I was feeling a little envious while reading a few year-end recaps by some other travel bloggers who’d been to 10, 20, god knows how many countries this year. That feeling immediately dissolved when I finished compiling photos for this post, highlighting all of the most beautiful places in Australia I had the fortune of laying eyes on during my year on the Australia work and holiday visa.
I’m always going to champion quality over quantity, slow travel over country-counting travel, focusing more of my energy on enjoying one place at a time rather than diluting it across several. I definitely stayed true to that mantra this year by exploring just one country over 12 months. I knew I was crazy for Australia after my year studying abroad here, but returning 8 years later for Round 2 has really deepened my love and appreciation for this glorious nation. If San Francisco is my city soulmate, then Australia is unequivocally my country soulmate.
I look at these Australia photos and all I can think is, my god, this country is unbelievable. I’m thrilled to have seen so much of it and excited at the idea of being able to explore Australia even more thoroughly next year, hopefully getting to check out some spots that have thusfar flown under my radar.
Without further ado, here are the 35 most beautiful places in Australia that I experienced over the past 12 months:
1. Sydney Harbour
See also: 21 of the Best Views of Sydney // Sydney Harbour Walk: Mosman to Cremorne // Sydney Harbour Walk: Watsons Bay & South Head // Sydney Harbour Walk: Manly to Spit
2. South Molle Island
See also: I Got Naked On South Molle Island
3. The Great Barrier Reef From Above
See also: Highlights From A Great Barrier Reef Scenic Flight
4. Whitehaven Beach
See also: My Chilled Out Whitsundays Sailing Trip
5. Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks
See also: The Best View of the New Years Eve Fireworks
6. Freycinet National Park, Tasmania
See also: A Very Unplanned Tasmania Roadtrip
7. Binalong Bay & Bay of Fires, Tasmania
See also: A Very Unplanned Tasmania Roadtrip
8. Tasman National Park
See also: A Very Unplanned Tasmania Roadtrip
9. The Overland Track
See also: Highlights From The Overland Track
10. The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
See also: Sydney Coastal Walk: Bondi to Coogee // All The Things I’ll Miss From Living On Bondi Beach
11. Royal National Park
See also: A Guide To Hiking The Royal National Park Coastal Track
12. Palm Beach
See also: A Day Trip To Sydney’s Northern Beaches
13. 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road
See also: Highlights From A Great Ocean Roadtrip
14. Loch Ard Gorge, Great Ocean Road
See also: Highlights From A Great Ocean Roadtrip
15. Bay of Islands, Great Ocean Road
See also: Highlights From A Great Ocean Roadtrip
16. Sandringham Beach
See also: Cycling Melbourne is the Best Way to See This City
17. Sunset From a Mountain in the Grampians
See also: Highlights From A Melbourne to Perth Roadtrip
18. Sunset & Sunrise at Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park
See also: The Luckiest Bay in Australia
19. The Night Sky On Hinchinbrook Island
See also: 20 Stunning Photos From Hinchinbrook Island
20. Sunset at Zoe Beach, Hinchinbrook Island
See also: 20 Stunning Photos From Hinchinbrook Island
21. The Perth Coastline
See also: FIFO, Beaches, and Other Interesting Things About Perth
22. The Basin, Rottnest Island
See also: Visiting Perth? Get Thee To Rottnest Island!
23. The Margaret River Coastline
See also: Bingeing on Beaches and Wine in Southwest Australia
24. Sunset at Canal Rocks
See also: Bingeing on Beaches and Wine in Southwest Australia
25. Two Peoples Bay, Albany
See also: Bingeing on Beaches and Wine in Southwest Australia
26. The View From El Questro Homestead
See also: Random Notes On Working in the Outback
27. Mac Micking Pool, El Questro Gorge
See also: El Questro Gorge Hopping in the Kimberley
28. Emma Gorge, El Questro
See also: El Questro Gorge Hopping in the Kimberley
29. Wandjina’s Window & The G-Spot, El Questro
See also: Hitting the G-Spot (and Wandjina’s Window)
30. The Night Sky From Saddleback Ridge, El Questro
See also: The Down Under Report: Month 9 of 12
31. View Over Lake Argyle
See also: Surprise! Lake Argyle is Actually Pretty Rad
32. Litchfield National Park
See also: The Down Under Report: Month 9 of 12
33. The View From Port Phillip Estate
34. The Tip Of The Mornington Peninsula
35. Dromana Beach, Mornington Peninsula
