Australia Ranks Second In World's Most Unspoilt Landscapes

Australia has come in second on the list of the world’s most unspoilt landscapes.

From Europe to Central America, some of the most jaw-dropping destinations made the list of destinations across the world that have the most unspoilt landscapes. And not only is Australia on the list, it made the top three.

The rankings

Unspoilt: not spoiled, in particular (of a place) not marred by development.

In today’s world, little of the globe remains untouched. From the depths of the largest rainforest and the deepest parts of the ocean to the highest mountain peak in the world, humans have ventured far and wide in hopes of discovering something new and unseen. With all this travel, it can be difficult to find destinations that remain unspoilt. Until now.

New research by walking holiday experts Inghams has revealed the destinations across the world that are the most intact and preserved. To find out the most frequently posted about unspoilt locations, Inghams analysed 54,000 Instagram posts which included the hashtags #unspoilt, #unspoiled and #offthebeatenpath. This was compared to a control set of 50,000 Instagram posts to reveal an #unspoilt post rate.

Coming in at number one was the Nordic island of Iceland. And number two? That spot belongs to Australia, with an #unspoilt post rate of 10.90 (Iceland came in at 13.15, so not too far off, right?)

Ormiston Pound, Northern Territory — Australia is ranked as the second most unspoilt destination in the world.

Following Iceland and Australia, the top 10 most unspoilt destinations consisted of Ireland, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Tanzania, New Zealand, Peru, Greece and Georgia.

Why Australia?

It’s not hard to see why our amazing country won second place. Each state of Australia offers something special; its own unique landscape, climate, community, history and arts scene.

From the vast, dusty terrain of the Red Centre and dense, ancient rainforests of Tropical North Queensland to NSW’s stunning beaches and Tasmania’s charming towns, we’ve got it all.

Daintree Rainforest, Tropical North Queensland — Explore the ancient rainforests of Tropical North Queensland.

Want to boat between golden gorges and spot crocodiles? Head up to Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Keen to dive with whale sharks at a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site? Ningaloo Reef in WA is the place for you.

Plus, Australia is home to one of the world’s oldest living cultures dating back over 65,000 years.

Ningaloo Reef, WA — Ningaloo Reef is a pristine World Heritage-listed site.

Camping and glamping meet luxury hotels. Fine dining meets bush tucker tours. Thrill-seeking adventures meet relaxing escapes. Shopping. Wildlife encounters. Major cities. Country towns. And hundreds of kilometres worth of stunning landscapes. Australia has it all. And the best part? It’s all unspoilt territory.

Glamping in Australia — Glamping is a great way to see unspoilt Australia in style.

Maintaining our spot

It’s important that it stays unspoilt and unmarred by mass tourism. According to Anne Williams, director of marketing at Inghams, there are courses of action that ensure it stays that way.

“Anyone who loves spending time in nature knows how disappointing it can be when your favourite natural spots get tarnished by tourists or other human interference," she says.

“In order to keep some of the world’s best landscapes as unspoilt as possible, there are a few things you can do while exploring… leave no trace. Stay on designated trails. Don’t take souvenirs [from the environment] and avoid crowded areas."

Kondalilla National Park in Queensland — It’s important to stay on designated trails.

This means taking everything you bring back out with you. No rubbish, food, wrappers, bottles, other waste and harmful products. Leave natural objects were you found them, they’re there for a reason. Don’t visit places that are often overrun by tourists, opt for less-travelled terrain where you’re less likely to leave a footprint.

According to Anne, “If we can all treat the outdoors as if it were our own homes, we’ll be able to leave behind some beautiful, untouched landscapes for future generations to enjoy too."

Spend a few days visiting the real-life Central Australian locations that inspired the new film everyone is talking about, and discover why Alice Springs is such an important part of Australian culture.

In the credits of the new Australian film Kangaroo , the first name under ‘cast’ should read ‘The Northern Territory ’. Not only is Alice Springs (and the surrounding landscape) integral to the movie itself, but the spiritual heart of Australia and its local Indigenous owners also inform the look and feel of every frame, explains Producer Trisha Morton-Thomas of Brindle Films, who also plays Charlie’s grandmother Gwennie.

“By setting Kangaroo in Alice Springs (Mparntwe), the film embraces how visible Aboriginal people are here, and the living Aboriginal culture that is woven through this community,” she explains.

still from kangarro film — See *Kangaroo*, then visit the real-life filming locations.

And while shooting in such a sacred part of the Northern Territory required extra planning, it was something the cast and crew were highly invested in.

“There are incredibly significant sacred sites and places of deep cultural stories in the area, that at times are very gender-specific, which we’ve kept out of the production,” she explains. “Even if overhead drone footage captures a sacred site that isn’t meant to be seen by other people outside of that clan, we’ve made sure to omit it from the film.”

If Kangaroo piqued your interest in a Central Australian holiday, we don’t blame you. Read on to discover eight places featured in the movie that you can visit in real life – and get planning. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and a hat.

1. Alice Springs/ Mparntwe

artist at Many Hands Art Centre — Visit the galleries of Alice Springs, like Many Hands Art Centre. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr/ Many Hands Art Centre)

The red and dusty streets of the film’s fictional town of Silvergum were filmed on the outskirts of Alice Springs. And, while the art gallery featured in the film is fictional, Alice Springs is a hub of creativity. See the work of local artists at the Araluen Art Centre , Yubu Napa Art Gallery , Iltja Ntjarra (Many Hands) Art Centre and the famous Tjanpi Desert Weavers .

2. The Kangaroo Sanctuary & Kangaroo Rescue Centre

The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs, the inspiration for the Kangaroo move — Visit the movie’s inspiration at Kangaroo Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism NT/ Kangaroo Sanctuary)

Kangaroo was inspired by the journey of Chris ‘Brolga’ Barns, who founded the now world-renowned Kangaroo Sanctuary based in Alice Springs. For lead actor, Aussie Ryan Corr, the animals were central to the movie, alongside the landscapes.

“The animals in this story were a real calling point for me,” he explains. “What this story tries to tell us about the connection between humans and animals is beautiful.”

To gain a real insight into the fauna and flora of the Red Centre, you can visit the Kangaroo Sanctuary on a sunset tour, where you might even get the chance to hold a baby kangaroo.

3. Ormiston Gorge

woman walking along the edge of Ormiston Gorge near alice springs — Take a dip in Ormiston Gorge. (Image: Tourism NT/ @domandjesso)

The film captures the raw beauty of the West MacDonnell Ranges, known in the Arrernte language as Tjoritja. This national park is rich in Indigenous culture and stark geological wonders.

Only a 15-minute drive from Alice Springs, Tjoritja offers visitors the chance to camp, hike and swim among ancient landscapes (most attractions are less than a three-hour drive away).

Ormiston Gorge , a cooling oasis in among the red desert sands, is one of the most popular destinations, no doubt because of the permanent swimming hole and towering red cliffs. From here, visitors can also embark on the beautiful Ormiston Pound Walk and the shorter – more accessible – Ghost Gum Walk. Bring your bathers – it’s safe for swimming.

4. Standley Chasm

woman walking through Standley Chasm near alice springs — Wander through Standley Chasm. (Image: Tourism NT)

The 1.2-kilometre walk to nearby Standley Chasm will be a highlight for any visitor as the imposing 40 metre-high chasm walls project strength and ancient wisdom.

Visit at midday to experience the path illumined by the midday sun. Not only will you fill your camera roll with vibrant red images of the gorge and its intoxicating shadows, but you can also camp nearby in a powered or unpowered site so you can watch the brilliance of the desert stars fill the night sky after dusk.

5. Simpsons Gap

three people walking on path through simpsons gap near alice springs — Walk the trails of Simpson’s Gap. (Image: Tourism NT/ Helen Orr)

Closer to Alice Springs, the photogenic Simpsons Gap is the perfect place to spot the endangered Black-footed Rock wallaby near the permanent watering hole. While swimming isn’t permitted, soaking up the sun and views certainly is.

Explore the area’s numerous walking trails, appreciate the soaring cliffs on either side of the ‘gap’ and pick out the shooting locations of Kangaroo in the area.

6. Ellery Creek Big Hole

aerial of Ellery Creek Big Hole near alice springs — Dive into Ellery Creek Big Hole. (Image: Tourism NT/ Tourism Australia)

When it comes to classic Northern Territory landscapes, you can’t go past Ellery Creek Big Hole/ Udepata : tall gum trees sidling up to a refreshing watering hole (fed by the West MacDonnell Ranges and surrounded by rugged red cliffs.

Swim in the cooling waters, hike the cliff tops, watch for birds and even stargaze as you camp here overnight. It’s locations like this that attracted the film’s director Kate Woods to the project.

“It humbles you to be in this environment: it’s so beautiful, so old and so vast,” she explains. “I was thrilled to get a chance to … shoot such a beautiful story in the incredible landscape of the Northern Territory.”

7. Larapinta Drive

aerial of Larapinta Drive into alice springs — Drive along Larapinta Drive. (Image: Tourism NT)

There is no better way to get a feel for how the characters arrived at the fictional Central Australian town of Silvergum than to travel along the iconic state road, Larapinta Drive.

Connecting Alice Springs to the mighty King’s Canyon in the west, via the historic community of Hermannsburg, this road takes in the West MacDonnell National Park, Alice Springs Desert Park and artist Albert Namatjira’s house, among other attractions. Take your time, bring a camera and prepare for numerous stops along the way.

8. Todd River

competitors in Henley on Todd Regatta, alice springs — Join in the fun of the quirky Henley on Todd Regatta. (Image: Tourism NT/ TImparja Creative)

Meandering through Alice Springs like a lazy Western Brown snake, the Todd River is a central part of Alice Springs culture. Known as an ‘intermittent river’, the Todd can go from a dry dusty riverbed to a flowing waterscape in less than 15 minutes after heavy rainfall.

When it’s dry, the famous Henley on Todd Regatta fills the sandy riverbed with handmade ‘boats’ carried by sailors. This is the world’s only dry river boating event, and it’s referenced in the ‘Silvergum Boat Race’ in the movie. Inspired by the real-life event, the characters built quirky “Flintstones-style boats” and competed in teams.

See Kangaroo in cinemas now, and start planning your NT getaway at northernterritory.com.

Australia ranks second in world’s most unspoilt landscapes