There’s probably no country on Earth with more unspoilt wilderness than Australia, and even better, it’s relatively easy to access. So if you’re interested in exploring vast golden sand beaches, spotting koalas in mountain forest, or penetrating deep into the harsh desert interior, from Tasmania to the Top End there’s going to be an adventure just for you.
The magic of the Top End (Photo: Autopia Tours Courtesy GetYourGuide )
With such a well-established tourist industry to choose from and such a vast landmass to explore, the hardest thing can be narrowing down your options. Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work for you. Below are five of the very best adventure tours in all of Australia, encompassing all budgets, ages, and tastes.
3 Day Kakadu and Litchfield 4WD Camping Tour
Head deep into Australia’s wild north to search for crocs in the wetlands, camp in the star-drenched wilderness, and swim in some of the freshest, most unspoilt plunge pools you’ve ever seen. Taking place over three days, with two nights of outback camping, you’ll be toured as part of a group around Kakadu National Park by expert guides, see Aboriginal rock art, and skip from 4WDs to boats to hiking all in the name of adventure.
Tasmania: 7-Day Tasmania Highlights Tour
Tasmania in the raw (Photo: Under Down Under Tours Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Tasmania: the temperate island just off Australia’s south east coast both typifies and subverts expectations of this great continent. Saturated with wildlife and boasting stunning unspoiled landscapes, it’s more manageable than the mainland, meaning this eight day tour offers a great chance to appreciate a sizeable portion of its many wonders. You’ll be driven by car from the world’s tallest eucalyptus trees to the stunning Montezuma waterfall, glimpse wallabies, echidnas, and wombats on guided walks, and even taste some of the island’s rustic hospitality in stop-off points along the way.
North Queensland Adventure
Head up to Australia’s tropical north on this nine day marine-based adventure. As well as relaxing on beautiful white sand beaches, catching boat rides out across sparkling seas, and soaking up the Queensland nightlife with your fellow tour buddies, you will snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef with its ridiculous abundance of underwater life and colour. An under 35s tour, expect things to be cheap and very cheerful indeed.
K’gari (Fraser Island) Explorer 2-Day Tour
Up in Australia’s north east, just a short distance from the tourist mecca of Noosa Heads, Fraser Island, or K’gari as it is known by its original owners, is a tropical wilderness of rainforest and sand dunes, positively teaming with wildlife, both in its interior and in the waters off its shores. This two day tour carries you off road between all its top sights and includes a dip in one of the island’s many freshwater lakes. The night is spent at a local resort, which comes complete with two bars, a café, and a swimming pool: who said adventure had to be uncomfortable?
Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Sunset BBQ Dinner
Uluru (Photo: Emu Run Experience Courtesy Viator)
Is there any more iconic land formation in the entire world than Uluru, otherwise known as Ayers Rock? As redolent of Australia as the Eiffel Tower is of France, this stunning natural formation is nevertheless not so easy to reach. A five hour drive from Alice Springs, this tour lets you designate the driving to a guide, and takes in multiple other stop offs besides the ancient monument itself, from Walpa Gorge to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, where you will have time to learn about the local Pitjantjatjara people. It all culminates with a traditional Aussie barbie (complete with bubbly wine) in the shadow of the rock itself. You can then either join the return journey to Alice or be dropped off at the Outback Pioneer Hotel after sunset.