Australia has so much to offer when it comes to unique travel destinations, so ditch that passport and check out these affordable holidays that bring art, culture and the great outdoors to the table.
For many, a trip overseas can often feel like an impossibility with work, family and costs. Luckily, you don’t have to go far to find incredible destination dupes in Australia that provide the same experiences closer to home.
Swap the Rhone Valley for McLaren Vale
The McLaren Vale wine region is home to world class wines and culinary experiences that rival top international offerings. The region is best known for its shiraz and cabernet, just as the Rhone Valley is a primary red wine producer in France.
Some of the world’s oldest grapevines can be found here, spotted among more than 80 cellar doors and top restaurants. While the Rhone Valley is situated on either side of the beautiful Rhone River, McLaren Vale is nestled along the coastline with long stretches of stunning beaches. Plus, the warm summers of Southern Rhone can’t compare to Australia’s famous sun.
Swap the Atacama Desert for the Simpson Desert
While the Atacama Desert in Chile boasts amazing salt plains (the remnants of ancient lakes) majestic volcanoes and otherworldly landscapes peppered with ancient sites and crazily huge cactus, the Simpson Desert in Australia is just as vast and beautiful. In fact, it’s an experience like no other in the world.
At 176,500 km², it is the fourth-largest Australian desert, and this scorching oasis is the world’s largest sand dune desert which includes the famous Big Red, a dune that rises 40 metres into the bright blue skies.
For those drawn to the Atacama’s fascinating Incan history, Simpson Desert was once home to a tribe from the world’s oldest continuous culture – the Wangkangurru people maintained wells in the east which allowed them to survive in the desert.
For endless horizons, bright wildflowers and sandstone columns, you don’t have to travel halfway around the world, and in July every year, the renowned Big Red Bash music festival brings thousands of campers and caravaners together for three days of non-stop rock music in the desert. It’s a bucket list experience for music lovers and intrepid travellers.
Swap the Amazon for the Daintree Rainforest
If a visit to the Amazon isn’t on the cards this year, then immerse yourself in the grandeur of Queensland’s Daintree Rainforest, which, at 180 million years old, is the oldest continually surviving rainforest in the world. The Amazon may be the world’s biggest rainforest, but to put things in perspective, it is ‘only’ 55 million years old.
Here, you can try everything from rafting down picture-perfect rapids, spotting saltwater crocodiles on a cruise, or joining an Indigenous walking tour.
The Amazon’s jungle lodges are similar to the Daintree’s luxury treehouse accommodation, which features an outdoor restaurant and onsite spa. The region’s unique wildlife includes rare species such as the Southern Cassowary (the second heaviest. bird in the world after the ostrich) and the elusive platypus, as well as more than 430 species of birds. It’s a bonafide twitcher’s paradise.
Swap the Greek Islands for Rottnest Island
If you can’t make it to the Greek Islands like everyone else, with its clear blue waters, secluded coves and cosy bungalow stays, Rottnest Island ticks all the boxes, minus the ouso and white-washed cobbled streets.
On Rotto, as the locals call her, you can swim, snorkel or rent a boat to explore the deeper water, moving between sheltered bays and 63 white-sand beaches.
For unique photo opps, the Greek Islands is famous for its distinct white and blue rotund buildings, but hey, Rottnest is home to the cute-as-a-button Quokka! You can’t get a better selfie. Just ask Chris Hemsworth.
At Discovery Resorts, you can stay in luxurious eco-tents surrounded by sand dunes and unparalleled ocean views .
History buffs will be captivated by the island’s Indigenous heritage, with it being an important meeting place and ceremonial site for the Whadjuk people. Check it all out at the Wadjemup Museum, which is home to the mill stone (in the museum’s Truth Telling Space) which is a particularly precious artefact. The Aboriginal men and boys imprisoned on the island used it to grind wheat into flour, which gave the building its name – Wadjemup meaning place of spirits.
Swap out Miami for the Gold Coast
Australia’s biggest beachside playground (with an incredible hinterland of rainforests) is the perfect place for those seeking a beach holiday a little closer to home than Miami in sun-soaked Florida.
Both cities are known for an abundance of water activities, music festivals and iconic resorts, but the Gold Coast also has the benefit of three world-famous theme parks.
Towering skyscrapers are the backdrop for both locations, combining resort accommodation with endless beachy fun. Whether that means surfing, snorkelling or splashing around, each beach on the 70+ kilometres of coastline on the Gold Coast offers a different experience.
Goldie’s foodie scene is always thriving, with plenty of must-try hatted restaurants restaurants and bars all along the coastline for foodies. In fact, it is home to 26 restaurants with one or more hats!
Fresh produce can be found at the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets where locals and tourists alike shop for mouth-watering culinary delights. It’s a market dedicated to supporting and showcasing the best growers, makers, characters and creators locally and from afar.
For a great night out, head to Miami Marketta, where there’s always more than 20 food stalls and vans, with live music and an awesome atmosphere in a former mechanic’s warehouse. It could be in the backstreets of Florida, Barcelona or even New York City, but it’s now a Gold Coast institution.
Can’t afford a trip to Antarctica? Head on down to Phillip Island
Antarctica may be home to gorgeous Emperor and Adélie penguins, but it’s also incredibly cold and isolated continent that can be extremely difficult (not to mention expensive!) place to visit.
Instead, why not pop over to Phillip Island off the coast of Victoria? Known as a haven of flora and fauna, Phillip Island is perhaps most popular for its Penguin Parade, where visitors gather to ohh and ahh over Little Penguins as waddle on home at dusk.
Join a Wildlife Coast Cruise to enjoy the antics of seals, dolphins and whales in the wild, or walk along a treetop boardwalk at the Koala Conservation Reserve. Phillip Island is a great place for boating, and there are plenty of local charters you can book with.
If you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, try one of the many walking and cycling trails found all over the island.
Swap Edinburgh for the culturl delights of Hobart
Tasmania’s capital shares many similarities with Scotland’s Edinburgh, including beautiful historical buildings and a great arts scene.
Hobart’s Theatre Royal is the oldest continually operating theatre in Australia, offering an incredible slate of performances every year. While Edinburgh has lots of amazing galleries and museums, Hobart is home to MONA, which is a renowned creative centre that celebrates art, culture and live music in a very different way. In their words: “We’ve got old art. New art. Wine. Dark corners. Nice views. Music. Come along, catch the ferry, drink beer, eat cheese. Talk crap about the art.”
At Hobart’s Salamanca Market, every Saturday morning, more than 300 vendors showcase delicious local produce and handmade goods.
Notably, Hobart has its very own Arthur’s Seat – aka Mount Wellington, which is now known as kunanyi in the local Indigenous palawa kani language.
Loving these affordable destination dupes? Check out our ultimate guide to Australia’s capital cities by clicking here.
Travel Australia with Rex
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