by Marissa Price

When overseas visitors think about Australia, the first things that come to mind are endless expanses of unspoiled beaches, our iconic ‘red centre’ and wide open spaces. While this is true, and tourist attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Wineglass Bay in Tasmania and the Three Sisters in New South Wales are heavily visited attractions for locals and tourists alike, there are also so many undiscovered and unspoiled treasures Australia has to offer.

Any travel agent worth their salt can give you the information you need to create the perfect holiday in Australia – whether you’re sporty, cultured or looking for a relaxing stay overseas. This article doesn’t offer that. Instead, we look at the places where you’ll find the locals – the destinations that Aussies frequent in their own country for a relaxing, invigorating or cultural holiday.

Relaxation, invigoration and adventure

For relaxation in Australia, you can’t go past a tropical beach. We have one in every state, courtesy of the fact that we’re a gigantic island. But all beaches are not created equal, and for us, that generally means that some contain deadlier wildlife and sea creatures than others. The top end of Australia is home to one of the world’s deadliest jellyfish, and if the locals don’t recommend swimming, they’re probably right. There will have been some foolhardy Aussie who’s tried it before you and it hasn’t ended well. Heed their warnings. The bottom end of Australia is the home of the Great White shark. Most of us aren’t Mick Fanning and have never punched a shark in the nose, but I don’t think even Fanning would recommend that as a relaxing activity. Adventurous, definitely. Maybe invigorating depending on your view. But no relaxation there.

In between the beaches where you’ll get eaten by a shark are some incredible spots, with pristine and white sand and water that’s anything from a crystalline, idyllic blue to a roaring, blood-pumping swell. The obvious culprits are Bondi, the Goldie (Gold Coast) and areas around the Great Barrier Reef (Daydream Island, Hamilton Island, Fraser Island – I know, islands off an island). The gorgeously clear waters of Eli Creek on Fraser bring tourists and Aussies alike to visit, year after year. The allure of walking through or tubing on water that is so clear you can see straight to the bottom, and so cold it makes your body numb, makes it worth the car-sickness-inducing ride along a bumpy beach for several hours. But without adventure, where’s the payoff? Gardner’s Falls and the Maleny area, in general, are also well worth a visit if relaxation is what you’re after. Think five-star spa resorts, tiny towns, boutique shopping and absolute isolation and seclusion – all in one area. Freycinet National Park in Tasmania has the same reputation, as do Port Douglas and Cairns. Just don’t go swimming at the last two, on account of the aforementioned deadly jellyfish. Let’s not even talk about the crocodiles!

Cultural immersion

Aussies are a unique breed. Our cultural pastimes range from a backyard BBQ with a few Bundy rums (watch out for the drop bears), to an overnight stay night in the city with a visit to our world-class theatres or ballets. Being so complicated, it’s hard to cover all of the cultural activities Aussies enjoy, and therefore where you’ll find the locals, so I’ve approached this section on a sliding scale from ‘backyard chic’ (bogan) to ‘refined chic’ (slightly pretentious at times).

The home of rum – and the drop bear – Bundaberg, deserves a special mention. Although you can’t swim on account of the stingers, drinking to excess isn’t the only thing that Bundaberg offers. Each year, lucky visitors can watch the turtle hatching season, where thousands of tiny young turtles make the dash down the beach to the water, trying to avoid the greedy pecking of the seagulls. You could watch it with a rum in hand, too, of course.
Walkabout Creek Pub, the location of the Crocodile Dundee film, is an icon that Americans would readily associate with Aussie culture – but remarkably few of us have ever been there. It’s in the wilds of the country, way out in the outback, further than many of us city lovers are prepared to go. Our idea of country living is camping at Somerset Dam or driving into the outer suburbs. We have some fantastic ranches that offer stay and work accommodation, where you can really get the feel of what it’s like to muster on an Aussie cattle station. I highly recommend you take a bucketload of sunscreen for such a trip. An Akubra wouldn’t hurt either…you want to try to blend in, after all. It’ll also stop your face melting off in the summer sun.

Less well-known examples of Australian cultural locations are found in the colder climates such as Winton and Stanthorpe. Known as apple country, Stanthorpe is probably closer to an American autumn in climate, but it freezes us Aussies to death. Winton is the location of ancient dinosaur bones uncovered by archaeologists years ago, and there are many tours you can take in this idyllic little outback town to get a taste of Aussie life without too many flies and cow patties. While we’re on the topic of nature, don’t forget the fantastic Phillip Island area. Known for Formula One racing, Phillip Island is actually the home of many of Australia’s penguin colonies. Unlike koalas, these guys are genuinely cute and cuddly (though we don’t recommend cuddling them). Boulders Bay is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area, where Aussies and foreigners alike come to see the penguins each year. From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 3,000 birds in recent years. Bordered by indigenous bush on one side and the clear waters of False Bay on the other, the area is a string of small, sheltered bays enclosed by granite boulders that are 540 million years old. Who said Australia doesn’t have old stuff? In a beautiful example of Australian humor, there’s also a town in Tasmania named Penguin which is, you guessed, all about penguins. It’s the home of the Big Penguin, a 3.15 meter tall monument to the fairy penguins that inhabit the area. Only in Australia.

Aside from our ‘big ticket’ tourist attractions, there are many Australian beaches, towns and monuments just begging for a visit. We don’t always go big – sometimes we visit the chocolate factories in Victoria, vineyard and wine country in South Australia, the dairy farms dotted throughout Queensland, the snow fields of New South Wales or the endless expanses of the Red Centre. Sometimes we go camping, and sometimes we stay in five-star resorts. We’re complicated, and we can’t be nailed down. But we make for a very diverse tourist destination that suits just about any type of person you can think of. Whatever your needs – Australia’s got a holiday for that!

And you thought drop bears were the biggest threat to life in Australia.

Marissa Price is an Australian school teacher who also runs The Literature Factory, which helps Australian children with literacy, reading and writing. The Lit Factory runs tutoring sessions and workshops, as well as publishing several Australian authors including Marissa and Nicole Bonnelli Madeley. Each publication has its own educational value, making them perfect for the Lit Factory imprint.

Marissa’s book series, Into the Abyss, currently has two books available. Vault of Verona and Scourge of Scotland follow the story of Harriet Hunter, a young Tasmanian woman who discovers that she is able to travel back into the stories of the greatest literary giant the world has ever known – Shakespeare. Harriet runs rampant in Verona during the time of Romeo and Juliet, tasked with the job of stopping the ticking time bomb that will be a double suicide. Her story continues in Scotland with Macbeth’s ambition providing the catalyst for a collision that will change the course of history for generations to come. For more information on the Into the Abyss series or The Literature Factory, visit www.theliteraturefactory.com.au.