Top 10 Summer Getaways In Australia
During summer Australia becomes a wonderland of adventure at several incredible destinations. From pristine beaches to ancient rain forests, there is a spot for everyone to enjoy their getaway.
In this guide, we’ll take you on an adventurous journey, exploring the best getaways in every state or territory in Australia.
So buckle up and grab your sunscreen, beach gear and hiking boots as we look into the top 10 summer getaways in Australia.
Byron Bay
📍 State/Territory: New South Wales
🏙️ Closest City: Gold Coast (in Queensland).
🚗 Distance: Approximately 75 km south of Gold Coast.
Byron Bay has some of the most stunning beaches in New South Wales. If your way of having fun at the beach is surfing or just relaxing and enjoying the warmth of the beach sun, you’d definitely want to check out Main Beach, Wategos Beach or Tallow Beach.
During the cool evenings, you can take a calm serene walk up to the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
You can also visit the Byron Bay hinterlands to enjoy the experience of the picturesque town’s boutiques and cafes as well as the special market days when everywhere comes alive with the local artisans, music and of course, delicious food. This happens on the first Sunday of each month.
Byron Bay is a place full of exciting activities like hiking, sightseeing, kayaking with dolphins, and enjoying the beaches and nightlife.
So pack up your surfboard, sunscreen and hiking boots. You’re in for a massive treat!
Great Ocean Road
📍 State/Territory: Victoria
🏙️ Closest City: Melbourne
🚗 Distance: Approximately 100 km southwest of Melbourne.
The Great Ocean Road is not just another road in Australia but a path of adventure waiting to be experienced one step after the other.
For a start, you can kick off at the famous Bells Beach where you can enjoy away surfing or just relaxing under the warming sun.
Along the way, you would go through the enchanting Great Otway National Park and experience nature’s beauty in its pure form. Strolling through the lush rainforest you just might get to spot Aussie wildlife like the koala, kangaroos, emu, and platypus.
Journeying through the Great Ocean Road will bring you to the most popular spot called The Twelve Apostles. Limestone rock formations look majestic with the golden lights of sunset or sunrise, giving them a magical glow. It’s a truly beautiful sight.
You also get to experience the Bay of Martyrs and Bay of Islands, spots with gracious views and fewer crowds where you can have a scenic walk or have some quite time and even take lovely pictures.
From the fun beaches to the park’s wildlife, stunning rocks to the ports, villages, restaurants and other spots, you’d see that this adventure can’t be forgotten in a lifetime.
Whitsunday Islands
📍 State/Territory: Queensland
🏙️ Closest City: Cairns
🚗 Distance: Approximately 400 km north of Cairns.
Imagine a massive tropical paradise of mini utopias filled with pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs and powdery white beaches, that’s the Whitsunday Islands.
These islands offer so much to nature lovers and adventure-spirited folks. You can kick-start your experience with the yacht sail.
Join a tour or charter to enjoy the sightings of the islands with the cool breeze and sail feeling. You can also indulge in snorkeling among the colourful coral gardens and swim with an array of marine life like tropical fish and turtles.
A visit to Whitehaven Beach, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, would make your adventure even more glamorous with the crystal clear waters and overall beach experience.
And to top it all, explore the island’s lush rainforests and witness amazing scenic views inkling the unique wildlife like the wallabies and goannas.
The Whitsunday Islands are tropical havens that offer unforgettable experiences. You can embark on thrilling adventures or simply enjoy the natural beauty.
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Mornington Peninsula
📍 State/Territory: Victoria
🏙️ Closest City: Melbourne
🚗 Distance: Approximately 80 km southeast of Melbourne.
Summer in the Mornington Peninsula will be incomplete without experiencing the spectacular beaches in the area. Whether it’s the still waters of Dromana or the surfable shores of Gunnamatta, there’s something suitable for your taste.
The Peninsula Hot Springs is also a fantastic place to relax and enjoy nature’s soothing thermal pools and spa treatments. The unwinding and renewing process only gets better.
For the wine lovere, you don’t want to miss exploring the boutique wineries and cellar doors where you can taste wines of exceptional quality.
Another stop at the Mornington Peninsula is the Regional Gallery, a place of spectacular local art, exhibitions and workshops. A great place to enjoy the local culture and possibly even pick up a souvenir.
To make your visit to the peninsula even better, you can visit the Enchanted Adventure Garden and enjoy a stroll or picnic, observing the beautiful vibrant garden. There are also fun activities like hedge mazes, zip lines and tree surfing.
The Mornington Peninsula is a must-visit to experience so much adventure and beauty in places, art, and food and have the most relaxing time.
Kangaroo Island
📍 State/Territory: South Australia
🏙️ Closest City: Adelaide
🚗 Distance: Approximately 110 km south of Adelaide.
Kangaroo Island is known as a zoo without fences because it is home to many different types of wildlife, including koalas, sea lions, various bird species, and, of course, kangaroos.
This island is more like a sanctuary for these animals, a special place worth experiencing. You can start your adventure by heading to Sea Bay for a personal encounter with the sea lions on the beach. That man-wildlife connection might just be what you need to fire up your enthusiasm for wildlife conservation.
Up next, don’t miss the sighting of the Iconic Remarkable Rocks and their massive granite boulders sculpted directly by the hands of nature. Their sight is most stunning at sunrise or sunset with the Southern Ocean as the perfect backdrop.
There is also the Little Sahara where you can do sandboarding adventures on the sand dunes or just enjoy the scenic view of the landscape.
To enjoy breathtaking views of the island you can hike to the oldest lighthouse in South Australia at Cape Willoughby and also learn about the island’s maritime history.
At the peak of your adventure, don’t forget to explore the delightful flavours of the island like the food, honey, wine and cheese.
If you are a wildlife enthusiast, this place is a must-visit for the full personal up-close experience.
Margaret River
📍 State/Territory: Western Australia
🏙️ Closest City: Perth
🚗 Distance: Approximately 270 km south of Perth.
The Margaret River is famous for its remarkable landscapes, wildlife, remarkable wineries and the arts and culture. You’re definitely in for an amazing ride in this adventure.
Start by exploring the limestone caves in the Margaret River area. Discover their intriguing structures and hidden passages as you connect with nature at every step.
The Jewel and Mammoth Cave are popular ones in this region, giving the full cave experience. Down the Margaret River way, you can visit renowned wineries to taste world-class quality wines. These wineries give quite an unforgettable wine-tasting experience.
There is also the Jahroc Galleries and Boranup Gallery available to immerse yourself in local arts and culture while enjoying the adventures of the location.
After the thrilling adventures of the day, you will definitely love the serene and cool atmosphere of the beaches of Margaret River.
The Margaret River is filled with lots of activities and is a great getaway as it has something for everyone.
Rottnest Island
📍 State/Territory: Western Australia
🏙️ Closest City: Perth
🚗 Distance: Approximately 19 km off the coast of Perth.
Rottnest Island is a car-free class A reserve known for its spectacular beaches, paradise environment and unique wildlife.
One of the island’s famous residents is the Quokka, a friendly animal known for its adorable smile and photogenic nature.
With no cars allowed, you can enjoy biking adventures as they are the primary mode of transportation. Rent a bike and explore the scenic parts of the island, discovering wonderful viewpoints.
You will be spoiled for choice for water activities like snorkelling, swimming, surfing and diving on the island. You can also engage in fishing at any of the many fishing spots on the island, you could even cook what you catch.
How about learning the history of the island’s aboriginal heritage and involvement in World War II at the Rottnest Island Museum and Oliver Ill Battery, right? It is all amazing from one thing to the other.
Don’t forget to go ferrying during the beautiful sunset to put the cherry on top of your whole experience.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park
📍 State/Territory: Tasmania
🏙️ Closest City: Hobart
🚗 Distance: Approximately 140 km northwest of Hobart.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park is infamous for its glamorous wilderness, ancient forests, glacial lakes and rugged mountain ranges. The Cradle Mountain stands at the centre of the park with its majestic peaks towering over surrounding landscapes, truly a spectacle worth seeing.
The mountain has many hiking adventures with beautiful views of the paths from the forest to the sky. This place is a paradise for hikers.
There is also the fun wildlife encounter part of the exploration as you are likely to come in close contact with some wildlife like the wallabies, wombats, echidnas, varieties of bird species and sometimes the revered Tasmanian devil.
At night the Cradle Mountain is a wonderful place for stargazing when the air is clean and the southern skies come alive with the elements. You would also enjoy a tour of the Lake St Clair, the deepest freshwater lake in Australia where the atmosphere is tranquil and the wilderness surroundings are calm.
A great place to take pictures and maybe add to your silhouette collections.
Alice Springs
📍 State/Territory: Northern Territory
🏙️ Closest City: Uluru
🚗 Distance: Approximately 463 km
Alice Springs is a place filled with adventure, nature, culture and exploration at its peak. Kickstart your getaway with the thrilling hot air balloon ride soaring above the stunning landscapes at sunrise.
This experience is like nothing ever seen as you get to glimpse the beauty of Alice as a whole. The serene experience gives you a bird’s eye view of the Mac Donnell Ranges the vast site.
Exploring the range, you will encounter stunning gorges, waterholes, fascinating rock formations and the Ellergy Creek Big Hole if you fancy a swim. If your visit coincides with the annual Alice Spring Cup don’t miss the fun experience of watching the camels race and enjoy the lively atmosphere entertainment.
No matter your taste, you are sure to have a really good time at Alice Springs.
Kakadu National Park
📍 State/Territory: Northern Territory
🏙️ Closest City: Darwin
🚗 Distance: Approximately 240 km east of Darwin.
The Kakadu National Park is well known for its ancient aboriginal rock art, wetlands and unique wildlife.
You can begin exploration at the Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock Art sites where you’d definitely marvel at the art and hear the historic stories and traditions of the indigenous people.
All over this park are these aboriginal rock arts, and you’re free to explore as much of it as you want. For a more adventurous step, you can visit the Mamukala wetlands to explore the wildlife more closely and get to see some rare animal species in the park.
The twin waterfall is a soothing sight and relaxing as you can choose to cool off in it. The falls are accessible by a boat cruise or a walk.
In general, the Kakadu National Park is a great place to unwind, relax and have great fun.
Summary
These top 10 summer getaways in Australia offer a variety of experiences, from relaxing by the beach to exciting mountain hikes.
Whether you love nature, culture, or simply exploring, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and have fun!
So, pack your bags and let’s embark on a once-in-a-lifetime Australian adventure!
Feel free to check our articles on Top Getaways during Winter, Spring or Autumn Season in Australia.
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