Australia's Top Emerging Aquatic Experiences

It’s time to splash out at Australia’s next beachside holiday hotspots and discover a raft of new ways to enjoy life by the water.

Journey with our writers as they take you into Australia’s top emerging aquatic experiences from our 100 Emerging Destinations and Experiences series.

1. Time in the sun for Brisbane’s low-key island gem

Travelling with: Susan Gough Henly

Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island or Straddie to the locals, might live in the shadow of its big sister, K’gari (Fraser Island), but this beach getaway surrounded by aquamarine waters is a closely held secret. When Sydneysiders and Melburnians cram into Queensland’s Gold and Sunshine coasts during the school holidays, those in the know keep this low-key gem to themselves.

North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah is known for its pristine beaches. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

While it may be only one-sixth the size of K’gari, this 37-kilometre-long sliver of sand is the second-largest sand island in the world with a mind-boggling array of powdery white beaches. It’s just 45 minutes across Moreton Bay from the Brisbane suburb of Cleveland and once you get off the ferry, you’re on ‘Straddie time’.

Delvene Cockatoo-Collins on North Stradbroke Island — Artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins showcases artwork at her shop. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The Traditional Owners, the Quandamooka people, have a long unbroken history on Minjerribah and artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins beautifully showcases their totems in weavings and artwork at her shop in Dunwich on the western side of the island. There’s a lot to love on Straddie. Take the North Gorge Walk to Point Lookout, one of the world’s best land-based whale-watching sites. You’ll also spot dolphins, manta rays, turtles, ospreys and sea eagles throughout the year.

Whales off the coast of North Stradbroke Island — Whale watching season is a highlight on North Stradbroke Island. (Image: Sean Scott Photography)

The lawns around the Point Lookout Surf Club are a favourite spot for sundowners and a hangout for eastern grey kangaroos. You’ll also see koalas, dolphins and all manner of birdlife at Amity Point. Manta Lodge and Scuba Centre offer dives in summer to see manta rays and speckled leopard sharks, and you can listen to whale song underwater in winter.

Kangaroos on North Stradbroke Island — Make friends with locals on the island. (Image: Sean Scott Photography)

Stay at the refurbished Beach Hotel , glamp at Bradbury’s Beach or rent one of the many Brisbane architect-designed holiday homes; pick up local prawns from Rufus King Seafoods; and savour Straddie’s own homemade gelati at Oceanic Gelati & Coffee Bar with its majestic view of the ocean.

2. Western wellness on Dirk Hartog Island

Travelling with: Bonita Grima

“We are best reminded of our true essence when surrounded by Great Nature," says yoga instructor Lara Dwyer, motioning to the ocean in front of us. “Out here we see how reliably the sun rises, how gracefully the seasons change and how effortlessly water flows without resistance to the currents. By mirroring nature and aligning ourselves with her rhythms, we too can move with greater ease," Lara explains.

We are learning about the Vedas – ancient knowledge gathered from Hindu texts that teach how to live in harmony with the elements. And although we’re not in India, I agree Dirk Hartog Island is the perfect classroom as I sit cross-legged on the mat, soft-gazing out to sea.

Dirk Hartog Island, WA — Enjoy island life on Dirk Hartog Island. (Image: Bonita Grima)

We have travelled – over turquoise waters and coral cays – from Shark Bay’s tiny airport on the mainland to Western Australia’s largest island and the country’s most westerly point – to experience its first wellness retreat. Packed with daily yoga and meditation classes, outdoor fitness sessions, luxurious massage treatments and comforting meals full of fresh goodness from the Gascoyne region, we learn that wellness here extends beyond just our physical bodies.

Breakfast on Dirk Hartog Island, WA — Breakfast is served fresh from the nearby Gascoyne region. (Image: Will Wardle)

Resting within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, 750 kilometres north of Perth, Wirruwana – as it’s known to Traditional Owners, the Malgana people – is as diverse as it is beautiful. From wild western cliffs to calm eastern beaches and rolling sand dunes to marine sanctuary zones, Dirk Hartog Island is globally renowned not only for its rich history, but for its significance as a haven for endangered animals and birds. Granted national park status in 2009, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Return to 1616 Project has seen the gradual restoration of the island’s flora and fauna to the way it was before the arrival of Europeans.

Turtle in the waters off Dirk Hartog Island, WA — Dirk Hartog Island is a haven for marine life. (Image: Will Wardle)

The successful eradication of feral cats, sheep and goats in recent years, combined with the reintroduction of native animals such as dibblers, Shark Bay bandicoots and western grasswrens, means the number of rare animals is rising. We witness evidence of this firsthand during a nocturnal wildlife excursion – spotting two rufous hare wallabies and one Shark Bay mouse within the first 10 minutes of our walk.

Marine life here is abundant too. And though visible from our paddleboards and kayaks within the eco lodge’s protected bay, a boat trip to the island’s best snorkelling spots has us swimming with colourful reef fish and sighting sharks, loggerhead turtles, pelicans, pied cormorants and dugongs along the way.

Dirk Hartog Island — There’s so much to see and do on the island. (Image: Will Wardle)

Living in harmony with nature is a way of life for the island’s sole residents, Kieran and Tory Wardle, who have raised their children here. Sharing the vision of Kieran’s grandfather, Sir Thomas Wardle – who purchased the island’s pastoral leasehold in 1968 – the couple have transformed the former pastoral station into one of the country’s top ecotourism destinations and believe the wellness retreats are an additional way to give back. “Island living unplugs you, keeps you active and takes you back to basics," says Tory. “We want to give people a taste of that, but also provide practices to take away, making healthy living sustainable."

Dirk Hartog Island eco lodge — The eco lodge oozes rustic luxury. (Image: Will Wardle)

Converted from the old shearer’s quarters, the eco lodge where we are staying oozes rustic luxury. With ocean-facing rooms, outdoor eating and lounging areas, and a beach-shack bar that’s considered to be Australia’s most remote, it’s the perfect place to cast away cares. Finding flexibility and balance is part of island life and a philosophy the Wardles intend to continue with their retreats.

Starting with an early-morning yoga class, a day here could see you running along a coastal trail in the morning, pausing with a drink made from Dirk Hartog Island Distilleries ’ Inscription Gin in the late afternoon, followed by a clifftop meditation session and ending with the wonder of ‘Australia’s last sunset’ at the island’s most westerly point. Five-day retreats run quarterly with the next scheduled for 28 May – 3 June.

3. Do the big lap of Australia by sea

Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

There’s a new way to see Australia arriving in 2025 and it comes with comfort, luxury and nautical miles. Viking has announced a Grand Australia Circumnavigation cruise, which will make its way around our stunning coastline and beyond over 32 days.

Viking Cruise in Sydney Harbour — The Grand Circumnavigation cruise arrives in 2025. (Image: Viking Cruises)

Wave goodbye to Sydney Harbour before sailing up the coast to Cairns with stops in the Whitsundays and more before hitting the Arafura Sea at the Top End. From here you’ll divert to Indonesia for stops in Komodo and Bali before circling back to where you started via Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Phew!

Stop off at breath-taking locations like Hamilton Island. (Image: Viking Cruises)

4. The Barrington Coast’s crowning beach

Travelling with: Megan Arkinstall

I had mixed feelings when I saw the second place-getter crowned by Tourism Australia’s ‘Beach Expert’ Brad Farmer as one of his favourite stretches of sand for 2023. Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly agree that Boomerang Beach, on NSW’s serene Barrington Coast, is one of Australia’s best. This pristine arc of sand is bookended by headlands that create both a sheltered swimming spot and excellent surf conditions. But alas, the secret is now out.

Boomerang Beach, Barrington Coast, NSW — Boomerang Beach on the Barrington Coast is one of the country’s best. (Image: Undertow Snaps)

Simplicity is the lure of Boomerang Beach in the nostalgically named Pacific Palms region, which cues memories of sun-soaked school holidays spent in retro beachside motels. Neighbouring Blueys Beach is the main hub where you’ll find chilled Indo-inspired Kembali Cafe , Hueys at Blueys pizzeria , a bottle shop, deli and small supermarket. Blueys has a consistent beach break and boasts views towards isolated surf village Seal Rocks to the south.

In the other direction, you’ll find Booti Booti National Park, an eight-kilometre peninsula wedged between the Pacific Ocean and Wallis Lake. Meaning ‘plenty of honey’ in the local Worimi language, this protected paradise comprises walking tracks through coastal rainforest and white-sand swimming spots such as remote Seven Mile Beach and family-friendly Elizabeth Beach. If you crave more hustle, take the 25-minute drive north to Forster.

Mahalo on Boomerang Beach — Check in and zen out at luxe stay Mahalo. (Image: Claudia Gabriel Lim)

Embark on a road trip with your favourite crew and bunker down in one of Hola Palms ’ beautiful holiday homes in Boomerang Beach, such as bright and cheerful townhouse Sundays or luxe four-bedroom house Mahalo. Here you can spend your days with sandy feet and salty skin bouncing between beach and pool. When night falls, the place to be is around Mahalo’s outdoor fire pit sipping sundowners and cooking up a feast in the pizza oven. Bliss.

Sundays at Boomerang Beach — Sundays is one of Hola Palms’ beachside holiday homes. (Image: Claudia Gabriel Lim)

5. Eco exploration in Mission Beach

Travelling with: Taylah Darnell

The quiet stretch of Tropical North Queensland known as Mission Beach has been thrust into the spotlight. Netflix miniseries Irreverent unfolds here, bringing this little slice of the Cassowary Coast to the small screen.

Mission Beach, QLD — Mission Beach is tucked away on the Cassowary Coast. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Yet fame shan’t tinge the heart of this sleepy beach town, which is full of genuine locals, palm-laden shores and outdoor adventures. Think hidden swimming holes, waterfalls, island-hopping and diving tours.

The Cassowary Coast is currently on its journey towards ECO Destination Certification, which means visitors to the region can take solace in the fact that the gorgeous environment they’re exploring is sustainable, nature-based and protected.

6. Conquer Australia’s longest whitewater trail

Travelling with: Emily Murphy

Seek adventure and that’s what you’ll find on the Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail in northern NSW’s Clarence Valley. Combining the Nymbodia, Mann and Clarence rivers, the 195-kilometre trail is the longest-mapped whitewater trail in Australia.

Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail in Clarence Valley, NSW — Get your heart pumping on the Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail. (Image: MyClarenceValley)

This gem is split into eight sections of varying difficulty for you to pick and choose what suits your skill level – whether that be waterfalls and unhinged rapids with names such as Tombstone and Demolition Derby or mellow cruising downriver. However you experience the trail, you’ll be left in awe of the natural beauty that it encompasses.

7. Go remote in the Nuyts Archipelago

Travelling with: Taylah Darnell

For those seeking their next Australian adventure, a remote and paradisiacal collection of islands await you off the coast of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. Be one of only 60 people a year that explore Nuyts Archipelago on a three-night expedition with EP Cruises that accentuates the splendours of this protected marine area in the Great Australian Bight.

Nuyts Archipelago, South Australia — Only 60 people a year are lucky enough to visit Nuyts Archipelago.

With room for only 10 expeditioners and three crew members, you’ll get a remarkable insight into the islands, beaches, reefs and wildlife that call the Nuyts Archipelago home. The expedition includes all camping and safety gear, a double swag, bathroom and kitchen facilities and rare island experiences such as cliff jumping, swimming with dolphins, birdwatching and nocturnal tours.

8. First Nations perspective on the Tiwi Islands

Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

Our little six-passenger plane judders over the Beagle Gulf as we head north of Darwin. Despite our pilot’s assurance that the flight is “basically a milk run" for him, my heart still thumps in tandem with the whirring jet engine. But the anxiety quells once the Tiwi Islands come into view. The land below is rich and ripe with green, spliced with rivers strewn out like ribbons that oxbow and horseshoe across the terrain.

Tarntipi Bush Camp on the Tiwi Islands, NT — Discover Tarntipi Bush Camp on the Tiwi Islands. (Image: Nicholas Walton Healey)

Tiwi Elder and educator Edward ‘Teddy’ Portaminni is our guide, showcasing island life through Tiwi art, nature, history and storytelling. A former school teacher, Teddy now runs Tarntipi Bush Camp, an educational tourism experience and the only First Nations-owned accommodation on the Tiwi Islands. Teddy is enthusiastic about teaching visitors about bush food, so they can “learn the bush tucker we had a long time ago".

As we walk, he plucks sour billy goat plums from the trees for us to try and yanks a pandanus leaf from its trunk. “You can use this for weaving baskets, or boil it up to cure a stomach ache. Or you can wear it," he says with a grin, wrapping the leaf around his head. He keeps it on for the rest of the tour.

Edward Portaminni on the Tiwi Islands, NT — Pandanus leaves have multiple uses. (Image: Elizabeth Whitehead)

Visitors to Tarntipi Bush Camp can expect to dine on fresh fish that Teddy has caught and prepared that day. Teddy is a keen fisherman with hook and line, but also in the way he tells stories, too. He speaks with a stillness and equanimity that reels you into fascinating yarns about life growing up on Bathurst Island, Tiwi culture and local creation myths.

9. The secret beach that’s a favourite with Darwin locals

Travelling with: Leah McLennan

Mindil Beach, Casuarina, Nightcliff… Darwin is known for its postcard-worthy sunset spots. But the surrounding coastline boasts a treasure trove of sublime beaches where you can admire the twilight far from the crowds.

Golden Sands Retreat on Wagait Beach, NT — Golden Sands Retreat is right on the beach and features a private plunge pool.

A local secret up in the Top End, Wagait Beach on the Cox Peninsula is a teeny oceanfacing community 10 kilometres west of Darwin by sea. For a sprinkling of warm golden sand, punch Wagait Beach into Maps and let the ferry take you from Darwin’s Cullen Bay to Mandorah Jetty. With a population of around 465, it won’t be long before you’re recognising friendly faces as you comb for shells and settle in for sunset on the dog-friendly beach.

Wagait Beach, NT — Head to Mandorah Jetty for beautiful views across the water.

For dinner, throw in a line to catch queenfish, trevally or mackerel at the Mandorah Jetty or just relax at the Cox Country Club. When you’re ready for a kip, check into Golden Sands Retreat, a four-bedroom beauty with a plunge pool and private access to the beach. History buffs can pay a visit to the wreck site of Milady, a US bomber that crashed in the Second World War.

Keep reading our 100 Emerging Destinations and Experiences series for more.

Abandoned mills and forgotten paper plants are finding second lives – and helping redefine a city long underestimated.

Just 15 years ago, Federal Mills was a very different place. Once among the most significant industrial sites in Victoria, the historic woollen mill was one of a dozen that operated in Geelong at the industry’s peak in the mid-20th century, helping the city earn its title as ‘wool centre of the world’. But by the 1960s global competition and the rise of synthetic fabrics led to the slow decline of the industry, and Federal Mills finally shuttered its doors in 2001. Within a few years, the abandoned North Geelong grounds had become makeshift pastoral land, with cows and goats grazing among the overgrown grass between the empty red-brick warehouses. It was a forgotten pocket of the city, all but two klicks from the bustle of the CBD.

Geelong cellar door wine bar — Geelong has shed its industrial identity to become an innovative urban hub with reimagined heritage spaces. (Image: Ash Hughes)

Federal Mills: from forgotten factory to creative precinct

Today, the century-old complex stands reborn. The distinctive sawtooth-roof buildings have been sensitively restored. An old silo is splashed with a bright floral mural, landscapers have transformed the grounds, and the precinct is once again alive with activity. More than 1000 people work across 50-plus businesses here. It’s so busy, in fact, that on a sunny Thursday morning in the thick of winter, it’s hard to find a car park. The high ceilings, open-plan design, and large multi-paned windows – revolutionary features for factories of their time – have again become a drawcard.

Paddock Bakery andPatisserie — Paddock Bakery and Patisserie is housed within the historic wool factory. (Image: Gallant Lee)

At Paddock , one of the precinct’s newer tenants, weaving looms and dye vats have been replaced by a wood-fired brick oven and heavy-duty mixers. Open since April 2024, the bakery looks right at home here; the building’s industrial shell is softened by ivy climbing its steel frames, and sunlight streams through the tall windows. Outside, among the white cedar trees, families at picnic benches linger over dippy eggs and bagels, while white-collar workers pass in and out, single-origin coffee and crème brûlée doughnuts in hand.

Geelong: Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design

Paddock Bakery can be found at Federal Mills. (Image: Gallant Lee)

“A lot of people are now seeing the merit of investing in Geelong,” says Paul Traynor, the head of Hamilton Hospitality Group, which redeveloped Federal Mills. A city once shunned as Sleepy Hollow, and spurned for its industrial, working-class roots and ‘rust belt’ image, Geelong has long since reclaimed its ‘Pivot City’ title, having reinvented itself as an affordable, lifestyle-driven satellite city, and a post-COVID migration hotspot.

And the numbers stand testament to the change. In March 2025, and for the first time in its history, Greater Geelong became Australia’s most popular regional town for internal migration, overtaking Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Current forecasts suggest Geelong will continue to outpace many other Australian cities and towns, with jobs growing at double the rate of the population.

Tourism is booming, too. The 2023-24 financial year was Geelong and The Bellarine region’s busiest on record, with 6.4 million visitors making it one of the fastest-growing destinations in the country. It’s not hard to see why: beyond the city’s prime positioning at the doorstep of the Great Ocean Road, Geelong’s tenacity and cultural ambition stands out.

As Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design, Geelong is swiftly shaking off its industrial past to become a model for urban renewal, innovation, sustainability and creative communities. The signs are everywhere, from the revitalisation of the city’s waterfront, and the landmark design of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and Geelong Arts Centre, to the growing network of local designers, architects and artists, and the burgeoning roster of festivals and events. That’s not even mentioning the adaptive reuse of storied old industrial buildings – from Federal Mills, to Little Creatures’ brewery ‘village’ housed within a 1920s textile mill – or the city’s flourishing food and wine scene.

The rise of a food and wine destination

Restaurant 1915 is housed within a restored former boiler house. (Image: Harry Pope/Two Palms)

Traynor credits now-closed local restaurant Igni, which opened in 2016, as the turning point for Geelong’s hospo industry. “[Aaron Turner, Igni’s chef-patron] was probably the first guy, with all due respect, to raise the bar food-wise for Geelong,” he says. “People now treat it really seriously, and there’s clearly a market for it.” While Igni is gone, Turner now helms a string of other notable Geelong venues, including The Hot Chicken Project and Tacos y Liquor, all within the buzzy, street art-speckled laneways of the CBD’s Little Malop Street Precinct. Many others have also popped up in Igni’s wake, including Federal Mills’ own restaurant, 1915 . Housed within the cavernous boiler house, 1915’s interior is dramatic: soaring, vaulted ceilings with timber beams, exposed brick, a huge arched window. The share plates echo the space’s bold character, playing with contrast and texture, with dishes such as a compressed watermelon tataki, the sweet, juicy squares tempered by salty strands of fried leeks, and charred, smoky snow peas dusted with saganaki on a nutty bed of romesco.

The Woolstore , one of The Hamilton Group’s most recent hospo projects, opened in February. It occupies a century-old riverside warehouse and exudes a more sultry, fine dining ambience. Much like Federal Mills, the blueprint was to preserve the original brickwork, tallowwood flooring and nods to the building’s former life. That same careful consideration extends to the well-versed, affable waitstaff as well as the kitchen. Head chef Eli Grubb is turning out an eclectic mix of ambitious and indulgent mod Oz dishes that deliver: strikingly tender skewers of chicken tsukune, infused with hints of smoke from the parrilla grill, and glazed with a moreish, sweet gochujang ‘jam’; nduja arancini fragrant with hints of aniseed and the earthy lick of sunny saffron aioli; and golden squares of potato pavé, adorned with tiny turrets of crème fraîche, crisp-fried saltbush leaves, and Avruga caviar, to name but a few stand-out dishes.

Woolstore menu — Woolstore’s menu is designed for sharing.

Breathing new life into historic spaces

On the city’s fringe, hidden down a winding side road with little fanfare, lies a long-dormant site that’s being gently revived. Built from locally quarried bluestone and brick, and dating back to the 1870s, the complex of original tin-roofed mill buildings is lush with greenery and backs onto the Barwon River and Buckley Falls; the audible rush of water provides a soothing soundtrack. Fyansford Paper Mill is one of few complexes of its time to survive intact. It feels steeped in history and spellbindingly rustic.

“We were looking for an old industrial place that had some charm and romance to it,” explains Sam Vogel, the owner, director and winemaker at Provenance Wines which moved here in 2018. When he first viewed the building with his former co-owner, it was in such a state of disrepair that the tradie tenant occupying the space had built a shed within it to escape the leaking roof and freezing winter temperatures. “To say it was run down would be an understatement,” he notes. “There was ivy growing through the place; the windows were all smashed. It was a classic Grand Designs project.”

Provenance Wines moved to Fyansford Paper Mill in 2018. (Image: Cameron Murray Photography)

The team has since invested more than a million dollars into their new home. Where paper processing machinery once sat, wine barrels are now stacked. Vaulted cathedral ceilings are strung with festoon lights, and hidden in plain sight lies a shadowy mural by local street artist de rigueur Rone – one of only three permanent works by the artist.

While the award-winning, cool-climate pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay naturally remain a key draw at Provenance, the winery’s restaurant is a destination in itself. Impressed already by whipsmart service, I devour one of the most cleverly curated and faultlessly executed degustations I’ve had in some time. It’s all prepared in a kitchen that is proudly zero-waste, and committed to providing seasonal, ethical and locally sourced meat and produce under head chef Nate McIver. Think free-range venison served rare with a syrupy red wine jus and a half-moon of neon-orange kosho, shokupan with a deeply savoury duck fat jus (a modern Japanese take on bread and drippings), and a golden potato cake adorned with a colourful confetti of dehydrated nasturtiums and tomato powder, and planted atop a sea urchin emulsion.

handcrafted pieces — Bell’s handcrafted functional pieces on display.

The complex is home to a coterie of independent businesses, including a gallery, a jeweller, and its latest tenant, ceramicist Elizabeth Bell, drawn here by the building’s “soul”. “There’s so much potential for these buildings to have new life breathed into them,” says Bell, whose studio is housed within the old pump room. “Even people in Geelong don’t know we’re here,” she says. “It’s definitely a destination, but I like that. It has a really calming atmosphere.”

A Melbourne transplant, Bell now feels at home in Geelong, which offers something Melbourne didn’t. “If this business was in Melbourne I don’t think it would’ve been as successful,” she notes. “It’s very collaborative in Geelong, and I don’t think you get that as much in Melbourne; you’re a bit more in it for yourself. Here it’s about community over competition.”

Australia’s top 9 emerging coast and island experiences