7 minute read
Great Australian Bucket List
Uluru
Source: Tourism NT Matt Cherubino Australia bursts with jaw-dropping sights and experiences equal to any the world over. And if COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s to seize the moment and appreciate the immense treasure that’s in our backyard.
This great Australian bucket list captures just some of the iconic destinations that we should experience at least once in our lifetime.
So, when the opportunity arises, start ticking these amazing experiences off your list.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT
When it comes to iconic Australian images, Uluru quickly comes to mind. This 348m-high sandstone rock is mesmerising, intricate, and massive. And then there’s the towering dome-like peaks that make up Kata Tjuta.
Admire it all in several memorable ways, including strolling along picturesque walking tracks, sunrise and sunset camel tours, scenic flights, and incredible outdoor dining experiences.
Where to stay: BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park, Alice Springs.
Great Barrier Reef, QLD
One of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, the Great Barrier Reef had to make this list. As the world’s largest coral reef, it hoards a profusion of marine and coral life and is home to hundreds of islands and their beaches. The reef offers some of the best diving and snorkelling opportunities on the planet, or scenic boat tours and flights for those who prefer to stay dry, and plenty of other pinch-me experiences. Explore this treasure with ease from myriad destinations dotted along the QLD coast.
Where to stay: BIG4 parks in QLD.
South West, WA
There is so much treasure crammed into this epic pocket of WA that it almost defies belief, including shimmering beaches mixed with dramatic coastline and funky rock formations, sprawling forests and their towering trees, and captivating caves.
Throw in wine regions led by iconic Margaret River, a myriad of microbreweries, and engrossing historical attractions, and you have a destination with absolute mustvisit status.
Where to stay: BIG4 parks in South West WA.
Cradle Mountain, TAS
This eye-catching Tassie mountain is used to starring in front of the camera, and it’s easy to see why. Cradle Mountain’s jagged shape, and the rugged landscape that surrounds it, create an aura of being among true wilderness.
Ample walking tracks of various gradings and distances within Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park provide the best platform for soaking up the astounding scenery.
Where to stay: BIG4 parks in TAS.
Daintree Rainforest, QLD
This is the oldest-surviving tropical rainforest on earth, and the humongous region is divine. Part of the wider Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage area, the Daintree houses an incredible variety of flora and fauna, much of it rare. A visit here will leave you feeling as though you’re in another world.
Daintree National Park is found within these sprawling surrounds and has two distinct sections to discover, Mossman Gorge and Cape Tribulation. Both offer extraordinary visual delights.
Where to stay: BIG4 Port Douglas Glengarry Holiday Park, BIG4 Cairns Crystal Cascades Holiday Park, and BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut Resort.
Kakadu National Park, NT
Australia’s largest national park is phenomenal, delivering copious amounts of serious eye-candy alongside culturally significant locations. Kakadu has earned World Heritage status for both its natural and cultural worth, which is a rarity. Expect dazzling gorges and waterfalls, lush wetlands, and rugged escarpments. You will be amazed by the Aboriginal rock art that dates as far back as 50,000 years.
Where to stay: BIG4 Howard Springs Holiday Park.
World-famous wine regions of SA
SA’s reputation for producing outstanding wine stretches across the globe, and there’s no better way to appreciate this than being in the heart of the action. Wind your way around the cellar-doors of the Barossa, Clare Valley,
Bethany Wines, Barossa Valley, SA Source: Nick Rains McLaren Vale, and the Coonawarra and mix incredible views and tranquil environments with delicious wine.
Where to stay:
Barossa: BIG4 Barossa Tourist Park.
Coonawarra: BIG4 Naracoorte Holiday Park or BIG4 Blue Lake Holiday Park.
McLaren Vale: BIG4 Port Willunga Tourist Park, BIG4 Cape Jervis Accommodation & Caravan Park, or BIG4 Port Elliot Holiday Park.
Great Ocean Road, VIC
Arguably Australia’s most famous drive, the Great Ocean Road is dominated by spellbinding sights. A seemingly never-ending sequence of sparkling coastal views, along with funky formations and time-honoured seaside destinations, ensuring this path requires an unhurried pace.
In contrast, the dramatic coastal vistas are backed by a profusion of majestic rainforest, waterfalls, and other gems found within neighbouring Great Otway National Park.
Where to stay: BIG4 parks in the Great Ocean Road region.
Swimming with whale sharks – Ningaloo Reef, WA
Sharing the water with whale sharks is an exhilarating experience. The sheer size of these animals is almost unfathomable, up to 18m in length, and their distinctive markings appear painted on. Luckily, they don’t consider humans to be particularly tasty. Whale sharks reliably congregate around Ningaloo Reef, part of the wider World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park.
Where to stay: RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park.
Port Arthur Historic Site, TAS
There’s a certain eeriness to this infamous convict settlement contrasting with the peaceful surroundings. And it’s easy to get swept up by it all. This is the most intact convict site in Australia, and the well-preserved nature of this World Heritage-listed property helps bring to life the many colourful and evocative stories. Fascinating.
Port Arthur Historic Site Source: Alastair Bett
Where to stay: NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park or BIG4 Hobart Airport Tourist Park.
Coober Pedy, SA
There’s uniqueness, and then there’s Coober Pedy. This distinctive town is well-known for its underground buildings, including pubs and shops, lunar-like landscapes, rich opal-mining culture, and various quirks. And within daytrip distance are some attentiongrabbing natural wonders like the colourful hills of Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park.
Where to stay: BIG4 Stuart Range Outback Resort.
The Kimberley, WA
An area of exceptional beauty in North West WA, the Kimberley features some of the most aweinspiring natural attractions on earth. Marvel at incredible waterfalls, rock formations, gorges, and so much else. The peculiar Bungle Bungle Range is among the many highlights.
Sydney, NSW
Simply put, Sydney is stunning. The NSW capital regularly draws the eyes of the world and provides visitors with its own bucket list. It’s home to landmark structures like the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, iconic Darling Harbour, and famous beaches like Bondi, and that’s just the start!
Where to stay: Ingenia Holidays Nepean River or NRMA Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park.
Tjoritja West MacDonnell National Park, NT
This attraction is somewhat underrated, yet flying under the radar is a large part of its appeal. Comfortably reached from Alice Springs, the national park dishes up a succession of remarkable natural features and sacred Aboriginal sites, gorges, chasms, colourful ochre pits, springs, and more. And when visiting, you might be lucky enough to have some of it to yourself.
Where to stay: BIG4 MacDonnell Range Holiday Park, Alice Springs.
Mona, TAS
The Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) is firmly entrenched as one of Tasmania’s most popular attractions. Located in Hobart, Mona quickly shatters any preconceptions that this is just another museum. A series of quirky, thought-provoking, and even confronting displays and exhibits have led to worldwide acclaim.
And it’s much more than a museum. Mona includes a cellar door, bars, a restaurant, café, and regular events like comedy and jazz.
Please note: At time of print, MONA was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where to stay: BIG4 Hobart Airport Tourist Park.
Mount Kosciuszko, NSW
Climbing Australia’s tallest mountain during warmer months has to be on the bucket list. While Mount Kosciuszko is a baby compared to the likes of many of the world’s tallest peaks, it still presents a fair old challenge.
This 2,228m-high mountain strongly rewards those who reach its summit with awe-inspiring views extending over the diverse landscape of Kosciuszko National Park and beyond.
Isn’t it time you enjoyed a bucket list experience? Start your adventures at BIG4.com.au.
WIN a BIG4 Break!
DPS has partnered with BIG4 to share some of Australia’s must-see attractions and help you find your next holiday destination. BIG4 Holiday Parks is the home of the great Australian break, and it’s giving you the chance to WIN your very own getaway. Simply sign up to the free BIG4 Perks membership program and you’ll go in the running to win a two-night stay at any BIG4 park across Australia. There are loads of quality holiday parks to choose from among some of the most desirable locations in Australia. And they are packed with fantastic features.
