10 Top Romantic Places to visit in Australia

Australia is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Its nature, architecture, and cultural heritage offer various destinations you can go to for a romantic break. Whether you want to have an active couple’s getaway, or just dine every night on a private tropical beach, this continent has it all.

best places to visit in Australia

So, here are top romantic places in Australia perfect to spend time with your special someone.

1. Color of love near Esperance


Although Lake Hillier doesn’t offer any accommodations, that doesn’t stop thousands of couples to come and visit this pink attraction. Accessible only by small plane, helicopter, or boat, this saline lake in Western Australia is one of the favorite romantic destinations on the continent. As one of the most famous pink lakes in the world, it’s often used to say ‘I do’ or as a proposal spot.

Since it’s located on Middle Island, you can stop by to see the colony of Little Penguins, the smallest of its species on the planet. Cape Le Grand National Park is just a few miles away from Lake Hillier, and Blue Haven Beach nearby is perfect to take a swim in the ocean. The town of Esperance is a good place to stay while exploring the area and even see some of its attractions, like Stonehenge and Whale Tail.

2. Naturally romantic sights of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park


Make sure you visit the Great Barrier Reef, one of the most famous Australian landmarks. It's a spectacle unlike any other. One of the most iconic instagrammed places to visit in Australia is none other than the Great Barrier Reef, and the reef itself is bigger than the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Netherlands combined. Being the largest coral reef system in the world, it is also home to some of the most incredible sea life in the world.

This is a simply stunning place to be and a thrilling place for water sports and activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling. Book a diving tour and explore the ocean depths of this, one of the seven of the Earth's natural wonders. The turquoise waters teem with over 15,000 varieties of tropical fish, from the bright orange Clown Fish (say hello to Nemo) to the once seen and never forgotten Parrotfish.

Pretty boys indeed! If you don't have the courage to scuba dive, you can still take a glass-bottomed boat, and see the beauty of the ocean from a dry distance. Either way, many incredible wonders await you at the bottom of the sea. You should find the time to go diving if you can. Getting up and close to some of the stunning creatures that live there will really put things into perspective.

Snorkelling is a great way to see the many shallow reefs and the life around them. Most tourist diving boats also offer snorkeling and encourage the use of pool noodles to make it even easier for those who don’t want to go underwater at all. Helmet diving is an option for those who don’t mind going underwater and want to get to a slightly greater depth, but who don’t want to swim or want to keep their eye-glasses on.

In a helmet dive, you have a helmet that keeps your head dry and is connected to the surface by an air tube. You stand on a platform that is lowered into the water. There are also underwater hotel rooms on rafts over the reef, where you can watch reef wildlife through the windows of your room. It’s another quite spendy option, of course.

You will definitely want to protect beautiful natural places such as this once you see it for yourself. All in all, this is definitely one of the most mesmerising destinations that should be in the Australian bucket list.

The Great Barrier Reef is full of romantic sights that many couples simply can't resist to see. One of those is the Heart Reef perfectly visible from the air. Flying over this naturally-formed heart-shaped reef is a favorite way to pop the question and some have even exchanged the vows.

Those wanting to enjoy the ultimate romantic luxury can stay at one of the local resorts, like on Lizard Island.

3. Sunrises in Cairns


The town of Palm Cove is also nearby with its great sunrises and relaxing atmosphere far away from the urban fuss. If you want to have a feel of the Australian rainforest, The Daintree is close to the Great Barrier Reef and you can turn it all into a private adventure. Staying in Cairns will give you access to a lot of activities for couples like snorkeling in the Reef or cruising around its most memorable islands.

4. Queensland Lava Tubes


Formed relatively recently from basalt, they are less than 3 million years old. There are five separate tubes and each is around 30 kilometers long though.

5. Black Mountain National Park


Black Mountain, located in Black Mountain National Park west of Cairns is a 108 meter tall mass of millions of black granite boulders dated at almost 300 million years. They formed when volcanic subterranean lava set into granite and was eventually exposed through erosion and heated by the sun and cracked over millennia (sometimes explosively).

6. Low-key romance in Adelaide Hills


Go on a road trip to Adelaide Hills. Adelaide Hills is full of European charm and the old-world architecture accompanied by numerous wineries in the area. As a wonderful spot for couples who want to spend time completely dedicated to one another, this is often a favorite low-key destination for those seeking ultimate privacy. The Adelaide hills have many areas you could visit as a family, Gumeracha, Handorf and Cleland Wildlife Park. Even the Monarto Zoo plains beyond the hills.

Couples come here for anniversaries and Valentine’s Day with flower delivery from Adelaide straight to their rooms and candlelight dinners on the balcony. Thorngrove Manor is one of the most romantic accommodations to stay here with antique settings and baroque architecture. Since the area is also one of the oldest wine-producing regions, you will enjoy some of the finest wines, like Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

These are some places accessible some hours from the capital city of Adelaide. In the city are also many frequented beaches such as Semaphore and Glenelg being two of the most popular.

7. A romantic wine getaway to New South Wales


Usually visited for being one of the best wine regions in the world, Hunter Valley is also a favorite couple destination as a getaway, but also as a wedding venue. The lush greenery of the vineyards, lavender fields, and exquisite cuisine turned this area into one of the most wanted Australian couple’s retreats. Many estates, like Spicers Vineyards, offer wine and dine experience with nestling around a fire for stargazing.

During the day, Hunter Valley has a lot of places you can have a romantic picnic, like the banks of Paterson River. Hot air balloon rides are the most beautiful in the afternoon when the sun is slowly setting behind the horizon, leaving shades of orange and pink over the landscapes. Hunter Valley Gardens will dazzle you with its many waterfalls, murals, and artistry so it's no wonder many couples get engaged in this 14-hectare space.

Pass through Beechworth and pick up some Beechworth honey. You can get this in the main cities but it comes from here and they have much more varieties. Next stop, is Jindabyne. To get there you’ll pass Thredbo, a ski village in winter. Outside winter you can take the chairlift up and walk to the top of Australia, Mt Kosciuszko.

Besides skiing, Thredbo also doubles as a downhill mountain bike course in the warmer months. Next stop is Canberra, the nations capital. See the national institutions if that’s of interest. Once you’ve crossed from Victoria to NSW there’s no shortage of idyllic beach side towns. Eden, Merimbula, Moruya, Batemans Bay, Ulladulla, take your pick.

Continue on to Cooma. Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre is worth a visit if you’re into feats of engineering. You can also visit and tour hydroelectric generators and dams in the region if you’re a full nerd like me.

8. Heaven for couples in Byron Bay


Byron Bay is the ultimate destination for couples who want to enjoy luxury and privacy together. This coastal town is full of beaches, resorts, spas, and diving sites — perfect to relax and hide from the world for a while. Byron Bay is known for its bohemian and relaxed lifestyle and its beaches. Next on the route to Cape Byron enjoy beautiful views of the ocean and if you go between June and November you can spot humpback whales.

If you intend to come here between June and November you are in for quite a sight. That’s when humpback whales migrate and you can watch them splash in the ocean from the Captain Cook Lookout. When you get tired of spending time in the five-star resorts, you can catch some sun and swim on the Clarkes Beach or a more secluded Tallow Beach.

Those looking for a more active holiday can go hiking in the surrounding rainforests and to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, located a few miles outside of town.

9. Bunda Cliffs


The Bunda Cliffs are a line of sea cliffs up to 100 metres high that extend westward from the head of the Great Australian Bight to Eucla, near the border of South Australia and Western Australia. Their total length is about 210 km, of which about 180 km is unbroken cliff line. They form part of a much longer escarpment at the southern edge of the Bunda Plateau.

Once a continuous sea cliff, local uplift has isolated two sections from the ocean. The greater escarpment comprises the Bunda Cliffs, Hampton Range (inland; total length 300 km), Baxter Cliffs (160 km of coastal cliff) and Wylie Scarp (inland; total length 160 km).

There are five lookouts off the Eyre Highway with views of the cliffs and the Southern Ocean. The cliffs can be seen from the highway at several places, where they curl away from the road, so you don’t even have to stop the car if you don’t want to.

10. Lake Bumbunga, SA


Do you love to snap? If yes, then this is going to be one of your favorite places. Depending on the time of year, the hues of South Australia’s Bumbunga Lake switches from white to blue to pink, thanks to its salinity. This extraordinary lake is just 2 hours’ drive from Adelaide. All in all

It’s hard to choose one destination when Australia is full of romantic places. Maybe the best strategy is to stay in one place and then go on day-trips from there to see it all. Or, you can pick one spot and have your romantic holiday just there. Whatever you decide, Australia promises a great romance for those looking to celebrate love and strengthen their bond.
Kalyan Panja