Choose from 646 Fun Things to Do in Australia
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Port Arthur
A moving reminder of Australia’s harrowing history, the former convict settlement of Port Arthur was a key part of often brutal convict discipline within the colonial system. Today, the Port Arthur historic site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Tasmania’s most visited tourist attraction, with museums and memorials devoted to telling the area’s history.
The Basics
Journey back in time on a tour of Port Arthur and explore the vast ruins of the penal settlement, including the Penitentiary, Separate Prison, Dockyard, Port Arthur gardens, Coal Mines Historic Site, Cascades Female Factory, and Gothic church. Prebook a 2-day pass or take a private or small-group tour that leaves from Hobart, often combined with other regional highlights, such as a scenic cruise around Tasman Peninsula, a cliff-top walk to Waterfall Bay, or a Hobart city tour. Two-day entrance tickets to Port Arthur include a guided walking tour, a harbour cruise, and access to all sites, except the Isle of the Dead and Point Puer, for which guided tours are extra.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Port Arthur historic site is spread across 100 acres (40 hectares), so plan at least a half-day visit.
- Facilities at Port Arthur include a visitor center, restrooms, gift shop, and cafe/restaurant.
- Cell phone coverage is limited at Port Arthur, but free Wi-Fi is available on-site.
- Bring sunscreen, comfortable shoes, a raincoat, and plenty of water if you plan on taking a walking tour—weather can change quickly at the open-air site.
- Most of the Port Arthur historic site is wheelchair accessible, and a shuttle buggy service is available for those with limited mobility.
How to Get There
Port Arthur is located on the Tasman Peninsula, 37 miles (60 kilometers) south of Hobart. Public buses run from the city, and it’s a 1.5-hour drive along the scenic Arthur Highway, crossing Eaglehawk Neck, the narrow isthmus that joins the peninsula to the mainland. The closest airport is in Hobart.
When to Get There
Port Arthur is open year-round, although hours are extended in summer. The summer season (December to February) is busy so it’s best to arrive early to avoid crowds. Visiting out of season is generally quieter, but be prepared for changeable weather and less frequent tours.
Port Arthur Tours
The stories of Port Arthur are told in different ways. Interactive displays tell the tragic story of the 12,500 convicts who served time from 1830 to 1877, while after-dark ghost tours explore the site’s haunted buildings. Optional guided tours visit the Isle of the Dead, the final resting place for many of the convicts, and the Point Puer boys’ prison, an experimental prison that housed around 3,000 young boys between 1834 and 1849.
Address: Port Arthur Historic Site, Arthur Highway, Hobart 7182, Australia
Hours: Open 9am to dusk
Admission: Adults: AU$39
From $ 81
Perth Cruise Port
Despite being one of the world’s most remote capital cities, Perth remains amazingly livable thanks to a easy-going attitude, fantastic weather, beautiful beaches and thriving dining and nightlife scene. With the rapid growth of the cruising industry in Australia, Perth’s Fremantle Port welcomes dozens of cruise calls per season.
How to get to Perth
The Port of Fremantle, Perth’s busy commercial port, sits 12 miles (19 kilometers) to the south of the city. The town of Fremantle, a place known for its art galleries, cafes and historic buildings, is easily accessible on foot from the passenger terminal or by way of the Central Area Transit hop-on, hop-off bus. Passengers wanting to visit Perth can take the 30-minute train ride from Fremantle station or catch a taxi just outside the terminal.
One Day in Perth
There’s enough to see and do in Fremantle alone to fill up your day. Start by walking to the Western Australia Maritime Museum to see the exhibits on Perth’s maritime heritage or tour the UNESCO-listed Fremantle Prison dating back to 1852. On the weekends, the Fremantle Markets are a great place to pick up artisan foods, antiques or locally handcrafted items.
Perth also has plenty to offer the visiting cruise passenger. If you only have time for one attraction, make it King’s Park, a beautiful hilltop botanical garden that offers some of the best views in the city. Shoppers will find a little bit of everything at Subiaco at the intersection of Rokeby Road and hay Street.
If you’re feeling energetic, use your time in Perth to explore the Swan River Valley on the water. Rent a kayak or canoe, go offshore for a bit of snorkeling or diving, or take a leisurely boat trip along the Swan River.
Or, spend your day relaxing at one of Perth’s lovely beaches, like the white sand Cottesloe or surfer-friendly Scarborough.
Port Information
The Fremantle
passenger terminal offers free wi-fi when ships are in port, as well as a
cafe and bar where you can find refreshments. Besides the two ATMs in
the Port of Fremantle, you’ll find plenty more in the town of Fremantle
and all over Perth. The local currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD).
Address: Perth, Australia
From $ 21
Powerhouse Museum
Since 1879, the Powerhouse Museum has served as the main attraction for Sydney's Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. Its impressive halls are filled with all things technological—from science and communication to transport and computers—even massive steam engines.
Jam-packed with more than 400,000 artifacts, this Sydney staple has become a destination for train lovers, engineers, computer nerds, scientists, and the curious. While the permanent collection is pretty incredible on its own, popular temporary exhibitions, such as those that have showcased Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, Fabergé and even singer Kylie Minogue, keep this classic museum contemporary and up to date.
Practical Info
The Powerhouse Museum is located at 500 Harris Street between William Henry and Macarthur streets. It’s open daily from 10am until 5pm.
Address: 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney, Australia
Hours: Daily 10am–5pm
Admission: Adults $15, Children (4-15 years old) $8
From $ 11
Perth Mint
The Perth Mint holds a wealth of gold history in its vaults, with gold dust and many a miner's yarns embedded in its 100-year-old walls. A guided tour of this grand heritage building reveals fascinating insights into the 19th- and 20th-century gold rushes that transformed Western Australia forever, plus the immense booty of bullion that was mined.
You’ll also see how gold is melted into bars, along with the mint’s rare collection of gold bars, nuggets and coins from around the world.
Practical Info
The Perth Mint is on Hay Street in the city center. You can catch the free red CAT bus, or take an easy stroll from the city’s central shopping malls.
Address: 310 Hay Street, Perth 6000, Australia
Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm (until 1pm on weekends and public holidays)
Admission: Adults: AU$15, Children (4-15yrs): AU$5
From $ 14
Peter Lehmann
This favorite mid-size South Australian vineyard was built in just five months back in 1980. Since then, its luscious red and white wines have been celebrated both locally and internationally, and its true family farm feel has been welcoming visitors for generations.
After learning touring the grounds and learning about the practice of wine making, travelers can saddle up to the Weighbridge—now known affectionately as Peter’s Bar—for a taste of Peter Lehmann’s bold Shiraz. Growers have been gathering at the Weighbridge after a long day’s work since the vineyard first opened. Today visitors can join them in the same age-old tradition, too.
Practical Info
Peter Lehmann Wines is located on Para Road, just outside Tanunda, about an hour’s drive from Adelaide.
Address: Para Road, Tanunda, South Australia, Australia
From $ 103
Perisher and Thredbo Ski Resorts
The Australian ski resorts of Perisher and Thredbo are within Kosciusko National Park in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains. Both resorts offer world-class skiing facilities and accommodations, along with several hundred kilometers of groomed trails suitable for beginners, advanced skiers and cross country skiing adventures.
Perisher is the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere, amalgamating four villages and their surrounding ski fields. Accessible by road and Australia’s only underground rack railway, Skitube, the resort caters well to intermediate skiers but also has plenty of tracks suitable for beginners and advanced skiers. Most accommodation options here are ski lodge or hotel style.
Thredbo has the longest ski runs in Australia, including the famous ‘Funnelweb,’ which is over 3km long, and some of the country’s steepest trails. Several terrain parks cater to everyone from beginners to the more advanced. Thredbo Village, at the foot of Mount Crackenback, has the feel of a European Alpine Village and has plenty of amenities, accommodations and year-round outdoor activities should you wish to visit outside of snow season.
The Australian snow season runs from mid June until early October.
Perisher is the largest ski resort in the southern hemisphere, amalgamating four villages and their surrounding ski fields. Accessible by road and Australia’s only underground rack railway, Skitube, the resort caters well to intermediate skiers but also has plenty of tracks suitable for beginners and advanced skiers. Most accommodation options here are ski lodge or hotel style.
Thredbo has the longest ski runs in Australia, including the famous ‘Funnelweb,’ which is over 3km long, and some of the country’s steepest trails. Several terrain parks cater to everyone from beginners to the more advanced. Thredbo Village, at the foot of Mount Crackenback, has the feel of a European Alpine Village and has plenty of amenities, accommodations and year-round outdoor activities should you wish to visit outside of snow season.
The Australian snow season runs from mid June until early October.
Address: Australia
From $ 189
Perth Cultural Center
The Perth Cultural Centre is a hotbed of activities, events, collections, art and all things cultural.
Clustered under one roof are a handful of different exhibition spaces and Western Australia’s key cultural institutions. Explore history, nature and anthropology at the Western Australian Museum, from dinosaurs to butterflies and humans.
Browse one of the best collections of Aboriginal and early European artworks at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Watch cutting-edge video installations, sculpture and performance art at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. Finally, browse books at the State Library of Western Australia.
Clustered under one roof are a handful of different exhibition spaces and Western Australia’s key cultural institutions. Explore history, nature and anthropology at the Western Australian Museum, from dinosaurs to butterflies and humans.
Browse one of the best collections of Aboriginal and early European artworks at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Watch cutting-edge video installations, sculpture and performance art at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art. Finally, browse books at the State Library of Western Australia.
Practical Info
The cultural center is in central Perth’s Northbridge area, reached via a pedestrian bridge from the Perth train station or via the free Blue CAT bus.
The complex is spread over several city streets between Aberdeen Street, Francis Street, James Street Mall and Roe Street. William and Beaufort streets border the complex to west and east.
The complex is spread over several city streets between Aberdeen Street, Francis Street, James Street Mall and Roe Street. William and Beaufort streets border the complex to west and east.
Address: James Street Mall, Perth 6000, Australia
Hours: Open daily, hours vary for each museum/gallery
Admission: Free
From $ 30
Pinnacles Desert
Although otherworldly in appearance, the Pinnacles Desert is 100 percent on planet earth, located along the Indian Ocean's Coral Coast in Nambung National Park in Western Australia (WA). This vast sandy expanse is filled with towering limestone pillars, and at only a few hours' drive from the city of Perth, the site makes for a popular and totally doable day trip.
The Basics
To the Pinnacles, and beyond! Most day tours combine a visit to the 35,000-year-old limestone formations with stops at other popular attractions in the area, making it easy to heed the siren call of nearby massive sand dunes, white sandy beaches, and even a lobster farm. Nature lovers can catch sight of kangaroos, koalas, and wombats on tours that stop at Caversham Wildlife Park and Yanchep National Park, while adrenaline junkies love adventure-packed tour options that include revving up a 4WD vehicle or sand boarding across the Lancelin sand dunes, some of which stretch up to 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) wide.
Things to Know Before You Go
How to Get to the Pinnacles
When to Go There
- Most day tours provide round-trip transportation from Perth and last roughly 10 hour.
- Tours to the Pinnacles are kid-friendly with outdoor activities and wildlife viewing.
- Travelers should dress in layers and wear plenty of sun protection.
- For both private tours and small-group tours, upgrades are dependent upon group size.
- Fuel a long day of exploration with a meal in the coastal town of Cervantes (included in some tours), where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the local lobster fishing industry and chow down on a picnic lunch, Aussie style barbecue, or a sausage sizzle lunch.
Nambung National Park is a 2- to 3-hour drive from Perth along Indian Ocean Drive, making it an easy day trip from the city. The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre is open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm and can provide insightful information about the park.
When to Go There
The best time to visit is spring (September to October) when Western Australia's native wildflowers paint the desert with vibrant colors. Book a sunset tour to see a light show across the Pinnacles, or maximize your time by heading out early in the morning; you'll want the extra time to explore the many parks and beaches along the way.
Address: Nambung National Park, Pinnacles Drive, Cervantes 6511, Australia
Admission: Varies
From $ 100
Point Nepean National Park
One of Victoria’s most significant landscapes, Point Nepean National Park spans more than 1,000 acres (560 hectares) on the pristine Mornington Peninsula. Visitors can immerse themselves in the coastal views and native grasslands while exploring the rich history of the park. What began as indigenous land became one of the earliest European settlements in Victoria during 1845, then a quarantine station before the site turned into a military center. In addition to its rich culture, the park is host to a world of marine life, including emerald-colored sea shrubs and invertebrates.
Discover Victorian landmarks, such as the park’s highest point, Cheviot Hill, overlooking the jetty where Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared in 1967. History buffs can visit Fort Nepean for panoramic views and explore military fortifications used in both World Wars. Numerous hiking trails and beach walks of varied length start in the park. To get the most out of your trip, visit the park’s information center for a self-guided walk brochure or audio tour equipment.
Practical Info
Point Nepean National Park is located 56 miles (90 kilometers) from Melbourne, at the end of Point Nepean Road in Portsea. It is open every day and admission is free. Parking available at the Quarantine Station or Gunnars Cottage.
Address: End of Point Nepean Road, Portsea VIC, Australia
Hours: Open daily, closed Christmas Day
From $ 22
Pitt Street Mall
A pedestrian area of downtown Sydney, the Pitt Street Mall offers some of the most exciting shopping in the city. In the area of just one block lies several flagship stores and more than 500 retail spaces, housed in some of the most expensive commercial real estate in Australia. Specialty stores to suit all tastes can be found in the seven shopping centers, including The Strand Arcade, Westfield Sydney, Myer, and David Jones. Many of the centers were refurbished as recently as 2011. Shops vary from couture and classic fashion, to budget chain stores, electronics, and the latest in athletic wear.
A visit here will certainly include some of the best shopping in Sydney, along with the bustling activity of this urban center. A footbridge runs across the mall, providing ample opportunities to take in the sights of people passing by. Restaurants and cafes provide replenishment from all the action.
Practical Info
The mall is located on a blocked off section of Pitt Street between Market Street and King Street in the Sydney central business district. Stores are generally open from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.
Address: Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Hours: Stores are generally open from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.
From $ 669
Platypus House
Home to Tasmanian Platypuses and Tasmanian Echidnas, Platypus House gives visitors a rare chance to see and learn about both. Established to raise awareness about these Australian critters, Platypus House offers guided, educational tours.
Tasmanian platypuses and echidnas are unique and cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. During your tour at Platypus House, you’ll see the egg-laying mammals eating and playing. The tour begins in the platypus ponds before heading to the echidna garden to see them foraging in a bushland setting. The tour is a little more than 30 minutes in length. Visitors also get admission to a theatrette showing a film on platypuses and are encouraged to visit the interpretation centre.
Practical Info
Platypus House is located on the western banks of the Tamar River at Beauty Point. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Launceston. Platypus House is open seven days a week, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is closed Christmas Day.
Address: 200 Flinders St, Beauty Point TAS 7270, Australia
Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Admission: $23
From $ 81
Penneshaw
Unless you fly to Kangaroo Island, there is a good chance you’ll pass right through the coastal town of Penneshaw. Though not large by mainland standards, the town of Penneshaw is definitely active with the comings and goings of visitors—many of whom are renting vehicles to explore the rest of the island.
The town of Penneshaw itself, however, has enough charms to shake the feel of being just another port town by the coast. Learn the history of centuries of shipwrecks at the Penneshaw Maritime and Folk Museum, or scour the nearby beaches by night in search of Little Penguins. Standing 13 inches when fully grown, the “Fairy Penguins”—as they’re known in these parts—are officially classified as the world’s smallest penguins and mate along the Penneshaw shoreline.
When you aren’t searching for penguins by night, soak up the sun on the sands of Hog Bay and its long, white sand shoreline, and splash in the water of the Backstairs Passage looking back towards the Australian mainland. From here, the inviting wilderness of Kangaroo Island literally sits on your doorstep, and it’s the first stop most visitors will experience on this famous “zoo without fences.”
Practical Info
Ferries from Cape Jervis on the Australian mainland drop passengers and cars in Penneshaw, regularly making the 10-mile crossing in less than 45 minutes. Nearly all tours of Kangaroo Island begin at the ferry dock in Penneshaw, or you can either ship your own car on the ferry or rent a car in town.
Address: Penneshaw, South Australia, Australia
Hours: Daily
From $ 340
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
For many travelers, Phillip Island is known for the penguins that stumble ashore at sunset, but for anyone into high speed racing on motorcycles, go karts, or stock cars, it’s known for the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit and the legendary, ocean view course. With a total lap length of 2.7 miles, the circuit is not only technically challenging with all of its twist and turns, but considering the sweeping ocean views, is generally regarded as one of the sport’s most scenic and popular tracks. If there happens to be a race while in town, head to one of the spectator spots to watch the fast-paced action, where professional riders accelerate to speeds that can often top 200 mph. On days when races are actively in session, go kart rides are offered for visitors to get the feel for the course, or you can also whip through the track at high speeds while accompanied by a professional driver. To learn even more about the history of the circuit, and relive its memorable moments, join in a guided tour of the track that takes place at 2pm, where you’ll finish the tour on the winner’s podium like the greatest racers in the world.
Practical Info
To race your own go kart, drivers must be 12 years of age and in good physical health, and sessions are booked in blocks of 10 minutes—with two sessions generally recommended to get the best feel for the track. “Hot Lap” rides with a professional driver take place at 5pm, and guided circuit tours are at 2pm and last about an hour.
Address: Back Beach Rd, Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia VIC 3922, Australia
Hours: Daily 9am-5pm
Admission: Guided circuit tour: $22; professional “hot lap”: $330
From $ 63
Penitentiary
There was once a time when visiting Port Arthur was akin with a sentence to death. Isolated on a scenic peninsula and facing the Tasman Sea, the famous and feared Port Arthur Penitentiary was where the worst of the worst of Britain’s convicts were sent to live out their days. Though not all convicts were sentenced to death, the harsh working conditions and manual labor were enough to drive convicts to literal insanity and commit murder for an early, death sentence exit.
For all of its grisly history, however, Port Arthur today is a sprawling historic site that’s been restored and preserved as the best example of Australia’s convict past. At the iconic Penitentiary building, gaze upon the concrete ruins where 480 convicts and prisoners spent days filled with toil and misery. The penitentiary ruins are rumored to be haunted, and with the eerie, watchful, and abandoned exterior that the penitentiary exudes, it’s an historic, authentic representation of the darker days of Port Arthur.
For all of its grisly history, however, Port Arthur today is a sprawling historic site that’s been restored and preserved as the best example of Australia’s convict past. At the iconic Penitentiary building, gaze upon the concrete ruins where 480 convicts and prisoners spent days filled with toil and misery. The penitentiary ruins are rumored to be haunted, and with the eerie, watchful, and abandoned exterior that the penitentiary exudes, it’s an historic, authentic representation of the darker days of Port Arthur.
Practical Info
The Penitentiary building is just one part of the larger Port Arthur Historic Site. Mass renovations in 2014 retained the structural integrity, and the building lives on as an iconic landmark for the area’s convict past.
Address: Champ St, Port Arthur, Tasmania 7182, Australia
Hours: Daily 9:30am-5:00pm
Admission: $35 Adult, $16 Child
From $ 98
Perth Bell Tower
Home to the historic Swan Bells, Perth's Bell Tower dominates the city skyline and makes for a fun Perth activity. Housed in a 271-foot (83-meter) tower, 12 of the existing 18 bells originally hung in London's St Martin-in-the-Fields church, where they announced events for centuries.
Now that the bells have found their way to Perth, visitors can learn the art of bell-ringing on guided tours, or simply stop in to hear the bellringers practice their art of chiming on Monday, Thursday or Sunday from noon to 1pm. For the opportunity to chime a bell yourself, book an interactive bell-chiming demonstration and receive an official certificate as proof of your new skill.
Travelers can also head up the towering glass-and-copper spire to its three observation decks and look out over much of downtown Perth and the Swan River (the sixth-floor deck offers 360-degree views). The famous tower can also be admired from afar, perhaps as part of a photography tour that wanders the streets of Perth.
Practical Info
General admission simply grants access to the tower's interior and costs $9 for adults and $7 for children between the ages of 5 and 14. There are additional fees for the chiming demonstration, also known as the Bell Tower Experience, which is offered Monday through Saturday at every half hour between 10:30am and 2:30pm. The site opens daily from 10am, and the bells are rung every Monday, Thursday and Sunday from noon to 1pm.
Did You Know? With a history dating back to the 14th century, the Swan Bells are the only royal bells to have ever left England.
Address: Barrack Square Riverside Drive, Perth, Western Australia 6000, Australia
Admission: Varies
From $ 13
Princess Theatre
Melbourne is a large, vibrant city with hundreds of things to do, but none of its attractions are quite as spectacular as historic Princess Theater. Built in 1857 and remodeled in 1886, the theater has hosted many of the world’s top musicals, operas, and shows. The theater’s famously exquisite façade is on par with the best in Europe, and the 1,488 seat theater is adorned in chandeliers.
Perhaps more famous than the building itself—and even some of its shows—is the legend of Frederick Federici, the friendly ghost who’s inhabited the theater since his death in 1888. In a curious end to a theater performance, Federici died of a heart attack while descending through a stage door, and frequent sightings of the actor’s ghost continue up to this day. Aside from the legends and legendary shows, the Princess Theater also hosts the Federici Bistro, where visitors can enjoy both dinner and a show for the best date night in town.
Practical Info
The closest train station to Princess Theater is the one at Parliament Station. It’s also accessible by trams 86, 96, and the free circle city tram. Since the performance lineup is always changing, inquire directly on the theater’s website to find what’s currently on.
Address: 163 Spring St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Admission: Check website for show prices
From $ 41
Phillip Island Winery
Between the surfing, the wildlife, the hiking, and driving, sometimes the best Phillip Island activity is simply doing nothing at all. That’s the plan at the Phillip Island Winery, where the family-run tasting room actively encourages visitors to kick back and relax. Located amidst the green pastures on the western end of the island, sit down with a Chardonnay or a signature Pinot Noir, and allow the owners to walk you through a flight of their colder climate wines. Indulge with platters of Gippsland cheeses, homemade dips and smoked trout, or watch a blustery storm roll in from the cozy cottage confines. This is the oldest winery on Phillip Island and definitely the most relaxed, and a place to simply relax and unwind and experience the island’s beauty.
Practical Info
Phillip Island Winery is open from 11am-6pm on Saturday, Sunday, and select days of the week. There is live music on Sundays from 1-4pm, and during winter season the hours the cellar door is only open on Sundays. The winery is located off of Berrys Beach Road, and is a convenient stop before heading out to the Nobbies or Penguin Parade.
Address: 414 Berrys Beach Rd, Ventnor, VIC, Australia 3922, Australia
Hours: Sat & Sun 11am-6pm; open select weekdays
From $ 100
Phillip Island Chocolate Factory
All hail the mighty chocolate! That’s the feeling you might get when you tour this chocolate-laced compound. Located over the bridge from San Remo when you arrive on Phillip Island, the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory is an Australian shrine to chocolate. On a tour through “Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate” you can find art, houses, activities, and games that are made entirely from chocolate, and you’ll even find chocolate spilling down from the world’s largest chocolate waterfall. Stroll past a carving of Michaelangelo’s “David” that is exquisitely carved from chocolate, and see a solid block of chocolate that literally weighs a ton.
For more of a tasty, hands-on experience, design and create your own chocolate that is instantly made for you to eat. Draw your name in chocolate syrup and watch chocolatiers at work, and then wash down the endlessly tasty morsels with a hot chocolate in the café. The chocolate served at the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory is its own special blend, and from the moment you’re greeted with white truffles that are made from the “secret recipe,” you can literally taste the pride and passion for everyone’s favorite sweet.
Practical Info
Panny’s Phillip Island Chocolate Factory is open from 10am-5pm or 6pm, dependent upon time of year. Admission is free to the café and retail store, and admission to Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate is $15 for adults, $10 for children, or $45 per family.
Address: 930 Phillip Island Rd, Newhaven, VIC, Australia 3925, Australia
Hours: Daily: Summer 10am-6pm, Winter 10am-5pm
Admission: Adult $15, Child $10, Families $45
From $ 13
Pink Lake
Western Australia’s Pink Lake, or the “Hutt Lagoon,” makes for some spectacular photo opportunities—a bright bubble gum-pink pool that stands in stark contrast to the azure ocean just to the west. The inland sea is a natural phenomenon, caused by its resident algae, and it’s one of just a handful of its kind in the world.
The Basics
The best views of Australia's Pink Lake are from the air, where the pink-hued waters are even more striking from an aerial perspective. Take off on a scenic flight from Geraldton, circle over the Pink Lake, swoop over the sea cliffs of Kalbarri, and enjoy views of the Murchison River, the Abrolhos Islands, and Wiebbe Hayes Fort.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The only way to visit the Pink Lake is by private vehicle, plane, or by joining a guided tour.
- Restaurants, shops, and other facilities can be found in the neighboring town of Port Gregory.
- Don’t try to swim or paddle in the water—it’s not safe to swim in and the bottom is lined with thick mud.
How to Get to Milford Sound
The Pink Lake is located on the coast of Western Australia, just more than an hour’s drive north of Geraldton or around 30 minutes by plane.
When to Get There
The most dramatic time to visit is midmorning or at sundown, when the sunlight hitting the lake makes it shine even brighter and pinker.
The Natural Phenomenon of the Pink Lake
The lake gets its rosy color from its resident algae, Dunaliella salina, which is a source of beta-carotene, a natural retinol and food coloring. The bright pink pigment is so sought-after that the world's largest microalgae farm is located on the lake, forming fields of algae and patterns that can only be seen by plane. Aside from algae, brine shrimp—or “sea monkeys”—are also raised in the lake and used as food in fish farms.
Address: Geraldton, Australia
From $ 171
Pennington Bay
When the sun is shining and the winds are light, there are few nicer places on Kangaroo Island than the shores of Pennington Bay. Turquoise waters meet shimmering white sands that are completely free of development, and fisherman cast their lures in surf that rhythmically laps at the shore. The bay is a popular getaway for surfers thanks to the large, consistent waves, and occasionally dolphins will splash in the surf and are easily visible from shore.
For all of its captivating beauty, however, it’s the blissful emptiness that makes Pennington Bay a perennial visitor favorite. Stroll the length of the white sand beach and scour the shoreline for shells, or snap photos of this epic panorama of sea, sand, and sky.
Practical Info
Pennington Bay is located 1.5 miles off of Hog Bay Road—the main road connecting the major towns of Kingscote and Penneshaw. The road to Pennington Bay is unpaved but is accessible for most types of vehicles. The surf can often be very rough and rip currents can be strong, so it’s important to use caution when swimming, surfing, or entering the turquoise waters.
Address: Pennington Bay, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, Australia
Hours: Daily
From $ 340