Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
  • Conservation
  • Privacy
  • Travel Writing Competition 2025
  • Reviews
  • Travel Resources
  • T&C
  • Contact Us
Pure Travel
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
  • Destination Inspiration

The Road Less Travelled: 7 Unusual Australian Travel Experiences

  • September 2, 2019
  • admin

The big ticket ‘must-sees’ in Oz will always be a draw. But for those who crave something that little bit different then our vast country can always be trusted to throw up the unusual, the fascinating and the downright weird!

From iconic movie locations to UFO visitations, the following is just a smattering of what’s on offer…

1. The Devil’s Marbles: A geographical phenomenon, or something more mystical?

Or, to give them their Aboriginal name – Karlu Karlu – is believed by locals to be the fossilised eggs of the Rainbow serpent. And when you get there it’s immediately obvious why… Located 100 kms south of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, this incredible collection of granite boulders measures up to 6 metres in height. The formations have been shaped by the elements over the millennia, leaving them smooth and round, upended and teetering in seemingly impossible poses.

Far less visited than sites such as Uluru, these behemoth structures are amazing at sunset and sunrise, when the changing light cast eerie colours and shadows on the boulders and surrounding desert. A camera (or decent camera phone) is obligatory.

2. Wycliffe Well: Welcoming extra-terrestrial visitors for decades

The UFO capital of Australia, Wycliffe Well, has claimed to be a place of interest for unidentified flying objects since WWII. Servicemen living in the area began keeping records of the nightly sightings, and it’s reputed that they’ve never stopped. Indeed, it’s promised that a nightly viewing ritual is all but guaranteed to present a glimpse of something other-worldly…

All sightings are recorded, but the original journal was stolen in 1990 (the swine’s!), so the one today only dates from that year – but it’s a pretty interesting read. As an aside, Wycliffe Well’s roadhouse (pub) also reputedly offers the largest range of beer found in a single location in all of Australia – not that we’re suggesting that this has anything to do with the huge amount of alien craft sightings, of course.

3. Mataranka Hot Springs: Paradise found (just watch out for the spiders)

These natural hot springs in the NT are not only beautiful, they have healing properties as well. At 35 degrees, the main thermal pool will soothe away any aches and pains as you lie back and enjoy the spectacular natural wonders all around. Australia’s famous bats – the flying fox – almost always put in an appearance, as do some enormous spiders who weave intricate webs, sometimes only feet about the water.

In addition to the thermal pool, be sure to check out the Bitter Springs, a much deeper pool, as well as the spray of Mataranka Falls just a short walk along the river.

4. Gunlom Falls: “You can live on it, but it tastes like s***”

Crocodile Dundee. The 1980s movie that put Australia’s Northern Territory firmly on the map used this location for one of its most iconic scenes., and was where that famous line was first uttered. Located in Kakadu National Park, it’s an oasis of tranquillity offering multiple options for swimming, hiking and simply basking in the glory of the great outdoors.

Be sure to take the 15 minute climb to the top for wonderful views. Yes, it might be a hot and sweaty effort, but since there’s no salties here (saltwater crocs) you can happily cool off in any of the swimming holes you come across, as well as the huge – and we really mean huge – plunge pool at the bottom of the falls themselves.

5. Horizontal Falls: If it’s good enough for David Attenborough…

When Sir Attenborough says something is, “Australia’s most unusual natural wonder”, then you know it’s going to be something special. Horizontal Falls by name and by nature, this is Mother Nature showing off her immense power. Two narrow gorges force the waters of Talbot Bay into rushing white torrents, and with tides of more than 10 metres this makes for an astonishing display as the waters surge and rise to batter through the rocks – literally a horizontal waterfall.

Only accessible by boat or float plane, this natural event happens twice daily. To view it is a pure privilege, and certainly a memory that will remain with you for a lifetime.

6. Newcastle Waters: No humans, but a mecca for birdlife

This NT town used to be a haven for drovers as they hustled their cattle hundreds of kilometres through the unforgiving landscape. Today it’s a ghost town, but the preserved buildings make for great exploration.

However, after big rain it’s also a birding paradise. So if that’s your thing this should definitely be on your must-visit list. Birds of note include Pictorella Mannikans, Brolgas, different types of Ibis, Kite, Eagles, Bee-Eaters, Doves, Lapwing… A great place to set up camp and while away the hours.

7. Roebuck Bay: A true stairway to heaven

The wonders of the Kimberly are many, but the natural phenomenon that is the ‘staircase to the moon’ is something you can only see at Roebuck Bay. It occurs on certain dates of the year when the full moon rises over exposed tidal flats and creates – you’ve guessed it – an optical illusion that really does appear as a ladder leading up to the gleaming white orb.

When it comes to ‘secret’ travel locations there’s no better method of exploration than asking a local. Within the wonderful remote northern region of Western Australia, including – of course – the breath-taking Kimberley National Park and the above mentioned Horizontal Falls – there’s no one better placed to advise than the local experts at Horizontal Falls Adventures.

So if this incredible area of Oz is on your travel list (and it really should be), then get in contact at www.horizontalfallsadventures.com.au or call on 08 9192 1172 to make sure you don’t only see the guidebook sites, but get to discover those hidden places that turn a great trip into one that truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Share
Tweet
Related Topics
  • Australia
  • off the beaten track australia
  • oz
  • unusual destinations
  • unusual places
admin

Previous Article
  • Action & Adventure

4 Tips for Your Next Road Trip

  • September 2, 2019
  • admin
View Post
Next Article
  • Travel Resources

9 Advantages of Booking a Tour When Traveling to Egypt

  • September 2, 2019
  • admin
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Choose Your Best Trekking Trail in Nepal

  • Jules
  • June 4, 2025
Family in France
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Traveling with Children: Our Best Tried and Tested Addresses in France

  • Jules
  • June 4, 2025
Liverpool Football Club
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

5 European Cities Every Football Fan Should Visit

  • Jules
  • June 2, 2025
Smoky Mountains
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Best Activities for First-Time Visitors to the Smokies

  • Jules
  • June 2, 2025
boat rental san antonio
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Ibiza’s Hidden Beaches by Boat: A Guide to Secret Shores

  • Jules
  • May 30, 2025
Must-Do Treks in Nepal
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice

Top 7 Must-Do Treks in Nepal to Explore the Beautiful Himalayas

  • Jules
  • May 29, 2025
Las Vegas sign
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Elopement or Honeymoon? Why Las Vegas Is the Perfect Couples’ Destination

  • Jules
  • May 22, 2025
Waikiki
View Post
  • Destination Inspiration

Planning Your Next Break: What to Look For

  • Jules
  • May 20, 2025
Pure Travel
  • About
  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice
  • Guide
  • Travel Writing
  • Cookie Policy (UK)
A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Pure Travel
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}