20 Nature Escapes in Australia You Can Visit Year-Round

No matter the time of year of your visit, you’re spoilt for choice in the Land Down Under. Brimming with sun-soaked coastlines, picturesque mountain ranges, and lush woodlands, Australia’s natural wonders never cease to amaze. With so many great options to choose from, it can be challenging to narrow down your next vacation destination. To give you some inspiration, here are 20 of Australia’s finest natural gems you can explore year-round:

The UNESCO Heritage-listed Blue Mountains is one of Australia’s natural wonders for a reason: its biodiversity is unmatched. In a single area, you can explore wetlands, grasslands, forests, and still have plenty of areas left to discover. To admire the range in its full glory, it’s best to head to the Blue Mountains Scenic World. You can ride a cable car, walk down the path, ride the world’s steepest passenger railway, and more.

You don’t need to leave the city to get some time in nature and enjoy some outdoor Sydney activities. At the Chinese Garden of Friendship, you can relax and admire the lush greenery and vibrant flowers right at the heart of Sydney. Feeling hungry? Grab a meal at The Gardens by Lotus and enjoy some dumplings, noodles, and tea as you’re taking in the view. It’s also a great place to learn more about Chinese culture since it was built to honor Sydney’s sister city, Guangzhou.

Experience a slice of paradise when you visit Lord Howe Island. With clear waters and sprawling forests, it’s the place to be if you want to go hiking, snorkeling, fishing, and everything else in between. With the winter temperature averaging 19°C, you can still enjoy island activities without a problem.

Give your kids a break from their phones and video games and treat them to a day at Enchanted Adventure. Located at the top of Arthurs Seat, the theme park invites guests to challenge their minds and bodies as they take on different challenges. There’s the ever-popular Maize Maze (which changes its design every year), where you may have to go through the pattern of a kangaroo or a clown to find your way out. There’s also Tree Surfing, where visitors have to go from tree to tree by crossing a suspended bridge, riding ziplines, and other exhilarating obstacles. Have the little ones in tow? Not a problem. There are plenty of kid-friendly activities at the park, like the Nippers Tree Surfing where they can safely climb and swing up the trees.

As one of Australia's natural landmarks, the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens is a staple for locals and visitors alike throughout the year. In the summer, it’s one of the best picnic areas. You can keep cool while munching on snacks by the lake. In the winter, admire the twinkling lights illuminating the blooming flowers with the entire fam.

To learn more about Melbourne's ultimate green space, go on an open-air minibus tour aboard The Explorer to see the gardens’ finest sights. Learn about the gardens’ diverse collection of plants from around the world from your expert guide.

Get a different perspective about the gardens when you go on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk. Get an in-depth look at the history of the First Peoples of Australia as you visit important locations in the garden with an Aboriginal guide.

Take it up a notch and combine your trip to the Botanic Gardens with a tour of the Rippon Lea House and Garden Estate. The Melbourne Gardens and Days Gone By Historic Tour visits the city’s most important and well-preserved properties for a comprehensive view of Melbourne’s rich history.

Exchange the bustling city life for a day of seaside relaxation at Churchill Island. Located right off Phillip Island, the island provides a taste of the countryside, encounters with friendly farm animals, and incredible views of the Western Port. Take the day to enjoy a cup of coffee as you’re watching the waves roll into shore or even take part in the farming activities, like feeding the sheep, milking the cows, and even cracking whips!

Paint the town red on a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. It sets itself apart from its Melbourne counterpart with its unique bushland features, which includes the Red Sand Garden. Find swirls of scarlet sand creating a stunning landscape before discovering the rest of the lush greenery. Keep your eyes peeled for fascinating birds like Superb Fairy-wren and the Willie Wagtail that live in the garden. Visiting with the kids? They’ll love the Seek & Find challenge at the garden, where they have to follow different clues and have a keen eye to discover the different plants and wildlife at Cranbourne. If you just want to enjoy a nice walk in the park, follow the Great Southern Land Walk to admire unique Aussie plants.

There’s no need to travel all the way to the desert to see a cactus! A visit to Cactus Country will do the trick. The garden boasts one of the most impressive collections of cactus plants in Australia. The unique and funky shapes and sun-soaked scenery are practically made to be captured for Instagram.

Less than an hour and a half away from Melbourne, you can discover one of Australia’s natural wonders — the Mornington Peninsula. It’s best known for its incredible wine and you can take your pick among its wide array of vineyards, like the award-winning Montalto Winery and Red Hill Estate. But if you want to immerse yourself in nature, head to the Mornington Peninsula National Park, where you can swim, hike, or just take in the waterside views. The park is a famous spot for locals for its oceanside location and its wide array of incredible natural scenes, from dramatic waterside cliffs to the kangaroo haven of Greens Bush.

Another place to visit for a grand nature escape, Yarra Valley offers several outdoor activities from Melbourne. The valley offers several outdoor activities, like animal encounters at Healesville Sanctuary, a ride through the Dandenong Ranges aboard the Puffing Billy train, and a visit to the Warratina Lavender Farm. With over 70 wineries, you can take the time to select which vineyards suit your palette. We recommend the Helen & Joey Estate for the booze and views and Rochford Wines for the incredible food. For the adventure seekers, there are also plenty of scenic hikes to try at the Dandenong Ranges National Park, known for its unobstructed views of Yarra and Melbourne as well as its picturesque waterfalls.

Relax and disconnect when you visit the Maleny Botanic Gardens. Boasting waterfalls, lakes, and ponds, it provides an idyllic reprieve from the bustling city life. With over 6km of pathways, you can follow one of the many trails for a scenic walk and even have a leisurely swim. If you’re looking for something more laid-back, it’s a great place to take the family for a picnic or to have a close encounter with the parrots and finches at Bird World, an aviary that’s home to more than 700 birds. You can go on an aviary tour to get up close and feed the colorful parrots and finches.

Combine impressive natural sights with challenging activities and what do you get? Amaze World, one of the most popular family-friendly attractions in the Sunshine Coast for locals and tourists! The area has heaps of activities and games for the entire fam to enjoy, like the massive maze and the mini golf course. After all the fun, you can chill at the cafe and order a nice, hearty burger with a side of fries at the picnic area. There are Indian and Thai options, as well!

There’s no wonder why Hamilton Island is one of the most impressive natural wonders in Australia. It has a little bit of everything: a sandy beach, vibrant bushland, and a nice collection of animals like kangaroos and koalas. Plus, it also offers some of the best hiking areas in Australia: the Passage Peak, Coral Cove, and Hideaway Bay. All of them offer incredible, panoramic views of the island and plenty of Instagram-worthy spots, like The View, the highest point of the island and The Chair, a massive seat near Passage Peak. Bring your own binoculars to spot leaping dolphins and whales in the water while at the top.

When it comes to adventure tours in Australia, you can’t go wrong at Kuranda Scenic Railway. It offers breathtaking vistas of the world's oldest living tropical rainforest, Daintree, as well as views of cascading waterfalls and even encounters with koalas and kangaroos.

If you want to make the most out of your day, combine your Kuranda Scenic Railway ride with an Army Duck tour, where you’ll ride an amphibious World War II Army Duck through the rainforest and the river to see the flora and fauna from up close. It also includes a ride on a cable car that has glass floors so you can really soak in the sights.

With over 40 km of walking trails, Bunya Mountains offers some of the best Australian hiking experiences. There’s the Barker Creek Lookout trail for beginners. As you make your way to the top, you’ll pass through picturesque waterfalls, towering bunya pine trees, and a fern-carpeted forest. For advanced hikers, you can follow the Fishers Lookout Circuit Track, which boasts overlooking views of the southern plains, a cattle field, and a lush forest. For the best views, time your hike before sunrise (or sunset) to see the skies in hues of orange and pink.

Looking for a laid-back nature escape? Port Douglas is the place for you. The town serves as the more relaxed neighbor to the thrillseeker-friendly Great Barrier Reef and the action-packed Daintree Rainforest. You can relax and work on your tan at Four Mile Beach, snorkel or dive at Agincourt Reef, or shop at the Sunday Markets. The best part? The weather is pretty mild throughout the year, so you can visit during winter without being bothered by the cold.

If you’re up for some exciting activities, Cairns is definitely one of Australia's best adventure travel destinations. Known as the country’s adventure capital, the coastal city is a mecca for daredevils thanks to activities like whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, and going on a thrilling ATV ride through a forest. You can also enjoy a skydive over the Great Barrier Reef, hike to the Josephine Waterfalls, or zipline over crocodiles. The possibilities are endless in Tropical North Queensland.

It may be less known than the neighboring Great Barrier Reef but the Whitsundays is among Australia’s natural wonders for a reason. The swirls of white sand, azure waters, and great marine life make it a beach lover’s dream destination. Plus, it has amazing weather while most of the country is experiencing cold winter temperatures. Snorkel at Daydream Island, swim at Cedar Creek Falls, or just grab a meal at one of the many restaurants on Airlie Beach.

Come for the world-class wine and dining experiences, stay for the phenomenal natural panoramas. Barossa Valley has made a name for itself in terms of culinary excellence thanks to amazing restaurants like the Salters Kitchen Restaurant, which serves great food complemented with fine wine, and Fest Essen by Artisans of Barossa where you can enjoy a long lunch while learning how to match your wine. The region is also teeming with sublime natural beauty, from the serene Barossa Goldfields Walking Trail, where you’ll get a glimpse into the history of the area thanks to views of the old gold mines and tunnels, to the Hale Conservation Park, where you’ll see cascading falls, rocky lookouts, and remnants of the old mines.

Interested in hiking in Perth? Head to the Mundy Regional Park and follow the trail to the Lesmurdie Falls. The park starts from the coastal plains of the Darling Scarp all the way to the waterfalls. No matter the season, you’re guaranteed a nice hike. In the summer, you can take a relaxing dip in the swimming hole. While during spring and winter, you’ll be rewarded with the sight of the water spilling over to the Darling Range Escarpment.

Thanks to its incredibly diverse landscapes, Australia’s one of the best countries for grand nature escapes. Whether it’s spring, summer, winter, or fall, there’s always somewhere amazing just waiting to be discovered.