The insider guide to Australia’s Great Outdoors

Australia is blessed with some truly spectacular landscapes, both on land and sea that make for an immersive outdoor adventure. Be it skydiving over the Great Ocean Road, mountain biking in Canberra or swimming with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef; get inspired by these curated outdoor thrills to fuel your passion for an escapade into Australia’s Great Outdoors.

Swim with whale sharks in Ningaloo Reef
Nothing is guaranteed to make you feel small like swimming with a 14-metre (46-foot) long, 15-tonne (16.5-ton) whale shark. But don't be put off by the name. These massive fish are truly the gentle giants of the deep. Located in the north-west corner of the country, Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is the only place in the world where whale sharks are known to visit so close to the coast each year. Choose from snorkelling alongside these majestic creatures, or going deeper with a scuba dive adventure. Either way, it's a wildlife encounter you'll never forget.
Sky dive over the Great Ocean Road
Australian Skydive over Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road is a must do if you’re seeking an adrenaline rush Down Under. Just 45 minutes from Melbourne/ Narrm city centre lies Bells Beach in Torquay, a beautiful spot on the Great Ocean Road that’s home to one of Australia's most beautiful and thrilling skydives. The skydive is a good 12,000-15,000 feet above sea level where a dynamic view of the world beneath you collides with an adrenaline rush unlike any other.

Mountain biking in Canberra
Australia’s capital Canberra has some of the best mountain biking trails in Australia. With a number of bike shops, like Cycle Hire, renting out mountain bikes for the day, you can tee up an active adventure. The Centenary Trail is considered one big loop around the edge of Canberra that links natural and urban environments . A total of 145km, the trail is best experienced in sections so that you can stop off and explore the attractions of each area
An expedition on the Franklin River
Rafting the Franklin, one of the world's last untamed rivers, is a magnificent wilderness adventure in Tasmania. Your rafting ride will begin in tranquil gorges and Tasmanian rainforest, but don't let this fool you. Soon you'll be navigating exhilarating rapids and splashing over river drops. Rafting season runs from November through March, and most trips take between five and ten days. Numerous rafting companies specialise in Franklin River expeditions and depart from Hobart and Launceston.

Take the Supertrail on Thredbo Mountain
Hit the slopes at New South Wales top ski mountain, Thredbo, which lies six hours outside of Sydney/ Warrane. Australasia’s longest ski run, the Thredbo Supertrail, will get your thighs burning down 5.9 kilometres (3.7 miles) of groomed snow. Advanced skiers can try The Bluff on a powder day or head out to Dead Horse Gap for some backcountry skiing. Intermediates will love The Cruiser area and High Noon, while beginners have their own dedicated ski area complete with chairlift

Snorkel with giant Australian cuttlefish

The annual migration of giant Australian cuttlefish ‘Sepia apama’ to the waters of the upper Spencer Gulf to breed is one of the most spectacular natural events in the Australian marine environment. Unique to South Australia’s waters, it is the only place in the world where the cuttlefish aggregate annually in mass and with such great predictability. Every winter, thousands of cuttlefish merge and as expert colour-changers, these masters of camouflage can change their shape and texture to look like rocks, sand or seaweed. Travellers can snorkel with the amazing giant cuttlefish at Stony Point, located on the coastline of the Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park in the Eyre Peninsula.