The UNESCO World Heritage Site list can look like the most enticing travel wish list you’ll ever see, so it’s no wonder many people plan their travels around these precious destinations. Heritage sites not only enrich our lives today, but will also serve future generations, and luckily UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) is helping make sure these sites live on. The UNESCO World Heritage organization seeks to preserve the many wonders that exist in our world today, encouraging nations throughout the world to protect their national and cultural heritage.
All this week we will be featuring off the beaten path World Heritage Sites, lesser known but no less worthy, including the charming castles of the United Kingdom, the national parks of Indonesia, the historic towns of Mexico, and the spiritual sites of India.
Today we take a look at Australia, where World Heritage Sites range from the cultural (such as the Sydney Opera House) to the natural (the Wet Tropics of Queensland), sheltering some of the world’s most precious endangered species and offering travelers ample beauty within its many different landscapes. Most people have heard of the Great Barrier Reef, a famous scuba diving spot and host of the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, so today we take you off the beaten path to explore some more unusual Aussie sites!
Tasmania
Tasmania appeals to any traveler with a sense of adventure, with its many lush parks and wildlife reserves. The Tasmanian Wilderness is a wonderland of natural wonders, from the Bay of Fires and Freycinet National Park, to Wine Glass Bay and Cataract Gorge.
Realtraveler Peters Travels saw some wallabies and other wildlife while exploring Tasmania:
“We arrived at Freycinet National Park after lunch for a couple of hours walk to the view point overlooking wineglass bay and a walk to the beach. This is a very beautiful area out on the peninsula of the same name with hills clad in thick forest and native bush, plus the odd friendly Wallabies looking for lunch!! Wine Glass Bay, so named from the whaling days, Whales where brought into this bay for cutting up, and as a result the sea turned red, and the bay is shaped like a wine glass, hence the name wine glass bay.” (more…)
Realtraveler and London native DaisyRTW also experienced Tasmania during her around-the-world travels:
“The National Parks are stunning, 2 of them are World Heritage sites. Stopped in Freciynet National Park to see the stunning Wineglass Bay, then headed off to Cradle Mountain where the walks were good and the scenery spectacular. Traveled through some tiny towns and cute villages. The food was great and met some real characters.” (more…)
Uluru National Park (Ayers Rock)
Pictured above, the beauty of Ayers Rock in Uluru National Park speaks for itself. The enormous red sandstone monolith is considered the largest in the world, changes colors throughout the day as it reflects the sky, and has an important place in Aboriginal history. The Newell Post, a couple from Saskatchewan, Canada, snapped this gorgeous photograph. Here is an excerpt from their blog about Ayers Rock:
“The amazing thing about Ayers Rock (besides being the world’s biggest monolith), and what attracts all the attention, is the fact that it never looks the same no matter how many times you see it. This is due to the changing nature of the sky. This means that the best times to see the rock are at sunrise and at sunset…it was so beautiful watching the sun rise and set over that rock. The colours of it are incredible - red rock like I have never seen before.” (more…)
Fraser Island
Lying off the east coast of mainland Australia, the phenomenal natural wonder known as Fraser Island is so unique and extraordinary that it was inevitable UNESCO would name it a World Heritage Site. It is the largest sand island in the world, characterized by its soft, sloping sand dunes and sparkling fresh water lakes.
Blue Mountains National Park
The spectacular Blue Mountains National Park features sandstone outcrops, glistening forests, winding rivers, several waterfalls, and the famous Three Sisters Rock Formation. The park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its magnificent beauty, and is perfect for travelers who like to enjoy the great outdoors through hiking, trekking, camping, wildlife viewing, or guided tours.
World Heritage Sites of Australia