Follow the rainbow to Australia’s most colourful landmarks

Easily one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks, Uluru is a no-brainer when it comes to the colour red. The colossal rock lies in a region called the Red Centre in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and gets its deep earthen colour from iron minerals that have rusted after being exposed to the air. You can witness the rock’s colour change throughout the day, shifting from bright, burning red at sunrise to a deep orange to an occassional lavender purple at sunset.

For burnt orange sand and immense tangerine skies, look no further than Corner Country in Outback NSW. For all wild explorers and those who like getting off the beaten track, head off from Broken Hill onto the Sturts Steps loop track that winds through the rolling desert. This oft-forgotten corner of Australia is rich with millions of stories and one-of-a-kind Aussie outback characters, remote pubs and crazy experiences that we reckon everyone should experience at least once in their lives. Plus, it's really orange. 

Lake Eyre is the kind of spot you’ll find saved on the virtual mood boards of Instagram and Pinterest. While the salt lake looks photoshopped, the water’s shifting hues of peach, pink, orange and yellow are a masterpiece made by Mother Nature herself. This spectacular symphony of peachy colours are thanks to the salt-loving algae that thrive in the highly saline water. Lake Eyre is stunning year-round, but the prime time for visiting is when Outback rains have flooded it with water. 

Springtime unveils a magnificent sight in Victoria when the countryside becomes blanketed in a sea of bright yellow canola crops. You can explore these fields of gold in Little River and Point Wilson, which are both a 45 to 50-minute road trip from the Melbourne CBD. Keep in mind that the canola season is short-lived, so you’ll want to visit before November when the crops are harvested. 

Tropical, lush and leafy, the Daintree lives its life in all shades of green. This World Heritage-listed wonder is the oldest continually surviving rainforest in the world, with more tree species in one hectare than in the entirety of the United Kingdom. Under the emerald canopy, you’ll find 30,000 species of plants and animals including green possums, Boyd’s forest dragon, green tree frogs, 40 species of ferns, and the 120 million-year-old Idiot Fruit Tree (which has been nicknamed the ‘Green Dinosaur’). When it comes to green, the Daintree knows what's up. 

It’s hard to feel blue when you’re soaking up the sun on some of the world’s whitest sands at Hyams Beach. Stretching over two kilometres in Jervis Bay, this is easily one of Australia’s most beautiful coastal treasures. Sink your toes into the powdery white sand, wade in the crystal clear waves or go snorkelling in search of local marine creatures that call this paradise home.

You’ll be singing 'Purple Rain' from the lavender fields of Bridestowe Estate, as you take in countless rows of lilac, violet and indigo blossoms. Located a 50-minute drive from Launceston, Bridestowe is the world’s largest privately owned lavender farm and blooms with the brightest purple flowers from December to early February. Wander through the manicured fields, take in the sweet smells and even try a scoop of lavender-infused ice cream.

Just like a strawberry milkshake, this mellow pink lake is a delight for the senses. You’ll find Lake Hillier on Middle Island in the pristine wilderness of Western Australia’s Recherche Archipelago. The natural wonder, shaped like a footprint and 600 metres in length, gets its bubblegum colour from a mix of salt-loving bacteria and algae. You can truly appreciate the magical contrast between the pink waters and the dark blue Indian Ocean from the sky.

Come Spring and Commonwealth Park transforms into a rainbow wonderland, decorated with more than a million bright and blossoming bulbs. The artistic floral display comes alive in all colours, patterns and shapes, with sculptures, activations and community gardens coming together to add extra pops of colour. From bright magenta to butter yellow, Canberra knows how to do a proper rainbow fix. 

In Australia, you can see all the colours of the rainbow if you know where to look. Now, all that's left to do is go.