Incredible places in Australia: Why the AUD drop isn't all bad news

The Aussie dollar may be down, but its incredible travel offerings are not.

It’s true, the Australian dollar has hit a five-year low, making it pretty tough for many of us to travel overseas right now. While that isn’t ideal, some of the most unique places in Australia quite literally cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

We’re lucky enough to call this beautiful and fascinating place home, so when it really comes down to it, there’s so much to explore right here that there’s no need to travel anywhere else.

Here are 10 incredible places in our country that prove Australia should be the main event, not the backup option.

1. Daintree Rainforest, Qld

Not only is the Daintree Rainforest magnificent – especially once you cross the Daintree River into Cape Tribulation, you suddenly feel transported to the age of dinosaurs, it’s so easy to imagine them chomping their way through this dense and vibrant green foliage – and at 130 million years it holds the title of the oldest continually surviving rainforest in the world.

The plant and animal life you can find here today is millions of years older than the Amazon, and thriving. From an exclusive waterfall tour of Cassowary Falls to tasting the Daintree Ice Cream Company’s iconic frozen treats, find the best ways to immerse yourself in the Daintree with this list of our favourite things to do.

mosman, daintree rainforest places in australia — See the ancient Daintree Rainforest. (Image: TEQ)

2. Arnhem Land, NT

Not only does Australia have some of the oldest landscapes, but it’s also home to the world’s oldest living culture. While there are fascinating experiences to enrich your knowledge of Australia’s Indigenous peoples all over the country, why not start in the place where the oldest evidence of this culture was discovered? Arnhem Land.

The Madjedbebe site – a rock shelter found at the base of the Arnhem Land escarpment – is dated at 65,000 years. Sitting 300 kilometres east of Darwin in Mirarr Country, ancient artefacts – like tools and ochre crayons used to make pigments – were found here, and proved that the previous estimates of Indigenous people living in Australia fell far short of the truth.

Get out and explore the most incredible places in Arnhem Land with our ultimate guide to planning a trip there.

guide showing indigenous cave art in arnhemland — Learn about the world’s oldest culture in Arnhem Land. (Image: Tourism NT/ Shaana McNaught)

3. Great Barrier Reef, Qld

About 344,400 square kilometres, more than 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands make up the Great Barrier Reef; the largest coral reef system in the world and is one of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders. Stretching for 2300 kilometres along Queensland’s coast from Bundaberg to the tip of Cape York Peninsula, there are so many ways and places to explore its vibrant marine life.

Whether you prefer to get a bird’s-eye view from a helicopter, jump on a glass-bottomed boat, or get up close by snorkelling and diving, this guide to picking the best location for you should be your first read. Then you can read our pick of the best accommodation options, and the best tours.

aerial shot of two people snorkelling in the great barrier reef — Dive into one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. (Image: TEQ)

4. Stockton Bight Sand Dunes, NSW

Hidden just on the edge of Port Stephens, the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes is a spectacular place that most Australians still don’t know about. Created thousands of years ago, these are the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Exploring them can feel like exploring a desert, or another planet, as they stretch so far that you often can’t see anything but sand.

Personally, a quad bike ride with Sand Dune Adventures – an Indigenous-led not-for-profit run by the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council – is the absolute best way to see these dunes, but there are many other options. Pick your favourite from our top picks list, here.

Stockton Bight Sand Dunes nsw places in australia — Ride a quad bike through Stockton Bight Sand Dunes. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Great Australian Desert, Central Australia

When combined, this country’s 10 deserts become the Great Australian Desert: the fifth largest (after the Antarctic, the Arctic, the Sahara and the Arabian) and among the most untouched in the world. Australia’s deserts are so large that they cover about a fifth of our nation’s mainland.

So it’s no surprise that both the terrain and the wildlife that call it home are incredibly diverse and unique to Australia. Find landscapes that range from semi-desert grassy or mountainous to red sand dunes and rocky plains to great salt pans. So where to start an Australian desert adventure?

Start here with our guide to the best and easiest ways to navigate our deserts, then have a gander at our top picks of the most incredible outback experiences to have around the country.

person walking through the South Australian Outback — Explore the fifth of Australia that is covered by desert. (Image: Getty/ Philip Thurston)

6. Lark Quarry, Qld

In 1962, a fossilised footprint on Cork Station (about a 1.5-hour drive out of Winton) became the most significant dinosaur discovery in Australia (and the world). Continuing exploration of the area found over 3300 footprints in what was clear evidence of a dinosaur stampede, the only known record of a dinosaur stampede in the world.

Those same footprints are still on display today at Lark Quarry . See the footprints for yourself as you walk around the boardwalks, or join a 45-minute guided tour to learn more.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the rest of what Winton has to offer, for both dinosaur enthusiasts and everyone else.

dinosaur footprints at Australian Age of Dinosaurs in winton qld — See part of the Lark Quarry stampede at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum. (Image: TEQ)

7. Ningaloo Reef, WA

The World Heritage Site of Ningaloo Reef is not only surrounded by beautiful beaches just begging you to relax on an extended holiday (and the world’s largest fringing reef), but it’s the only place in Australia (and one of few in the world) where you can not only see but swim with whale sharks. Every year, hundreds of these giant sharks, the largest known fish in existence, come to the Ningaloo to find food from March to July.

And that’s not all you’ll see in these crystal clear (and delightfully warm) waters. About 450 different species of marine life call it home for the whole or part of the year, including humpback whales, manta rays, dugongs, dolphins and turtles.

Read this guide to discover our favourite ways to explore this beautiful part of Western Australia.

person snorkelling with a whale shark in ningaloo reef western australia — Swim with whale sharks. (Image: Tourism WA)

8. Coober Pedy, SA

So this is more of a man-made wonder, but the natural abundance of a beautiful little stone saw Coober Pedy become the opal capital of the world. It’s also one of the most unique towns in the world, given that the majority of it – from mines to churches to housing – resides underground in an effort to beat the stifling heat.

It’s truly an Australian bucket list place, and you can start planning your adventure here.

two people underground in Coober Pedy south australia — Head underground to experience Coober Pedy. (Image: South- Australian Tourism Commission)

9. Phillip Island, Vic

Little penguins, the smallest of all penguins, can only be found along the coast of Australia and New Zealand. But where better to guarantee a sighting than Phillip Island, home to one of the largest little penguin colonies in the world.

Just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne (and connected to mainland Victoria by a bridge) book a ticket to the famous nightly Penguin Parade . Elevated boardwalks make for perfect viewpoints as a controlled number of visitors watch these feathered locals return to their burrows every night as the sun goes down. Plus your ticket supports more research into and care for these waddly creatures.

Need even more penguins in your life? Read our list of the best places to spot them in Australia.

[enguin parade on phillip island victoria — Watch little penguins head home for the night on Phillip Island. (Image: Visit VIC)

10. The Blue Mountains, NSW

The Blue Mountains are no secret to Australians, but not many realise that these beautiful rocky mountains are actually 10 times older than the Grand Canyon. In fact, the ancient rocks underneath the mountains are estimated to be about 470 million years old.

That alone makes them worth a visit, but then add the blue-tinged beauty and idyllic towns dotted along this area, and you’ve got a recipe for the perfect holiday. For tips on everything to do, from dining out to staying in, hiking, swimming, wine-tasting and more, read our Blue Mountains travel guide. The outdoorsy types should also check out our favourite hikes in the area, all the better to immerse yourself in this ancient landscape.

the three sisters at the blue mountains new south wales — Gaze on rock formations older than the Grand Canyon. (Image: Destinaion NSW)

Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.

Mention the Macedon Ranges and most people will think of day spas and mineral springs around Daylesford, cosy weekends away in the countryside or the famous Hanging Rock (of enigmatic picnic fame). Or they won’t have heard of the Macedon Ranges at all.

But this cool-climate destination has been inconspicuously building a profile as a high-quality food and wine region and is beginning to draw serious attention from oenophiles and epicureans alike.

The rise of Macedon Ranges wine

liquid gold barrels at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — Barrels of liquid gold at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

With elevations ranging from 300 to 800 metres, Macedon Ranges vineyards are among the highest in the country. This altitude, combined with significant day/night temperature swings, makes for a slow ripening season, in turn nurturing wines that embody elegance and structure. Think crisp chardonnays, subtle yet complex pinot noirs and delicate sparkling wines, along with niche varietals, such as gamay and nebbiolo.

Despite the region’s natural advantages – which vary from estate to estate, as each site embodies unique terroir depending on its position in relation to the Great Dividing Range, soil make-up and altitude – the Macedon Ranges has remained something of an insider’s secret. Unlike Victoria’s Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, you won’t find large tour buses here and there’s no mass marketing drawing crowds.

Many of the 40-odd wineries are family-run operations with modest yields, meaning the wineries maintain a personal touch (if you visit a cellar door, you’ll likely chat to the owner or winemaker themselves) and a tight sales circle that often doesn’t go far beyond said cellar door. And that’s part of the charm.

Though wines from the Macedon Ranges are just starting to gain more widespread recognition in Australia, the first vines were planted in the 1860s, with a handful of operators then setting up business in the 1970s and ’80s. The industry surged again in the 1990s and early 2000s with the entry of wineries, such as Mount Towrong, which has an Italian slant in both its wine and food offering, and Curly Flat , now one of the largest estates.

Meet the new generation of local winemakers

the Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. — The Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Then, within the last 15 years, a new crop of vignerons like Andrew Wood at Kyneton Ridge Estate , whose vineyard in 2024 was the first in the Macedon Ranges to be certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Geoff Plahn and Samantha Reid at Paramoor , who have an impressive cellar door with a roaring fire and studded leather couches in an old Clydesdale barn; and Ollie Rapson and Renata Morello at Lyons Will , who rapidly expanded a small vineyard to focus on top-shelf riesling, gamay, pinot noir and chardonnay, have taken ownership of local estates.

Going back to the early days, Llew Knight’s family was one of the pioneers of the 1970s, replacing sheep with vines at Granite Hills when the wool industry dwindled. Knight is proud of the fact that all their wines are made with grapes from their estate, including a light, peppery shiraz (some Macedon wineries purchase fruit from nearby warmer areas, such as Heathcote, particularly to make shiraz) and a European-style grüner veltliner. And, as many other wineries in the region do, he relies on natural acid for balance, rather than an additive, which is often required in warmer regions. “It’s all about understanding and respecting your climate to get the best out of your wines,” he says.

farm animals atKyneton Ridge Estate — Curious residents at Kyneton Ridge Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Throughout the Macedon Ranges, there’s a growing focus on sustainability and natural and low-intervention wines, with producers, such as Brian Martin at Hunter Gatherer making waves in regenerative viticulture. Martin previously worked in senior roles at Australia’s largest sparkling winemaking facility, and now applies that expertise and his own nous to natural, hands‑off, wild-fermented wines, including pét‑nat, riesling and pinot noir. “Wild fermentation brings more complexity,” he says. “Instead of introducing one species of yeast, you can have thousands and they add different characteristics to the wine.”

the vineyard at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The estate’s vineyard, where cool-climate grapes are grown. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Most producers also focus on nurturing their grapes in-field and prune and pick by hand, thus avoiding the introduction of impurities and the need to meddle too much in the winery. “The better the quality of the fruit, the less you have to interfere with the natural winemaking process,” says Wood.

Given the small yields, there’s also little room for error, meaning producers place immense focus on quality. “You’re never going to compete in the middle [in a small region] – you’ve got to aim for the top,” says Curly Flat owner Jeni Kolkka. “Big wineries try to do things as fast as possible, but we’re in no rush,” adds Troy Walsh, owner and winemaker at Attwoods . “We don’t use commercial yeasts; everything is hand-harvested and everything is bottled here, so we bottle only when we’re ready, not when a big truck arrives.” That’s why, when you do see a Macedon Ranges product on a restaurant wine list, it’s usually towards the pointy end.

Come for the wine, stay for the food

pouring sauce onto a dish at Lake HouseDaylesford — Dining at Lake House Daylesford is a treat. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

If wine is the quiet achiever of the Macedon Ranges, then food is its not-so-secret weapon. In fact, the area has more hatted restaurants than any other region in Victoria. A pioneer of the area’s gourmet food movement is region cheerleader Alla Wolf-Tasker, culinary icon and founder of Daylesford’s Lake House.

For more than three decades, Wolf-Tasker has championed local producers and helped define what regional fine dining can look like in Australia. Her influence is palpable, not just in the two-hatted Lake House kitchen, but in the broader ethos of the region’s dining scene, as a wave of high-quality restaurants have followed her lead to become true destination diners.

the Midnight Starling restaurant in Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The hatted Midnight Starling restaurant is located in Kyneton. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

It’s easy to eat well, whether at other hatted restaurants, such as Midnight Starling in the quaint town of Kyneton, or at the wineries themselves, like Le Bouchon at Attwoods, where Walsh is inspired by his time working in France in both his food offering and winemaking.

The beauty of dining and wine touring in the Macedon Ranges is that it feels intimate and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemaker, hear about the trials of the latest vintage firsthand, and taste wines that never make it to city shelves. And that’s worth getting out of the city for – even if it is just an hour down the road.

Delicate dishes on the menu at Midnight Starling. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the accommodation at Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges — Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Soak up vineyard views from Cleveland Estate near Lancefield , embrace retro charm at Kyneton Springs Motel or indulge in lakeside luxury at the Lake House .

Eating there

Enjoy a four-course menu at the one-hatted Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, Japanese-inspired fare at Kuzu in Woodend or unpretentious fine dining at Mount Monument , which also has a sculpture park.

Drinking there

wine tasting at PassingClouds Winery, Macedon Ranges — A tasting at Passing Clouds Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Settle in for a tasting at Boomtown in Castlemaine, sample local drops at the cosy Woodend Cellar & Bar or wine-hop around the many cellar doors, such as Passing Clouds .

the Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar signage — Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Playing there

a scenic river in Castlemaine — Idyllic scenes at Castlemaine. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Wander through the seasonal splendour of Forest Glade Gardens , hike to the summit of Hanging Rock, or stroll around the tranquil Sanatorium Lake.

purple flowers hanging from a tree — Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Australia isn’t a plan B: here’s why the AUD drop isn’t all bad news