Some countries are just made for road trips and there’s never been a better time to tick off all those great Australian drives you’ve always meant to do. You might just want to explore your home state, or fly elsewhere and rent a car; whatever you decide, Australia’s National Park’s have something for all tastes. From outback, to rainforest, to seaside, to landmarks that look like they are from a mystical world, it’s guaranteed you’ll see many things that will take your breath away.
Here are just a few National Park suggestions from the hundreds across the country. Get online, book some places to rest your head, and hit the road!
Queensland has beautiful Daintree National Park, home to the oldest tropical rainforest in the world and Great Sandy National Park which is aptly named for its golden shores.
In New South Wales you’ll find the beautiful Blue Mountains National Park with its iconic lookouts and Kosciuszko National Park famous for its ski slopes. Nightcap National Park has views to die for, waterfalls and crystal-clear creeks and Tomaree National Park is a great place for whale spotting.
In Northern Territory you’ll find the stunning waterfalls (the famous Jim Jim and Twin Falls) and wetlands of Kakadu National Park where you can see billabongs teeming with wildlife and learn about ancient Aboriginal culture. And of course one of the most famous national parks in the world is Uluru-Kata Tjuta. Often referred to as the spiritual heart of Australia, seeing both these incredible formations should be on everyone’s bucket list.
In South Australia everyone loves Flinders Chase National Park on beautiful Kangaroo Island and Nullarbor National Park where the outback desert meets the sea. In the Ikara-Flinders Ranges you’ll find stunning gorges, mountains and wonderful wildlife plus the ancient rock art of the Adnyamathanha people.
Purnululu National Park in Western Australia is home to the otherworldly Bungle Bungle Range where black and orange striped domes rise 300 metres up from the surrounding plains. In Nambung National Park you’ll find thousands of limestone pillars, also making you wonder if you’re still on planet earth. Also in WA, Cape Le Grand National Park boasts kangaroo-filled beaches, and Karijini National Park, is all your prettiest swimming hole dreams come true.
Grampians National Park in Victoria is gorgeous, made even better by the presence of its excellent wine region; the state’s largest coastal wilderness area is Wilsons Promontory National Park, all rugged terrain and beautiful beaches. Other Victorian parks worth a visit are Croajingolong, Great Otway and Alpine National Parks.
Of course we can’t forget resplendent Tasmania, home to Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and one of Australia’s most beautiful natural wonders. Tasman National Park boasts dramatic sea cliffs and unexpected rock formations that shouldn’t be missed either.
From lush rainforest to red outback to craggy towering cliffs to hidden gorges and picture perfect waterfalls, Australia really has it all and there’s no better way to see it than on a Great Aussie road trip.
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Images courtesy of Tourism Australia.
