By Grace Lagerholm
How to find the islands, snowy mountains and sand dunes you won’t want to miss visiting.
Snowy mountain in Perisher Valley near Thredbo, Australia. Deb. Unsplash.
North Stradbroke Island, Queensland
View of Point Lookout on Stradbroke Island, Queensland. Karl Eastwood. Unsplash.
Just off the coast of Brisbane, North Stradbroke is the perfect break from city life. North Stradbroke, or “Straddie” as it’s called colloquially, has plenty to do whether you’re an adventurous traveler or someone who just wants to unwind on the beach. Frequent marine life sightings, both from land and while diving or snorkeling; a lake with anti-inflammatory effects; koalas and kangaroos; and surf breaks for all levels make this the quintessential Australian vacation spot.
One of the best ways to see North Stradbroke is to hike the Gorge Walk, a trail with Pacific Ocean views and the perfect path for spotting manta rays and turtles off the coast. During the winter months, keep an eye out for migrating whales too! When you pass Point Lookout along the way, you’ll also get to see the eastern grey kangaroo mobs that live in the area. If you want to see wild koalas and spot dolphins in the water below instead, head to Amity Point on the west side of the island.
North Stradbroke is also a great destination to enjoy the beautiful beaches that Queensland is known for. Visitors will love the long stretches of sand where you can walk to see the sunrise over the ocean and the variety of surf breaks on the island. If you’re a beginner looking to try surfing, head to Cylinder Beach for gentle waves. If you’re more experienced and looking for a thrill, try out the surf break at Main Beach. North Stradbroke also happens to be the gateway to Manta Bommie, one of the best snorkeling and diving areas in Australia. Divers commonly see rays and leopard sharks here. If that sounds a bit too adventurous, Brown Lake is a great place to relax. The lake is tea tree-infused, which gives it natural anti-inflammatory properties; it’s a natural spa treatment while you swim.
Port Stephens, New South Wales
Anna Bay in Port Stephens. Matteo Sacco. Pexels.
Far from a typical beach experience, Port Stephens boasts the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Stockton Beach stretches for close to 20 miles, and its dunes reach up to 100 feet tall. Incredible experiences like sandboarding, camel riding, four-wheel-drive tours and horseback riding take any trip from fun to unforgettable.
Not only are the dunes beautiful, but they also offer adventures that are hard to find anywhere else in Australia. Visitors love to go sandboarding down the steep hills and tour the landscape by camel. Taking the Tomaree Head Summit walk is a great way to see views of the Pacific and the headlands at Port Stephens, where you can spot wild dolphins from around the Shoal Bay area. Another activity you won’t want to miss here is walking across the sand bar to Fingal Island at low tide. Make sure to check the tide maps beforehand to stay safe while you head to the deserted beaches on the island and pay a visit to the Point Stephens Lighthouse. Lastly, take a relaxing dip in the Champagne Spa Pool, a natural rock pool named for the bubbles that appear when waves crash on the rocks.
Magnetic Island, Queensland
Arthur Bay on Magnetic Island. Enguerrand Photography. Unsplash.
Magnetic Island is a 30-minute ferry ride off the coast of Townsville, Queensland, and it’s the perfect place to visit on a road trip between the popular destinations Cairns and Airlie Beach. This tropical island lets you escape the crowds and focus on the region's natural beauty without losing any of that paradise-on-earth vacation feel. Renting an open-air car to get around the island is a great way to make your own itinerary on what is truly any animal lover's dream destination.
One of my absolute favorite things I did during my five months in Australia was spotting wild koalas on the Forts Walk. This hike winds through the island’s eucalyptus forests, where you’ll also see World War II bunkers and signs about the island’s war history. Magnetic Island is home to the largest koala colony in northern Queensland, so if seeing koalas in the wild is a dream for you, this is a non-negotiable stop. Make sure to look out for arrows made of rocks and sticks on the path because hikers make them to show you where koalas have been seen nearby! Magnetic Island also has many beaches where you can snorkel fringing reefs of the Great Barrier Reef right off the beach. The SS City of Adelaide shipwreck is also right off the beach at Cockle Bay, and you can even walk out to see the wreck at low tide. On the east side of the island at Nelly Bay and Geoffrey Bay, look out for the colonies of rock wallabies that live on the rock piles by the water. Go at dusk for the best chance of spotting them! Finally, check out the Butterfly Forest in Horseshoe Bay to see the thousands of blue tiger butterflies that migrate here from April through September.
Thredbo, New South Wales
Skiers in Thredbo. Tarryn Grignet. Unsplash.
Many travelers might be shocked to see snowy landscapes perfect for skiing in Australia, but there are actually lots of places to go for winter sports and snowy relaxation alike in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. Thredbo is an adorable village and ski resort in New South Wales, just a 2.5-hour drive from Canberra.
The absolute best thing to do in Thredbo is to take advantage of the longest ski runs in Australia! Thredbo has tracks for everyone, regardless of skill level, where travelers can ski and snowboard all winter. In the warmer months, visitors can hike in the area to see wildflower-covered mountains and waterfalls. Depending on the season, you can also tour the area and learn about its history on either snowshoes or horseback. For thrill seekers, take a ride on the mile-long Thredbo Alpine Coaster, which sends you shooting down the hillside at up to 25 mph. For a more relaxing ride, enjoy the views of the landscape from above on the Merritts Gondola. In the winter months, travelers also get to enjoy fireworks shows every Saturday night.
Montague Island, New South Wales
Montague Island, or Barunguba, is a 20-minute boat ride off the New South Wales coastal town of Narooma, which is a three-hour drive from Canberra. It’s unique in that the entire island is protected as the Barunguba Montague Island Nature Reserve. Booking a licensed boat to the island lets you escape to this sanctuary for Australian wildlife native to the southern coast.
Montague Island is home to a colony of wild fur seals, which you can spot along the coast or see while snorkeling near the island. New South Wales’ largest colony of little penguins, and the world’s third-largest, also lives on the island. Little penguins are the smallest species of penguin, known for their blue plumage, and they’re native to Australia and New Zealand. They’re absolutely adorable and can be seen on the rocks around the coast at dusk. Taking a boat tour from Narooma is also a great way to see seals and dolphins, plus migrating humpback whales during the spring. For bird-watching and ocean views, hike the walking track and make a stop at the Montague Island Lighthouse. Originally built in 1881, you can tour, or even book a stay, at the lighthouse and its lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Back on the mainland in Narooma, make sure to stroll on the scenic Mill Bay Boardwalk before you go home.
Grace Lagerholm
Grace is a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is studying Creative Writing, Journalism, and Music. She is an avid traveler and loves to write about her experiences around the world. In her free time, Grace can be found writing songs, running, and going to the beach.