Australia · best-of list
The 22 Best Outdoor Spots in Australia
All 22 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Australia, across 7 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect trails, beaches, parks and viewpoints, with Port Campbell contributing the most (5).
Our curated picks
22 outdoor spots in Australia, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Port Campbell 5 picks
Bay of Islands
Port Campbell · On our Great Ocean Road route
Quieter stacks with fewer crowds.
Photo: Me-myself at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Gibson Steps
Port Campbell · On our Great Ocean Road route
86 steps down to a beach beneath giant stacks.
Photo: Mikel Betelu · Google
Loch Ard Gorge
Port Campbell · On our Great Ocean Road route
Sheltered cove named after an 1878 shipwreck.
Tip: Beach stairs closed since 2023 (reopening targeted late 2026); clifftop lookouts and Blowhole platform open.
Photo: Wahyu Oetomo · Google
London Bridge
Port Campbell · On our Great Ocean Road route
Arch that lost its span in 1990.
Photo: Stefan Schäfer, Lich · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Grotto
Port Campbell · On our Great Ocean Road route
Sinkhole and rock pool framing the ocean.
Photo: The Grotto · Google
Port Douglas & Daintree 4 picks
Agincourt Reef
Port Douglas & Daintree · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Ribbon reef on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, reached by Quicksilver catamaran.
Tip: Choose a calm-weather day; the trip is about 90 minutes each way.
Photo: Gina Sakaesaeng · Google
Cape Tribulation
Port Douglas & Daintree · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Where the Daintree rainforest meets the reef, with boardwalks and quiet beaches.
Tip: Cross the Daintree River ferry and allow a full day.
Photo: Luxure · CC BY 3.0 au
Four Mile Beach
Port Douglas & Daintree · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Long palm-lined beach beside Port Douglas, with a netted swim area in stinger season.
Photo: Zac3200 · Google
Mossman Gorge
Port Douglas & Daintree · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Rainforest gorge in Daintree National Park with clear river pools and Kuku Yalanji guided walks.
Tip: Take the shuttle from the Mossman Gorge Centre; private cars cannot drive in.
Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0
Torquay 4 picks
Bells Beach
Torquay · On our Great Ocean Road route
Surf break and home of the Rip Curl Pro each Easter; good lookouts.
Photo: Michael J Fromholtz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Point Addis Marine National Park
Torquay · On our Great Ocean Road route
Clifftop lookouts and Koorie Cultural Walk over sheltered beaches.
Photo: Neil Searle · Google
Surf Coast Walk
Torquay · On our Great Ocean Road route
Coastal walk linking Torquay, Jan Juc, Bells and Point Addis.
Photo: Shiny Adventvre · Google
Torquay Front Beach
Torquay · On our Great Ocean Road route
Calm, family-friendly beach along the Esplanade.
Photo: Cridders · CC BY 2.0
Cairns 3 picks
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Cairns · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Free saltwater swimming lagoon on the waterfront, with lifeguards and lawns.
Photo: Brigitte Musch · Google
Crystal Cascades
Cairns · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Rainforest creek with clear swimming holes 20 minutes from the city.
Tip: Swim only in the marked pools; flash floods can occur after rain.
Photo: Steve Fitzgerald · CC BY-SA 4.0
Green Island
Cairns · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Coral cay 45 minutes from Cairns with rainforest, snorkeling and glass-bottom boats.
Tip: Take the first ferry for calmer water and fewer people.
Photo: www.cape-york-australia.com · CC BY-SA 4.0
Blue Mountains 2 picks
Grand Canyon Track
Blue Mountains · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
6 km loop near Blackheath descending into a fern-lined slot canyon.
Tip: Steep steps; allow 3 to 4 hours.
Photo: Daithí Mac · Google
Wentworth Falls
Blue Mountains · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Tiered waterfall with lookouts and a cliff-edge track along the National Pass.
Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0
Melbourne 2 picks
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Melbourne · On our Great Ocean Road route
Lawns, lakes and fern gullies beside the Yarra River.
Photo: Johntorcasio · CC BY-SA 4.0
St Kilda Pier
Melbourne · On our Great Ocean Road route
Pier and breakwater where little penguins return at dusk.
Tip: Watch quietly from the boardwalk; no flash photos.
Photo: Donaldytong · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sydney 2 picks
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
Sydney · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
6 km clifftop path past ocean pools, Tamarama and Bronte beaches and Waverley Cemetery.
Tip: Start at Bondi Icebergs and finish with a swim at Coogee.
Photo: Frank · Google
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Sydney · On our Sydney, Blue Mountains & the Reef route
Harbourside gardens leading to Mrs Macquarie's Chair and its Opera House view.
Photo: Bidgee · CC BY-SA 3.0 au
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Australia?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 22 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Australia has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Port Campbell has the most (5 of 22), followed by Port Douglas & Daintree (4) and Torquay (4).
Are any of these free?
19 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Loch Ard Gorge, Crystal Cascades, Grand Canyon Track, St Kilda Pier, Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Australia
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Port Campbell 5 on this list
- Port Douglas & Daintree 4 on this list
- Torquay 4 on this list
- Cairns 3 on this list
- Blue Mountains 2 on this list
- Melbourne 2 on this list
- Sydney 2 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.