A calendar of Australia's most majestic natural wonders

At certain times throughout the year nature puts on a range of awe-inspiring performances you don’t want to miss.

Nature gives us the best calendar of events of all: a colourful light show that dances across the night sky, the appearance of a purple-drenched lavender field in full bloom, 40 million red crabs scurrying home for the night or the magnificence of the Great Barrier Reef’s annual coral spawning event. It’s all about being in the right place, at the right time. And for that, we give you this calendar of Australia’s natural wonders to factor into your travel plans throughout the year.

Aurora Australis

Seeing the Northern Lights has probably been scribbled on your bucket list for decades, but did you know that Australia has its own equally impressive light show?

Aurora Australis (aka The Southern Lights) are a phenomenon that occurs when fully charged particles burst from the sun, creating a solar wind that slams into the Earth’s magnetic field and rushes towards the North and South Poles. As the solar particles collide with atoms of nitrogen and oxygen in our atmosphere, their electrons charge, leaving ions that radiate energy in wavelengths that produce a spectacular natural dancing rainbow (main picture featured above: Aurora Australis in Strahan by Dietmar Kahles).

Aurora Australis over Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. (Credit: Pierre Destribats)

When can you see the Aurora Australis?

Although an Aurora can technically be seen at any time of year, the clear, dark skies of winter are often best. And thanks to modern technology (slash social media) there are a number of online resources to check in with that might increase your chances of getting a glimpse – including Aurora-Service.net and the Aurora Australis Tasmania Alert NOW Facebook page.

Where can you see the Aurora Australis?

Like any good skyward phenomenon, your best chance of catching a glimpse occurs far from the light pollution of cities and towns, and other obstructions like trees and mountain ranges. The further south you go, the likelier it is to be seen. Tasmania, Victoria – this is where the magic happens.

For a comprehensive guide to the Southern Lights, head here.

Blooming season at lavender fields

Rows upon rows of purple drenched lavender fields are grown on farms all around Australia – and if you visit at the right time, you’re invited to frolic through its fields while in bloom.

The picturesque lavender fields at Bridestowe Lavender Estate.

Where and when can you see lavender farms in bloom?

There are a number of places to view the purple perfection, but one of the most prized locations is Bridestowe Lavender. Located an hour outside of Launceston, the seemingly endless fields of lavender bloom each year between December and January.

Likewise, the lavender fields in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales are in full bloom usually between December and February.

Head here to locate the most beautiful lavender farms around Australia.

Coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef’s annual mass coral spawning has been called the biggest sexual event on the planet – and even the world’s biggest orgasm on the world’s biggest organism.

Translation: over a few nights, the waters of individual reefs burst with new life. Countless sperm and egg bundles are released simultaneously, creating a spectacular snow globe-esque explosion of synchronous breeding.

Flynn Reef erupts Flynn Reef erupts in an explosion of pink as corals begin their annual spawning on the Great Barrier Reef — Flynn Reef erupts in an explosion of pink as corals release tiny balls containing sperm and eggs into the water. (Image: Gareth Phillips/Reef Teach)

When does coral spawning happen?

Over two or three nights at various times between October and December. If you’re visiting from Cairns, the spawning usually occurs within a week of the November full moon.

Where can I see coral spawning?

Divers Den operate special night trips departing from Cairns that get divers and snorkellers up close and personal to the coral spawning event.

Learn more about Coral Spawning here.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Penguin Parade

Phillip Island is one of the premier places on the planet to secure a personal penguin experience – and not from far, far away either. Each night, visitors can witness the compact creatures interact, groom each other and waddle up the beach back to their burrow after a hard day in the ocean.

There’s a range of options for seeing the penguins as they hit the sand each evening, ranging from the general viewing pass, to the ‘penguins plus’ pass (it’ll get you up front and closer to the ‘penguin parade’, plus a talk from a ranger prior to the stars of the show making their appearance) as well as a special private guided tour, which will take you to an isolated spot to spy on the little critters away from the main parade thoroughfare.

Penguins assemble at The Penguin Parade — The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is the home of the largest Little Penguin colony in the world.

When is the Penguin Parade?

Every night at sunset.

Where is the Penguin Parade?

Phillip Island (a 90-minute drive from Melbourne).

WA’s wildflower season

Western Australia’s wildflower season appears like a magical carpet in the southern half of the vast state at the dawn of spring.

There are big, bold blooms, but most are small and delicate, with fine fringing, intricate patterns and minute details best observed up close. WA is home to 12,000 species of flowering natives, 70 per cent of which are found nowhere else in the world. Incredibly, more are being discovered every year.

Yellow wildflowers in WA — WA is home to 12,000 species of flowering natives, 70 per cent of which are found nowhere else in the world.

When is the best time to see WA’s wildflowers?

The mass bloom starts around the hotter, drier mid-point of WA late in June. It then flows southward as the weather warms, hitting its peak in September and continuing towards November.

Where can you see WA’s wildflowers?

Once wildflower season hits, grab your camera and make a beeline for Perth. There are many great places to spot them right in the city centre.

Alternatively, floral seekers can also tour the surrounding Perth Hills and journey north, east and south of the metropolis.

Staircase to the Moon

Come sunset, the best free show in Broome is the Staircase to the Moon, which happens several times throughout the year. It occurs when a full moon rises over the mudflats of Roebuck Bay at low tide and looks like a huge staircase rising up to meet an enormous blood-orange moon.

Stairway to the Moon, Broome, Kimberley, WA — ‘Staircase to the Moon’ at Roebuck Bay in Broome.

When does the Staircase to the Moon occur?

The Staircase to the Moon phenomenon happens two to three days a month between March and October. Check the exact dates here.

Where can I see the Staircase to the Moon?

Broome’s Roebuck Bay. Grab a bite from one of the stalls at the Staircase to the Moon markets – they run in sync with the appearance of the staircase – and settle in for the show.

Morning Glory Cloud

The aptly named Morning Glory Cloud is a stunning solitary rolling cloud wave that forms over the Gulf of Carpentaria early on spring mornings. With a length of up to 1000 kilometres, it even made the Guinness Book of World Records, and only in Australia can you regularly witness its series of long, cigar-shaped clouds.

The cloud is created when sea breezes from either side of Cape York collide, creating a singular wave (or Soliton) in the atmosphere. The powerful and fast-moving crest of the wave is what you can suddenly see in the otherwise blue sky.

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Where can I see the Morning Glory Cloud?

Far northwest Queensland’s Gulf of Carpentaria. Burketown in the southeast corner of the Gulf is a good spot to regularly witness the cloud.

When can I see the Morning Glory Cloud?

From September to November, the cloud can be viewed in the early morning; charter flights are available for viewing.

Christmas Island crabs

Christmas Island is one of Australia’s most remote and beautiful territories, yet many Australians are completely unaware of the island’s outstanding natural beauty, fascinating history and a melting pot of cuisines to enjoy.

What are the Christmas Island crabs?

Once described by Sir David Attenborough as “the world’s greatest migration," the Christmas Island crab phenomenon happens once a year. The island’s native red crabs, which normally spend their lives wandering around the forest floor eating leaf litter, leave their homes in the rainforest and descend to the island’s beaches to breed.

It’s thought there are more than 40 million red crabs on the island, and when they decide to migrate to mate, a trip that takes them a week or so, roads and beaches transform into a moving red carpet.

When can you see Christmas Island crabs?

Christmas Island red crabs move en masse each year in the wet season of October/November from the island’s forests to the ocean.

Where can you see Christmas Island crabs?

Christmas Island is located in the Indian Ocean, 2600 kilometres northwest of Perth.

Blue Lake in Mt Gambier

If ever you needed evidence that spring’s arrival is a reason to celebrate, then look to Mt Gambier. Every year as the seasons change the town’s moody body of water – the Blue Lake – commemorates with a brilliant change of colour. The Boadnik people’s oral history of the area alludes to ancestors witnessing the volcanic activity that created the many lakes in the area more than 4000 years ago.

The Blue Lake Mount Gambier — The wide crater lake turns a brilliant sapphire blue over the warmer months.

When can you see the Blue Lake?

To see the lake in its two stages is something else, as though you’re at two very different places on Earth. The summer version sparkles like Lake Como, only more Australian. The winter version is a dreary, grey hue. During hibernation, it is more of a grey/blue lake. Then, in November, it changes to a brilliant sparkling blue.

It’s also the main source of water for the town of Mt Gambier, so don’t pack your bathers expecting to have a dip.

No matter your interests, you’re bound to find a unique and utterly memorable experience along the mighty Murray River.

Along the Murray River lies a network of towns that are at once intertwined and wildly diverse. Linked by the legendary waterway yet strikingly distinct, each has its own personality, pace and collection of experiences you won’t soon forget.

1. On the river

fishermen on Lake Mulwala — Get out onto the pretty Lake Mulwala. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

A visit to the region wouldn’t be complete without a jaunt on the iconic river. If you’re something of an adventurer, Lake Mulwala – an inlet on the Murray – is perennially popular for all kinds of watersports. Glide among ghost gums on a kayak or stand up paddleboard, or pick up the pace by waterskiing or windsurfing.

For a more relaxed (but no less immersive) river experience, hop on board one of the famed paddle steamers. Departing from Echuca Moama, Swan Hill and Yarrawonga Mulwala, these historic boats provide a nostalgic view of the Murray.

2. First Nations culture

Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk, murray river — Wander the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk.

The river is a meeting place of ancient cultures, home to over 50 First Nations clans and an integral part of their communities, storytelling and way of life.

To learn more about the Traditional Owners, take yourself on a guided stroll through the Wagirra Trail. Situated in Albury/Wiradjuri country, the trail passes through red gum forest, riverside wetlands and the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk.

Alternatively, visit the Dharnya Centre in the heart of Barmah National Park on Yorta Yorta country. The centre tells the history and stories of the Yorta Yorta people, offering guided walking tours and cruises.

3. Delicious eats

the Mildura Boat House — Savour a relaxed riverside meal at Mildura Boat House.

For a representative taste of the Murray’s epicurean highlights, a few destinations are well worth your time (and appetite).

Opa in Echuca is a local staple, serving up authentic and bold Greek dishes in lively surrounds. Greek not your thing? The twin towns of Echuca Moama have numerous top-notch drinking and dining spots to choose from and an ever-evolving food scene.

In Albury, the River Deck Cafe is perched right on the river, delivering scenic vistas and a vibrant daytime menu. Expect lemon meringue waffles or Green Goddess smashed avo for breakfast, or a zippy duck salad with Southeast Asian flavours for lunch. For more waterfront dining options, head to Mildura Boathouse. Enjoy iconic views and a modern Australian menu focused on local producers and wines.

4. Hiking and biking trails

two people on bikes at Lake Boga — Discover the Murray Region on two wheels. (Credit: Ewen Bell)

The best ways to experience the Murray’s surrounding landscapes are on foot or by bike. Luckily, plenty of well-marked trails take you through the diverse scenery.

The Mildura Riverfront has a shared path for both walkers and cyclists, connecting the town centre with a string of parks and lookouts. The path lets you take in the entire town and its distinctive terrain at a leisurely pace, and is relatively flat throughout.

For a more challenging experience, head to the Huon Hill Parklands or Nail Can Hill Reserve in Albury Wodonga. Both feature a varied network of bushwalking and mountain biking trails through undulating terrain.

5. Best views along The Murray

swan at wonga wetlands in the murray — Spot the birdlife at Wonga Wetlands. (Credit: Visit Albury Wodonga)

The Murray region is perhaps unsurprisingly a prime destination for epic vistas. The Wonga Wetlands just outside Albury are an aquatic feast for the eyes, a winding web of billabongs and lagoons. Take a stroll through the tranquil landscape and see if you can spot one of the more than 170 bird species living within.

Stop by Moama Beach at sunset to catch the dazzling display. Vivid hues of pink, amber and gold flare against a backdrop of river red gum trees and are reflected in the river’s glassy waters.

Head away from the Murray itself, 15 mins from Albury Wodonga, for stunning mountain views at Lake Hume. Or head to Gunbower National Park, a picturesque place boasting a diverse wonderland of waterbirds, wildlife and aquatic plants.

6. Art and culture

People viewing art at Murray Art Museum. — Immerse yourself in art at the MAMA, Albury. (Tourism Australia)

The region’s diverse mix of galleries, museums and cultural hubs provides a window into its past and present.

One of the most prominent is Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), which has a rotating roster of contemporary exhibitions. The Burrajara Gallery is another Albury gem, with a powerful collection of works from local First Nations artists.

There are several smaller museums and galleries scattered across Echuca Moama and Mildura reflecting the artistic depth of the Murray. Popular picks include The Foundry Arts Space and Customs House Gallery in Echuca Moama, and the Arts Centre, Riverfront Gallery and NAP Contemporary in Mildura.

7. Murray Region Events

band on stage at Riverboats Music Festival — Time your trip around one fo the regions live music events. (Credit: Riverboats Music Festival)

Each year, the Murray hosts events as unique and characterful as the region itself.

The Massive Murray Paddle takes place every November, a 415-kilometre, five-day river paddle raising money for local charities. Whether you take part in a canoe, kayak, stand up paddleboard or boat, or watch from the riverbanks, you’ll be in for a memorable experience.

If you’re a music lover, you’re in luck throughout the year. In summer, plan a trip for Riverboats Music Festival. And in the cooler months, head to the Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival for four days of performances across different venues.

8. Best stays along The Murray

the Cozy Dome at Charm Lodge accommodation — Find unique stays by the river or in the countryside.

Throughout your busy few days of exploring, you’ll need a comfortable spot to rest.

Echuca Moama Riverside Holiday Park is right on the river and has gorgeous views. Pick from riverfront and pet-friendly lagoon cabins, or set up camp at one of the powered sites set among native bush. Or head into the countryside to stay in the quaint glamping or lodge options of Charm Lodge.

Alternatively, treat yourself to a night or two at The Sebel Yarrawonga Silverwoods, which has stylish modern rooms and luxe amenities. There’s a heated infinity pool, day spa and an on-site restaurant doing elevated fare with local produce.

For a quintessential Murray experience, hire a houseboat from one of the many operators in Mildura. Available for weekend and week-long adventures, these well-appointed boats immerse you in the leisurely rhythm and quiet beauty of the Murray River.

Discover what’s new on The Murray at visitthemurray.com.au