Australia attracted 9.7 million visitors in the year ending August 2017. This is up 8.7% compared to the previous 12 months. China is Australia’s largest tourism market, but this beautiful country also welcomes many visitors from Europe and the United States. The Australian dollar is strong right now, so foreign visitors have less spending money, but despite the forex AUD to USD rate being less favorable, international visitors still managed to spend $40.6 billion in the year ending June 2017.
The stunning scenery is one of the top reasons why visitors flock to Australia. They come to see the iconic Sydney Opera House, Ayers Rock, and the Great Barrier Reef. But whilst these sights are part of a well-trodden itinerary, especially for the ubiquitous Chinese tour groups, there are many other less well-known sights that are equally as memorable. The fact they are less well-known means you won’t be surrounded by thousands of other tourists.
Here is our list of five of the most underrated – and beautiful – places in Australia.
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small spot of land in the Pacific Ocean and a two-hour flight from Brisbane. Around 2,000 people live on Norfolk Island. Once populated by convicts, Norfolk Island is now a beautiful slice of paradise small enough to explore in a day. Take a trip here and you can enjoy the laid-back vibe, check out Captain Cook’s Memorial, find out more about the island’s original convict settlements, and chill out on an island where cows have right of way.
Ningaloo Marine Park
Most visitors head to the Great Barrier Reef to learn more about Australia’s aquatic life, but Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia is just as interesting. Ningaloo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visitors can snorkel off the beach, explore the coral gardens, and enjoy one of the most idyllic beaches in the world: Turquoise Bay.
Wave Rock
Australia has many outstanding geological masterpieces, but not many visitors make a beeline for Wave Rock in WA. This is a real shame for Wave Rock is just as impressive as Uluru. You can find Wave Rock near Hyden, which is a four-hour drive from Perth. It is 15-meters high and stretches for 110-meters. The granite is 3 billion years old and looks exactly like a huge wave.
Darwin
Darwin is in the far north of Australia. Not many people live this far north, but Darwin is a beautiful, quiet city that offers respite from the buzz of Sydney and Melbourne. Visit Darwin to learn more about the indigenous Aboriginal culture, local wildlife, and pick up some souvenirs the Mindil Beach open-air markets. It’s very hot in Darwin, but the sunsets are amazing and the balmy sea breezes take the edge off the heat.
Flinders Chase National Park
Visitors flock to Kangaroo Island, but the Flinders Rock National Park on the island’s southwest tip is often overlooked. This is a huge mistake as the 328 square/km park is a real jewel in the crown. Fill your Instagram feed with beautiful images and say hello to the resident seal population of Admiralty Arch.
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