NRMA Halls Gap Holiday Park.
This mighty marvel was once a limestone cave but began a new life as a sinkhole when corrosion from seawater led to its roof collapsing. It has since been transformed into a stunning sunken garden – not so natural, but hey – that you can admire day and night. Even more appealing is the sinkhole’s proximity to the Mt Gambier CBD.
Visit from…BIG4 Blue Lake Holiday Park.
The enormous dolerite sea cliffs found at the bottom of the Tasman Peninsula are simply gob-smacking. Measuring up to 300m in height, these jutted creations are perfectly suited to the rugged, almost unworldly coastal surrounds. These are the southern hemisphere’s highest sea cliffs, and for the daring they are an abseilers’ mecca. For the rest of us, simply stare in amazement at what is hands down among the best attractions in Tasmania.
Visit on a daytrip from…BIG4 Hobart Airport Tourist Park.
Prepare to encounter a scene widely regarded as being better suited to Mars. The Pinnacles is a mammoth collection of weathered limestone pillars that protrudes from desert-like surrounds and makes for an awe-inspiring sight. Adding to the peculiarity of the occasion is knowing just how close to the ocean you are – yet you’ll likely feel as far removed from water as you will from earth as you know it. The Pinnacles are 80km north of Ledge Point.
Visit on a daytrip from…Tasman Holiday Parks - Ledge Point.
Once there was furious volcanic activity, now there is a series of remarkable tunnels and caves to explore. Lauded as among the largest and longest lava tubes on the globe, the Tropical North Queensland attraction is the result of volcanic spew that was generated almost 200,000 years ago. Lots and lots of spew. And vomit has never been so enticing: the results of this ancient fury are so captivating and intrinsic that they're sure to feature prominently on your Insta account.
Visit on a daytrip from… NRMA Atherton Tablelands Holiday Park.
When it comes to Australia’s most jaw-dropping attractions, the Bungle Bungles consistently earn a podium finish. This Kimberley icon consists of a cluster of beehive-like, cone-shaped towers that are simply dazzling, particularly when witnessed from the air. Found 290km south of Kununurra, this World Heritage wonder is colourful, spectacular, and absolute bucket-list material.
Visit on a daytrip from… Lily Lagoon Resort in Kununurra.
Despite its singular name, Nitmiluk is a series of 13 enormous gorges that have been sculpted from the sandstone surrounds by the Katherine River. The towering, colourful cliffs appear to glow in the changing light, making for an eye-popping spectacle. Experience the magic via walks and their various lookouts, canoeing, boat tours, or on a scenic helicopter flight. The national park is 30km east of Katherine.
Visit from: BIG4 Breeze Holiday Parks – Katherine.
This ancient granite giant is an absolute marvel. Its almighty frame features a collection of smaller rocks that give the impression that they’ve been carved, rounded, moulded, and stuck together like it’s an art project. Castle Rock can be climbed via the Granite Skywalk, and the panoramas it reveals are genuinely breathtaking. Porongurup is 45km north of Albany.
Visit from: BIG4 Emu Beach Holiday Park or BIG4 Middleton Beach Holiday Park in Albany.
How did that happen? is what you’ll find yourself thinking when viewing this incredible attraction. The most notable landmark in the famous Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound is a huge, sunken natural amphitheatre of such remarkable beauty that you can’t help but be astounded by it. Viewing it on a scenic flight and taking in the richness of the landscape’s colours is just about unbeatable.
We couldn’t just settle on one Australian lake to feature, but we did narrow it down to a type: the pretty-in-pink lakes dotted around the land. Hutt Lagoon, near Port Gregory, and Lake Hillier, off the coast of Esperance, are two of the more iconic bright beauties in WA. The pink lakes in Murray-Sunset National Park, VIC and Lake McDonnell on SA’s Eyre Peninsula are among other stunners.
Wow. Just wow. The towering sandstone walls of Kings Canyon are quite simply astonishing. These walls contrast jaggedness with smoothness, all brightly coloured and beautiful and demanding more clicks of the camera than your average celebrity. Planted 470km from Alice Springs on sealed roads, this top attraction rewards whether you’re peering upwards or taking in all its glory on a rim walk.
Largely flying under the radar, the stunning works of the dormant volcano Budj Bim make for engrossing exploration. Rocky outcrops dominate the surrounds and give way to a beautiful crater lake that can be spied from various vantage points. The park and surrounds are rich with Aboriginal history and culture, which led to it becoming the newest Australian property to be added to the coveted UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2019.
Visit on a daytrip from…BIG4 Port Fairy Holiday Park, Tasman Holiday Parks - Warrnambool, or NRMA Warrnambool Riverside Holiday Park.
When it comes to jaw-dropping Australian natural attractions, this crazy creation demands serious attention. Here, nature has carved out crescent-shaped sand and clay dunes so dramatic and mind boggling that you’ll be thoroughly absorbed. It’s a key feature of the World Heritage Willandra Lakes region, 125km from Mildura, which is famed for its immense cultural significance.
Visit on a daytrip from…BIG4 Mildura Getaway, NRMA Mildura Riverside Holiday Park or Rivergardens Holiday Park Mildura.
Isn’t it time you enjoyed a nature-based escape? Start by finding your preferred BIG4 park here.
