Australia is filled with unusual places and exceptional landscapes, many of them are already well-known landmarks, such as Uluru, The Twelve Apostles or Wave Rock.
This can make choosing a holiday destination and planning your itinerary, one of the most difficult vacation decisions… because sometimes it can feel like you’ve already been there, having seen so many photos and heard numerous stories from previous travellers.
If you are looking for a few lesser-known places to visit, then you have come to the right place. Here is a list of unique places in Australia, to help inspire your next road trip adventure.
Umpherston Sinkhole, South Australia’s Limestone Coast
The splendour of Umpherston Sinkhole has to be experienced in person to truly be appreciated. This natural marvel was originally a limestone cave, but a sinkhole was created when the caves’ chamber ceiling collapsed.
The sinkhole, located in SA’s Mount Gambier, is named after James Umpherston; the man responsible for turning it into a garden wonderland in 1886. Viewing platforms allow you to appreciate the scope and beauty of the sinkhole, before continuing on your descent into the garden oasis.
This awe-inspiring attraction in open at all times to visitors, and if you choose to arrive in the evening (when the gardens are lit up with floodlights) – you will be greeted by many friendly possums. If you bring some fresh fruit along with you, they will happily accept your thoughtful gift.
Cardwell Spa Pools, Tropical North Queensland
This heavenly swimming hole is found in the Cardwell State Forest of Northern Queensland. A geological marvel, the sparkling water is naturally fed from the seasonal creek that runs through the forest.
The chemistry between the rocks and water, create the bright blue effect which varies with changes in weather and times of day. The swimming hole is only a few minutes’ drive out of Cardwell township, and even better – only a short wander from the State Forest car park – no hiking required.
Best to visit in the summer months, which are tropical Queensland’s wet season, so that water levels in the Spa Pools are up and swimming can be enjoyed.
Maria Island, East Coast Tasmania
History and nature coalesce on this National Park Island in Tasmania, which was also once a convict probation post. The convict station still contains an assortment of historic buildings at its World-Heritage listed site in Darlington, ruins that remain from its early 1800’s penal settlement.
Only accessible by ferry from the mainland, Maria Island is a wilderness utopia, featuring spectacular fossil bluffs and beautiful sandy beaches. The Painted Cliffs are one the islands most dazzling attractions, brightly decorated with natural shades of red, yellow and orange.
Stroll through any of the grassed clearings in Darlington and you will surely come across a wombat, wallaby or Forester kangaroo. The wildlife on the island is abundant, thanks to the haven provided by its National Park status.
Wikimedia JJ Harrison
White Cliffs, Outback New South Wales
With an almost moon-like landscape, this arid mining town provides a fascinating outback experience to its visitors.
In the 1890’s, due to the searing summer heat, many White Cliffs residents took to living underground in dugouts; allowing them to remain cool year-round. Some of the locals allow visitors to their dugout homes for a small entrance fee, or have your own authentic subterranean experience – with an overnight stay at the town’s underground motel.
If you don’t have time to stay a whole night, or want more underground adventures, then explore a working Opal Mine on a guided tour. Be navigated through multiple levels of digging sites while learning about gem mining and fossicking.
Wikimedia Peterdownunder
Mammoth Cave, South-West Western Australia
This massive pre-historic cave boasts thousands of Australian megafauna fossils. Although many of these remnants have already been excavated, some are still visible to Mammoth Cave guests, such as a 50,000-year-old jawbone entrenched in the cave’s wall.
Located a short drive from the famous Margaret River wine region, this massive cave is easily accessible to visitors. On arrival you can embark on a self-guided tour, courtesy of the MP3 audio headset available to hire.
Explore the magnificent cave chambers, which are situated amongst the stunning Marri Marri forest, and marvel at the age-old stalactite and stalagmite formations.
FWikimedia Tirin
Wycliffe Well, Central Northern Territory
Found along the route between Darwin and Alice Springs on the Stuart Highway, and home to a very small community, Wycliffe Well is Australia’s answer to USA’s Roswell.
This self-proclaimed UFO capital began reporting sightings in the 1940’s, and they continued ever since, with the Royal Australian Airforce even undertaking an investigation in the 1990’s.
The campervan park and roadhouse at Wycliffe Well is immersed in UFO paraphernalia and signage, from newspaper articles to alien themed mementos and statues.
Wycliffe Wells vast desert location provides uninterrupted 360-degree views of the night sky, so if you don’t see any UFO’s, rest assured that you will still have the perfect star-gazing opportunity.
Wikimedia Tony Bowden
Californian Redwood Forest, Southern Victoria
Most people have heard of the huge redwood tree forests in California, but many don’t know that you can visit one right here in Australia!
Remnants of a logging plantation, that was operating in Victoria during the 1930’s, provides us this spectacular Californian Redwood Forest – which feels straight out of a storybook. The massive tree trunks are vivid shades of red and their dwarfing stature is nothing short of humbling.
This delightful nature encounter is situated in the very accessible Otways National Park, less than 3-hours’ drive from Melbourne, along the route of the renowned “Great Ocean Road” drive.
Although approaching 90 years of age, these trees (which currently stand at 70 metres tall) are still not at their full height – and are likely to reach over 100 metres when fully mature at around 800 years of age.
Travel Inspiration
If you came looking for destination ideas, hopefully you have found something here that sparked your interest and assists in planning your next big adventure!
Written By Leila Gear, Discovery Campervans
