Australia ranks second in world’s most unspoilt landscapes

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
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Australia has come in second on the list of the world’s most unspoilt landscapes.

From Europe to Central America, some of the most jaw-dropping destinations made the list of destinations across the world that have the most unspoilt landscapes. And not only is Australia on the list, it made the top three.

The rankings

Unspoilt: not spoiled, in particular (of a place) not marred by development.

In today’s world, little of the globe remains untouched. From the depths of the largest rainforest and the deepest parts of the ocean to the highest mountain peak in the world, humans have ventured far and wide in hopes of discovering something new and unseen. With all this travel, it can be difficult to find destinations that remain unspoilt. Until now.

New research by walking holiday experts Inghams has revealed the destinations across the world that are the most intact and preserved. To find out the most frequently posted about unspoilt locations, Inghams analysed 54,000 Instagram posts which included the hashtags #unspoilt, #unspoiled and #offthebeatenpath. This was compared to a control set of 50,000 Instagram posts to reveal an #unspoilt post rate.

Coming in at number one was the Nordic island of Iceland. And number two? That spot belongs to Australia, with an #unspoilt post rate of 10.90 (Iceland came in at 13.15, so not too far off, right?)

Ormiston Pound, Northern Territory
Australia is ranked as the second most unspoilt destination in the world.

Following Iceland and Australia, the top 10 most unspoilt destinations consisted of Ireland, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Tanzania, New Zealand, Peru, Greece and Georgia.

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Why Australia?

It’s not hard to see why our amazing country won second place. Each state of Australia offers something special; its own unique landscape, climate, community, history and arts scene.

From the vast, dusty terrain of the Red Centre and dense, ancient rainforests of Tropical North Queensland to NSW’s stunning beaches and Tasmania’s charming towns, we’ve got it all.

Daintree Rainforest, Tropical North Queensland
Explore the ancient rainforests of Tropical North Queensland.

Want to boat between golden gorges and spot crocodiles? Head up to Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. Keen to dive with whale sharks at a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site? Ningaloo Reef in WA is the place for you.

Plus, Australia is home to one of the world’s oldest living cultures dating back over 65,000 years.

Ningaloo Reef, WA
Ningaloo Reef is a pristine World Heritage-listed site.

Camping and glamping meet luxury hotels. Fine dining meets bush tucker tours. Thrill-seeking adventures meet relaxing escapes. Shopping. Wildlife encounters. Major cities. Country towns. And hundreds of kilometres worth of stunning landscapes. Australia has it all. And the best part? It’s all unspoilt territory.

Glamping in Australia
Glamping is a great way to see unspoilt Australia in style.

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Maintaining our spot

It’s important that it stays unspoilt and unmarred by mass tourism. According to Anne Williams, director of marketing at Inghams, there are courses of action that ensure it stays that way.

“Anyone who loves spending time in nature knows how disappointing it can be when your favourite natural spots get tarnished by tourists or other human interference," she says.

“In order to keep some of the world’s best landscapes as unspoilt as possible, there are a few things you can do while exploring… leave no trace. Stay on designated trails. Don’t take souvenirs [from the environment] and avoid crowded areas."

Kondalilla National Park in Queensland
It’s important to stay on designated trails.

This means taking everything you bring back out with you. No rubbish, food, wrappers, bottles, other waste and harmful products. Leave natural objects were you found them, they’re there for a reason. Don’t visit places that are often overrun by tourists, opt for less-travelled terrain where you’re less likely to leave a footprint.

According to Anne, “If we can all treat the outdoors as if it were our own homes, we’ll be able to leave behind some beautiful, untouched landscapes for future generations to enjoy too."

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to visit places like Norway and New Zealand, her favourite place to explore will forever be her homeland.
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Your Mandurah guide: art, dining & dolphins await in WA’s coastal gem

    Monique Ceccato Monique Ceccato
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    Discover the perfect road trip stopover between Perth and wine country.

    Western Australia punches above its weight when it comes to coastal hot spots, but no other town or city has seen a tourism boom quite like Mandurah. Named Australia’s Top Tourism Town in 2023, it’s the relaxed, beachside break you’ve been searching for. And it’s perfectly placed, sitting between Margaret River and Perth, as it’s just a 55-minute drive from Perth’s CBD. Which is why we’ve put together your ultimate Mandurah guide.

    Aerial view of Mandurah.
    Plan your perfect coastal escape to Australia’s Top Tourism Town of 2023.

    The best things to do in Mandurah

    Wetlands and rivers, ocean and inlet; Mandurah’s laid-back lifestyle centres around the aquatic. Its waterways cover twice the ground of Sydney Harbour – measuring some 134 square kilometres in total – and form a unique environment for oceanic and estuarine flora and fauna to thrive.

    In the city’s estuary lives perhaps the region’s most famed inhabitants – a resident pod of 100 bottlenose dolphins – and the inlet’s silty bottom is home to the prized blue manna crab. Spot the former breaching and playing on an hour-long dolphin cruise through the channels, or try your hand at catching the latter by wading through the estuary’s shallows with a scoop net in hand.

    While swimming at the circular Kwillena Gabi Pool, chance encounters with the local wildlife aren’t uncommon. The sheltered estuarine pool takes its name from the traditional custodians of the land, the Bindjareb people, and directly translates to ‘dolphin waters’. Jutting out of the eastern foreshore, it’s enclosed by a ring of net-free floating pontoons, which allow the dolphins to swim freely through the attraction.

    If that’s a little too close for comfort, book a kayak tour with Down Under Discoveries. The dolphins have been known to cruise beside the paddle-powered crafts, which are a fun, family-friendly way to explore the city’s inner waterways.

    Dolphins swimming in Mandurah.
    Watch dolphins glide by as you explore Mandurah.

    You don’t have to be on the water to appreciate the coastal city’s aquatic beauty, with 600 kilometres of cycleways and scenic walking trails traversing Mandurah’s estuary, inlet and coast.

    Follow the 30-kilometre coastal trail and you’ll come face to face with one of Thomas Dambo’s headline-making ‘Giants of Mandurah sculptures, Santi Ikto, along the way. There are five sculptures around Mandurah in total, hidden among gum-filled reserves or sitting sentry over the water.

    Head to the Mandurah Visitor Centre to pick up a map to pinpoint their exact location and download the traveller’s companion to learn more about the sights along the way. Or join a three-hour e-bike tour from The Bike Kiosk and you’ll stop by two of the giants – Santi Ikto and Yaburgurt Winjan Cirkelstone – as you sightsee central Mandurah.

    The towering Santi Ikto, one of Thomas Dambo’s iconic Giants of Mandurah.
    Meet Santi Ikto, one of the legendary Giants of Mandurah.

    Where to eat in Mandurah

    Mandurah’s culinary scene reflects its laid-back lifestyle, with large, honest meals and locally brewed beer. After visiting Lake Clifton’s 2000-year-old thrombolites, head to the peppermint and gum-shaded beer garden at Thorny Devil Brewery. Tuck into a platter of house-smoked meats and an ale pulled fresh from the tanks. Closer to town and right on the waterfront is Boundary Island Brewery; here, woodfired pizza, pub-style seafood dishes and easy-drinking brews are centre stage.

    On a Murray River Lunch Cruise, the focus is as much on the environment around you as the food you’re filling up on. Help yourself to the colourful salads and freshly cooked meats on the buffet as you meander up the winding, jarrah tree-lined waterway, stopping at the heritage Cooper’s Mill for a quick walking tour along the way.

    Keep your eyes trained on the Creery Wetlands as you pass – you’ll spot much of the region’s migratory birdlife, and, as always, might see the playful bottlenose dolphins in the inlet.

    The most memorable meals aren’t necessarily always the fanciest, and lunch aboard a self-skippered Mandurah BBQ Boat is a testament to that. All food and beverage prep is left up to you as you cruise through the canals, sausages and steaks sizzling away on the central hot plate.

    If seafood is more your kind of fare, board the Wild Seafood Experience, where dolphin cruise meets long table lunch. Eight courses of crab, crayfish and scallops await.

    A table filled with plates of crab, crayfish, and scallops.
    Dine on the water with eight courses of ocean-fresh fare.

    Where to stay in Mandurah

    With so many waterways comes abundant waterside stays. Like the self-contained Seashells Mandurah on the shores of Comet Bay. The calm, oceanic outlook from the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and villas is as close to Maldivian as Mandurah gets. Families especially enjoy the property, bouncing between the protected cove and the beachfront pool for endless hours of fun.

    Seashells Mandurah; on the shores of Comet Bay.
    Stay right by the sea.

    The Sebel Mandurah, just a hop, skip and jump from the Mandurah Ocean Marina, has a different outlook entirely, overlooking the estuary and lively foreshore on the other side. It’s also within walking distance of the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, cinema and a swathe of waterfront bars and eateries.

    But you can’t get any closer to the water than on a vessel from Mandurah Houseboats. You don’t need a skipper’s ticket to hire one, nor do you need comprehensive boating experience; just a full driver’s license and your undivided attention during the pre-departure tuition will do. Then you’re free to take to the estuaries and tributaries for a few nights of peaceful rest, surrounded by the very element that makes Mandurah so special.

    A houseboat cruising in Mandurah along the river
    Captain a houseboat to explore Mandurah at your own pace.

    Plan your next WA getaway in Mandurah.