Only in Australia: 5 Experiences For a Truly Unique Holiday

12 Apostles, Victoria

This is where land meets ocean in spectacular fashion. Along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, the erosion of limestone cliffs by the ferocious Southern Ocean waves and winds over millions of years have resulted in massive, standalone rock formations that are testimony to nature’s immense power. The formations, some up to 45 metres tall, are eroding at a rate of about two centimetres a year and prone to collapse , so be sure to see them with your own eyes before they‘re gone!

How to get there: A three-hour scenic drive from Melbourne.

Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Found only on Rottnest Island and a few islands off the coast of Perth in Western Australia, the quokka is a rare animal that looks like it walked right out of a Disney animation. And it’s not dubbed the 'world’s happiest animal' for no reason! More than 10,000 of the furry brown creature roam freely on sunny Rottnest Island wearing Instagram-worthy grins with bright, beady eyes, button noses and a natural affinity for humans. Get your camera ready as they’re known to cosy up for selfies!

How to get there: By ferry, it takes about 30 minutes via Fremantle, approximately 45 minutes from Hillary’s Boat Harbour and around 90 minutes from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty

Aurora Australis, Tasmania

The famous Northern Lights are not the only place to catch nature’s majestic light phenomena! Australia has its very own ethereal light show, the Aurora Australis (also known as the ‘Southern Lights’).  One of the most accessible places in the world to view this celestial phenomenon is Tasmania’s Coles Bay, located within the picture-perfect Freycinet National Park. Not only can you get a front-row seat of the Aurora Australis, you can also explore nearby Wineglass Bay, regarded as one of the top ten beaches in the world. 

How to get there: By road, Coles Bay is roughly about a  two and a half hour drive from both Hobart and Launceston.

Heart Reef, Queensland

If you want to up the romance factor in your trip, fly over this spectacular handiwork of nature, a sea coral formation that resembles the universal symbol of love. Set in the shimmering waters of the Great Barrier Reef, the reef is a unique destination for couples and nature lovers alike. Heart Reef and its pristine surroundings are part of a protected marine environment and is best seen from aboard a helicopter, seaplane or light plane. Make this experience even more unforgettable with a stay on a nearby luxury island such as Hamilton Island where you can take in the Whitsunday's famed white beaches, sparkling sea and abundant colourful marine life. Or try the two days, one night Reef Sleep Adventure offered  by Cruise Whitsundays, where you can enjoy a sleepover on a pontoon with the night sky as your blanket, the glittering stars above you and darting fish below you.  

How to get there: Helicopter, seaplane and light plane flights depart from Hamilton and Airlie Beach. Domestic flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane serve Hamilton and Airlie Beach

Kangaroo Island, South Australia 

Bursting with wildlife, Kangaroo Island is often hailed as one of the best places for a close encounter with many of Australia’s amazing native animals such as the endangered short-beaked echinda, platypus, tammar wallabies, brushtail possums, koalas and of course, kangaroos. Stop by the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park for a day of wild fun. Or head down to the Kangaroo Island Ocean Safari  where you can swim with wild dolphins, watch fur seals and sea lions cavort in their natural environment and spot a variety of sea birds.   

How to get there: Take a leisurely two-hour drive from Adelaide then hop on board a ferry for the 45 minute ride to Kangaroo Island. Or take a 30-minute domestic flight from Adelaide Airport