Australia Outdoor Recreation

Australia’s myriad ecosystems provide unparalleled opportunities for intrepid explorers who don’t mind getting a little dusty—or being hundreds of kilometers away from other human beings. The country’s 50-million-year isolation has allowed a plethora of unique species to evolve, making Oz home to some of the most extraordinary plants and animals on earth.

Australia’s relatively recent contact with the outside world, however, has thrown its delicate ecology into peril. In the past 200 years, 27 of Australia’s mammalian species have gone extinct, and many plants and animals are threatened with the same fate. While the government and many private conservation groups are mobilizing to safeguard Australia’s biodiversity, issues such as deforestation and global warming are daunting obstacles to overcome.

This section provides travelers with useful information about both identifying and preserving Australian wildlife and plants. It also includes important advice for navigating the country’s rougher roads and avoiding tour scams, as well as a glossary of Australian outdoors terminology.

• The Great Barrier Reef is considered to be the largest living organism in the world; it covers an area larger than Italy and is visible from outer space.
• Over 800 species of birds call Australia home.
• The duck-billed platypus is one of the few venomous mammals. Males have spurs on their hind feet that they use to inject poison into adversaries.
• The venom of the inland Taipan snake, found in Queensland and the Northern Territory, is probably the most deadly in the world. The venom from just one bite could be used to kill around 250,000 mice.
• The Golden Orb spider comes the closest of any animal to spinning gold. The golden silk with which they spin the world’s largest webs is almost as strong as Kevlar.
• Twelve species of eucalyptus exist outside Australia, but Oz boasts over 700 varieties of the tree, which pops up everywhere, including the Outback.
• Australia’s largest cattle station, Strangeray Springs Station in South Australia, is only a little bit smaller than the country of Belgium.
• The bite of the Tasmanian Devil is the strongest of any living mammal.
• Fitzroy Crossing and Wyndham on the Great Northern Highway in Western Australia have earned the dubious distinction of being the world’s hottest inhabited places, with average high temperatures of 35.6°C (96°F).

Flora

Flowers. Wildflowers are abundant in Australia’s more temperate regions. Western Australia in particular stands out for its variety; each year, the landscape is painted anew with swamp bottlebrush ...more

Fauna

Birds. Australia is home to over 800 avian species, from the large emu to the tiny fairy penguin. Noisy flocks of galahs, budgies, and colorful rainbow lorikeets fill Aussie skies, and popular rhymes ...more

Dangerous Species

While Australia is home to some of the world’s most deadly creatures, travelers who take adequate safety precautions have little reason to worry about feral fauna. Still, it’s best to remember that ...more

National Parks

Land is a tremendous source of national pride for Australians, so it follows that the government has designated over 28 million hectares of land as national parkland. From the great sandy beaches of ...more

Camping And Bushwalking

Camping, hiking, and bushwalking (hiking off marked trails) are the best ways to experience Australia’s wilderness. Camping outside designated campsites is usually not permitted near campgrounds, trailheads ...more

Equipment

What To Buy. Good camping equipment is sturdy and light. Buy ahead, as it is generally more expensive in Australia than in North America. Swag and sleeping bag: Swags are portable, tent-like shelters ...more

Wilderness Safety

Always stay warm, dry, and hydrated. It’s simple advice, but following it will prevent the vast majority of life-threatening wilderness situations. Plan ahead; you’ll need two liters of water per ...more

Water Activities

Australia offers unmatched opportunities for surfing, scuba diving, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. Water skiing is also common in the southeast, while windsurfing and sailing are particularly popular ...more

Adventure Trips And Tours

Organized adventure tours offer another way to explore the wilderness. Activities may include hiking, biking, horseback riding, skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. Tourism bureaus can often suggest ...more

Driving In The Outback

Driving is the easiest—and, sometimes, the only—way to get around the Australian Outback. Public transportion is limited in the areas outside major cities; offroading is a way of life there. However ...more

On The Road

If your vehicle breaks down, it’s generally best to stay with it. It’s likely you’ll eventually be discovered by a passerby (although this doesn’t necessarily pertain to especially isolated regions) ...more