If there were ever one area of a country that ignited a passion and fierce pride in the majority of that country’s citizens, no matter where they live, it is the Outback of Australia. Arid and unforgiving, it speaks to people like no other place on earth.

The Outback is a land unto itself…wild and rugged. It is an environment where the saying “only the strong survive” holds true. To say that the land is barren is not really true. It is woven deeply in the tapestry of Maori history and that of the country as a whole. The treasures that it holds are, aside from gods and opals, in its landscapes and the adaptable creatures, human and animal alike, that inhabit it.

Dramatic, uncompromising rock faces rise from the ground to meet the sky; feral camels and donkeys roam the vast tracts of desolate land; fossils from long ago Ages; and people that have carved out their lives in this area all ignite the imagination of visitors. Places like Ayers Rock (Uluru), Coober Pedy, Alice Springs, and Katherine Gorge attract visitors like iron filings to a magnet. The draw is irresistible.

Uluru holds deep spiritual meaning to the Maori and is a place of reverence. The red stone sandstone outcropping rising majestically from the earth is one of Australia’s most recognizable landmarks. Many know it as the site where, in 1980, a 9-week-old baby was taken by dingoes. Authorities were convinced that the mother, Lindy Chamberlain, had killed the child. Subsequently she was incarcerated until experts testified that there was indeed evidence that dingoes did snatch the child.

Coober Pedy and Alice Springs are just two of the unique settlements that are scattered throughout the Outback. Both attract a large number of visitors each year. Coober Pedy is an opal-mining town with the distinction of being largely below ground as an adaptive measure to help residents beat the extreme heat. Historic Alice Springs, the second largest city in the Northern Territory, offers visitors a widely diverse range of attractions and activities from the usually dry regatta on the Todd River and the desert gardens to hiking in the stunning MacDonnell mountain range.

There are so many places in the Outback that are intriguing that it is difficult to pick just a few to highlight. The national parks and Heritage Sites are beautiful and time should be spent exploring them. Weather within the Outback runs the gauntlet from arid to flooding rains and extreme heat in the day to cold nights. There are only a few that can living in this punishing environment.

You could spend weeks in the Outback and not see everything that appeals to you so, when you plan your trip, set your itinerary in advance to maximize your time there. This wonderful area of Australia will call you back time after time.

Great surf in the coastal waters around the world attracts surfers like iron filings to a magnet. Each surfer is seeking that perfect wave. That one wave that they can ride forever. The coasts of Australia produce some of the best surf in the world. Many world-class events are held in the surfing meccas scattered along the coast of this spectacular country.

Moviemakers from around the world have been attracted the incredible surf in some of these locales. For instance, Bells Beach was one of the locations selected for the filming of the movie “The Endless Summer”. Home to the long running Rip Curl Pro Surf & Music Festival, Bells Beach has attracted surfers for decades with its incredible surf.

When Bells Beach is flat, competitions are sometimes moved to the small town of Johanna. The surf at Johanna is known for its power and is held in high regard by experienced surfers. Swells that miss Bells Beach are often picked up at Johanna.

Surrounded by water on three sides, the popular seaside resort of Manly provides terrific surf for all levels of surfers. A scant 13 km from Sydney, this beautiful resort town has a stunning 18 beaches in the immediate area. At any time you are likely to see longboarders, shortboarders, boogie boarders, knee boarders and body surfers taking to the water. Surfers from Sydney flock to this beach to fulfill their thirst for great waves.

Lying between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta sits Queensland’s most southern beach. Burleigh Heads attracts droves of surfers with its powerful surf, sandy bottom, and incredible beach. The windier it is, the more water gets funneled into the bay creating even more powerful waves so experience is a necessity in these waters.

Drive just an hour and a half north of Brisebane and you will find that the beaches along the Noosa National Park coastline provide great opportunities to catch that perfect wave. Beginning at Sunshine Beach and running about 12kms, there are some great breaks. Most suitable for the novice is Noosa Beach with its gentler waves and sand bottom. Experienced surfers often head for the Boiling Pot with its rock-strewn bottom, waves that rise as high as 4 meters if the wind is right, and rides as long as 300 meters.

Literally hundreds of surf spots dot the coast of this island country. Whether you are an expert surfer or a novice, you will find the perfect surf for your experience level along these stunning coasts.

Just 110 km up the coast from Adelaide, the third largest island in Australia sits 16km off of the shore. Kangaroo Island is an incredible world away from the mainland and can’t be fully enjoyed in a day or two. Exploring this treasure with its 26 designated parks, reserves and protected areas will take an extended visit. Its few towns and small population leave a huge area untouched. If you only have a few days, decide your itinerary before you go so that no time is wasted.

With a temperate climate throughout it, stunning landscapes and miles of untouched wilderness; it is no wonder that Kangaroo Island holds a magical appeal to visitors. Accessible by plane or ferry, there is a wide range of accommodation options for visitors, from rough camping to luxury.

The largest of the parks on the island, Flinders Chase National Park occupies 17% of the island and surrounds Ravine de Casoars Wilderness Protection Area. On the western end of Kangaroo Island, the cliffs were long the cause of shipwrecks before two lighthouses were constructed in Cape Du Couedic, within Flinders National Park, & Cape Borda. Although these lighthouses are isolated, they are accessible and many visitors are drawn to the rugged, wild coast. Weir’s Cove, Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks are all contained within the park.

Set on Cape Bouguer, not only does Kelly Hill Conservation Park have terrific walking trails but also it is home to a magnificent network of limestone caves, the Kelly Hill Caves. Carved deep into the limestone, these caves hold a wealth of treasures. The spectacular stalagmites and stalactites; as well as the trove of fossils from animals that once lived, and currently live, on the island make the Kelly Hill Caves a wonderful place to explore.

The rare Australian Sea Lions live in a very large colony at Seal Bay. This colony is calculated to be about 10% of the world’s sea lion population. The accessibility of the sea lions allows visitors to get amazingly close to these creatures on guided tours. This amazing sanctuary was created in 1954 and the population of seals that breed here has exploded. Swimming and Fishing are strictly prohibited here so don’t be tempted.

Just off the treacherous coast of Kangaroo Island are a number of wrecks. Some of the wrecks took many lives and others took none. Three operating lighthouses make sure that dark chapter of the island’s mariner history does not repeat itself.

Agriculture, fishing, and tourism are the economic mainstays of Kangaroo Island. One restriction that visitors must adhere to is that they can bring no honey products or import bees. The island is home to the world’s only pure strain of Ligurian bees and they intend to keep it that way. It is also home to the only distillery of eucalyptus oil in South Australia.

Kangaroo Island is a multi-faceted island with delightful discoveries around every corner. It is a place you can immerse yourself in and you won’t ever want to leave.

Hidden away a short 35km from Brisbane is one of Australia’s natural jewels, one of the world’s largest sand islands. The destination, spectacular Moreton Island, is an interesting 75-minute ferry ride from the Port of Brisbane but ultimately worth the journey. This is truly one of nature’s most stunning wonders.

Formed over approximately 6000 years ago, Moreton Island is a natural sand island located in the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Recognized as an ecologically sensitive area, The Moreton Island National Park was created in 1966 and encompasses 98% of the island.

A wide variety of vegetation, wildlife and marine life call the island, and its surrounding waters home. This diversity makes the virtually untouched island an extremely popular destination for those seeking to be close to nature. There are four “towns” or settlements on the island therefore there are accommodations and tours available.

One of the most delightful activities that you can participate in occurs in the evening at the Tangalooma Resort. Wild dolphins come in to a feeding area in order to get fish from hands of guests. The experts determine how many people can take part in the feeding and the others watch from the jetty. Although the time that you get to spend with the dolphins is short, it is an exhilarating interactive experience.

Whale watching tours are becoming increasingly popular in this area. Tour companies take you out to see the majestic humpback whales at play during “whale season”, May to October. During the tours, a knowledgeable commentator will inform you about these amazing mammals. If you are fortunate, the whales will be performing their aquatic aerobics near the boat. The sight of a monstrous creature rising out of the ocean with apparent ease leaves you in awe of their power and grace.

You will see 4WD vehicles on Moreton Island and there are some great opportunities to see the island that way. The vehicles must have a permit before they are allowed on the island and there are areas where they are not allowed. If you drive, do remember that this beautiful area should be treated with respect and refrain from traveling off-road with wild abandon.

Camping on Moreton Island and hiking through the wonderful terrain is an excellent vacation. Permits for camping are available only on the mainland so be sure to get the permit before heading off on your vacation.

This island has so much to do and see that a day trip just won’t allow you to see it all. It is home to Mt Tempest, which at 280m, is reputed to be the world’s highest sand dune; Cape Moreton lighthouse constructed in 1857; the Blue Lagoon, the most accessible perched lake on the island; and about 40km of incredible beaches that tantalize and beckon to those that see them.

More than a half million visitors a year flock to this gorgeous coastal area. Surfers, wine aficionados, cave explorers, whale watchers and eco-tourists alike are drawn like moths to a flame by the incredible opportunities offered in this region. An easy three-hour drive from Perth brings you to this breathtaking region with its Mediterranean type climate.

This surfer’s paradise stretches over 130 km of incredible coastline and produces some of the most consistent, high quality waves found anywhere. Thirty years or so ago, this area was mainly dairy farms that were struggling. Once the surfers discovered the magnificent breaks offering a range of difficulty from novice to advanced, they started coming to the area in droves.

As wine growing techniques and knowledge got more advanced, a substantial planting was done in 1967 and the wine business has grown steadily ever since. This region is the largest geographic wine area in Australia with more than 5500 ha planted in vines. The 120+ wine producers in the Margaret River Wine Region account for about 20% of Australia’s premium wines however just 3% of the country’s wine is produced here. That is quite an accomplishment for one of the newer wine regions.

For those that are staying for an extended period and are looking for a variety of things to do, whale watching in this area is spectacular. From June to September, Augusta’s Flinders Bay provides an excellent opportunity to experience the unique opportunity of watching Humpback whales and South Right whales interacting. Geographe Bay in the north of the region offers great whale watching between September and December. Blue whales, another endangered species, have been seen visiting these waters. Watching these graceful, endangered mammals is truly magical.

Exploring caves is another activity that will captivate you. More than 150 stunning caves lie under towering Karri forest. These cave develop with the rapid drainage of underground water. Many of the caves have an almost mystical quality. Mammoth Cave, Jewel Cave and Lake Cave are just three of the caves that will transport you into a magical world that exists only in each cave. In each of these caves, the name is very appropriate. The incredible size of Mammoth Cave and the presence of so many fossils will astound you. Lake Cave’s lake, amazing light and the calcite formation called Suspended Table will take your breath away. Jewel Cave has stunning formations and it is a rare jewel among tourist caves.

Margaret River has all of this and so much more. A holiday destination that is well worth a visit, you will find your days filled with wonder and awe as you enjoy all that the region offers.