The 14 rarest natural phenomena you can witness in Australia

If it raises David Attenborough's eyebrows, you know it's got to be worth a visit. Dubbed by Sir David himself as "Australia’s most unusual natural wonder", the Horizontal Falls in Western Australia's Talbot Bay are a beautiful mystery. As fast-moving rapids are forced through two narrow gorges faster than the water can drain, they create a sideways-waterfall effect. And that's not all – they reverse themselves, too, every day when the tide turns. To ride the waterfall yourself, you can take a boat through the currents or take in the view from above via a gorgeous, low-flying scenic flight. 

Where: Kimberley region

When to go: Any time of the year, at high and low tide. 

No, that photo isn’t photoshopped. That lake really is bubble gum pink. And before you ask, it hasn’t been dyed; it’s a natural phenomenon. Pink lakes are rare, and only a handful are found around the world. Lake Hillier in Western Australia is Australia’s most famous and was recently crowned as the tenth most ‘otherworldly’ sight in the world. 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 Lake Hillier’s bright pink waters and the dark blue Indian Ocean from the sky. In fact, Lake Hillier is only accessible by air (or scenic cruise – but these are rare), with swimming strictly off-limits.

Where: Goldfields-Esperance, WA

When to go: During summer (December to February) – the less water there is, the more vibrant pink the lake appears.

Bright, beautiful and bedazzling, the Aurora Borealis is a big-ticket bucket list item for pretty much everyone on Earth. But you don’t need to fork out on a ticket to Scandinavia to see the dramatic natural light display IRL. Australia has its very own version, called the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights, which takes over the sky in the colder months of the year, flashing luminous shades of violet, blue, green and glowing orange. Your best bet for witnessing the Aurora Australis is to be as far south as possible. Due to having the cleanest air in the world and being closest to the South Pole, Tasmania is the obvious choice. You’ll want to find a place far away from city lights, so you can see the dancing colours shine brightest in the dark, twinkling skies.

Where: Reliable spottings in Tasmania (Hobart, Bruny Island, South Arm Peninsula, Tasman Peninsula), but also Victoria (Wilson’s Promontory, Phillip Island) and South Australia (Mount Lofty and the Fleurieu Peninsula) 

When to go: Sightings are most common during cooler months (May to August) and during the spring equinox in September. 

Just a three-hour drive from Sydney, Jervis Bay has garnered somewhat of a reputation for its oh-so-idyllic white sand beaches. But after dark, things get a whole lot more interesting. Due to a chemical reaction, the area's plankton becomes bioluminescent and emits a strong, blue-tinted glow. En masse, they light up the sea, and the shore turns into a sparkling, glittering expanse of beautiful lights as the gentle tide continues to lap against the beach, flecked by luminous plankton. Hot tip: scientists have found that the presence of red algae during the day can indicate a higher likelihood of bioluminescence in the evening.

Where: Jervis Bay, NSW

When to go: While this phenomenon can happen at any time of the year, it's more common in the warmer months.

If the thought of 120 million giant crabs crawling across an island gives you the shivers, we’d recommend skipping out on this one. Described by Sir David Attenborough as “one of his greatest television moments”, this annual red crab migration is one of the most incredible natural spectacles on Earth. The crabs emerge from the rainforests of Christmas Island and make their way to the ocean to breed and lay eggs, following the same migration route each year. Those who aren’t afraid of creepy crawlies can watch the migration and spawning at Drumsite, Flying Fish Cove, Ethel Beach and Greta Beach.

Where: Christmas Island

When to go: The crabs begin their migration after the first rainfall of the wet season, typically between October and November. However, it can sometimes be as late as December or January. The exact timing and speed of the migration is determined by the phase of the moon.

It's only in the northern tip of Australia, on the Gulf of Carpentaria, that you can spot with any kind of regularity these long, tubular cloud formations that take over the sky. They can be up to 1,000 kilometres long, and around one to two kilometres wide. Thrill-seeking glider pilots flock to the region across late spring to try to ride out the currents of air produced by these clouds, which allows them to stay airborne far longer than normal. Scientists have puzzled over the explanation behind this phenomenon in recent times, but it's been recorded and observed for millennia: the Garrawa people of the First Nations knew the strange clouds that would roll through their skies once a year as kangólgi. 

Where: Burketown, QLD

When to go: Late September to early November.

Those lucky enough to visit Broome during the dry season will have the chance to witness one of the Kimberley's most captivating natural wonders: the Staircase to the Moon. This mesmerising phenomenon occurs when the full moon rises over the mudflats at low tide, casting a reflection that appears as a set of steps rising up to the sky. Roebuck Bay is the only place in the world where you can witness this spectacle, with the Mangrove Hotel’s beer garden providing the best vantage point in town. Depending on weather conditions, sunsets, and tides, Broome sees approximately three Staircase to the Moon events per month from March to October.

Where: Broome, WA

When to go: Between March and October. Check out the dates here.

Despite the popular belief held overseas that Australia is 98 per cent arid outback (with a tiny slice of Bondi Beach thrown into the mix), Australia is actually home to the world’s largest wildflower collection. The bulk of the blooming happens in Western Australia, where more than 12,000 species burst to life across the state each season – 60 per cent of which are found nowhere else on Earth. To catch the full floral spectacle, hop on the three-day Wildflower Way road trip through the Wheatbelt, known as ‘Wildflower Country’, or explore the seven-day Granite Loop Wildflower Trail.

Where: The Wheatbelt, WA 

When to go: August to October, when rainbow wildflowers and canola fields burst into bright yellow bloom across the region. 

Show us someone cynical about the existence of extraterrestrial life, and we'd show them a picture of a cuttlefish. The annual aggregation of giant cuttlefish in the Spencer Gulf in South Australia is certainly a sight to behold. The gulf is the only place where you can predictably and annually see giant cuttlefish en masse. They regularly switch colours, shifting with alarming rapidity to change their shape and texture to look like rocks, sand, and even seaweed. Want to try spotting them yourself? You can snorkel and dive with these mysterious, otherworldly creatures of the deep on the coastline of the Upper Spencer Gulf Marine Park in the Eyre Peninsula between June and July.

Where: Eyre Peninsula, SA

When to go: During June and July.

Rising 15 metres high and stretching more than 100 metres long, Wave Rock is one of Australia’s most recognisable rocky formations. Chances are you’ve seen countless photos of people pretending to surf this gnarly granite wave. But it’s much more than just a funny backdrop – it’s far bigger than other popular wave-shaped rocks around the world, and you can actually walk right up to it. While the 2.7-billion-year-old boulder is impressive in daylight, it transforms into something truly mystical under the stars. Crisp air, pitch-black skies and awe-inspiring Milky Way views make it a dream spot for night sky photographers. Plus, it's easily accessible from the nearest town, Hyden, and totally free to visit.

Where: Hyden, WA

When to go: March to August, when the skies are crisp and clear.

Affectionately known by locals as "the world's largest orgasm", coral spawning is the process by which the Great Barrier Reef reproduces. In what is a truly spectacular sight, polyps scatter egg and sperm bundles they’ve been amassing for months into the big blue, where they are fertilised and go on to populate the reef with more coral. The dispersion of polyps is only visible underwater – so go diving, snorkelling or hop on board a submarine and sail through the reef to witness the majesty of the coral life cycle.

Where: Great Barrier Reef, QLD

When to go: Three to five days after the full moon, from November to February.

Tucked away on WA’s North West Cape, Exmouth offers crystal-clear skies, minimal light pollution and breathtaking views of the Milky Way. The region is surrounded by the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park, far from major cities or towns, meaning the skies are much darker and clearer. Add in a high number of cloudless nights, and it’s the ideal spot for stargazing year-round. From Milyering Discovery Centre, you can spot planets, Sirius (also known as the Dog Star) – the brightest star in our sky, and the eggs in the nest of the First Nations Peoples Emu constellation and Herschel's Jewel Box – a dazzling open cluster of 100-odd multicoloured stars that are almost impossible to discern with the naked eye. But perhaps the coolest part is spotting the Big Dipper in full – a prominent star pattern that should only be visible from the Northern Hemisphere.

Where: Exmouth, WA

When to go: We spotted the Big Dipper in July.

Life has thrived on our extraordinary continent for millions of years, and in a few special places, you can literally step back in time to when dinosaurs walked these lands. Near Broome in Western Australia lies the largest set of fossilised dinosaur footprints in the world – but they're notoriously difficult to find. At Gantheaume Point, travellers can step out onto red sandstone cliffs and wait for the tide to recede to spot the gigantic footprints out at sea. The footprints, which span the size of an average adult human (1.7 metres), are an unfathomable 130 million years old.

Where: Broome, WA

When to go: Low tide, which generally occurs twice a day. Timing depends on when you visit, so check the tidal charts before setting out.

Glow on and get your gum boots dirty by venturing into this abandoned rail tunnel just outside of Sydney, where you’ll find one of the largest colonies of bioluminescent bugs in NSW. These semi-rare glowworms – essentially the larvae of fungus gnats (small flies) – are only found in dark and humid places across Australia and New Zealand. You’ll audibly gasp as you behold the thousands of blue-glowing bugs, sparkling like stars in vibrant shades of blue and green. Since you can’t knock before entering (the glowworms are disturbed by noise), be sure to avoid flash photography, any kind of smoke or insect repellent, and shining your torch directly at the worms. The tunnels are incredibly slippery after rain, so we’d also recommend checking that the tunnels are open before visiting and entering at your own risk.

Where: Helensburgh, NSW

When to visit: At night, during the warmer months. Avoid visiting after heavy rain as the tunnel can become flooded.