Incredible places in Australia: Why the AUD drop isn't all bad news

The Aussie dollar may be down, but its incredible travel offerings are not.

It’s true, the Australian dollar has hit a five-year low, making it pretty tough for many of us to travel overseas right now. While that isn’t ideal, some of the most unique places in Australia quite literally cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

We’re lucky enough to call this beautiful and fascinating place home, so when it really comes down to it, there’s so much to explore right here that there’s no need to travel anywhere else.

Here are 10 incredible places in our country that prove Australia should be the main event, not the backup option.

1. Daintree Rainforest, Qld

Not only is the Daintree Rainforest magnificent – especially once you cross the Daintree River into Cape Tribulation, you suddenly feel transported to the age of dinosaurs, it’s so easy to imagine them chomping their way through this dense and vibrant green foliage – and at 130 million years it holds the title of the oldest continually surviving rainforest in the world.

The plant and animal life you can find here today is millions of years older than the Amazon, and thriving. From an exclusive waterfall tour of Cassowary Falls to tasting the Daintree Ice Cream Company’s iconic frozen treats, find the best ways to immerse yourself in the Daintree with this list of our favourite things to do.

mosman, daintree rainforest places in australia — See the ancient Daintree Rainforest. (Image: TEQ)

2. Arnhem Land, NT

Not only does Australia have some of the oldest landscapes, but it’s also home to the world’s oldest living culture. While there are fascinating experiences to enrich your knowledge of Australia’s Indigenous peoples all over the country, why not start in the place where the oldest evidence of this culture was discovered? Arnhem Land.

The Madjedbebe site – a rock shelter found at the base of the Arnhem Land escarpment – is dated at 65,000 years. Sitting 300 kilometres east of Darwin in Mirarr Country, ancient artefacts – like tools and ochre crayons used to make pigments – were found here, and proved that the previous estimates of Indigenous people living in Australia fell far short of the truth.

Get out and explore the most incredible places in Arnhem Land with our ultimate guide to planning a trip there.

guide showing indigenous cave art in arnhemland — Learn about the world’s oldest culture in Arnhem Land. (Image: Tourism NT/ Shaana McNaught)

3. Great Barrier Reef, Qld

About 344,400 square kilometres, more than 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands make up the Great Barrier Reef; the largest coral reef system in the world and is one of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders. Stretching for 2300 kilometres along Queensland’s coast from Bundaberg to the tip of Cape York Peninsula, there are so many ways and places to explore its vibrant marine life.

Whether you prefer to get a bird’s-eye view from a helicopter, jump on a glass-bottomed boat, or get up close by snorkelling and diving, this guide to picking the best location for you should be your first read. Then you can read our pick of the best accommodation options, and the best tours.

aerial shot of two people snorkelling in the great barrier reef — Dive into one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. (Image: TEQ)

4. Stockton Bight Sand Dunes, NSW

Hidden just on the edge of Port Stephens, the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes is a spectacular place that most Australians still don’t know about. Created thousands of years ago, these are the largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Exploring them can feel like exploring a desert, or another planet, as they stretch so far that you often can’t see anything but sand.

Personally, a quad bike ride with Sand Dune Adventures – an Indigenous-led not-for-profit run by the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council – is the absolute best way to see these dunes, but there are many other options. Pick your favourite from our top picks list, here.

Stockton Bight Sand Dunes nsw places in australia — Ride a quad bike through Stockton Bight Sand Dunes. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Great Australian Desert, Central Australia

When combined, this country’s 10 deserts become the Great Australian Desert: the fifth largest (after the Antarctic, the Arctic, the Sahara and the Arabian) and among the most untouched in the world. Australia’s deserts are so large that they cover about a fifth of our nation’s mainland.

So it’s no surprise that both the terrain and the wildlife that call it home are incredibly diverse and unique to Australia. Find landscapes that range from semi-desert grassy or mountainous to red sand dunes and rocky plains to great salt pans. So where to start an Australian desert adventure?

Start here with our guide to the best and easiest ways to navigate our deserts, then have a gander at our top picks of the most incredible outback experiences to have around the country.

person walking through the South Australian Outback — Explore the fifth of Australia that is covered by desert. (Image: Getty/ Philip Thurston)

6. Lark Quarry, Qld

In 1962, a fossilised footprint on Cork Station (about a 1.5-hour drive out of Winton) became the most significant dinosaur discovery in Australia (and the world). Continuing exploration of the area found over 3300 footprints in what was clear evidence of a dinosaur stampede, the only known record of a dinosaur stampede in the world.

Those same footprints are still on display today at Lark Quarry . See the footprints for yourself as you walk around the boardwalks, or join a 45-minute guided tour to learn more.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the rest of what Winton has to offer, for both dinosaur enthusiasts and everyone else.

dinosaur footprints at Australian Age of Dinosaurs in winton qld — See part of the Lark Quarry stampede at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum. (Image: TEQ)

7. Ningaloo Reef, WA

The World Heritage Site of Ningaloo Reef is not only surrounded by beautiful beaches just begging you to relax on an extended holiday (and the world’s largest fringing reef), but it’s the only place in Australia (and one of few in the world) where you can not only see but swim with whale sharks. Every year, hundreds of these giant sharks, the largest known fish in existence, come to the Ningaloo to find food from March to July.

And that’s not all you’ll see in these crystal clear (and delightfully warm) waters. About 450 different species of marine life call it home for the whole or part of the year, including humpback whales, manta rays, dugongs, dolphins and turtles.

Read this guide to discover our favourite ways to explore this beautiful part of Western Australia.

person snorkelling with a whale shark in ningaloo reef western australia — Swim with whale sharks. (Image: Tourism WA)

8. Coober Pedy, SA

So this is more of a man-made wonder, but the natural abundance of a beautiful little stone saw Coober Pedy become the opal capital of the world. It’s also one of the most unique towns in the world, given that the majority of it – from mines to churches to housing – resides underground in an effort to beat the stifling heat.

It’s truly an Australian bucket list place, and you can start planning your adventure here.

two people underground in Coober Pedy south australia — Head underground to experience Coober Pedy. (Image: South- Australian Tourism Commission)

9. Phillip Island, Vic

Little penguins, the smallest of all penguins, can only be found along the coast of Australia and New Zealand. But where better to guarantee a sighting than Phillip Island, home to one of the largest little penguin colonies in the world.

Just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne (and connected to mainland Victoria by a bridge) book a ticket to the famous nightly Penguin Parade . Elevated boardwalks make for perfect viewpoints as a controlled number of visitors watch these feathered locals return to their burrows every night as the sun goes down. Plus your ticket supports more research into and care for these waddly creatures.

Need even more penguins in your life? Read our list of the best places to spot them in Australia.

[enguin parade on phillip island victoria — Watch little penguins head home for the night on Phillip Island. (Image: Visit VIC)

10. The Blue Mountains, NSW

The Blue Mountains are no secret to Australians, but not many realise that these beautiful rocky mountains are actually 10 times older than the Grand Canyon. In fact, the ancient rocks underneath the mountains are estimated to be about 470 million years old.

That alone makes them worth a visit, but then add the blue-tinged beauty and idyllic towns dotted along this area, and you’ve got a recipe for the perfect holiday. For tips on everything to do, from dining out to staying in, hiking, swimming, wine-tasting and more, read our Blue Mountains travel guide. The outdoorsy types should also check out our favourite hikes in the area, all the better to immerse yourself in this ancient landscape.

the three sisters at the blue mountains new south wales — Gaze on rock formations older than the Grand Canyon. (Image: Destinaion NSW)

Abandoned mills and forgotten paper plants are finding second lives – and helping redefine a city long underestimated.

Just 15 years ago, Federal Mills was a very different place. Once among the most significant industrial sites in Victoria, the historic woollen mill was one of a dozen that operated in Geelong at the industry’s peak in the mid-20th century, helping the city earn its title as ‘wool centre of the world’. But by the 1960s global competition and the rise of synthetic fabrics led to the slow decline of the industry, and Federal Mills finally shuttered its doors in 2001. Within a few years, the abandoned North Geelong grounds had become makeshift pastoral land, with cows and goats grazing among the overgrown grass between the empty red-brick warehouses. It was a forgotten pocket of the city, all but two klicks from the bustle of the CBD.

Geelong cellar door wine bar — Geelong has shed its industrial identity to become an innovative urban hub with reimagined heritage spaces. (Image: Ash Hughes)

Federal Mills: from forgotten factory to creative precinct

Today, the century-old complex stands reborn. The distinctive sawtooth-roof buildings have been sensitively restored. An old silo is splashed with a bright floral mural, landscapers have transformed the grounds, and the precinct is once again alive with activity. More than 1000 people work across 50-plus businesses here. It’s so busy, in fact, that on a sunny Thursday morning in the thick of winter, it’s hard to find a car park. The high ceilings, open-plan design, and large multi-paned windows – revolutionary features for factories of their time – have again become a drawcard.

Paddock Bakery andPatisserie — Paddock Bakery and Patisserie is housed within the historic wool factory. (Image: Gallant Lee)

At Paddock , one of the precinct’s newer tenants, weaving looms and dye vats have been replaced by a wood-fired brick oven and heavy-duty mixers. Open since April 2024, the bakery looks right at home here; the building’s industrial shell is softened by ivy climbing its steel frames, and sunlight streams through the tall windows. Outside, among the white cedar trees, families at picnic benches linger over dippy eggs and bagels, while white-collar workers pass in and out, single-origin coffee and crème brûlée doughnuts in hand.

Geelong: Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design

Paddock Bakery can be found at Federal Mills. (Image: Gallant Lee)

“A lot of people are now seeing the merit of investing in Geelong,” says Paul Traynor, the head of Hamilton Hospitality Group, which redeveloped Federal Mills. A city once shunned as Sleepy Hollow, and spurned for its industrial, working-class roots and ‘rust belt’ image, Geelong has long since reclaimed its ‘Pivot City’ title, having reinvented itself as an affordable, lifestyle-driven satellite city, and a post-COVID migration hotspot.

And the numbers stand testament to the change. In March 2025, and for the first time in its history, Greater Geelong became Australia’s most popular regional town for internal migration, overtaking Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Current forecasts suggest Geelong will continue to outpace many other Australian cities and towns, with jobs growing at double the rate of the population.

Tourism is booming, too. The 2023-24 financial year was Geelong and The Bellarine region’s busiest on record, with 6.4 million visitors making it one of the fastest-growing destinations in the country. It’s not hard to see why: beyond the city’s prime positioning at the doorstep of the Great Ocean Road, Geelong’s tenacity and cultural ambition stands out.

As Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design, Geelong is swiftly shaking off its industrial past to become a model for urban renewal, innovation, sustainability and creative communities. The signs are everywhere, from the revitalisation of the city’s waterfront, and the landmark design of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and Geelong Arts Centre, to the growing network of local designers, architects and artists, and the burgeoning roster of festivals and events. That’s not even mentioning the adaptive reuse of storied old industrial buildings – from Federal Mills, to Little Creatures’ brewery ‘village’ housed within a 1920s textile mill – or the city’s flourishing food and wine scene.

The rise of a food and wine destination

Restaurant 1915 is housed within a restored former boiler house. (Image: Harry Pope/Two Palms)

Traynor credits now-closed local restaurant Igni, which opened in 2016, as the turning point for Geelong’s hospo industry. “[Aaron Turner, Igni’s chef-patron] was probably the first guy, with all due respect, to raise the bar food-wise for Geelong,” he says. “People now treat it really seriously, and there’s clearly a market for it.” While Igni is gone, Turner now helms a string of other notable Geelong venues, including The Hot Chicken Project and Tacos y Liquor, all within the buzzy, street art-speckled laneways of the CBD’s Little Malop Street Precinct. Many others have also popped up in Igni’s wake, including Federal Mills’ own restaurant, 1915 . Housed within the cavernous boiler house, 1915’s interior is dramatic: soaring, vaulted ceilings with timber beams, exposed brick, a huge arched window. The share plates echo the space’s bold character, playing with contrast and texture, with dishes such as a compressed watermelon tataki, the sweet, juicy squares tempered by salty strands of fried leeks, and charred, smoky snow peas dusted with saganaki on a nutty bed of romesco.

The Woolstore , one of The Hamilton Group’s most recent hospo projects, opened in February. It occupies a century-old riverside warehouse and exudes a more sultry, fine dining ambience. Much like Federal Mills, the blueprint was to preserve the original brickwork, tallowwood flooring and nods to the building’s former life. That same careful consideration extends to the well-versed, affable waitstaff as well as the kitchen. Head chef Eli Grubb is turning out an eclectic mix of ambitious and indulgent mod Oz dishes that deliver: strikingly tender skewers of chicken tsukune, infused with hints of smoke from the parrilla grill, and glazed with a moreish, sweet gochujang ‘jam’; nduja arancini fragrant with hints of aniseed and the earthy lick of sunny saffron aioli; and golden squares of potato pavé, adorned with tiny turrets of crème fraîche, crisp-fried saltbush leaves, and Avruga caviar, to name but a few stand-out dishes.

Woolstore menu — Woolstore’s menu is designed for sharing.

Breathing new life into historic spaces

On the city’s fringe, hidden down a winding side road with little fanfare, lies a long-dormant site that’s being gently revived. Built from locally quarried bluestone and brick, and dating back to the 1870s, the complex of original tin-roofed mill buildings is lush with greenery and backs onto the Barwon River and Buckley Falls; the audible rush of water provides a soothing soundtrack. Fyansford Paper Mill is one of few complexes of its time to survive intact. It feels steeped in history and spellbindingly rustic.

“We were looking for an old industrial place that had some charm and romance to it,” explains Sam Vogel, the owner, director and winemaker at Provenance Wines which moved here in 2018. When he first viewed the building with his former co-owner, it was in such a state of disrepair that the tradie tenant occupying the space had built a shed within it to escape the leaking roof and freezing winter temperatures. “To say it was run down would be an understatement,” he notes. “There was ivy growing through the place; the windows were all smashed. It was a classic Grand Designs project.”

Provenance Wines moved to Fyansford Paper Mill in 2018. (Image: Cameron Murray Photography)

The team has since invested more than a million dollars into their new home. Where paper processing machinery once sat, wine barrels are now stacked. Vaulted cathedral ceilings are strung with festoon lights, and hidden in plain sight lies a shadowy mural by local street artist de rigueur Rone – one of only three permanent works by the artist.

While the award-winning, cool-climate pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay naturally remain a key draw at Provenance, the winery’s restaurant is a destination in itself. Impressed already by whipsmart service, I devour one of the most cleverly curated and faultlessly executed degustations I’ve had in some time. It’s all prepared in a kitchen that is proudly zero-waste, and committed to providing seasonal, ethical and locally sourced meat and produce under head chef Nate McIver. Think free-range venison served rare with a syrupy red wine jus and a half-moon of neon-orange kosho, shokupan with a deeply savoury duck fat jus (a modern Japanese take on bread and drippings), and a golden potato cake adorned with a colourful confetti of dehydrated nasturtiums and tomato powder, and planted atop a sea urchin emulsion.

handcrafted pieces — Bell’s handcrafted functional pieces on display.

The complex is home to a coterie of independent businesses, including a gallery, a jeweller, and its latest tenant, ceramicist Elizabeth Bell, drawn here by the building’s “soul”. “There’s so much potential for these buildings to have new life breathed into them,” says Bell, whose studio is housed within the old pump room. “Even people in Geelong don’t know we’re here,” she says. “It’s definitely a destination, but I like that. It has a really calming atmosphere.”

A Melbourne transplant, Bell now feels at home in Geelong, which offers something Melbourne didn’t. “If this business was in Melbourne I don’t think it would’ve been as successful,” she notes. “It’s very collaborative in Geelong, and I don’t think you get that as much in Melbourne; you’re a bit more in it for yourself. Here it’s about community over competition.”

Australia isn’t a plan B: here’s why the AUD drop isn’t all bad news