We tried really hard to come up with a short and snappy list of the best remote holiday destinations in Australia. Truly we did. But unfortunately, this great land of ours has too many options to offer.
So, when it came to the crunch, we decided to pick one for each letter of the alphabet. Just one. And yes, it was hard, but we got there in the end.
So if you’re asking, “Where should I go on holiday?” here's a bunch of ideas.
A - Arnhem Land, NT
Arguably the most spiritual place in Australia, the home of the Yolngu people will not disappoint.
Popular tourist experiences include:
- touring the breath-taking landscapes
- visiting the Injalak Arts and Craft Centre in Gunbalanya
- seeing Injalak Hill, an ancient rock art site
B - Bay of Fires, TAS
The red ochre coastline that runs from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point in Tasmania is high on the bucket list of many intrepid travellers.
Popular tourist experiences include:
- enjoying Binalong Bay’s pristine white sand dunes and crystal-clear ocean
- fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving
- staying in remote eco-lodges
C - Coober Pedy, SA
This historic mining town is Australia’s opal capital, and there’s no other place like it.
Popular tourist experiences include:
- touring Umoona Opal Mine and Museum
- playing a round at Opal Fields Golf Club (it’s completely grassless)
- visiting Fay’s underground home museum
D - Daylesford, VIC
If you want to visit world-class mineral springs without leaving Australia, pop this one on your travel bucket list.
Popular tourist attractions include:
- unwinding at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa
- wandering through Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens
- enjoying a bite at Sault Restaurant
E - Etty Bay, QLD
This quiet stretch of the Tropical North Queensland is idyllic coastal Australia.
Popular tourist experiences include:
- seeing the cassowaries that roam the area
- touring the Australian Sugar Industry Museum
- visiting Paronella Park
F - Fitzroy Crossing, WA
This small Western Australian town packs a punch when it comes to tourist treasures!
Popular tourist attractions include:
- exploring Mimbi Caves
- hiking the St George Ranges
- enjoying the ambiance of Geike Gorge
- picnic at Tunnel Creek
G - Great Barrier Reef, QLD
This incredible destination needs no introduction. It’s the world's largest coral reef and was also selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.
Popular tourist activities include:
- snorkelling
- scuba diving
- taking a glass-bottomed boat cruise
H - Houtman Abrolhos, WA
list, as it’s the epitome of ‘a remote holiday destination in Australia’. It’s a short flight or boat trip from Geraldton, and it’s well worth the effort.
Popular tourist attractions include:
- snorkelling
- fishing charters
- visiting the site of the Batavia shipwreck
I - Kangaroo Island, SA
Ok, so we are kind of cheating here, but we wanted to include Kangaroo Island on the list and ‘k’ was already taken! It’s one of the best relaxing holiday destinations Australia has to offer.
Popular tourist activities include:
- beach-walking
- wine-tasting
- watching the sunset over Admirals Arch
J - Jervis Bay, NSW
Just three hours north of Sydney, this beach holiday destination is a must-see.
Popular tourist attractions include:
- lazing on the world's whitest sand
- spotting dolphins and whales
- bushwalking in the Booderee National Park
- glamping at Paperbark Camp
K - Kakadu National Park, NSW
This living cultural landscape has been home to Aboriginal people (Bininj in the north and Mungguy in the south) for more than 65,000 years. It’s an incredible place to learn about Australian history, and we believe it’s one of the best holiday destinations in Australia.
Popular tourist activities include:
- visiting the thousands of cultural sites
- attending a painting or weaving demonstration
- croc-spotting
L - Lord Howe Island, NSW
This UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian island boasts sandy beaches, subtropical forests and clear waters.
Popular tourist activities include:
- scuba diving
- bird-watching (masked boobies live here)
- cruising on a glass-bottomed boat
M - Mataranka, NT
If you want to relax in nature, this small town is the perfect spot to aim for.
Popular tourist activities include:
- soaking in the Mataranka thermal pools
- swimming in remote local streams
- wandering tranquil walking tracks
N - Ningaloo, WA
Another World Heritage Site, the Ningaloo coastline offers so much natural beauty.
Popular tourist activities include:
- swimming with whale sharks
- snorkelling
- enjoying a multi-day catamaran cruise
- glamping at Sal Salis
O - Ora Banda, WA
This once-booming gold town now has only one functioning building left: the pub. It really doesn’t get more remote than this!
Popular tourist activities include:
- staying at the Ora Banda Historical Inn
- enjoying the expansive space
- mining for gold
P – Palm Cove, QLD
The perfect jumping-off point for Daintree Rainforest visits, this seaside village in Far North Queensland is all about relaxation.
Popular tourist activities include:
- touring the Daintree Rainforest
- taking a Great Barrier Reef island tour
- visiting one of the six luxe day spas in town
Q - Qualia, QLD
This luxury resort in the Whitsundays, located on the northern-most tip of Hamilton Island, is limited to guests 16 years and over.
Popular tourist activities include:
- relaxing in child-free-luxury
- playing a round of golf in Australia’s only island championship golf course
- taking a helicopter ride over the nearby beaches
R - Rottnest Island, WA
This car-free island home of the quokka is only a 25-minute ferry ride from Fremantle.
Popular tourist activities include:
- hiring a bicycle to explore the island's 63 beaches
- snorkelling
- quokka-spotting (they love a selfie)
- glamping
S - South Solitary, NSW
This remote island only allows two tours per year, so if it’s bragging rights you’re after, pop it on your travel list.
Popular tourist activities include:
- booking a helicopter flight over a historic lighthouse
- taking a walking tour of the lighthouse and abandoned cottages
T - The Nullarbor, SA and WA
We often hear about tourists ‘crossing the Nullarbor’, but this massive plain has so much more to offer than just a road trip.
Popular tourist activities include:
- swimming with sea lions in Baird Bay
- whale-watching at Fowlers Bay
- playing a round at Nullarbor Links, the world’s longest golf course
U - Uluru, NT
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uluru is of great spiritual significance for the Aṉangu people. It’s also one of Australia's most recognisable landmarks.
Popular tourist activities include:
- walking with traditional owners
- doing a camel tour
- dining under the stars
- taking a cultural tour
V - Venus Bay, SA
This small tourist and fishing town on the Eyre Peninsula is home to less than 30 people for most of the year. However, that number does increase significantly during the summer holidays.
Popular tourist activities include:
- enjoying white sandy beaches
- visiting The Needle Eye cliff
- camping
W - Wave Rock in Hyden, WA
Hyde Wildlife Park in Western Australia is home to this incredible rock formation.
Popular tourist activities include:
- learning the stories of the Rainbow Serpent from the local Ballardong people
- walking the Lurujarri Dreaming Trail
- viewing the native orchids
X - Exmouth, WA
Exmouth is a tiny Western Australian town full of natural beauty and remote beaches.
Popular tourist activities include:
- touring Cape Range National Park
- swimming in Jurabi Coastal Reserve's tidal rock pools
Y - Yallingup, WA
This beachside town is famous for creating some of the best surfers in the world, but that’s not all it has to offer. When it comes to relaxing holiday destinations in Australia, things don’t get much better than this.
Popular tourist activities include:
- surfing at Yallingup beach
- touring the Ngilgi Cave
- enjoying the numerous local art galleries
Z - Zeehan, TAS
This historic mining town is a great place to visit for history buffs who enjoy good food.
Popular tourist activities include:
- visiting the West Coast Heritage Centre
- touring the historic main street
- enjoying a spot of fishing
One country, hundreds of places
There’s certainly no shortage of remote holiday destinations in Australia. In fact, it’s actually harder to find non-remote towns!
And once you’ve decided where you want to go, book with us and pay for your holiday in instalments for the ultimate ease.
