Picturesque. Incredible. Rugged. Wild. These are just some of the words that best describe Australian natural landmarks.
Tagged as the land Down Under, Australia is known for the iconic Great Barrier Reef as well as the Harbour Bridge and other attractions in its biggest cities like Sydney and Melbourne. But the sparsely populated Outback actually makes up 80% of the country’s total area.
While a big percentage of the country is remote, its untamed charm brought forward more iconic attractions and formations that showcase the natural beauty of Australia — from the coast to the Outback! Here are 18 of the most beautiful natural wonders in Australia!
Table of Contents
1. Great Barrier Reef (Queensland)
When you say natural wonders in Australia, this has to be the first on the list!
The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) houses about 3,000 coral reefs and thousands of marine species, making it the world’s largest and most extensive coral reef ecosystem. It spans over 2,300 kilometres off Australia’s east coastline and covers more than 300,000 square kilometres in total.
You can explore the GBR by swimming, diving, viewing marine animals, or through aerial tours and staycations on any of its islands.
Did you know? The Great Barrier Reef is visible from space! An astronaut from the International Space Station captured an image of 3 reefs or 15 kilometres of the GBR using a powerful set of lenses!
2. 12 Apostles (Victoria)
One (or few, to be more exact) of the most iconic Australian natural landmarks is just a four-hour drive from Melbourne. The 12 Apostles are 45-metre-tall limestone pillars that are the main attractions of the scenic Great Ocean Road.
These rock stacks originally were connected to the mainland. But wind and storms from the Southern Ocean in the past 10 to 20 million years eroded and eventually isolated the pillars.
It used to be known as Sow and Pigs but changed to 12 Apostles since it was more catchy. Despite its name, it was said that there never were 12 pillars as only 9 rock stacks were visible at the beginning of the 21st century. However, 2 of these stacks collapsed, leaving only 7 ‘apostles’.
3. Blue Mountains (New South Wales)
The Blue Mountains is a World Heritage site famous for its rugged landscape and the blue haze blanketing the area.
The haze is due to airborne oil droplets from eucalyptus trees mixing with water vapour and dust particles and then refracting blue light rays. Quite scientific, but it makes for a fantastic vista, especially from certain viewpoints.
Aside from the seemingly endless wilderness, within the Blue Mountains are other interesting spots like waterfalls, caves, mountain towns, valleys, and cliffs! And not to be forgotten is the other world-famous tourist spot, the folklore-laden Three Sisters rock formation.
4. Lake Hillier (Western Australia)
Located on the isolated and uninhibited Middle Island, this Australian natural wonder went viral for its water’s pink colour. Lake Hillier’s bubble gum shade is highlighted even more by its surroundings – lush green forest, white sand, and the striking blue of the Southern Ocean.
So, why is it pink? The lake is home to algae classified as halophiles which can tolerate high amounts of salt, which Lake Hillier has!
However, in recent years, visitors noticed that Lake Hillier’s water is not as pink as it was. Salt harvesting, reduced evaporation, and changes to the water flow are the reasons for the fading of the pink hue.
Just a quick note: Lake Hillier is not the only pink lake in Australia, nor the whole world! There are about 6 more pink-hued lakes in the country.
5. Uluru and Kata Tjuta (Northern Territory)
Formed more than 500 million years ago, Uluru and Kata Tjuta are sacred rock formations, especially to the Aboriginal Anangu people.
Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is one of the world’s giant monoliths. Also known as the Red Centre, this sandstone formation is best known for its red or orange colour, especially during sunrise or sunset.
About 40 kilometres west of Uluru are 36 domes popularly known as the Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), which translates to ‘many heads’.
Tourists are prohibited from climbing the Uluru, but walking trails are designated at the base of both formations. Visitors can also explore the Walpa Gorge, a creek between 2 of the largest Kata Tjuta domes.
6. Bungle Bungle Range (Western Australia)
Looking like pastries with chocolate stripes or beehives to some, the Bungle Bungle Range consists of cone karsts made from sandstone. These banded domes were formed and shaped over 360 million years, weathering erosion and other natural elements. Its orange colour from the presence of cyanobacteria makes it even more striking!
These rock formations are significant to the customs of Aboriginal Australians who have resided in the region for years.
Despite being one of the most surreal natural attractions in Australia, Bungle Bungle was only known by the locals in the 1980s through a TV crew’s aerial footage. Now, walking and helicopter tours help visitors explore the area.
7. Pinnacles (Western Australia)
Thousands of Pinnacles of various heights amid a desert may seem like a scene from a sci-fi film, but it is an actual Australian natural landmark. Pinnacles are limestone pillars formed from seashells and shaped by water and wind in the past 25,000 – 30,000 years.
You can visit the Pinnacles at the Nambung National Park, located 3 hours from Perth. Want to get a unique view of the Pinnacles? Time your visit at dawn or during sunset, and you’ll see shadows and shapes forming, making the site look somewhat eerie!
8. Southern Lights (Tasmania)
When we talk about nature’s spectacular light shows, Iceland and the Arctic Circle’s Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis immediately come to mind. But the Southern Hemisphere has its version, the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights.
Tasmania is one of the optimal spots in Australia to view this phenomenon, especially during winter and its long nights. However, weather, atmospheric conditions, and lights from the surroundings and the moon can affect its visibility.
One important thing to note is that the Southern Lights are not as vivid and playful as the Northern Lights. It can be quite elusive and faint, especially to the naked eye. But with the right camera settings, photos of the colour bursts can be quite a masterpiece!
9. Heart Reef (Queensland)
Now, this natural attraction is something romantic dreams are made of!
This is the Heart Reef, the one-of-a-kind coral formation at the Whitsunday stretch of the Great Barrier Reef.
Discovered by a local pilot in 1975, the heart-shaped reef has since become the usual subject of tourism materials promoting the GBF and The Whitsundays.
If you plan to visit the Heart Reef, note that snorkelling and diving are not allowed since the area is protected. You can view the Heart through aerial tours via helicopters or seaplanes. Proposals and love surprises are also well accommodated by the tour operators.
10. Wineglass Bay (Tasmania)
Located at the foot of the Hazards mountain range at Freycinet National Park, this bay is known for its stunning colours and unique crescent shape!
Visitors can enjoy the bay through water activities, cruises, walking, and hiking to the lookout point, where you can best see the view.
One might think that Wineglass Bay got its name from its wineglass-like perfect curve. But the origin of the name is actually from its dark past. In the 1800s, whalers would hunt and bring whales to the shore for butchering. The bay was said to turn red with all the blood – like a glass of red wine. This shore whaling practice stopped some decades after.
11. Karlu Karlu (Northern Territory)
Found on both sides of Stuart Highway, the rock stacks will surely make you question, ‘how did those get piled up there?’ Scottish-Australian explorer John Ross even gave it the name Devils Marbles in 1870 saying, “This is the devil’s country; he’s even emptied his bag of marbles around the place.”
It was said that these ‘marbles’ were formed from granites that solidified under layers of sandstone. Over the years, water penetrated through fractures, eventually revealing the rounded stones.
Locally called Karlu Karlu, which translates to ‘round boulders’, four Aboriginal groups consider these rock stacks sacred. These also serve as a shelter and refuge for plants and some animals.
12. Horizontal Falls (Western Australia)
Truly unique and intriguing, English broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough even called Horizontal Falls “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world”.
This natural phenomenon is a result of the fast-moving current in Talbot Bay which passes through two of McLarty Range’s narrow gorges. A massive volume of water is rapidly pushed through the tapered gaps, creating extreme tides that are some of the largest in the world and producing a channel that seems like a horizontal waterfall.
Visitors can view this attraction through scenic aerial tours or water cruises. The more adventurous ones can even join boat tours that will pass through the extreme torrents!
13. Wave Rock (Western Australia)
This can be one of the biggest waves you can ‘surf’ – just without water! Located a few hours from Perth is the 14-metre-high and 110-metre-long Wave Rock.
Its flared slope was formed in a span of 2.7 billion years through erosion and weathering. The view became more interesting with the multicoloured granite having streaks of brown, grey, yellow, and reddish orange.
Visitors can walk trails and join tours to other attractions around Wave Rock, including the nearby Mulka’s Cave where you can view more than 450 ancient rock paintings.
14. Nature’s Window (Western Australia)
Including this landmark on one of your nature trips in Australia will provide you with spectacular views within a view!
Nature’s Window is a jagged hole in a layered, deep red and white banded sandstone, serving as a lookout point of the gorge and Murchison river. This opening was the effect of wind erosion through the years.
Wondering if you can withstand the trek? It is estimated to be a moderate, one-kilometre return walk that includes a flight of stairs at the starting point of the trail. People are also not allowed to climb above the window and on the rock itself.
15. Blue Lake (South Australia)
This has to be one of the most breathtaking natural attractions in Australia – the colour-changing Blue Lake in Mount Gambier!
The water sports a vibrant cobalt blue hue from December to March but changes to a steel grey-blue tint from April to November. Native plants frame the area, highlighting the lake’s shape and colour.
The lake is a former volcanic crater, with its deepest point reaching up to 77 metres. Blue Lake is the city’s water source, which is why swimming in this lake is not allowed. But you can head over to Little Blue Lake where you can freely indulge in a dip.
16. Umpherston Sinkhole (South Australia)
The word sinkhole often brings about scary images of the Earth suddenly opening and swallowing everything up. But here’s one that represents beauty – South Australia’s Umpherston Sinkhole!
This attraction used to be a limestone cave whose roof collapsed, turning it into a sinkhole. It was transformed into a scenic garden in 1886.
Immerse yourself in nature’s stunning views upon entering through the long ramp, then see the ivy drapes on the terraces, the hydrangeas, ferns, and more that fill the area. Every spot of the sunken garden will surely satisfy the aesthetic goals of your social media feeds. Stay until the evening for the chance to see the possums dwelling there.
17. Hamersley Gorge (Western Australia)
You can see the natural beauty of Australia even in the most remote gorges, like the Harmersley Gorge.
Bask in the banded appearance, colour, and texture of ancient rocks as you walk down the trail to the steps leading to the spa pool. Take a relaxing dip at the heart-shaped spa pool while filling your sight with the amazing vista — from the rocks shielding you from the ‘outside world’ to the clear skies and the gush of the waterfalls.
18. Wolfe Creek Crater (Western Australia)
Head over to the world’s second-largest meteorite crater, the Wolfe Creek Crater!
It was about 300,000 years ago when a meteorite, weighing more than 50,000 metric tons, crashed onto the ground while travelling at 15 kilometres per second. The impact left a hole about 880 metres in diameter and 55 metres deep from its rim.
It was discovered by Europeans in 1947 but the Aboriginal people long knew about this. They even had legends attached to the crater.
Visitors can walk or climb until the top of the crater rim, but climbing down the crater is restricted because of the steep terrain and loose rocks.
Did you know? The Wolfe Creek Crater was photographed from space! NASA’s Terra satellite was able to capture a clear image of the crater back in 2006.
Final thoughts
When it comes to breathtaking landscapes, stunning views, and some of the wildest scenes, Australia surely has a lot to offer.
From the coast to land and rock formations and even the harsh Outback, the Land Down Under is filled to the brim with exquisite natural wonders to discover and incredible adventures to conquer.
