Australia 's most famous natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef , will stun you with its magnificence. It's as big as the total combined area of the United Kingdom and Ireland , and contains more than 1,000 islands, from sandy cays to rainforest isles. The beauty of the waters and the prolific life it supports enraptures visitors. You can reach coral sites by air and water taxi and scuba dive or snorkel for intimate reef views. Or choose comfortable accommodation on some secluded reef islands.

Located in the centre of Australia , Uluru (Ayers Rock) is the world's biggest monolith. It's 3.6 kilometres long, 2 kilometres wide and has a 9.4 kilometre circumference. Made of arkosic sandstone, Uluru changes colour in different lights, particularly at sunrise and sunset.

Limited development has ensured an abundance of wildlife on this island located close to the tip of South Australia 's Fleurieu Peninsula . Here, sea lions, penguins, dolphins, koalas and of course, kangaroos, live in a protected natural environment. Pure air and clean water provide one of the last unspoiled wonders of the world.

In Australia 's tropical Top End, the delicate pink beauty of the waterlily and the prehistoric brute strength of the crocodile merge in stunning Kakadu National Park . Rivers with roaring waterfalls and a landscape of towering sandstone escarpments cradle some of Kakadu's treasures waiting to be explored.

The Bungle Bungle Range , in Purnululu National Park , is one of the most fascinating geological landmarks in Western Australia . Orange and black stripes of silica and algae across the beehive-like mounds are clearly visible as you approach from the air. Closer up, a hidden world of gorges and pools is revealed, with fan palms clinging precariously to walls and crevices in the rocks.