393 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.

See All 393 Things to Do in Australia See All 393 Places

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

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.

See all 14 places to eat in Australia See all 14 places to eat in Australia

Community Forums / Australia & New Zealand / Australia

Top Discussions in the Australia Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
Dark Sky Project	1 September 5, 2019	1030	September 5, 2019
Symonds Street Cemetery	3 September 3, 2019	1891	September 3, 2019
Hobbiton	1 February 22, 2020	962	February 22, 2020

New Post Visit the Forum

Explore Australia

Launch Map

Australia Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Australia Activity

BabyBird51 wants to go to Porcupine Flat Gold Dredge and Dragline

VeloObscura updated Backpackers Memorial

loganslade24 wants to go to Backpackers Memorial

missrabbitmoon wants to go to Sunshine Lane

akohler726 updated Backpackers Memorial

Stories About Australia

Iron-rich springs at Australia's Lake Tyrrell provide intense color in <em>Heart of the Salt Lake.</em>

Is This an Australian Salt Lake or a 'Beating Heart Laid Bare'?

Iron-rich springs generate intense color in a stark landscape that, from above, might be mistaken for a crime scene.

by Gemma Tarlach

October 12, 2021

A spiral formation of jack fish in Heron Island's harbor was the winner of <em>BMC Ecology and Evolution</em>'s inaugural photo competition.

What Do You See in This Spiral of Color and Light?

A researcher says her award-winning image of a swirling school of fish is also a metaphor for the oceans' health.

by Gemma Tarlach

September 9, 2021

A satellite image from May 2021 shows Lake Menindee, the largest of a nine-lake system, refilling after years of drought. By late August, the lake had reached nearly 90 percent capacity.

An Australian Lake Returns to Life Amid Controversy and Hope

The revival of Lake Menindee is the latest chapter in a battle over water management, environmental protection, and indigenous rights.

by Gemma Tarlach

August 31, 2021

After heavy rains, spiderwebs covered part of Gippsland like a glinting blanket.

Spiders Covered Australian Shores With a Massive, Gossamer Blanket

The ghostly sight tells a story of escape, survival, and a post-flood feast.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

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.

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Lists Featuring Australia