Places You've Never Heard Of In Australia's Very Own Backyard

Lately, Australians have been exploring more of their country than ever before, unearthing exciting discoveries in their own backyards that have left us wondering what else is out there. The answer is more than you can imagine.

I’ve always prided myself on being one of those lucky enough to have had a decent poke around my country. I’ve almost entirely circumnavigated it by car and bus, streaked down the guts of the Red Centre in a dusty station wagon in my teens, and regularly sprinkled myself across random pockets of its vastness. I thought I ‘knew’ Australia. At the very least, I thought I knew my own backyard.

Hidden-gems in Victoria

So how is it that until recently I’d never heard of the huge granite domes and rocky caves at Terrick Terrick National Park and Mt Kooyoora in the Loddon Valley, a mere 2.5 hours’ drive from my Melbourne home? How had I not stumbled across the red clay walls of the K Road Cliffs overlooking Werribee River and floodplain, a magnet for migratory birds, or Thunder Cave and the sheer ocean-bound rock wall of the Razorback: two utterly spectacular formations on the Great Ocean Road that barely rate a mention in the Parks Victoria visitor guide?

I’ve walked the divine coastal paths around Warrnambool – just a three-hour drive west of Melbourne – many times over the years but it was only after I checked into Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs that I became attuned to the faint whiff of sulphur floating on the wind from the ground under my feet. Natural hot springs in Warrnambool? “Yes, flowing 800 metres beneath us," explained the spa attendant when I later went for a soak in the hotel’s landscaped pools. I waded beneath silky ‘curtains’ of warm water, sat in steaming pools in the rain, and floated on my back in the Silent Cave – silent, that is, except for the subterranean gurgles that let me imagine I was inside a whale’s belly. It added an entirely new dimension to a place I thought I knew.

Discover Victoria’s K Roads Cliffs and Werribee River.

I could go on, but the fact is, while we’re all well-versed with our country’s big-ticket drawcards, how much do we know of the rest of the place? Australia sprawls over 7 million square kilometres. It’s a continent. It was ridiculous of me to contemplate for even a moment that I might have ‘done it’.

As straggling border restrictions make overseas travel a minefield of rules clouded by the possibility of sudden changes, domestic forays continue to hold extra appeal but that shouldn’t end when restrictions do. The silver lining in this altered travel landscape is that people all around the country are unearthing their own backyard discoveries.

The Coolgardie Bluff (Photo: Jarrad Seng)

Hidden-gems in Western Australia

Perth local Tim Woolerson regularly visits Kalgoorlie for work, but when his wife suggested joining him for a trip they extended their stay to explore the surrounding Goldfields region, stumbling upon the ghost town of Gwalia, once a thriving mining town in 1897 and now a living museum.

“You’re out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by tin shanties and an old pub that closed its doors in the 1960s," he says. “We stayed in this wonderful old house right next to a 500-metre-deep open pit mine. There wasn’t enough time to see everything but we declared we’d return."

That opulent period home once housed a young mine manager by the name of Herbert Hoover (later the 31st President of the USA) and now Hoover House is a luxury B&B. Dusty roads also led them to the surreal and desolate Lake Ballard, a vast salt-crusted base littered with 51 human-form sculptures created by artist Antony Gormley.

That trip ignited a desire to keep exploring, prompting the Woolersons to hire a campervan and drive north to Exmouth and Coral Bay, where orange desert meets crystalline blue waters. “It’s guaranteed we wouldn’t have gone there if we could have travelled to Europe," says Tim, “but we couldn’t get over how magnificent it was. Swimming with whale sharks was absolutely life-changing."

The Super Pit Kalgoorlie-Boulder (Photo: Jarrad Seng)

Hidden-gems in Queensland

It’s not just about the places we’ve never heard of, but the ones we have yet never made time to visit. Brisbane-based family blogger Melissa Kiely Delaware had always dismissed Hervey Bay as “Daggy Bay" until she actually went there and was blown away by its beautiful beaches, museums, whales, and linger-worthy waterfront pubs and cafes.

“At first I was devastated when COVID hit but then I was like ‘oh my God, there are so many awesome things to do in Queensland’." She happily ticked off Yeppoon, Mackay and Cape York, but her best discovery was a road trip 700 kilometres west to Carnarvon Gorge where sheer rock walls sheltered towering palms, moss gardens, waterfalls and Bidjara and Karingbal rock art, entrancing the entire family.

Taking the road less travelled can reveal things we’d never expect. In outback Charleville, a lady at the visitor centre suggested Melissa drive the Natural Sciences Loop, a five-day route taking in towns like Cunnamulla, Eulo, Thargomindah and Eromanga.

“I’d never heard of any of those places, but I said, ‘If you think it’s good, I’ll go do it’." She was glad she did. The drive led her through big-sky country filled with birds and billabongs, bilbies, friendly outback towns, and a 95-98-million-year-old titanosaur that is Australia’s largest dinosaur fossil. She’s now wondering what else is out there and the bucket list is growing. “If I was locked down for another year I’d still have plenty of places to go. I hope in the future I’ll still look at my own backyard."

Boowinda Gorge at Carnarvon Gorge (Photo: Tourism & Events QLD)

Hidden-gems in NSW

We’re probably all just a little guilty of favouring the coast – after all, 80 per cent of us live there – but Melissa’s inland explorations were just a dip of the toes in our wide brown interior. Sydneysider Andrew Lawson says: “I’ve spent many months exploring Australia over the years, but I’d hardly spent any time west of the Blue Mountains."

To celebrate a 60th birthday he and his partner embarked on a self-guided Central West itinerary with Australian Cycle Tours. “I don’t think we would have discovered cycle touring without COVID," he says. “We would have just put our energy into finding new places to go rather than new ways to discover." It was a birthday to remember, notable for its wide open spaces and long chats with friendly locals in country pubs.

Another trip took them as far west as Bourke and Broken Hill. “Mutawintji National Park was one of the best national parks I’ve ever been to," he says. “The red rock formations, twisted trees, waterholes filled with birds and the complete lack of people blew me away." Learning about Indigenous fish farming from a local guide at Brewarrina was an eye opener he felt privileged to witness.

Brewarrina Indigenous fish traps (Photo: Destination NSW)

Hidden-gems in the NT

From guided city walks to food and nature tours, the opportunities to experience Australia from a First Nations perspective are ever-increasing and they offer a deeper level of understanding of the country. Take, for example, a day tour from remote Gove in East Arnhem Land that connects visitors with the Yolngu to spearfish, hunt crabs and hear stories. Especially immersive and deeply bonding is a five-day women-only tour where Elders share dancing, weaving and knowledge of a crying ceremony that gives thanks to Creation ancestors for everything from people and animals to the sun and stars.

Hidden-gems in Tasmania

Sometimes all you need is fresh eyes to gain a new perspective on a familiar place. Tasmanian environmental consultant Evan Boardman says travel restrictions have given him an entirely new appreciation for his home state, pushing him to see more of it and fostering a deeper connection.

Lake Pedder, Bruny Island’s Fluted Cape, Remarkable Cave on the Tasman Peninsula, and the Potato Fields (a mass of white lichen-encrusted boulders) on kunanyi/Mt Wellington have all been new discoveries for him, but a must, in his opinion, is rafting down the Franklin River. “Every corner you go around is just mind-bogglingly gorgeous."

Hidden-gems in South Australia

Boats have always opened up viewpoints that cannot be gained from land. Consider the possibilities on a 10-night cruise around South Australia’s coastline. Have you heard of Troubridge Island, Reevesby Island and Wedge Island? Me neither, but there’s nothing more appealing than exploring places you never knew existed. Go for white-sand cays, kayaking on turquoise waters, bird refuges and rich history.

The Eyre Peninsula with Coral Sea Expeditions.

To shine a light on the places worth visiting and experiences worth having would take a 30-volume box set, but if there’s a lesson here, it’s that whatever we’ve seen of Australia, it’s likely a mere blip of all the treasures it contains. For those willing to explore, to ask a local for directions and maybe veer off the beaten track, the possibilities are endless. Travel overseas? There’s no rush.

Video credit: Tourism Australia

From coast to mountains, hiking in Gippsland offers a stunning array of landscapes, with trails that take you deep into the region’s heritage.

I step out onto the sand and it cries out underfoot. Kweek! I take another step and there’s another little yelp. Screet! Picking up the pace, the sounds follow me like my shadow, all the way down to the water. It’s obvious how this spot got its name – Squeaky Beach – from the rounded grains of quartz that make the distinctive sounds under pressure.

For many, Wilsons Promontory National Park is the gateway to Gippsland , and the best way to explore it is by walking its network of hiking trails, from coastal gems such as Squeaky Beach through to the bushland, among the wildlife. But it’s still just a taste of what you’ll find on foot in the region.

Venture a bit further into Gippsland and you’ll discover the lakes, the rainforest, and the alpine peaks, each changing with the season and offering summer strolls or winter walks. Just like that squeaky sand, each step along these trails has something to tell you: perhaps a story about an ancient spirit or a pioneering search for fortune.

The best coastal hikes in Gippsland

sunset at Wilsons Promontory National Park — Wilsons Promontory National Park is a sprawling wilderness with many coastal bushland trails. (Image: Mark Watson)

Wilsons Promontory National Park (or ‘The Prom’, as you’ll end up calling it) is an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne, but you might ditch the car when you arrive, with much of the park’s 50,000 hectares accessible only by foot. From the inky water of Tidal River (dyed dark purple by abundant tea trees), I like the easy walks along the coast, among lichen-laden granite boulders, to golden beaches and bays.

a couple on Mount Oberon — Panoramic views from the summit of Mount Oberon. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

The trail to the panoramic views at the summit of Mount Oberon is a bit harder, up steep timber and granite steps, but it’s a popular 6.8-kilometre return. The more remote hikes are found through the open banksia and stringybark woodland of the park’s north, or along the multi-day Southern Circuit , which ranges from about 35 to 52 kilometres, with sunrises and sunsets, kangaroos and cockatoos, and maybe even whales.

a golden sand beach at Wilsons Promontory National Park — Walk ‘The Prom’s’ golden sand beaches. (Image: Tourism Australia/Time Out Australia)

You might also see whales on the George Bass Coastal Walk , even closer to Melbourne on the western edge of Gippsland. This dramatic seven-kilometre trail along the clifftops takes in sweeping views of the wild ocean, occasionally dipping down from grassy green hills to coastal gullies and a secluded beach. It also now links into the Bass Coast Rail Trail for an extra 14 kilometres.

Over at the eastern edge of Gippsland, in Croajingolong National Park, you can wander along the lakeshores beneath koalas and around goannas (I keep my distance since one chased me here!). For those who are even more adventurous, the park is also the starting point for the 100-kilometre Wilderness Coast Walk , usually done over seven days.

the Croajingolong National Park, Gippsland — Wander along the lakeshores in Croajingolong National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The best bush hikes in Gippsland

the Baw Baw National Park — The alpine heath of Baw Baw National Park. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

Deep in the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine at Walhalla, mining guide Richard tells me how this small town in the mountains east of Melbourne boomed when prospectors found gold here in 1862. These days, you’ll find most of the town’s treasure – its heritage – above ground, with the Walhalla Tramline Walk a wonderful way to explore it.

Just seven kilometres long, the walk takes you through decades of Gold Rush history, following the original rail trail from lush bushland to the mining sites, and through the charming village of just 20 residents with its wooden cottages and old shopfronts adorned with turn-of-the-century advertising posters. Blazing a trail where trailblazers once opened up the region, this is also the starting point for the 650-kilometre Australian Alps Walking Track.

Nearby, Baw Baw National Park has walks through gnarled snow gums and alpine heaths that show off the colourful wildflowers in summer and the pristine carpet of white in winter. Several trails are perfect for snowshoes, including a 45-minute route from St Gwinear up to vast views across the Latrobe Valley.

Further up into the mountains, the Toorongo and Amphitheatre Falls Loop Walk is an easy 2.2-kilometre path that serenades you with the sound of flowing water as you pass mossy rocks and tree ferns en route to two sets of waterfalls cascading over boulders in the remote wilderness.

The best cultural hikes in Gippsland

the Mitchell River National Park, Gippsland — Hike the Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

Across a pool in a natural sandstone amphitheatre, deep within a cave behind a waterfall, it’s said the Nargun has its lair. A fierce creature, half human and half stone, that abducts children and can’t be harmed by boomerangs or spears, the story of the Nargun has been told around the campfires of the local Gunaikurnai people for generations.

As a culturally significant place for women, hikers are asked not to go into the Den of Nargun, but a 3.4-kilometre loop walk leads you through a rainforest gully to the entrance where you can feel the powerful atmosphere here in Mitchell River National Park , along Victoria’s largest remaining wild and free-flowing waterway.

the bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park — Bee-eaters at Mitchell River National Park. (Image: Parks Victoria/Grace Lewis)

The Den of Nargun is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail , a series of important traditional Gunaikurnai sites through central Gippsland. Another location is Victoria’s largest cave system, Buchan Caves Reserve, with trails to important archaeological sites of human artefacts up to 18,000 years old. The FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk includes the naturally sculpted white limestone steps of the 400-metre-long Federal Cave, while the Granite Pools Walk goes among tall timber and moss-covered gullies.

the ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park — The ancient rainforest of Tarra-Bulga National Park. (Image: Josie Withers)

Also important to the Gunaikurnai people is Tarra-Bulga National Park , known for its ancient myrtle beeches and enormous mountain ash trees. Just 40 minutes return, the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk offers a taste of this verdant landscape, while the Grand Strzelecki Track takes you deep into the lost world of forest giants on an epic 100-kilometre trail rich with tradition.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the WildernessRetreats in The Prom — Wilderness Retreats in The Prom. (Image: Christian Pearson)

Wilderness Retreats in Wilsons Promontory offers glamping-style tents with luxurious queen beds. Star Hotel is a reconstruction of a Gold Rush-era hotel from 1863 in the heart of heritage Walhalla. Caves House is a historic three-bedroom house with views over the Buchan River.

Eating there

the Carrajung Estate, Gippsland — Enjoy a post-hike lunch at Carrajung Estate. (Image: Everyday Nicky)

Kilcunda General Store serves great coffee and meals of local produce at the George Bass Coastal Walk. Alpine Trout Farm is located near Toorongo Falls in Noojee. Fish for your own lunch and barbecue it with the provided cookware.

Carrajung Estate is a short drive from Tarra-Bulga National Park. The winery’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of regional ingredients and you can stay at The Lodge.

a seafood feast at Carrajung Estate, Gippsland — The table is set for a seafood feast at the estate.