Can you keep a secret? Well, it looks like we can’t. Australia’s best-kept secret natural landmarks have just been revealed, and we decided they’re just too good to gatekeep. From hidden waterfalls and underground caves to Australia’s longest lava tube system, these off-the-beaten-track wonders are well worth the detour on your next road trip.
While everyone has their own idea of a ‘hidden gem’, the crew at Mitsubishi Motors crunched the numbers to find the real deal. They sorted through more than 50,000 Aussie attractions on TripAdvisor, filtering out the big-ticket spots, before landing on a top 20 list of secret natural hotspots – all with high ratings, but barely any online searches.
It’s no secret Aussies love chasing waterfalls, so we're not surprised that a hidden waterfall, Gunlom Falls, claims the title of Australia’s top hidden gem. Although technically an under-the-radar landmark, this stunning 85-metre waterfall in the Top End is no stranger to the spotlight, having played a starring role in Crocodile Dundee. It’s received a lot of media attention lately too, after Kakadu National Park announced its plans to reopen the waterfall on July 4 after a six-year closure.
We’re all about sharing secrets, so after swimming in the lower plunge pool, climb the steep trail to the top of the falls, where a series of magical infinity rock pools await.
Funnily, our top pick for the best thing to do in Brisbane is also considered Australia’s second-best-kept secret location. That title goes to Mount Coot-tha Summit Lookout – Brisbane’s highest point, offering panoramic city views that are especially stunning at sunrise and sunset. Queensland claimed seven of the top 20 spots, with K’gari’s 75 Mile Beach ranking third and Cooktown’s Grassy Hill Lookout rounding out the top five.
Western Australia holds its own with just as many top 20 hidden gems as the Sunshine State, while the remaining secret spots are dotted across the Northern Territory, Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria. You can explore the full list here or check out our summary below.
These are the 20 best secret natural wonders in Australia
- Gunlom Falls, NT
- Mount Coot-tha Summit Lookout, QLD
- Seventy-Five Mile Beach, QLD
- St Columba Falls, TAS
- Grassy Hill, QLD
- Kelly’s Knob Lookout, WA
- Guide Falls, TAS
- Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve, WA
- Fraser Avenue Lookout, WA
- The Nut State Reserve, TAS
- Chillagoe-Mungana Caves, QLD
- Day Dream Mine, NSW
- Thunder Point Coastal Reserve, VIC
- Undara Lava Tubes, QLD
- Woolshed Waterfalls, VIC
- Coombabah Lakelands, QLD
- Crystal Cave Yanchep, WA
- Cutta Cutta Caves, NT
- Coral Bay Beach, WA
- Mount Charlotte Lookout, WA