14 Adrenaline Rushes Every Thrill Seeker Needs To Try

Whip up once-in-a-lifetime memories with the country’s best thrill-seeking adventures.

Tackling new terrain by foot is absolutely rewarding but living life on the wild side often leads to purely exhilarating escapades. From up-close encounters with our gnarliest underwater creatures to marvelling in scenery from dizzying heights, Australia’s most awesome adrenaline rushes provide holiday memories you’ll never forget.

1. Arro Jet on the Gold Coast, Qld

Slice and dice the Gold Coast’s twinkling Broadwater onboard Arro Jet , a 28-seater jet boat that skims the surface as it cranks out 360-degree doughnuts, sharp twists and high-speed charges.

passengers having fun on the Arro Jet, Gold Coast, Qld — Be exhilarated onboard the Arro Jet.

You’ll be strapped in for around 30 glorious minutes as trained drivers expertly navigate the waters surrounding SeaWorld, one of the Gold Coast’s best kid-friendly non-negotiables, and beyond. Don’t wear anything fancy because salty spritzes come on tap, offering fast-paced, giggle-worthy thrills.

an aerial view of Arro Jet on the Gold Coast, Qld — Experience Arro Jet’s 360-degree doughnuts.

2. Swim with Ningaloo whale sharks in Exmouth, WA

Home to the mighty Whale Shark, the world’s largest fish, Ningaloo on the Coral Coast in Western Australia’s Exmouth is best explored offshore.

swimming with Ningaloo whale sharks — Swim with whale sharks in Ningaloo. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Ningaloo Whale Sharks run tours along Ningaloo Reef where you’ll be perfectly poised for an epic whale shark encounter in pristine waters. They guarantee you’ll spot one or some, and offer a complimentary follow-up tour if you don’t, and swimmers of any proficiency are welcome.

a Ningaloo shark encounter — Prepare for an epic whale shark encounter. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

3. Bungy jump at Skypark Cairns, Qld

Stopping over in Cairns? Extend your trip to take advantage of Australia’s only bungy jump at Skypark Cairns , an adventure park set in a tropical rainforest.

bungy jumping into the lagoon at Skypark Cairns — Skypark Cairns is Australia’s only bungy jump. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

It’s a 20-minute drive from the city and its bungy looms 50 metres above a beautiful lagoon you’ll skim at full extension. If the full hog is too intimidating, there’s also an elevated plank to walk and several other jump experiences.

the elevated plank for bungy jumping at Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett — Stretch your limits to greater heights at Skypark Cairns. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

4. Climb or abseil Mount Arapiles, Vic

Towering at 230 metres above ground level, Mount Arapiles in Victoria’s Grampians is a rock scaler’s dream. Whether you’re keen to climb up or abseil down, more than 3000 routes provide plenty of options as dramatic cliffs and picture-perfect peaks beckon in every direction.

Local rock climbing guides are your safest bet if you’re just getting started so look into Arapiles Climbing Guides and The Climbing Company for an adventure that’s made for you.

rock climbing Mount Arapiles, Vic — Conquer the dramatic cliffs of Mount Arapiles. (Image: The Climbing Company)

5. Go canyoning in the Blue Mountains, NSW

Navigate your way safely down spectacular cascading mountain streams with a canyoning expedition in NSW’s Blue Mountains.

abseiling at the Grand Canyon, Blue Mountains National Park — Blue Mountains Adventure Company run tours for beginners and advanced canyoners. (Image: Destination NSW)

The team at Blue Mountains Adventure Company run tours for beginners and advanced canyoners where swimming, jumping, abseiling, hiking and climbing combine to provide the ultimate thrill-seeking experience amid untouched natural scenery.

navigating down Empress Falls, Blue Mountains — Cascade down the scenic Empress Falls. (Image: David Hill)

6. Raft the Franklin River, Tas

Guaranteed to set pulses racing, white water rafting is a thrill from beginning to end. Tasmania’s Franklin River is one of Australia’s most spectacular, and wildest, waterways, making your bucket list adventure even more memorable.

rafting the Franklin River, Tas — Get your adrenaline pumping with Franklin River Rafting.

Sign up with a local tour company like Franklin River Rafting, for the safest and most rewarding (quoll and platypus spotting, anyone?) experiences.

the foggy nature trail at Franklin River — Be surrounded by stunning nature as you raft through the rapids. (Image: Stu Gibson)

7. Skydive the Vines in McLaren Vale, SA

Savour wine country from a whole new perspective by signing onto Skydive the Vines in South Australia’s McLaren Vale. Thrill seekers kick off their skydiving adventure at Leconfield Wines where the team take guests through extensive training before leaping out of a plane above Aldinga Airfield. A six-minute descent over lush vineyards is followed by vino and a cheese platter once everyone’s back on solid ground.

8. Skydive the coastline at Rottnest Island, WA

Prefer water to winery views as you’re freefalling through the sky? Tick off your bucket list with a skydiving journey over Rottnest Island in Western Australia. You’ll jump from around 15,000 feet above ground level with Skydive Geronimo , catching views all the way out to Perth city and all that spectacular coastline, before landing on one of the island’s Instagram-perfect white sand beaches.

landing on a white-sand beach with Skydive Geronimo — Experience Skydive Geronimo and land on a picturesque white-sand beach. (Image: Tourism Australia)

9. Dive with crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove, NT

Face off with one of the world’s most feared predators, safely, in the heart of Darwin. Enormous saltwater crocodiles can be spied underwater through Crocosaurus Cove ’s Cage of Death experience where thrill seekers are seated in a glass cage and lowered into the water for 15 breathtaking minutes.

the Crocosaurus Cove’s Cage of Death experience — Enjoy up-close encounters with giant crocs at Crocosaurus Cove’s Cage of Death. (Image: Tourism NT/ Shaana McNaught)

Even crazier, the crocs are fed while you’re down there so their infamous wide-mouthed snaps are guaranteed.

a woman at Crocosaurus Cove, NT — Befriend the crocs at Crocosaurus Cove. (Image: Tourism NT/Helen Orr)

10. Reach new heights at Melbourne Skydeck, Vic

Soak up our culture capital from an all-new perspective. Melbourne Skydeck is the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere, sitting pretty at 300 metres above ground and offering unbelievable views across the city.

sunrise viewed from Melbourne Skydeck — Catch the sunrise from Melbourne Skydeck. (Image: Visit Victoria)

There’s a bunch of experiences to choose from but daredevils should head straight to the Edge, a glass cube that’s suspended off Skydeck to provide the most dizzying of capers.

city views from Melbourne Skydeck — See the Melbourne city skyline from new heights. (Image: Visit Victoria)

11. Race cars at Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW

Adrenaline junkies should hot-foot it to Sydney Motorsport Park to get their high-speed hit.

Star cars at the World Time Attack Challenge Media Launch — Get fascinated by the star cars at Sydney Motorsport Park. (Image: World Time Attack Challenge)

Home to a range of training and experiences including the Fastrack V8 Race Experience alongside a professional race car driver and the Supercar Drive Experience within a luxe Lambo, Ferrari or Lotus, the state-of-the-art park is a car lover’s ultimate paradise.

race cars at Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight — Catch the racing cars’ spectacle during the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight. (Image: Mark Horsburgh, Edge Photographics)

12. Bike the desert with Outback Motorcycle Adventures, NT

Tear it up in the country’s red centre with one of several motorcycle-based escapades in the Northern Territory. Outback Motorcycle Adventures offers everything from multi-day two-wheeling Simpson Desert and Uluru tours to expert navigations of the famous Finke Desert Race, a dirt biker’s ultimate ride. Camping gear and meals are also included with some of the options so investigate thoroughly for a perfect bucket list fit.

13. Hang glide over the Huon River, Tas

Been there, done the Huon Valley? Probably not like this. The stunning Huon River, which runs through Tasmania’s esteemed food and wine region, provides ideal conditions for a spot of hang gliding, a precious factoid Tahune Adventures have well and truly cottoned onto.

The team operate a three-to-four-minute Eagle Hang Glider experience that lifts you 50 metres into the air as it propels you 400 metres across the idyllic waters. Short, sweet and utterly sensational.

aerial view of Tahune Adventures, Eagle Hang Gliding — Glide atop the idyllic waters with Tahune Adventures. (Image: Tourism Tasmania)

14. Jet ski Stradbroke Island, Qld

Flanked by Moreton Bay and the Coral Sea, North Stradbroke Island is a haven for picture-perfect water sports. And arguably the most thrilling activity of all? Tackling it via a jet ski.

a couple riding a Jet ski across Stradbroke Island, Qld — Zoom around Stradbroke Island on a jet ski.

Soar across the surface at lightning speed with expert guidance from Jet Ski Safaris , a company that specialises in jet ski tours in addition to offering all the equipment you’ll need.

an aerial view of Jetski Safaris, Stradbroke Island, Qld — Soar at lightning speed withJet Ski Safaris.

Torquay’s Bells Beach is considered one of the best surf beaches in the world.

It’d be easy to think Australian surf culture was born around the right-hand point breaks of the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. These regions seem the epitome of how the world views Aussie surfers – bronzed (or burnt), languishing in warm water and sunshine. The reality is a lot different.

The rise of surf culture along Victoria’s coastline

surfers at Bells Beach in Australia — Surfers stand on the shore at Bells Beach, where the country’s biggest surfing competition is held each year. (Image: Getty/Filed Image)

True Aussie surf culture was born on the chilly waves of Victoria’s winters, when huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean hit cliff-lined beaches along the Great Ocean Road . These beaches were the ultimate proving ground – surfers from all over Australia arrived in panel vans and VWs to do battle with the biggest waves they could find.

Surfers take advantage of the huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean at Bells Beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

There are surf breaks all along this very picturesque coast – but those around Torquay were most revered. The ultimate test of a surfer’s ability – and durability – however, was Bells Beach: Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. Just beyond, the breaks at Jan Juc and Winkipop beckoned.

an aerial view of surfers at Bells Beach — Hit the waves along the picturesque coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Torquay became surfing’s Silicon Valley: HQ for the entire Australian surf culture revolution. Four young locals worked out of their backyards in Torquay to create two of the world’s biggest surf labels – Rip Curl and Quiksilver , which soon became the region’s biggest employers.

surfers out at Bells Beach — Surfers out at Bells Beach, Victoria’s most famous beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

Rip Curl started sponsoring the Bells Beach Pro in 1973 – and have done ever since. It’s been going since 1962 – making it the world’s longest continually run surfing contest. Held every Easter, it’s part of the world surfing tour. Spectators line its 30-metre-high cliffs to watch the world’s best take on enormous waves – it’s the ultimate coliseum for the sport and has inspired generations of Aussie surfers to join the list of heroes whose names are on its iconic bell.

Follow the waves through Victoria’s surfing heartland

Australian National Surfing Museum, Torquay — The Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Just behind Torquay’s main drag, you can see all that history on display at the world’s best surf museum – the Australian National Surfing Museum . Here you can take your time absorbing the 100-year-or-so history of Australian surfing and check out the 150-strong surfboard collection.

surfboards on display at Australian National Surfing Museum — The museum holds surfing memorabilia, including a room dedicated to the history of boards. (Image: Tourism Australia)

But classic Aussie surf culture can be observed in everyday life all over the Great Ocean Road and Torquay. Surfing dictates life here; no work is done until the big swells have come and gone. Just being here provides a window into 60-odd years of rebellion against convention; for no-one likes nine-to-five living on the Great Ocean Road.

surfing memorabilia at Australian National Surfing Museum — The varied displays celebrate the Bells Beach competition, surfing legends and Aussie surf culture. (Image: Tourism Australia)

There’s less panel vans and VW Beetles these days, but surf culture still rules life. Surfers run this coast; you’re better off keeping out of their way when they’re running down past you to face the biggest swells – then hear them swap stories at cafes, restaurants and bars all around you.

surfing at Bells Beach — The beach near Torquay is Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. (Image: Visit Victoria/William Watt)

14 adrenaline rushes in Australia every thrill seeker needs to try