Australia is filed with bucket list adventures. In fact, there are so many, it is hard to pick one to tell you about so I’m going to tell you about my top 5 bucket list adventures in Australia. Have an amazing time scratching these off your list.
1. The Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef Photo Credit: (Wikipedia)By Toby Hudson – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11137678
The Great Barrier Reef is iconic and you really can’t visit Australia without coming to see the largest barrier reef in the world. It is one of the world’s natural wonders and there are so many ways to experience its splendor. You can snorkel or SCUBA dive to see the glorious colours of the reef and its thousands of inhabitants up close and personal. You can visit one of the islands of the reef, take a glass bottom boat ride, charter a yacht or a sail boat. If you even want to up the ante on your bucket list, you can visit the Daintree Rainforest north of Cairns where you can experience the only place in the world that three World Heritage Listed sites come together at the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation, and the Great Barrier Reef.
2. Swim with a Whale Shark
Swimming with a Whale Shark Photo Credit: VisitNingaloo.com.au
There are only a few places in the world where you can swim with the whale sharks. These gentle giants of the sea are bigger than a bus, but seem just as interested in humans as we are in them. Ningaloo Reef is located in northern Western Australia on the Indian Ocean. It is the largest fringing reef in Australia, which means you go from the beach to the reef. It is home to a fantastic array of sea creatures year round in addition to being a migration spot for whale sharks from April to July. Snorkel and SCUBA charters leave daily from Exmouth and Coral Bay that take you out to swim with these amazing creatures that can grow up to 18 metres in length.
3. Cage Dive with Great Whites
Great White Shark Cave Dive Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Alban – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1237288
One of the things that Australia is known for is the presence of Great White Sharks in the waters, mostly along South Australia and Western Australia. One of the worldwide hotspots for Great White Shark tourism is located off the coast of Port Lincoln, South Australia. That is where the Neptune Islands are located and one of the most popular places in the world for Great White Shark sightings. There are several charter companies that will take you out on cage dives and various other expeditions. There is a variety of tours available, you don’t have to know how to SCUBA dive and you don’t even have to get wet, there are top side Great White Shark viewing charters too. So, you can scratch Great White Sharks off your bucket list without even getting wet, if that is quite enough adventure for you.
4. New Year’s Eve in Sydney
New Year’s Eve in Sydney Photo Credit: Sydney.com
Just like you can see the first sunrise of the day, you can also celebrate the first big New Year’s celebration of the year in Australia. Sydney’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza is definitely one of the most fantastic spectacles in the world. There are several vantage points on land, in the parks, and on the waters of Sydney Harbour and Darling Harbour. The fireworks and laser show happens from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and there are many events all around town that include dinner, barbecues, and drinks too.
5. Visit the Australia Zoo
Australia Zoo Photo Credit: AustraliaZoo.com.au
Australia’s animals are well-known all over the world and so is the iconic Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. His family still runs the Australia Zoo in Queensland and a visit there allows you to safely interact and see most of those famous Australian creatures like crocodiles, kangaroo, koalas, and hundreds more. There are interactive shows, special packages like trainer for a day, and much more. Everything at the Australia Zoo is done with a spin on conservation and learning to love and preserve the animals just like Steve Irwin would have wanted.
So what is the best way to get around Australia? To keep in trend with Australia’s laid back atmosphere and “no rules” holiday vibe, you should hire a car with Budget Rent a Car Australia. That way, you can go where you want, when you want. No schedule to keep, no waiting for taxis or rushing off to catch a bus when you are in the middle of cuddling a koala.