8 of the most unique experiences in Australia

Australia is home to a wealth of opportunities for truly unique outdoor adventures, from light shows over the red rock of Uluru to boat trips through the pristine Whitsunday Islands and easy cycling through the wine regions around Canberra, the capital.

1. Walk through the fields of lights at Uluru.

Uluru has always attracted visitors, but over the last decade this area of ​​the Northern Territory has undergone an artistic transformation. A collaboration between light artists and Aboriginal Anangu creatives, the desert has been transformed into a glowing canvas with color-changing fields of light, Anangu stories captured in the skies by thousands of drones, and, since August, an immersive sunrise breakfast show using local ingredients afterwards .

2. Go on a Whitsundays yacht.

Set sail and embark on your own sailing adventure by motorboat, catamaran or yacht as you explore the Whitsunday Islands off the northeast coast. This type of DIY sailing is known as bareboat sailing – no qualifications are required and after safety instruction you and your the crew is free to plot their own course for week. Bye away are the days of navigating bays, bays and bays of the region’s 74 islands, reef snorkeling stops, hikes on uninhabited islands or lying towel on white sand beaches.

3. Study sharks on Lord Howe Island.

Despite what its name suggests, the Galapagos shark can be found in temperate waters around the world, and is especially fond of isolated islands such as Lord Howe. This tiny volcanic landmass in the Tasman Sea, off the coast of New South Wales, only allows 400 visitors at a time. Little is known about the sharks’ movements, so scientists are recruiting visitors to the island to collect photographic data as part of a citizen science snorkeling project. Under the supervision of an experienced instructor, take a dip in the island’s warm waters and enjoy watching 50 of these curious creatures gracefully circle around you.

4. Drive through Canberra’s wine regions.

Canberra’s first vines were planted in the 1840s, but local viticulture stagnated until the 1970s, when enterprising scientists revived the capital’s vineyards. The capital now has three cool climate wine regions: Bungendore, Hall and Murrumbateman, specializing in Riesling and Shiraz. Murrumbateman recently opened a purpose-built 8.5-mile cycle path linking eight doors of the region’s prestigious cellars. Starting in the village of Murrumbateman, hop on an e-bike and ride past farmland and vineyards, stopping for guided tastings at family-run wineries. E-Bike Tours of the Canberra Wine Region can enhance your trip with grazing plates, speakers and picnic kits.

5. Drive the legendary Gibb River Road.

The 410-mile Gibb River Road winds through Western Australia’s scenic Kimberley region, a rugged wilderness in Australia’s far north almost as large as Germany, dotted with ocher gorges, waterfalls tumbling into tranquil swimming spots, and historical cattle camps. Driving along unpaved and corrugated roads, you’ll be able to enjoy the full two-week drive from Derby to Kununurra, including pit stops to see Aboriginal rock art, or take a guided cruise in search of crocodiles.

The best time to travel is from June to October, when it is dry and warm; Operators such as Kimberley Safari Tours and Adventure Wild offer 4WD excursions.

6. Fly over Kati Tanda-Lake Eyre.

Australia’s largest salt lake is a 385-square-mile pocket of sparkling crystals located in southern Australia. Australia’s Flinders Ranges. Katie Tanda-Lake Eyre is dry most of the time. (sometimes for years), but when a flood occurs, it explodes with color and sound as thousands of waterfowl fly from as far away as Japan and China to breed on the salty shores. When water evaporates, microalgae release a pink pigment that gives the lake its characteristic hue. The best way to appreciate the scale and drama of the lake is from the air on Wrightsair, which operates charter flights from Wilpena Pound and Coober Pedy.

7. Chasing the aurora in Tasmania.

The Southern Lights, also known as Aurora Australis, which is often eclipsed by its brighter brother further north, is visible year-round across much of Tasmania, off the southern coast of Australia. As with the northern lights, the best time to see them is winter, and the further south the better, in places like Hobart, Port Arthur and Bruny Island. Scientist Dr. Lisa Gershwin leads tours in search of the southern lights and other luminous phenomena, such as “ghost mushrooms,” bioluminescent beaches and marsupials that glow under ultraviolet light.

8. Ride the highlands in Victoria.

In the mid-19th century, Victoria’s highlands were a haven for escaped outlaws and bushrangers evading the law, including notorious gang leader and folk hero Ned Kelly. The outlaws may be long gone, but their legends still inspire campfire tales among hikers, bikers and horseback riders, usually while camping near historic cattlemen’s huts. Spring Spur is a family-owned working horse farm that offers half-day, full-day and multi-day trips, including epic packhorse expeditions through Alpine National Park, where you can sleep in a cabin under the Milky Way.