Welcome back to my Snapshots Series. A feature designed to give you a visual snapshot of my favourite locations across the globe.
Simply scroll down and absorb each image, but be warned, this insta-essay is likely to cause a strong desire to down tools and book yourself a one way ticket to Australia.
In this edition I’ve collated a few of our favourite moments from my ULTIMATE AUSTRALIAN ROAD TRIP. So fasten your seat belt, I’m taking you on a journey of over 25,000km across one of the world’s most diverse continents.
Plan your ultimate Aussie road trip
The only nation to govern an entire continent which is estimated to cover 7,692,024 square Kilometres, Australia offers a great variety of landscapes and coastlines to explore.
Its southern shores host a lush blanket of plains and basins peppered with mountainous areas, such as the Musgrave Ranges in the northwest and the Flinders Ranges in the southeast.
The driest inhabited continent on earth its interior has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world, and about three-quarters of the land is arid or semi-arid.
Yet, however dry the earth may be it has yet to deter the wealth of both flora and fauna that has adapted to live in every nook and cranny of this vast and varied landscape.
The 12 months that I spent traversing the highways and rural roads which connect this sparsely populated island, served only to inspire the desire to further explore the country’s great wilderness.
I hope one day I’ll return and spend more time getting to know the land Down Under. However in the meantime, let me share with you my favourite snapshots from my ultimate Australian road trip.
Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney is an iconic city and acts as a base for many who visit Australia, ourselves included.
Having purchased a camper from a family in one of the city’s suburbs, I took the opportunity to soak in the vibrant culture and relaxed vibe on offer.
During my first Aussie house sitting assignment I was invited to join the crew of a yacht sailing in the CYCA Twilight series. An opportunity I couldn’t miss and one that offered a rather unique perspective of the well known city skyline.
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
One of the most notable features of the Australian continent has to be the Great Barrier Reef.
Composed of 900 islands and over 2,900 individual reefs the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system. Covering an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres the reef is larger than the Great Wall of China and is the only living thing on the planet that can be seen from space.
Diving the reef is an experience quite unlike any other. The wealth of marine life is truly remarkable and the colours are so rich and varied that at times it is hard to imagine how such beauty can exist.
Nullabor Plain, South Australia
If you’re hankering after your own epic road trip and plan to book a campervan rental to experience the real Aussie Outback, you should consider traversing Australia’s most iconic highway the Nullarbor Plain which connects Southern and Western Australia.
A 1200km stretch of tarmac it follows the southern coast of the country and takes those adventurers who’ve decided to make the mammoth journey from the cities of Syndey, Melbourne and Adelaide over land to Perth, into some of the most remote parts of the Aussie Outback.
I was fortunate enough to travel across the Nullarbor twice and snapped this shot one morning at sunrise as the evening mist retreated back out to sea.
Dangar Falls, New South Wales
Tucked away on the northern tablelands of NSW is the quaint navigable route of the Waterfall Way.
The route travels through some of the state’s most scenic countryside and encompasses seven national parks, three of which are listed as World Heritage Areas by UNESCO and form part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.
Dorrigo National Park is home to the waterfalls which gives the route its name, and offers those travelling north or south the perfect detour from the sometimes monotonous Bruce Highway.
Katherine Gorge, Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is often overlooked as a humid and indomitable landscape yet it offered us the chance to experience true outback living.
Darwin itself is quite different to the major cities in the country’s other states, however it is the surrounding landscape which serves to highlight the dramatic difference between north and south.
This shot of Katherine Gorge highlights the scenic beauty of the arid terrain. Steeped in Aboriginal heritage and significance, it was a place which seemed to almost reach out to my soul and steel my heart.
SS Yongala, Queensland
Known in scuba circles as possibly the best marine wreck to dive, the S.S Yongala has a reputation for the diverse range of life that has made the structure home.
After falling victim to tempestuous seas during a cyclone the S.S Yongala sank to the depths of the ocean floor on 23rd March 1911. Considered one of the most tragic incidents in Australian Maritime history the S.S Yongala lay undiscovered for almost 50 years before two skin divers happened upon the wreck.
Diving this sunken time capsule has been one of my scuba highlights and I highly recommend the experience to anyone who loves nothing more than exploring the underwater realm.
Outback, Western Australia
There’s really nothing like the Australian Outback.
Arid and vast it consumes much of the continent pushing the few pockets of civilization out towards the cooler coastal climates. However no visit to the country is complete without experiencing at least one night in this great desert.
As the sun set the cold night air wrapped itself around you and the sky revealed a hidden treasure kept out of sight by the light of day. I’d never seen the night sky in such clarity before.
Check out my guide to the best wilderness camping spots in Australia.
Victoria Night Market, Melbourne
Every Wednesday evening from 5pm the Vic Market in the centre of Melbourne comes alive.
Vibrant stalls bursting with vintage fashions, handmade crafts and gourmet treats attract crowds of visitors who arrive for an evening of street food and live music.
Australian Wildlife
No collection of Aussie snapshots would be complete without the obligatory koala bear photo.
Add to that a snapshot of someone swimming with a pod of wild dolphins, and an Emu nestled in the wild expanse of the Nullarbor Plain and you’ve a winning wildlife trio.
My time in Australia encompassed some truly memorable moments. I hope this edition of my Snapshot series has served to inspire you to explore Australia’s varied landscapes yourself.
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Have you been on a road trip around Australia? Share your memorable moments with us below.
