Scenic Wonders of Australia

Imposing canyons, immense rock outcrops, spectacular waterfalls, subterranean caverns, and some of the world's most exquisite beaches. The origins of Australia stretch back over millions of years. Some time over 200 million years ago, the ancient supercontinent of Pangaea broke into two major fragments, Laurasia and Gondwana.

The latter, in turn, began to split apart about 100 million years ago, forming the landmasses of Australia, Antarctica, India, Africa and South America. In the past 50 million years, Australia drifted northwards to its current position, experiencing regular volcanic activity and becoming isolated as the world’s biggest island.

Momentous geological upheavals of long ago, and the erosive forces of wind and water over millennia, have resulted in landforms that we travel long distances to marvel at and appreciate. Fortunately, most of these special places are now protected within national parks and other reserves, and can be visited and enjoyed by all of us.

1 The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park, WA
A fantastic forest of stone columns has been weathered into weird and wonderful shapes by wind-blown sand.

2 Junction Pool Lookout, Karijini National Park, WA
Offers an awe-inspiring view from the rim of Hancock Gorge into three dramatic chasms in the Hamersley Range.

3 Geikie Gorge, WA
Strikingly coloured 30-m-high limestone cliffs carved from an ancient coral reef by the Fitzroy River.

4 Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park, WA
This remote range is made up of hundreds of striped, beehive-shaped peaks.

5 Katherine Gorge, Nitmiluk National Park, NT
A dramatic series of gorges has been carved here by the Katherine River.>

6 Kings Canyon, Watarrka National Park, NT
Ancient sandstone walls plunge 100 m to the floor of this spectacular gorge.

7 Uluru and Kata Tjuta, NTbr /> Also known formerly as, respectively, Ayers Rock and the Olgas, these are two of the most dramatically beautiful rock formations in the world.

8 Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges National Park, SA
Weathering has produced a vast basin ringed by precipitous sandstone cliffs.

9 Blue Lake, Mount Gambier, SA
The main crater of an extinct volcano contains this small but extraordinary lake, whose waters turn vivid turquoise in summer.

10 Wallaman Falls, Girringun National Park, QLD
Stony Creek, a tributary of the Herbert River, makes a thundering plunge of 268 m down a sheer-walled gorge.