40 Uniquely Australian Experiences To Add To Your Bucket List

From Cable Beach to Cairns, we've got you covered.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

1. Swimming with whale sharks, Ningaloo Reef

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Snorkel with some of the biggest fish in the ocean – don't worry, they're totally harmless!

2. The Giant Tingle Tree, Walpole

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This giant tree was hollowed out by a fire, but still stands strong.

3. Camel rides, Cable Beach

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Can you name a better sunset activity?

4. Sand dunes, Lancelin

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These high white dunes are perfect for sandboarding.

5. Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth.

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See a quokka up close for yourself! Rotto is the only place where you'll be able to see them in their natural habitat. (Fun Fact: Rottnest island was named by a Dutch explorer who thought the Quokkas were in fact rats. Rottnest = rat's nest.)

6. Wave Rock, near Hyden

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Visit this giant rock formation which looks just like a wave about to crash.

7. Eyre Highway, Nullarbor

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Drive on Australia's longest straight road – 145km with no bends.

8. Nullarbor Links Golf Course

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While you're crossing the Nullarbor, play a round on the world's largest golf course. The 18-hole course is situated along 1,365km of the highway, between Kalgoorlie and Ceduna. Players purchase a scorecard and, upon completion, receive a certificate for playing the "World's Longest Golf Course".

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

9. Coober Pedy

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Visit a town which is almost entirely underground. Coober Pedy, the world's largest opal mining area, was built this way to avoid the scorching heat.

10. Swim with sea lions, Bairds Bay

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These guys love playing around and will come and swim all around you once you hop in the water.

11. Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island

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You can also hang out with these guys on the beaches of Kangaroo Island. (I hear that place is really hopping.)

12. Great white shark diving, Port Lincoln

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The safe way to see one of Australia's most feared predators.

VICTORIA

13. Great Ocean Road

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Drive the 243 scenic kilometres along the south Victorian coastline for one of our most iconic road trips.

14. The Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road

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While you're there, check out the the Twelve Apostles before any more of them get washed away.

15. Tree surfing, Mornington Peninsula

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A high-ropes course that includes climbing and zip-lining.

16. Panning for gold, Ballarat

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Visit one of the most populated gold mining areas during the Australian gold rush, and try your hand at panning and digging for gold.

17. Peninsula Hot Springs, Mornington Peninsula

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Relax in these hot spring thermal pools in a beautiful natural setting.

TASMANIA

18. Cradle Mountain

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Hike up Cradle Mountain and be rewarded with stunning views of the Tasmanian landscape.

19. Maria Island

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The whole island is a national park, with no cars and no noise pollution. Pure bliss.

20. White water rafting, Franklin River

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Take an 8- or 10- day rafting trip down the World Heritage Area of the Franklin River.

21. Bridestowe Lavender Estate

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Visit 265 acres of lavender, and try some lavender-inspired food in their restaurant.

22. Port Arthur convict settlement

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Visit an old convict town, the destination for the worst British prisoners in the 1800s. Ghost tours are also offered.

23. Check out the Aurora Australis

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Tasmania is one of the only places in Australia where you can glimpse the southern lights. The best places to try would be Coles Bay or Cockle Creek.

NEW SOUTH WALES

24. Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay

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Visit the beach which has the whitest sand in the world.

25. Yerranderie, an actual ghost town

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Formerly a bustling silver-mining town in the early 1900s, access from Yerranderie to Sydney was cut off by the establishment of the Warrangamba dam, and many residents of the town left. Today, it is still home to abandoned buildings which, along with its remoteness, leaves it with a very spooky atmosphere. It's a great place for camping.

26. Mt Kosciuszko

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Camp at the highest point in Australia, atop Mt. Kosziuszko in the Snowy Mountains.

27. BridgeClimb, Sydney Harbour Brigde

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Brave your fear of heights and scale the iconic bridge, offering amazing views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House.

28. Glamping, Paperbark Camp

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Stay in "tents" that have comfortable beds, an attached en-suite with a bathtub and a communal dining room. You'll never want to rough it again.

29. The Three Sisters, Blue Mountains

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Visit the amazing rock formations in the Jamison Valley, and while you're there take a bushwalk or admire the beautiful scenery of the Blue Mountains.

30. Hot air ballooning, Byron Bay

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Take a relaxing sunrise float over Byron Bay and the surrounding countryside. You can also balloon in the Hunter Valley.

QUEENSLAND

31. Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef

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Dive the largest coral reef in the world and see a diverse mix of coral and marine life.

32. Charter a yacht in the Whitsundays

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Whether just for a day trip, or overnight, the Whitsundays is one of the world's best sailing destinations.

33. The Minjin Swing, Cairns

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The only multi-person swing in Australia, the Minjin Swing swoops you through the jungle at 120 km/hour.

34. Bungy jumping, Cairns

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While you're up in Cairns, why not also get your blood pumping with a 50m bungy jump?

35. Sea turtle hatching season, Heron Island

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See baby sea turtles hatch and make their way down to the water each November.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

36. Waterfall pools, Litchfield National Park

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Hop in one of these warm swimming holes, and get a natural massage from the falling water.

37. Gunlom Pool, Kakadu National Park

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38. Kayak in Katherine Gorge

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Enjoy the tranquil beauty of Australian rivers.

39. Kata Tjuta National Park

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When people visit the Red Centre, Uluru is always top of the list of priorities. But definitely make time for Kata Tjuta, which is just as impressive and stunning.

40. Crocodile diving, Darwin

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Get up close and personal with the largest Saltwater crocs on the planet in the "Cage of Death".