If you want to connect with nature and experience some of the most fantastic scenery in Australia, take a look at these Australian countryside escapes. Whether you want to get away for a weekend break or a longer trip, these amazing places should be on your bucket list.
Hiring a car will make visiting these locations much easier and means you can explore at your own pace. No hassle, the open road, the beauty of the Australian countryside… what are you waiting for?
1. Experience the mystique of Ayers Rock
Amazing Ayers Rock (Uluru) is a stunning part of the Outback to visit and will be imprinted on your memory forever. You can choose from a selection of accommodation in the national park, from luxury hotels to camping under the stars. All are only a short drive from the rock, and you can use your hire car to explore the Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Watarrka national parks.
Experience stunning sunrises and sunsets, a mesmerising landscape and a warm welcome from the locals in the heart of Australia. Learn about the Aborigine culture and the ancient history of this monumental rock that rises majestically from the land and changes colour in the different lights of the day.
2. Head north to Darwin
Darwin is much more than a city in the Northern Territory. You’ll find some of the most diverse landscapes in the surrounding countryside, which are best explored by car. Check out Litchfield National Park with its creek walks, refreshing waterholes to cool off in and beautiful waterfalls. You’ll be fascinated by the Magnetic Termite mounds that are unique to northern Australia.
You can´t miss a trip to Mary River if you love nature. A series of billabongs and lagoons make up the waterways and are the perfect setting for a guided boat tour. Another top countryside destination is the Territory Wildlife Park, where you can get up close to the animals, stroll through the forest and visit the aquarium.
3. Discover the wilderness of the Blue Mountains
A drive through the rugged Blue Mountains in New South Wales is the best way to see this vast expanse of natural wonderland. Canyons, rock formations, waterfalls and rainforests await you in this wild part of southern Australia. Named after the blue haze created by the acres of eucalyptus forests in this World Heritage location, the Blue Mountains are an incredible sight.
If you’re feeling adventurous you can go rock climbing, abseiling or canyoning, while hikes and cave tours are available if you want to keep your feet on the ground. An unmissable trip is a cruise down the Nepean River on an authentic paddle steamer. Why not treat the family and eat lunch or a delicious dinner at twilight and enjoy a glass of wine this region is famous for?
4. Visit the awesome Daintree Rainforest
This ancient part of eastern Australia holds a special magic. You can wonder at the trees and canopy that have been growing for over 180 million years, cool off in the waters of the Mossman Gorge and go crocodile spotting on a cruise along the Daintree River. There are plenty of trails and tracks to follow, a wildlife centre to learn about the bugs and animals that live in the forest and the rainforest skywalk, for a bird’s eye view of the flora and fauna.
To learn more about this fascinating place take a guided tour with an Aboriginal guide who will show you how to hunt for bushtucker, the way to throw a boomerang and tell you all about the beliefs of the Aboriginal people. You can even treat yourself to an indigenous spa, with natural ingredients gathered from the rainforest.
5. Be amazed at the vastness of the Kimberley
You may not believe this, but Kimberley in north-western Australia is three times bigger than the UK! This sprawling region is home to some of the most amazing Australian countryside escapes. Have you ever seen a horizontal waterfall? Take a trip to the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay with its breath-taking natural phenomenon of rapidly flowing water.
Another gem you can´t miss are the Broome mangroves in Roebuck Bay, an ecosystem that is home to many species of wild and aquatic life and protects the environment. A trip to the Kimberley isn´t complete without a trip to the impressive King George waterfalls and a hike through the Bungle range to see the weird striped rock domes. And finally, the incredible 4-tier Mitchell Falls will enchant you.
For the best way to visit some of the most captivating Australian countryside escapes why not hire a car and take a road trip of a lifetime?
