The top 100 true hidden gem locations in Australia
It's time to dust off your bucket list in 2022 because Motorhome Republic has crunched the data to reveal the true top hidden gems in Australia and they're sure to ignite your wanderlust!
We've created the ultimate 'Backyard Bucket List' that contains 100 of the most unusual, hidden, fantastic and awesome locations in the country, to encourage Aussie's to see these hidden gems that await on our very own doorstep.
By analysing data from Atlas Obscura, a global travel community and database of the world's most wondrous places, we discovered the most coveted and popular, but least actually visited locations, revealing a list of true hidden gems that a relative few have actually seen with their own eyes.
Forget the stereotypical Sydney Opera House and venture instead to a charming hand-built Spanish-style castle hidden in the tropical jungles of Queensland. Or, explore the magic of nature by adventuring into the Helensburgh Glow Worm Tunnel, an abandoned railway that's now home to a host of bioluminescent beetles.
Check out Motorhome Republic's full Backyard Bucket List below and discover the top true hidden gems broken down by every state. Save the maps links below to your phone, or make sure you’ve got a pen and paper handy and let's explore and go adventure!
New South Wales
1. Glow Worm Tunnel Helensburgh 2. Newnes Glow Worm Tunnel 3. Balls Pyramid 4. SS Ayrfield 5. Mungo National Park 6. Wedding Cake Rock 7. Styx Valley Forest 8. Ancient Aboriginal Astronomy 9. Museum Of Human Disease 10. Wendys Secret Garden 11. The Giant Stairway Katoomba Australia 12. Mad Max 2 Museum 13. The Lex And Ruby Graham Gardens 14. Dreamers Gate 15. Burning Mountain 16. Empire Of Atlantium 17. Purikura Photoland 18. Badu Mangroves 19. Aboriginal Carving Whale 20. Mermaid Inlet Cliffs 21. Weird Echo Spot Former Newcastle City Morgue 22. Gould's Books 23. Lillipad Cafe Sydney 24. One More Go One More Go 25. Broken Hill Sculpture Park 26. The Big Poo, Kiama
Victoria
Queensland
Western Australia
Northern Territory
South Australia
79. The Butterfly Room, Frewville 80. Magnetic Hill 81. Coober Pedy 82. Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest Dugout 83. Marree Man 84. Umpherston Sinkhole 85. The Grave Of The Taman Shud Man 86. Z Ward 87. Santos Museum Of Economic Botany 88. Archer’s Arcadia 89. Queen Adelaide Restaurant 90. Something Wild
Tasmania
Other territories
100. Crabs, Christmas Island - Christmas Island
Research Methods
Motorhome Republic analysed Atlas Obscura data for over 400 hidden, bizarre and unusual Australian locations (Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, and many more) to discover the places that the most people ‘wanted to visit’ but the least people had actually ‘been’ to reveal the true hidden gems of Australia! The top 100 were then used to compile Motorhome Republic's backyard bucket list and were categorised by location type and state. Data correct as of January 2022.
See also our New Zealand Backyard Bucket List for inspiration from across the ditch.
Written By: Gareth Meade
