Step off the beaten path and see something a little different on your next getaway. While Australia is famous for its iconic landmarks, it’s the unique and quirky wonders that are often the most memorable. From the beautiful to the bizarre, here’s our top pick of weird and wonderful experiences across Australia.
Image courtesy of Visit Orroroo
Get ready to defy the laws of physics and ‘reverse gravity’ at Magnetic Hill in South Australia. Just outside Black Rock in the state’s Mid North, Magnetic Hill is one of the more unusual tourist attractions, but you’ll need a car to experience it. Simply turn off your ignition, put your car into neutral, and it will seemingly roll uphill all by itself. First discovered by a local farmer in the 1960s, the effect is believed to be an optical illusion caused by a lack of horizon check points. However, that hasn’t stopped curious visitors from testing out the theory and marvelling at the effect.
Accommodation in Port Pirie
Stay in the nearby seaport town of Port Pirie on the Spencer Gulf in well-appointed and modern rooms at the Comfort Inn Flinders.
Image courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.
Beneath the crystal-clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, you’ll find a living art gallery like no other. The Museum of Underwater Art features a series of submerged sculptures that double as artificial reefs, merging art with the environment. Created by world-famous sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the underwater art installations tell a story of the beauty and fragility of our marine ecosystem. Snorkel or dive among giant human figures covered in growing coral and explore the Coral Greenhouse, the world’s largest underwater art structure.
Accommodation in Townsville
Ideally located in Townsville's CBD, the Clarion Hotel is within walking distance to local shops, restaurants and things to do in Townsville.
Australia's undergorund museum.
From underwater to underground, the World War II Darwin Tunnels will take you on a unique dive into a secret chapter of Australian wartime history. One of the top things to do in Darwin on the waterfront precinct, these tunnels stretch for 300m into the hillside in an atmospheric network of secret passageways. Built to house vital oil supplies following the Bombing of Darwin by the Japanese in 1942, the tunnels are now open to the public, with fascinating WWII items and artefacts on display telling the story of Darwin’s historical military past.
Accommodation in Darwin
With easy access to Darwin International Airport, the Quality Hotel Darwin Airport is perfectly positioned with bright, comfortable rooms, an outdoor resort-style pool and a free airport shuttle pickup.
Image courtesy of Visit Victoria.
Ever wanted to visit an ancient 120,000-year-old lake to gaze at the stars? We know just the spot. Located near historic Swan Hill, Lake Tyrrell is Victoria’s largest salt lake and is a renowned stargazing location due to its endless dark skies. Aptly nicknamed the ‘Sky Mirror’, you’ll feel like you’re walking among the stars on the lake’s famous reflective surface. The best time to visit Lake Tyrrell is on a clear winter’s evening when the lake has a shallow layer of subterranean water pushed up through the salt crust. But if you don’t want to get your feet wet, the Lake Tyrrell viewing platform has magical views, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Accommodation in Swan Hill
You’ll find peaceful and relaxing places to stay in Swan Hill, the perfect place to explore the region and popular local tourist attractions.
Image courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.
Discover an unexplained geological formation that has long puzzled scientists, experts and visitors alike. Dating back 25 million years, the Mystery Craters near Bundaberg in Queensland were unearthed by a farmer in 1971 while attempting to clear his land. Their exact cause is unknown, but the theories vary wildly from volcanic activity to alien intervention. Either way, if you’re looking for things to do in Bundaberg, Mystery Craters is well worth a visit.
Accommodation in Bundaberg
Enjoy a welcoming stay in self-contained suites with pool views at Econo Lodge Park Lane in sunny Bundaberg.
Image courtesy of Visit Victoria.
The ‘Cathedral of the Wimmera’, the Stick Shed in Victoria’s Wimmera region, is an astounding sight to behold. Clad in corrugated iron, the historic shed is a staggering 265m long, 60m wide and 19m high. The wartime emergency grain store was built in 1941 to house the surplus of wheat after exports were halted during WWII. Step into the vast, shadowy interior to see rows of unmilled mountain ash poles standing like sentinels. While you’re there, don’t miss the spectacular Murtoa Silo Art mural, one of many large-scale murals in rural landscapes across Australia.
Accommodation in Horsham
You’ll find excellent accommodation options in the nearby regional city of Horsham, gateway to the Grampians. Getting from Murtoa to Horsham is an easy 25-minute drive across the Wimmera Plains.
Image courtesy of Kramer Photography.
Former quarry sites are not usually renowned for their beauty, but the striking Bombo Headland Quarry on the NSW south coast is a little different. The heritage-listed geological site features distinct hexagonal rock columns, like those of the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, that make you feel like you’re walking on the moon. The prized basalt was first quarried in the 1800s, and today the site draws geologists and photographers from around the world. Explore the headland on the Bombo Headland Walk and enjoy spectacular coastal views from the lookout.
Accommodation in Wollongong
Enjoy access to first-class beaches, restaurants and local attractions in the seaside city of Wollongong with these premium and family-friendly places to stay.
Image courtesy of Offroad Images.
The Mount Gambier region on the Limestone Coast of South Australia is another area known for its volcanic geology. Set in a landscape of volcanoes, sinkholes, caves and crater lakes, the city itself is built on the slopes of a dormant volcano, and the area abounds with natural wonders to explore. Visit the Umpherston Sinkhole, a collapsed limestone cave transformed into an enchanting sunken garden wreathed in hanging vines and flowering hydrangeas, and take a tour of the nearby Engelbrecht Cave and discover a labyrinth of limestone formations and an underground lake.
Accommodation in Mount Gambier
Enjoy convenient and quiet accommodation at the award-winning Comfort Inn The Lake, the perfect base to explore things to do in Mount Gambier.
Capricorn Caves - Rockhampton
Image courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.
The Queensland coast has its own unique limestone landscape, remnants of a prehistoric inland sea. Below the surface, the limestone has been eroded by rainwater to form a network of underground caves, the most famous being the Capricorn Caves. One of the most popular things to do in Rockhampton, take a tour of the narrow winding passageways and discover chambers of ancient fossils. Don’t miss the stunning acoustics of the renowned Cathedral Cave with its vaulted ceilings and natural rock formations.
Accommodation in Rockhampton
For the perfect getaway, relax in resort-style accommodation at Quality Resort Parkhurst in Rockhampton.
Image courtesy of Tourism Western Australia.
If you’re up for a challenge, the Granite Skywalk in the heart of Western Australia’s Porongurup National Park is one of the best things to do in Albany. A suspended steel and glass platform hugging the towering granite dome of Castle Rock, it offers panoramic views over the Stirling Range. Not for the faint-hearted, it’s a steep 4.4 km-return hike through jarrah and marri forest past the famous balancing rock, including a 6-metre ladder climb up to the platform. But the breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside are well worth the effort.
Accommodation in Albany
You’ll find modern and comfortable apartment-style accommodation at the Quality Apartments Banksia Albany, perfect for couples and families in a central location near the town’s main attractions.