Australia is home to such a great deal of natural beauty including the Great Barrier Reef, which is one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. It tops off our list of the 10 Natural Wonders of Australia. If you like seeing nature’s beauty when you travel, then Australia is a hot spot for natural wonders. Here are the 10 natural wonders that made our list. Of course, there is much more to see throughout Australia, so keep on travelling.
The Great Barrier Reef
Brampton Island Photo Credit: GreatBarrierReef.org
Boating over the Great Barrier Reef Photo Credit: great-barrier-reef.com
Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef Photo Credit: HeronIsland.com
Of course, we can’t talk about Australia’s natural wonders without putting the Great Barrier Reef on the top of our list. The Great Barrier Reef is a protected national park that encompasses a great deal of ocean, reef, and islands stretching across a distance of 2,300 km long with 2,900 reefs and a total of 940 islands and cays. Instead of a national park title, it is called Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem on Earth and it alone represents close to 10% of all the coral reefs in the world. The ref supports and amazing amount of marine life diversity including sea turtles, reef fish, sharks, migrating whales, and much more.
Hiring a Car in Queensland
Queensland Car Hire Map Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
When it comes to visiting the Great Barrier Reef, you might decide to hire a car to get from port city to port city or for travel within the city you are staying in so that you can see the sights at your leisure. There are several port cities in Queensland where you might choose to visit to see the Great Barrier Reef including Cairns, Port Douglas, Rockhampton, Townsville, and Mackay. So, hire a car in Queensland and start your Great Barrier Reef nature adventure on the road before heading into the Coral Sea. Click on the links to get a quick and easy great price rate quote for the right vehicle for your holiday needs. Here are some other blog posts for holiday ideas the Great Barrier Reef:
Great Barrier Reef 5 Top Port Cities and Things to Do on the Great Barrier Reef
Visiting the Great Barrier Reef with Kids
Excursions for Your Great Barrier Reef Holiday
Great Barrier Reef National Park
Great Barrier Reef Island Getaways
Whitsunday Islands
Day Trip from Cairns
Things to Do in Cairns
Rockin’ Holiday in Rockhampton
Mackay Region: Endless Holiday Possibilities
How Attracted Will You Be to Magnetic Island and the Port City of Townsville?
The Bungle Bungles
Bungle Bungles Photo Credit: WesternAustralia.com
Bungle Bungles Aerial View Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Nichollas Harrison – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49525218
Bungle Bungles Base of the Range Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Peter Ruckstuhl at the German language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10771938
The beautiful and remote Bungle Bungles ranges are located within Purnululu National Park in the Kimberley Region in the Top End of Western Australia. This region of Australia is so remote and unexplored, these ranges were not even discovered until 1983. It is located among the 240,00 hectares of the national park among the rest of the landscapes here that have been formed and transformed by water, wind, and the elements over the last 350 million years. Coming to see these unique mountains may not be one of the most popular destinations, but you can’t deny its natural beauty. To make seeing them even more of a rarity, they are only accessible during the dry season. Once here, this is a true Australian Outback adventure with hiking through chasms and gorges while learning all about the rich indigenous culture here.
Hiring a Car in the Kimberley
Car Rental Locations near Kimberley Region, WA Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
When travelling through the Kimberley, there are two main cities that have car hire locations: Broome, in the southwest corner of the region and Kununurra, in the northeast area of the region. You can hire a car at the Broome Airport, or rent a car and the Broome Downtown location. There are two car rental locations in Kununurra, one in the city and you can also hire a car at the Kununurra Airport. Most of the areas of the Kimberley region can only be accessed with a four wheel drive vehicle, so be sure to have the proper vehicle and emergency supplies when driving through this area. Keep in mind that since this is remote and rugged terrain, safety guidelines must be taken very seriously. Check with your car rental agent to get important guidelines, safety information, and driving maps. Here are some other adventurous ideas near the Kimberley region from our blog:
The Savannah Way Part One: Daintree Rainforest to Karumba, Queensland
The Savannah Way Part Two: Normanton to Katherine
The Savannah Way Part Three: Katherine to Broome
The Gibb River Road Part One
The Gibb River Road Part Two
Most Picturesque Spots in the Kimberley
8 National Parks in the Kimberley
Mitchell River National Park
Rivers of the Kimberley in Western Australia
All about Broome
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles Photo Credit: Wikipedia
The Pinnacles Photo Credit: Wikipedia
The Pinnacles Photo Credit: Wikipedia
The Pinnacles are located in Nambung National Park in Western Australia, but if I told you that this was Mars, you probably wouldn’t bat an eyelash. That’s because this natural wonder is one of the most unique looking rock formations in all of Australia. When you visit the Pinnacles, you should plan to stay throughout the day so that you can see how different they look in different light and at different times of the day. Don’t miss the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre where you can learn more about the region, the flora and fauna. Things to do while visiting the Pinnacles include swimming on the nearby white sand beaches, picnic near the boat launch, and explore the hiking trails.
Hiring a Car in Perth
Perth Car Hire Map Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
There are plenty of car rental locations in Perth where you can hire a car. When you hire a car, you can find the best places to visit and the best deals for your holiday. If you are in Perth City, then you can hire a car there. Other Perth car hire locations include the Perth Airport car rental or the Perth South car hire location near Fremantle or in Burswood. When you are hiring a car, be sure to share your travel plans with the car rental agent so that they can give you the guidelines, roadmaps, safety restrictions, and holiday travel tips. This will ensure your best car rental experience in Western Australia. While exploring this region, check out some of our previous blog posts for ideas on what to do here:
Wine, Waves, and Caves of the Margaret River Region
Make it an Amazing Holiday in Awesome Albany, Western Australia
Esperance and the Southern Coast of Western Australia
The Pinnacles and Nambung National Park
Perth Road Trips: Rottnest Island and Lancelin
Visiting Perth on Holiday
Free Things to do on Holiday in Perth
Holiday Getaways near Perth and Surrounds
Korung National Park in the Perth Hills
Your Taste Buds will Enjoy the Margaret River Gourmet Escape
The Twelve Apostles
The Twelve Apostles Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Michael J Fromholtz – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46022256
The Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk Photo Credit: TwelveApostlesLodgeWalk.com.au
The Twelve Apostles Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Richard Mikalsen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9891096
The Twelve Apostles are located on Victoria’s southern coast along the famed Great Ocean Road. It is one of several magnificent natural sights to see along this iconic road trip. The Twelve Apostles are a set of 8 rock formations visible jutting out of the ocean just off of the rugged coastline. The rock monoliths reach up to 45 metres high and have been formed out of the limestone cliffs on the coast. There were never 12 structures, but there were originally 9, the ocean claimed the 9th one in 2005. This landscape is forever changing, so hurry out to see them before Mother Nature makes any more drastic changes to one of Australia’s natural wonders.
Hiring a Car to get to The Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk
Melbourne Car Hire Map Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
Hire a car in Melbourne to head out to The Twelve Apostles along the famed Great Ocean Road. Once you leave Melbourne, make your way southwest along the coastline of the Bass Strait to see the amazing sights. There are more than 20 different car rental locations in Melbourne, so finding one that is convenient for you is a breeze. When you are hiring a car, be sure to let your car rental agent know your plans so that they can recommend the best vehicle and give you route maps and safety tips for your road trip. Here are some previous posts about this area from our blog:
The Great Ocean Road: One of the Top 10 Road Trips in Australia
5 Stops Along the Great Ocean Road
The 12 Apostles
Things to Do in Melbourne
Melbourne with Kids
Free Things to Do in Melbourne
Free Things to Do in Melbourne and Surrounds
Melbourne Wine & Food Festival
Uluru
Uluru Panorama Photo Credit: “Uluru Panorama” by Stuart Edwards. – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons
Uluru Aerial View Photo Credi: “Uluru (Helicopter view)-crop” by User: Huntster – Modification of Image: Uluru (Helicopter view).jpg. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons
Driving to Uluru Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Uluru is the world’s largest monolith rock and once you see it in person, you will have no doubt as to why it is one of Australia’s natural wonders. The Aboriginal people have worshipped this “red centre” of the continent for thousands of years. It is considered a magical place in the outback desert of the Northern Territory. There are walks, camping opportunities, caves, waterfalls, and Aboriginal art all around the area.
Hiring a Vehicle to Get to Uluru and Surrounds
Alice Springs Car Rental Map Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
If tour buses aren’t your thing, hire your own 4WD vehicle to drive yourself around the Northern Territory. With your own car rental, you can tour around at your own pace and see things at your leisure. Times and schedules don’t have to be adhered to when you have your own vehicle to go where you want, when you want. Since the Northern Territory is remote and rugged, be sure to consult with your car rental agent to find the right vehicle for you and obtain the right safety supplies, maps, and instructions. Click through the link for the best rate on car rentals in the Northern Territory. You can hire a car in Alice Springs, or rent a vehicle right at the Alice Springs Airport. Looking for other destinations to visit with exploring the Northern Territory? Check out these other blog posts:
Uluru / Ayer’s Rock
Highlights from Uluru and Surrounds
Alice Springs, the City in the Outback
National Parks and Places to Visit in Northern Territory Near Darwin
Outdoor Destinations Near Katherine in the Northern Territory
Kakadu: The Largest National Park in Australia
The Rivers of Kakadu National Park
Glamping in Australia
Top 10 Wedding Destinations in Australia\
Stay tuned for part two of the top 10 natural wonders of Australia where we will feature Fraser Island, Shark Bay, Karijini Park, Ningaloo Reef, and MacKenzie Falls.