Uluru has long staked its claim as one of Australia’s most iconic places to visit, but it recently gained another title that sets it apart from the rest.
Australia’s much-loved Northern Territory icon, Uluru, has been named by travel and luggage experts Bounce as the world’s most beautiful destination to watch a sunset. Uluru is one of Australia’s most culturally significant and beautiful destinations.
Scoring top marks for its sunset scenes, with a score of 9.13 out of 10, Uluru was mentioned in 19,284 sunset Instagram posts and 10,276 sunrise Instagram posts, highlighting its natural beauty. Light pollution at Uluru is also low, at 0.973 μcd/m2, making it the perfect stargazing spot.
Uluru is a magnificent site to behold from any angle at any time. (Image: Emily Murphy)
Located in the heart of the Red Centre on Anangu land, within the stunning Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the enormous sandstone monolith has been sacred to the Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara people as a living cultural landscape for millennia and attracts more than 250,000 people each year, according to Parks Australia.
Although sunset and sunrise are the money-making times to see Uluru, it’s a magnificent site to behold from any angle at any time. The rock formation cuts its shape through the blue sky with ease; its browns, reds and oranges change hue throughout the day depending on the light.
Uluru has been named the world’s most beautiful destination to watch a sunset. (Image: Anson Smart Photography)
The recent opening of Wintjiri Wiru has attracted new and returning visitors as well. The storytelling experience has been a major calling card for tourists, especially those who want to experience the site through a First Nations lens. The captivating show tells a chapter of the ancestral Mala story using drones, light and sound.
Wintjiri Wiru has attracted new and returning visitors as well.
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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.
From rust-coloured foliage and foodie experiences to stunning sunsets, this part of Victoria is best explored as the mild days of winter arrive.
As the heat of the summer sun subsides and the milder days roll in, the stunning landscapes of Geelong and the Bellarine add pops of colour. The slight chill in the air will stir your taste buds and invite you to explore the peninsula’s foodie hotspots, while the vivid sunsets and cooler evenings will draw you to cosy fireside chats and evening adventures to watch the stars appear one at a time.
Just over an hour from busy Flinders Street, or a short 25-minute drive from Avalon Airport, Geelong is Melbourne’s cooler, more laid-back cousin with a sparkling marina, stunning surf beaches, impressive museums and a lively foodie scene.
Winter is the perfect time to see local sights.
It’s also the perfect starting point from which to explore the Bellarine Peninsula. Packed full of jaw-dropping scenery, inviting townships and over 40 cellar doors serving up local cool-weather wines, winter here is distinctly beautiful with its change of colours, temperatures and produce.
Whether you drive or catch the short but incredibly scenic ferry from the Mornington Peninsula, it’s no surprise this region offers up one of Australia’s best long weekend destinations. Here’s how to soak it all up.
Day 1: Explore Geelong with the locals
Morning
Start the day by grabbing breakfast and strong coffee from Pavilion Geelong (try the braised mushrooms on toast) while watching the gentle waves lapping the edge of Corio Bay. After brekkie, join the locals walking along the scenic Art Deco waterfront to explore the historic piers, beautiful beaches and gleaming white yachts in the marina.
Start the day at Pavilion Geelong.
Afternoon
After a morning in the sun, venture to the recently refurbished Federal Mill precinct, a grand old woollen mill built in 1915. Explore the industrial history of this area, as well as the gourmet produce on offer, before pulling up a table at the popular Paddock Bakery. Famous for their wood-fired sourdough and tasty pastries, this cafe serves up tasty dishes like their Crème Brûlée doughnuts. Chase your lunch down with an afternoon of gin tasting at Anther Distillery.
Try the Paddock Bakery Crème Brûlée doughnuts.
Night
For an evening of frivolity and decadence, head back to Geelong for dinner and a show at the newly reopened Geelong Arts Centre. Later, enjoy a mini Negroni with a scoop of Black Pearl Oscietra Gold caviar at the sleek Non Disclosure Bar.
Day 2: A foodie-centric day in Moorabool Valley
Morning
Wake up with the soft winter sun and cooler temperatures, then travel to the lush farmlands and stunning landscapes of Moorabool Valley, the home of Meredith Farm Store. Choose a seat outside in the leafy courtyard and enjoy a tasting platter of fresh produce among the flowers.
Afternoon
To explore the area, visit the cellar door at the Moorabool Valley Wine Collective, which encompasses three award-winning winemakers, before stopping by Austin’s Wines for lunch. Not only can you taste over 10 local wines at the dedicated tastings bar, but you can also curate your own cheese platter to eat outside on their shaded deck.
Stop by Austin’s Wines for lunch.
Night
Continue on your foodie quest with dinner in Newtown at the Asian fusion Two Noble restaurant, or, inside the same venue at Sawyers Arms Tavern, dive into the European flavours of Eileen’s Charcoal Grill on your way back to Geelong.
The chef’s hatted Two Noble restaurant is waiting.
Day 3: Adventures in The Bellarine
Morning
For a light breakfast, head 20 minutes out of town to the rustic Ket Baker, an artisan bakery known for their 100% sourdough croissants. Grab a hot cuppa under the gum trees and enjoy the morning chill in the air. Then spend the morning on the foodie-focused Bellarine Taste Trail, visiting local producers like Bellarine Smokehouse, Flying Brick Cider House and FarmDog Brewing.
Enjoy a light breakfast at Ket Baker.
Lunch
There’s no better way to enjoy lunch than to make it from scratch. With Harvest Experience’s Pasta & Pinot cooking class, you’ll have a genuine farm-to-plate experience as you learn to make fettuccini and filled ravioli from scratch. Once cooked, sit down, relax and enjoy your hard work with a glass of Bellarine Peninsula pinot noir.
Afternoon and night
Burn off your lunch with an afternoon trip to the bayside town of Portarlington, where Australian blue mussels are harvested offshore. Stop by the quirky Ducks Nuts and peruse the trinkets and treasures before making your way to the restored Portarlington Grand Hotel. Built in 1888, this beautiful building now houses four distinct dining experiences, including the new open-air spaces of The Atrium and Lawn, where you can enjoy a local gin as the sun sets over the bay.
