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50 things on my Australian Bucket List
Learning about other countries and their culture can be an exciting experience but have you thought about your own country? Even though I’m well-travelled, there is still plenty more on my Australian bucket list. What’s on yours?
It’s fun to think about where you want to travel next so I thought I’d follow the bucket list by a fellow blogger and friend Josie, of Josie Wanders. I’ve gone one step further though – my bucket list is an all Australian Bucket List!
Now my mission is to start ticking them off. Have you written up your Australian bucket list yet? Here’s mine:
My travelling life
As a child I inherited a very large case of wanderlust and even though I’m well-travelled there are still so many places I’ve yet to visit.
My childhood years were spent in the highlands of Papua New Guinea and later in the Philippines and in Timika, a very remote areas of Irian Jaya. Back home in Australia, I’ve lived in remote Cape York, spending a few years in Bamaga at the very tip of Northern Queensland and now I’ve recently clicked over 20 years in Australia’s Northern Territory.
It’s lovely to reflect on the many wonderful places I’ve visited. Some I will be happy to revisit, so come with me on the journey as we explore my new Australian Bucket List.
These are the things I’ve yet ‘to do’. In no particular order …
My Australian Bucket List
Things I’ve yet to tick off my Aussie bucket list
- Learn to Kayak – my last attempt ended with me almost drowning in Bali
- Go Glamping – I love eco-friendly adventures
- Visit Christmas Island to see the Red Crabs migrate – this is high up my list
- Cruise to Antarctica
Northern Territory
- Stay at Cicada Lodge in Nitmuluk Gorge – next on my list!
- Take a road trip to Kakadu National Park (again)
- Take The Ghan though the Northern Territory – a long time dream of mine
- Do the Kings Canyon Rim Walk – surprisingly, I’ve not been yet.
- Visit Uluru & Kata Tjuta National Park – I can’t get enough of this place!
Western Australia
- Drive from Darwin to Broome
- Take a camel ride along Cable Beach
- Stay at El Questro in ‘the Kimberley’
- Visit Kalbarri National Park
- Bungle Bungles or Purnlulu National Park
- Drive across the Nullarbor
- See the whales at Head of the Bight
- Take a selfie with a Quokka on Rottnest Island
- Spend some time in Fremantle
- Take the walking trail through the Pinnacles at sunset
- Explore more of the Margaret River vineyards
- Swim with the Dolphins at Monkey Mia
- Drive the Gascoyne Valley when the wildflowers are out in Western Australia
- Visit Wave Rock
- Go swimming at Ningaloo Reef
- Explore Cape Le Grand National Park
- Visit Busselton
South Australia
- Visit Kangaroo Island
- Go to the Oyster Festival in Ceduna (early October every year)
- Explore the Flinders Ranges
- Stay in the Claire Valley
- Visit the caves in Naracoorte
- Do the Silo Art Trail
- Go down the Oodnadatta Track
Victoria
- Go to Phillip Island to see the Little Penguins Parade
- Go to Wilson’s Promontory National Park
- Drive the Great Ocean Road (as a passenger)
- Visit Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill
- Mornington Peninsula
Tasmania
- Drive around Tasmania
- Take time to paint Wine Glass Bay
- Stay at the lodge on Cradle Mountain
- Laze on the beaches of the Bay of Fires
- Catch a sunrise over Hobart atop of Mount Wellington
Queensland
- Bareboat Charter around the Whitsunday Islands
- Australian Dinosaur Trail at Winton
- Go to the Birdsville Races
- Visit the Atherton Tablelands – my Mother’s family first settled in the Tablelands
- Visit the Undara Lava Tubes
- Drive to Cooktown via Cape Tribulation
New South Wales
- Do the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
- Visit the Blue Mountains and the Jenolan Caves
Inspirations for your own Aussie Bucket List
These are some of the places I’ve visited and done that I highly recommend. They will make a great start for your own Aussie Bucket List.
Some I have written some posts about, but more will come in due course. If you have any questions, drop me a note below.
Northern Territory
- Road trip from Adelaide to Darwin
- Wander around the Devils Marbles
- Visit Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park
- Camp at Chambers Pillar in the Simpson’s Desert
- Experience Kakadu National Park
- Take a wildlife cruise on Yellow Waters
- Watch a sunset over Rainbow Valley
- Swim at Litchfield National Park
- Take a Jumping Crocodile Cruise
- Visit Fogg Dam – one of the best wildlife habitats in the Territory
- Experience a Mindil Beach sunset
- Stay at Daly Waters Pub
- Watch turtles hatch with Turtle Tracks at Bare Sand Island
Queensland
- Road Trip to Cape York
- Ride the train up to Kuranda
- Visit the Kuranda Butterfly Sanctuary
- Stay in the Daintree Rainforest
- Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef
- Cruise the Whitsunday Islands and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef
- Visit Mon Repos to watch turtles hatching
- Go to Fraser Island – stay at the eco-resort at Kingfisher Bay
- Laze away the days on Great Keppel Island
- Swim the volcanic craters – Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine on the Atherton Tablelands
- See the platypus in Eungulla National Park
- Surf at Agnes Waters and the Town of 1770
New South Wales
- Visit beautiful Yamba, Ballina and Byron Bay
- Do the Sydney Opera House Tour
- Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Explore the convict historical site of Cockatoo Island
- Do a Pub Tour through ‘the Rocks’ in Sydney
Victoria
- Do the Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne
- Take High Tea at the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne
- Enjoy the Street Art in Hosier Lane, in Melbourne
- Go Tobogganing in the snow at Mt Bulla
Australian Capital Territory
- Canberra War Memorial in Canberra
- Take a tour of Parliament House
- Lunch at Parliament House as a Minister’s guest
- Visit Canberra during Floriade
South Australia
- Tour the Barossa Valley
- Tour the McLaren Vale wine region
- Treat yourself to a Degustation at d’Arenburg Winery
- Sleep underground in Coober Pedy
- Go to the ‘Tour Down Under’ cycling event (held in January every year)
Tasmania
- Visited Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart (MONA)
- Port Arthur Historic Site
- Take a Peppermint Bay Cruise
- Salamanca Markets in Hobart
Australia is a big country
Australia is a huge island-continent, and often underestimated by travellers. Did you know that it is the sixth largest country in the world, and almost the same size as the US. You will need to be prepared for long distances.
If you try and see too many places in a short amount of time, you’ll feel rushed and won’t be able to slow down and enjoy what this beautiful country has to offer. When planning your trip, give yourself plenty of time to explore the country.
To help with your travel planning, subscribe here and download our free 3 week Travel Itinerary.
See Australia in 3 Amazing Weeks‘
Accommodation and Insurance
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My Australian Bucket List to Pin for later
Australia
There’s nowhere on earth quite like Australia. Tropical rainforest, gorgeous golden beaches, stark desert landscapes and snowy alpine peaks and there’s always the laid-back lifestyle that everyone expects.
Australia is renowned for its differences.