351 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Australia - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Australia

Lake Hillier

An Australian lake whose pink hue defies scientific explanation.

Helensburgh, Australia

Glowworm Tunnel

An abandoned railroad tunnel is now filled with bioluminescent bugs.

Raymond Island, Australia

Gippsland Lakes Bioluminescence

Australian Lake set aglow by Noctiluca Scintillans.

Mena Creek, Australia

Paronella Park

A castle hand built by a Spanish dreamer in the Australian tropical jungle.

Putty, Australia

Newnes Glow Worm Tunnel

Once the path of a railway tunnel, now home to thousands of glowing insects.

Mount Dandenong, Australia

William Ricketts Sanctuary

A collection of outdoor mystical statues paying homage to indigenous Australians and ecological stewardship.

Wentworth Point, Australia

SS Ayrfield

Nature is leading a successful mutiny on this century-old freighter.

East Warburton, Australia

Redwood Forest Tree Art

Woven tree art gives this towering Australian woodland a touch of mystical whimsy.

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Australia

Frewville, Australia

The Butterfly Room

Hundreds of tiny dead butterfly eyes gaze down at diners in this Australian eatery.

Adelaide, Australia

Santos Museum of Economic Botany

A wealth of plants and horticultural curiosities fill this charmingly antique museum.

Bowen, Australia

The Big Mango

One of Australia's famed "Big Things," this giant fruit was once stolen as part of a publicity stunt.

Robertson, Australia

Big Potato

Concrete spud looks like the North American Sebago.

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Stories About Australia

Dolphins just off the Peron Peninsula in Shark Bay, Australia.

Dolphins Help Those Who've Helped Them Before, Even When They're Not Friends

A new study in Australia shows that having a team is key to reproductive success.

The grey-headed flying fox is a fruit bat native to southeastern Australia.

The Australian Town That’s Gone Batty Over Its Bats

Where some see threatened mammals, others see a threat to historic trees.

by Bonnie Nicol

An Australian galah, also known as the pink and grey cockatoo, is examined in the mobile hospital.

How a Vet Hospital on Wheels Rescued Australian Wildlife During Floods

Injured birds, bats, echidnas, and more got some TLC during a disaster.

Rain and mist dramatically change Uluru's look.

Heavy Rain Brought Spectacular Waterfalls to Australia's Most Famous Rock

A rare deluge at Uluru attracted tourists, locals, and a whole lot of frogs.

A burrowing bettong, also known as the boodie, in the Australian Outback.

How Far Should Humans Go to Help Species Adapt?

An Australian project to help threatened marsupials avoid predatory cats is one of a host of 'assisted evolution' efforts.

by Elizabeth Kolbert

A salvaged anchor frames the Warrnambool lighthouse.

An Australian Town's Identity Rests on a Ship That May Not Exist

Did a 16th-century Portuguese vessel run aground here? Doubtful, but why not celebrate it anyhow?

by Bonnie Nicol

January 4, 2021

In 2016, tires were the stars of the show.

The Australian Town That Turns Trash Into Christmas Trees

Lismore's festive trees are made out of glorious garbage.

by Vivienne Pearson

December 23, 2020

Two octopuses fight at Octopolis. The one on the left is about to jet away, fleeing.

When Usually Solitary Octopuses Get Together, Odd Things Happen

Observations from Octopolis and Octlantis.

by Peter Godfrey-Smith

December 14, 2020

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