Top Aussie adventure travel destinations

The ‘land down under’ is famous across the globe as an adventure destination. With World Heritage-listed wilderness, over 25,000 kilometres of coast and outback landscapes, adrenalin-inducing activities reign. Strap yourself in for a look at the top spots.

Fraser Island, Queensland

If you’re a 4WD fanatic, Fraser Island offers endless stretches of straight sand (with the occasional pool of water to get bogged in), bumpy inland trails and ‘bush bashing’ at its best. Along the way, you’ll visit stunning natural wonders, including the rainwater-fed Lake Mackenzie, the Maheno shipwreck, the coloured sands of the Cathedrals and crystal-clear Eli Creek.

Karijini National Park, Western Australia

Hiking and swimming in a national park tops many adventure travel bucket lists and Karijini National Park delivers the incredible, rugged backdrop. Located in the Pilbara region, the park is Western Australia’s second biggest, with dramatic creeks, towering gorges and abundant wildlife. Walking trails lead you to mysterious swimming holes, via easy strolls or steep descents best traversed on an organised tour.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland

Discovering one of the few places on the planet where rainforest and reef meet is adventure enough. But, if you want to invest in more, ‘jungle surf’ through the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and literally fly among ancient treetops. Also, the Great Barrier Reef is closer to the coast of Cape Tribulation than anywhere else, for premier snorkelling and diving. To up the thrill-seeker stakes even further, when you’re on the beach you may need to watch out for crocodiles.

Franklin River, Tasmania

Novices and experts alike can’t get enough of white water rafting on the magnificent Franklin River. Remote and wild, it winds through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, with Class I to IV rapids. Raft through deep gorges, ancient rainforest and historic aboriginal sites - you may not notice though, as you tackle rapids with names like ‘Jaw Breaker’ and ‘Thunder Rush’.

Horizontal Falls, Western Australia

The Kimberley region is renowned for its rugged beauty and Horizontal Falls ranks as one of the top spots. The tidal falls, in Talbot Bay, pass horizontally by narrow cliff passages of 10 and 20 metres wide. For adrenalin-junkies, this offers the perfect passage to zoom through on a jet boat.

If you don’t fancy getting wet, hop on a seaplane to view the breathtaking sight from above and take one of the most inspirational happy snaps of your life.