Cactus Country, Strathmerton, Vic. Picture: The Plant Gallery

But there is more to this sunburnt country than pristine beaches and barren outback plains. (Although we have plenty of those, too.)

From rainforests and ragged cliffs to sinkholes and silica sand dunes, some of our most remarkable sights are where you’d least expect to find them.

Go where the wild things are and you’ll soon discover a world of natural wonders, where there is no shortage of extraordinary I-can’t-believe-that’s-in-Oz attractions.

So if you’re looking to get off the beaten path and experience the real land down under, here is our guide to the most unique, unusual and Instagrammable Aussie icons that you’ve probably never heard of. #thisisaustralia

1. The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles, Nambung National Park, WA. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Nambung National Park, Western Australia.

These limestone formations could easily be in Egypt or Morocco, but are actually found in the Nambung National Park, near the town of Cervantes in Western Australia. Although their formation would have taken many thousands of years, it is believed the golden rocky spires were probably exposed about 6,000 years ago then covered up by shifting sands before being exposed again in the last few hundred years. The Pinnacles Desert is about 250km north of Perth and, in case you hadn’t noticed, offers some pretty rad Instagram opportunities.

2. Undara National Park

Undara National Park, Gulf Savannah, North Queensland. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Gulf Savannah, North Queensland

Lava tubes and waterlogged caves? This sounds like a spelunking adventure through Thailand not a four-hour trip from Cairns to The Gulf Savannah.

3. Umpherston Sinkhole

Umpherston Sinkhole, Mount Gambier. Picture: SA Tourism CommissionSource:News Limited

Mount Gambier, South Australia

Sinkholes are a thing of movies and Mexico, not Mount Gambier.
This tropical retreat, or Sunken Garden as the South Australians refer to it, was once a limestone cave and is now one of the most spectacularly unique gardens in Oz.

4. The Totem Pole and the Candlestick

The Totem Pole and the Candlestick at Cape Hauy, Tasmania. Picture: Tourism Tasmania & Kathryn LeahySource:SuppliedSupplied

Cape Hauy, Tasmania

Aus is known for its ragged coastline, but who knew it was quite this ragged?
You wouldn’t even blink if someone told you these 300 metre-high dolerite sea cliffs were in South Africa or Scotland but, alas, they are found off the cape of the Apple Isle’s imposing Tasman Peninsula.

5. Chillagoe Caves

Chillagoe Caves, QLD. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Mungana National Park, Queensland

When you think of Queensland, you imagine tropical rainforests and tranquil beaches. Sure, it might be the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage Daintree rainforest, but Far North Queensland is also home to an epic cluster of caves and precariously balancing rocks.

6. Hamersley Gorge

Hamersley Gorge, Karijini National Park, WA. Picture: Nick RainsSource:Supplied

Karijini National Park, Western Australia

Introducing Hamersley Gorge, or, as we at the Herald Sun have dubbed it, the pool of paradise. If we didn’t know better, we’d be booking a trip to Montenegro to swim in this crystal-clear grotto. It’s in the Pilbara’s famed Karijini National Park, which is home to some of the world’s most ancient natural landscapes, dating back two billion years and stretching over 400,000 square kilometres of WA’s otherwise mining heartland.

7. Figure 8 Pools

Figure 8 Pools Royal National Park, NSW. Picture: SuppliedSource:Best Weekend

Royal National Park, New South Wales

We will, we will rock pool. Given it is home to these appropriately named Figure 8 Pools, that should be the new slogan for New South Wales. We have social media to thank for shining a well-hashtagged spotlight on these beautiful blue lagoons, with Instagrammers flocking to the Royal National Park’s secluded southern coast for some snap-worthy #nofilterneeded uploads.

8. Wylie Creek Sand Dunes

Wylie Creek Sand Dunes, Esperance, WA. Picture: Stephen Williams PhotographySource:Supplied

Esperance, Western Australia

I know what you’re thinking. You’d love to carve up some of that fresh Alaskan powder. Well, think again. This is, in fact, Wylie Creek Sand Dunes in WA’s stunning southern coastal town of Esperance. Eat our silica sand dust.

9. The Pillars

The Pillars, Mt Martha, Vic. Picture: A Make Believe WorldSource:Supplied

Mt Martha, Victoria

Forget cliff jumping in Croatia. Head to The Pillars in Mount Martha, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, for some Mediterranean-inspired fun in the sun.

10. Cobbold Gorge

Cobbold Gorge, Forsayth, QLD. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Forsayth, Queensland

If we’re being totally honest, for some reason this eerie North Queensland gorge reminds us of scenes from the 1984 classic The Neverending Story. Fantasia or Forsayth? You decide. Now, where’s Falcor at?

11. Echidna Chasm

Echidna Chasm, Kimberley Region, WA. Picture: WA Tourism.Source:Supplied

Kimberley Region, Westerb Australia

Who needs the Grand Canyon when we have the Echidna Chasm. This incredible walking track is found in the Bungle Bungle Range of the Purnululu National Park. And yes, in case you were wondering, we do like our place names to be as memorable as the attractions themselves.

12. Purnululu

Purnululu, WA. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Kimberley Region, Western Australia

We just wanted to give you the bird’s eye view. Well played, Purnululu. Well played.

13. Lake Hillier

Lake Hillier, Esperance, WA. Picture: Tourism WASource:Supplied

Esperance, Western Australia

What’s pink, white and green, and blue you away? The aerial view of Lake Hillier on WA’s breathtaking southern coast. Lake Hillier is a pink-coloured lake on Middle Island, the largest of the islands that make up the Recherche Archipelago off the coast of Esperance. Nobody knows for sure why the lake is pink, but scientists speculate that the bubblegum colour comes from a dye created by bacteria that live in the salt crusts.

14. Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park, Tas. Picture: Grant Dixon.Source:Supplied

Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania

Welcome to Austria. I mean, Australia. This white, snow-capped peak is Barn Bluff, a less crowded alternative to Cradle Mountain in Tasmania’s Lake St Clair National Park.

15. Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park

Piccaninnie Ponds, SA. Picture: DSEWPaC (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities)Source:Supplied

Limestone Coast, South Australia

From above, this underwater limestone cave wonderland looks like a regular old swamp, but what lies beneath is a secret snorkelling and spelunking paradise. Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park is a protected area of 862 hectares located in southeastern South Australia near Mount Gambier, but may as well be a first-class diving site in the Philippines.

16. Cactus Country

Cactus Country, Strathmerton, Vic. Picture: The Plant GallerySource:Supplied

Strathmerton, Victoria

Move over Arizona. This prickly point is actually a man-made nursery, garden and Mexican-themed cafe in the Victorian town of Strathmerton. We’re here all week, try the cactus cake.
But seriously, try it.

17. Murphy’s Haystacks

Murphy's Haystacks, Eyre Peninsula, SA. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Limited

Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

To quote one of Disney’s ultimate visionaries, Donkey: “That’s a nice boulder.” He was probably talking about these oversize stones. f you’re not sure how to get to Shrek’s swamp, head to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia instead. Murphy’s Haystacks will rock your world.

18. Kuranda Train and Skyrail

Kuranda Train and Skyrail, Cairns, QLD. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Atherton Tableland, Queensland

You’d be forgiven for thinking this was the Eastern and Oriental Express that chugs its way through Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. It’s actually the Kuranda Train, in the Atherton Tableland of Far North Queensland. Hop on board for a magic choo choo ride through tropical rainforests, past spectacular waterfalls and into the awesome Barron Gorge.

19. Poruma

Church ruins on Poruma (Coconut Island), Torres Strait, QLD. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Limited

Coconut Island, Queensland

We figured any Aussie destination named Coconut Island meant automatic inclusion. These church ruins are on Poruma, as it is called in the local language, which is one of the Torres Strait Islands of Queensland. It has a population of about 149 people. How’s that for serenity.

20. Wolfe Creek Crater

Wolfe Creek Crater, Alice Springs, WA. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Alice Springs, Western Australia

This sci-fi attraction is actually the Wolfe Creek crater, which was formed 300,000 years ago when a giant 50,000 tonne meteorite crashed into the earth at a speed of 15km per second, leaving the second biggest crater in the world.