Six Aussie ‘wow’ locations
There’s no shortage of scenic wonders in Australia, but some places have that extra ‘wow’ factor.
We take a look at six Aussie locations that will have you saying “wow!”
1. Punamii-unpuu/Mitchell Falls
Western Australia
The access road is hard work, and the 4.3km hike over rough terrain in tropical heat can be exhausting. But when you suddenly find yourself on the edge of a plateau above thundering cascades, overlooking a fair chunk of the Kimberley, these hardships are quickly forgotten.
In truth, if you take your time, the walk into Mitchell Falls is thoroughly enjoyable, passing Little Merton and Big Merton Falls along the way. These two features are impressive in their own right.
To get to the walking trail, you’ll need a well-prepared high-clearance four-wheel drive, food and water, camping supplies (if you’re camping), and a sturdy spine – but it’s worth it.
Scenic flights to the falls are available and small ship cruises travel the Kimberley coast.
Wow trivia: The Mitchell Plateau has one of the least disturbed ecosystems in the world.
2. Uluru
Northern Territory
No surprise here. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen ‘The Rock’ on TV, in magazines or gracing Australian calendars, nothing quite prepares you for the real thing.
Heading west from the Stuart Highway, the first feature of note is magnificent Mount Connor – a bold mesa rising up from the desert near Curtin Springs. A little further on, the top of Uluru (main image) begins to peek over the dunes and you realise you’re in for something special.
When it fully reveals itself, you’re faced with a feature that completely dominates the landscape – it’s like nothing else exists. Until you peer into the distance and see the domes of Kata Tjuta making a fair fist of dominating their patch as well.
There are plenty of tours to get you up close to these natural wonders.
Wow trivia: It’s thought that the part of Uluru rising above the desert sand is merely the ‘tip of the iceberg’, and the rock extends underground for another 6km.
3. Whitehaven Beach
Queensland
If you’ve ever dreamt about a beach, it probably looks like Whitehaven. Stretching for 5km along the north-west shore of Whitsunday Island, the gleaming white sand of Whitehaven is so silica-rich, it squeaks at every footfall.
Washing the shore are the equally dreamy turquoise waters of the Coral Sea. Spend the day squeaking on the beach or hike through the lush hinterland.
Take your pick from a range of Whitehaven tours.
Wow trivia: It’s thought that Whitehaven Beach was once sand dunes, but the latest sea level rise 10,000 years ago brought the ocean to the foot of the dunes.
4. Bunda Cliffs
South Australia
The drive across the Nullarbor Plain can, at times, be a little dull. A clue is in the name – Nullarbor loosely translated from Latin means ‘no trees,’ and for a time that’s exactly what you’ll see.
Thankfully, not far from the Eyre Highway, the Australian land mass abruptly ends, and it’s the views from the edge of the continent that add thrill to the trip.
Towering above the Southern Ocean, the Bunda Cliffs extend for 200km from the Head of Bight through to Western Australia.
Because the cliffs are approached from the top, it’s difficult to gauge the scale of the drop until you’re at world’s end. It’s truly a breathtaking view, and it’s not uncommon to see Southern right whales playing in the sea below, particularly during winter.
Wow trivia: When you’re driving across the Nullarbor Plain, you’re travelling on an ancient sea floor.
5. Lawn Hill Gorge, Boodjamulla National Park
Queensland
Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) gets a lot of attention and for good reason – it’s spectacular! But in Queensland, near the NT border, there’s another gorge that’s equally as impressive, though it takes a little more effort to reach.
Lawn Hill Gorge is at the end of a 100km-long dirt road stretching west from Gregory Downs Hotel, which is 300km from Cloncurry on a sealed road. The unsealed section of road to Lawn Hill Gorge is usually corrugated, stony and potholed with plenty of bulldust.
You might manage the trip in a high-clearance conventional vehicle but you’re far better off in a four-wheel drive.
There are several walking trails in the park, and it’s from various vantage points overlooking the Gorge that you can really appreciate its beauty. The jade green waters of Lawn Hill Creek create a striking contrast against the orange cliffs.
The lush vegetation huddling around the precious water in this arid environment adds more colours to the palette.
For extra wow, hire a canoe and head upstream.
Wow trivia: Riversleigh World Heritage Site, one of the world’s top ten fossil sites, is just down the road.
6. Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park
Western Australia
WA is bulging with stunning locations and could easily have its own ‘wow’ list. The striped, beehive-esque domes of the Bungle Bungle Range are remarkable and bizarre in equal measure.
Isolated in a remote part of the state, and crisscrossed by deep canyons and gorges, this extensive range of massive sandstone outcrops rises incongruously from the scrub.
Highlights include Cathedral Gorge, a vast open cavern above a sandy creek bed, and the crack-thin Echidna Chasm, flanked by precipitous rock walls.
The four-wheel drive access track to the Bungle Bungle Range is usually rough, but there are flights to the site that make the job much easier.
Wow trivia: Although the Gija, Jaru and Malngin people have been aware of Purnululu for millennia, it only became known to the outside world when aerial photos were released in the early 1980s.
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