Move over Bondi and Blue Mountains—Australia’s true wonders may be the ones you’ve never heard of.
In a cracking new travel study that might change your weekend plans for good, Mitsubishi Motors Australia has unearthed a list of the country’s most underrated destinations—places bursting with beauty but blissfully light on crowds, queues, and selfie sticks.
Dubbed Australia’s Hidden Natural Wonders, this extensive research crunched over 50,000 local spots and found a trove of destinations delivering top-tier experiences without the chaos of over-touristed favourites. Think more ancient rainforest boardwalks and fewer busloads of tourists at sunset lookouts.
In a landscape often dominated by the same postcard-perfect places, this study takes a refreshing detour, right off the bitumen and into the country’s wild, wonderful, and wonderfully empty corners.
🏞️ Why Now? Because Australians Are Travelling Like It’s 1999 (But With Google Maps)
With 205,066 day trips and 113,757 overnight trips recorded between June 2023 and 24, Aussies are proving the open road still has plenty of allure. Add in 945,280 international visitors—up 7.8% from last year—and it’s no wonder many of our national icons are feeling a bit… well, over-loved.
But here’s the good news: a world of alternative adventure waiting, sans tour buses, overpriced pies, and parking rage. The Mitsubishi study cleverly bypassed the usual suspects to uncover destinations that deliver five-star scenery with half the foot traffic.
The research highlighted two categories: on-road family-friendly gems and off-road wild escapes. Whether you’re packing a stroller or a snorkel, there’s something here for everyone, with a few surprises.
🌿 Top 5 On-Road Wonders: Beauty With Bitumen Access
These stunners can be reached without a snorkel or a suspension upgrade:
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Gunlom Falls, Kakadu, NT (Score: 100.0)
A natural infinity pool perched high in Kakadu—because who needs an Instagram filter when you’ve got that view? -
Mt Coot-tha Summit, Brisbane, QLD (Score: 86.9)
Just 15 minutes from the CBD, this summit delivers panoramic views from the city to the surf—and decent coffee. -
Seventy-Five Mile Beach, Fraser Island, QLD (Score: 84.6)
Not just a beach, but a legally drivable highway. That’s Queensland for you. -
St Columba Waterfall, TAS (Score: 79.9)
Tasmania does drama well; this 90-metre waterfall tumbling through dense rainforest doesn’t disappoint. -
Grassy Hill Lookout, Cooktown, QLD (Score: 77.5)
Views of the Coral Sea, a historic lighthouse, and zero admission fee. What’s not to love?
🚙 Top 5 Off-Road Hotspots: Where the Wild Things Are
Bring your hiking boots, your patience, and probably your 4WD.
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Lighthouse Trail, Byron Bay, NSW (Score: 92.6)
Yes, Byron’s a circus. But sneak past the cafes and find a rugged coastal trail to Australia’s easternmost point, complete with whales. -
Jeffries Beach, Bramston Beach, QLD (Score: 88.9)
The rainforest is at your back, the Coral Sea is at your feet, and no resort is in sight. -
Singapore Bay, Lizard Island, QLD (Score: 86.7)
Camp on a remote reef island. Snorkel by day, stargaze by night. No Wi-Fi, no worries. -
Gordon Country Trails, Goomburra Valley, QLD (Score: 84.7)
2000 hectares of off-road joy with views will have you quoting Banjo Paterson. -
Maits Rest, Otways, VIC (Score: 80.5)
A boardwalk through primeval rainforest so lush it feels like you’ve stepped back to Gondwana.
📊 So, How Did They Find These Gems?
The research team did more than throw darts at a map. They used an innovative, layered approach—starting with TripAdvisor’s complete list of Australian natural attractions, then weeding out theme parks and anything with a queue longer than a Qantas check-in line.
By tapping into tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs, the study measured how often people search for each location versus how positively visitors reviewed it. The result? A revealing gap between quality and popularity.
In other words, some of the best experiences in Australia are right under our noses—and still not showing up in your search history.
🔗 For the full ranking and methodology, visit: On-Road Wonders; Off-Road Hotspots.
🧳 What This Means for Travellers
This is excellent news for the average Aussie family. Many of these destinations are within easy driving distance, require minimal gear, and still offer that “we discovered this ourselves” buzz.
The study shows a clear trend: Aussies favour experiences that feel genuine, grounding, and a little secret. Not everyone wants to elbow through crowds at Wineglass Bay or queue to get a photo on a swing in the Daintree.
There’s also a growing appeal in off-peak travel, with spring emerging as the sweet spot for wildflowers, and winter offering cool, comfortable exploration of inland gems.
🪃 Respecting Country and Treading Lightly
Let’s not forget—many of these areas are rich in Aboriginal cultural significance. Travellers are encouraged to learn the stories of the Country, travel respectfully, and leave no trace—unless it’s footprints in the sand.
And with over-tourism becoming a genuine concern in parts of Australia, this new list offers a sustainable alternative. You can now go off-grid, without going off the deep end.
🏁 The Verdict
Whether you’re a grey nomad in a Land Cruiser, a young family in a RAV4, or a solo traveller with a swag and a Spotify playlist, these destinations offer a welcome antidote to the overtouristed norm.
Because sometimes, the best road trips begin where the signage ends.
So load up the esky, check the tyre pressure, and follow the road less travelled. The great Australian secret is out—and it’s spectacular.
By Jason Smith
