18 of Australia’s most photographable places to visit

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Watch the likes roll in with the country’s most photo-ready sights.

Deconstructed breakfasts and over-styled selfies certainly work but nothing attracts instant Instagram gratification more than Australia’s most brilliant vistas. From iconic bucket list destinations to less-explored natural wonders, the country’s most picture-perfect attractions are guaranteed to set your feed alight.

1. BridgeClimb Sydney, NSW

You can capture the Sydney Harbour Bridge from countless angles but getting professionally snapped atop the coat hanger as the Sydney Opera House dangles in the distance is a coveted Instagram post on anyone’s wish list.

Sign on for BridgeClimb Sydney at dawn or dusk to experience both a carpet of twinkling lights and sensational sun shifts during the single journey.

people climbing up the BridgeClimb Sydney, NSW
BridgeClimb offers breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Luna Park, NSW

While you’re flooding your feed with Sydney standouts, head to Luna Park Sydney in Milsons Point for an astonishing Sydney Harbour Bridge vantage point.

a man giving his child a piggyback ride with the giant glowing Ferris wheel in the background at Luna Park Sydney
Strike an IG-worthy pose at Luna Park with the giant glowing Ferris wheel as your backdrop. (Image: Destination NSW)

Venture to the harbour’s edge towards the rear of the amusement park and you’ll capture the bridge, Opera House and the park’s rainbow-hued Ferris Wheel in the one frame. Visit early in the morning to beat crowds and limit scattered tourists littering your lens.

a family entering the Luna Park, NSW
Spend a fantastic day out with your family at Luna Park. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Elephant Rocks, William Bay National Park, Western Australia

One of Western Australia’s most dramatic natural marvels, Elephant Rocks in William Bay National Park consists of several enormous oval-shaped boulders, resembling a herd of elephants rising out of crystal-clear waters.

the Elephant Rocks, William Bay National Park, Western Australia
William Bay National Park is renowned for its famed elephant-shaped rocks. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Get there early to score a spot in the William Bay Road carpark which is just a five-minute walk from the beachfront show. In terms of mapping out your trip, it’s about 14 kilometres southwest of Denmark in WA.

an aerial view of the Elephant Rocks, William Bay National Park, Western Australia
Elephant Rocks WA is surrounded by huge granite boulders. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

4. Bondi Icebergs Pool, NSW

No filters are required here. Even on the gloomiest days, Bondi Icebergs Pool is one of Australia’s most arresting eyefuls as ocean waves crash up against the 50-metre adult lap pool and slowly fizzle around the adjoining 25-metre section.

an aerial view of Bondi Icebergs Pool, NSW
Come by the coolest hotel swimming pool in Bondi Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)

It’s a spectacular collision of blue and white and every shade in between. You’ll score a killer aerial view up on Notts Avenue at the southern end of Bondi Beach even if it’s cluttered with sightseers and Bondi to Bronte coastal walkers. The pool is so huge down below, you can’t miss it.

a top view of Bondi Icebergs Club, Sydney
Bondi Icebergs Pool meets the sea. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Lucky Bay, Esperance, WA

Move over, Whitehaven. Australia’s whitest beach is Esperance’s Lucky Bay and better still, it’s home to resident kangaroos, making it the most loveable beach scene in the country.

an aerial view of Lucky Bay, Esperance, WA
Lucky Bay is one of Australia’s purest and whitest beaches. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

The water itself is sparkling turquoise, throwing another level of spectacular into your selfie, but it’s all about the local roos at this stunning stretch of sand so time your visit to dusk or dawn. Although they can be spotted during the rest of the day, they’re mostly active at night so you’ll spy more if you’re strategic.

the stunning white sand beach at Lucky Bay, Esperance, WA
Off the coast of Esperance lies the stunning Lucky Bay. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

6. Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, Coober Pedy, SA

Dishing out daily desert sunrises and sunsets to stir up your senses, the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park in Coober Pedy is picture-perfect from wherever you’re standing.

an aerial photo of a man walking along the rugged landscapes at Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park
The rugged landscapes at Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park are picturesque. (Image: Skye Reynolds)

Sprawling out over almost 15,000 hectares and flushed with canyons, mountains, domes and other extraordinary geological marvels, the wonder must be seen to be believed. To add further fascination, more than 60 unique flora species dot the park and our most iconic wildlife roam free.

the scenic desert landscape at Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, Coober Pedy, SA
Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park boasts majestic arid scenery. (Image: Elise Cook)

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7. Hosier Lane, Melbourne, Victoria

Showcasing street art at its mightiest, Hosier Lane in Melbourne’s CBD is a well-trodden pit-stop that should be thanked for its part in cementing Melbourne as Australia’s culture capital.

No matter where you point your lens, brilliant bursts of graffitied colour from local and international artists provide illuminating photos on every feed. Just brace yourself for should-to-shoulder crowds if you’re visiting on a weekend or during lunch hour.

vibrant graffitied colours at Hosier Lane, Melbourne, Victoria
You’ll see vibrant graffiti on Hosier Lane everywhere you look. (Image: Visit Victoria)

8. Crawley Edge Boatshed, Perth, WA

A haunting sight that could easily pass as art if framed on a wall, Crawley Edge Boatshed in Perth is a huge hit amongst Instagrammers.

the famous Crawley Edge Boatshed in Perth, WA
Take a scenic stroll along the timber boardwalk leading to the boatshed. (Image: Simon Burrows)

Better known as the Blue Boathouse, it’s a 1930s restored shack that juts out at the end of a jetty over the Swan River. Stand at the foot of the jetty on dry land to snap the ultimate shot, encompassing the river’s still waters and this eerie, beautiful old structure.

a family relaxing in front of The Crawley Edge Boatshed in Perth, WA
Capture Instagrammable photos in front of the blue boatshed. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

9. Brighton Beach Boxes, Vic

A sunny queue of 82 adorable pop colour bathing boxes adorns the sandy shores of Dendy Street Beach in Brighton, with one of the itty-bitty structures even sporting the colours of our nation’s flag.

a couple walking along the colourful huts at Brighton Beach, Vic
Stop by colourful huts along Brighton Beach. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Melbourne’s Brighton Beach Boxes, which were built more than 100 years ago, attract visitors all year round for their traditional timber frames, multi-coloured weatherboard facades and corrugated iron roofs. Your only difficulty will be picking your favourites to snap and post.

an aerial shot of colourful, Victorian bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Vic
Brighton Beach is lined with colourful, Victorian bathing boxes. (Image: Visit Victoria)

10. Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

Offering uninterrupted views of Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake is a magical body of water surrounded by unspoilt wilderness.

views of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake in Tasmania
Take in the craggy sights of the Cradle Mountain. (Image: Off the Path)

Spectacular walking tracks are on hand to help you explore the glacially carved lake and its surroundings in full but there’s utterly enchanting scenery everywhere, particularly at the old boat shed which serves as an other-worldly prop for Instagram fodder.

view of Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain from Mt Campbell
Fog envelops Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. (Image: Emilie Ristevski)

You can drive to Dove Lake but parking is limited so most people travel via the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre ’s regular shuttle buses.

the Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain under the night sky in Tasmania
Dove Lake shimmers majestically under the night sky. (Image: Emilie Ristevski)

11. Lake Hillier, Middle Island, WA

You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped onto another planet when you first spy Lake Hiller on Middle Island, off the southern coast of WA, but the great news? The sensational fairy floss-hued lake is swimmable.

an aerial view of Lake Hillier, Middle Island, WA, instagrammable place in Australia
Lake Hillier is an incredibly pink lake set next to clear turquoise waters on Middle Island. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

You won’t find many wading because the salt concentration is ridiculously high but if you do get out to the remote Instagram hot spot, feel free to dip your toes in to secure a selfie of your dreams.

an aerial view of Lake Hillier, Middle Island, WA, instagrammable place in Australia
Set foot on the fairy-floss-hued Lake Hillier. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

12. Uluru, Red Centre, Northern Territory

Australia’s spiritual heartland is breathtaking and no photograph will ever do Uluru justice. However, Instagram likes to have a crack. The 3.6-kilometre-long natural structure looks terrific on social media, serving as one of the country’s most recognisable bucket list sightings.

sunset at Uluru, Red Centre, Northern Territory, instagrammable place in Australia
Uluru is a deeply spiritual and breathtaking place. (Image: Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia and Anson Smart Photography)

The bonus in being there? Uluru is tremendously moving. Travel up from the airport or Alice Springs and spend as much time as possible exploring the dusty rock and the neighbouring rock formations at Kata Tjuta.

Uluru at sunrise, instagrammable place in Australia
Uluru is most stunning at sunrise or sunset. (Image: Emily Murphy)

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13. Bommie Deck, Hamilton Island, Queensland

For the ultimate holiday cocktail-in-hand bragging rights, head straight to Bommie Deck at sunset for an incredible shot against Hamilton Island’s glistening waters.

One of Hamilton Island’s best things to do, soaking up the luxe life at this spectacular outdoor bar located right near the marina provides instant high society vibes. Part of Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie Deck is the envy-inducing island backdrop you’ve always wanted. Get there before the sun starts to sink to secure a table.

the Bommie Deck & Restaurant perched on Hamilton Island, Queensland, instagrammable place in Australia
Bommie Deck is perched on the glistening waters of Hamilton Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

14. The Maheno shipwreck, K’gari, Qld

A captivating piece of history crumpling up on one of the country’s most pristine beaches, the Maheno shipwreck on K’gari is extraordinary. Decaying on the shore since the luxury vessel’s fateful demise during a cyclone in 1935, the Maheno’s vast shape and form can still be spied in sensational detail, creating a dramatic coastal scene that’s begging to join your Insta grid.

the Maheno shipwreck, K’gari, Qld, instagrammable place in Australia
Be in awe at the Maheno shipwreck on K’gari.

15. Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Vic

While we’re talking at-sea drama, don’t miss a chance to wind your way around Victoria’s Great Ocean Road for a glimpse of the Twelve Apostles.

a sunset view of Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Vic, instagrammable place in Australia
Carved from the sea are impressive limestone stacks known as Twelve Apostles. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Located a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Melbourne, the famous rock formations are said to be around 20 million years old but all seven of the remaining limestone stacks remain as bewitching as ever. For the grandest of vantage points, get to the viewing platform right before Castle Rock at the southern end of the masterpiece.

the Twelve Apostles at sunset, Great Ocean Road, Vic, instagrammable place in Australia
The sun casts a glowing shade upon the Twelve Apostles’ rock formations at dusk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

16. Burleigh Hill, Gold Coast, Qld

Capturing everything the Gold Coast is famous for, Burleigh Hill at Burleigh Heads provides a sweeping view of the coastline including Surfers Paradise’s signature skyscrapers, dramatic headlands and awesome surf action.

a family enjoying a picnic at Burleigh Hill, Gold Coast, Qld, instagrammable place in Australia
Enjoy a picnic on the grass with stunning coastal views at Burleigh Hill. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Take the coastal walk through Burleigh Head National Park from Tallebudgera Creek, one of the Gold Coast’s most beautiful swimming spots, and arrive like a local before finding a spot on the grass to soak up the good life.

two people sitting on Burleigh Hill watching the surfers, instagrammable place in Australia
Spend your laid-back afternoons watching the waves roll in and out at Burleigh Beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

17. Lake MacDonnell, Eyre Peninsula, SA

Visit on a clear day to spy one of the most incredible pools of water in the country. Lake MacDonnell in South Australia is yet another gob-smacking bubble gum-hued lake located 45 minutes from Ceduna Airport via car.

driving along pink salt Lake MacDonnell in South Australia
Lake MacDonnell turns into a pretty shade of pink. (Image: Jaxon Foale)

A magical result of high salt concentration and salt-hungry algae, the Instagram hot spot fluctuates its state of pink but no matter when you visit, you’re sure to spy something entirely out of the ordinary.

an aerial view of a car driving along Lake MacDonnell in South Australia
Embark on a dreamy road trip along Lake MacDonnell. (Image: David Jaske)

18. Wallaman Falls, Tropical North Queensland

We strongly urge you to chase waterfalls at Queensland’s Girringun National Park where you’ll find Wallaman Falls , Australia’s tallest single-drop cascade. Towering high at 268 metres, the majestic sight is about 170 kilometres north-west of Townsville and cars can access the waterfall through park roads. For a great vantage point, drive to the Wallaman Falls lookout after turning left on Blackbraes Road.

a rainbow spotted at Wallaman Falls, Tropical North Queensland, instagrammable place in Australia
Wallaman Falls is perfect for rainbow spotting. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Kyle Hunter)
Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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Inside Geelong’s glow-up from factory town to creative capital

    Chloe Cann Chloe Cann
    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
    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  

    boiler house
    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. 

    Woolstore
    The Woolstore is a new restaurant and bar housed within a century-old warehouse. (Image: Amy Carlon)

     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
    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.”  

    Elizabeth Bell
    Ceramicist Elizabeth Bell has a store in Fyansford Paper Mill.