Off The Beaten Path Experiences In Australia
You know by now that at RatPack we like to do things a little bit different and that includes our RatPackers too! Holly will be sharing her top tips including:
- Where to find the best wildlife in Aussie
- How to get to these lesser known spots
- The exact secrets to finding each spot
- Her own personal tips on how to make the experience epic!
RatPacker Holly hit up the east coast and got well off the beaten track and saw all the sweet spots including some that you might not have heard of before…..check out her blog below!
Click images to see more.
Secret spots to check out
St Kilda penguins, Melbourne
Who have thought hey!? Penguins in Oz…Well, if you look carefully enough and tread lightly, you may be lucky enough to spot St Kilda’s colony of little penguins. You’ll find them at the end of St Kilda breakwater every night, at the end of St Kilda Pier, just past the kiosk. Make sure you get there about 30 minutes after sunset to be sure to get a spot.
TOP TIP: Look below you, under the wooden slats of the pier; they’re real shy, so a load of them hide under here.
Whiting Beach, Sydney
If you board the ferry from Sydney to Taronga Zoo, but head left at the wharf instead of going towards the zoo, you’ll come across the beginning of a headland walk. Walk for about 10 minutes along the path and you’ll discover Whiting Beach; a secluded spot with immense views of the Sydney skyline.
TOP TIP: Bring a camera, the views are not to be missed!
Palm Beach, Sydney
Ok, so not so ‘secret’, just more so that it’s not bothered with as it is quite a distance away from Sydney. But, it is worth the journey…believe me! The lighthouse walk is epic and when you [finally] reach the top, the 360 views are insane! The suburb is essentially a double beach; what more could you want! One side is pretty choppy whereas, the other is completely still and perfect for a little swim around. Also, if you are lucky enough to be there at any point between May and August, make sure to look out to sea for a spot of whale watching.
TOP TIP: Reward yourself after the lighthouse walk with a bite to eat at The Boathouse.
Fairy Bower Sea Pool, Manly
Arguably one of the coolest spots along the East Coast (my absolute fave to say the least). Situated about three quarters of the way along Marine Parade (to the right of Manly Beach), it is a glistening, inviting, picturesque pool of dreams. Its warm too, which beats the freezing cold water at Shelly Beach! Opt for this little sliver of paradise if you want to get away from Manly’s crashing waves on Main Beach. You can swim between the two though, if you fancy a change in scenery!
with RatPack Travel?
Wategos Beach, Byron Bay
Take a pit stop from the sweaty Cape Byron Lighthouse walk and cool off in the sheltered, sandy beach. It’s peaceful, not too crowded and sheltered, so the water is lukewarm and the perfect spot for paddle boarding, wave diving, swimming or simply taking a moment to float and soak up the sun. Now get back up, dry off and keep on going strong towards the lighthouse, you can do it!
TOP TIP: Look out for Byron’s pod of dolphins that like to frequent this area. AND make sure you cruise in and see the RatPack crew >>> Byron Bay is their home!
Tallebudgera Creek, Burleigh Heads
First things first, weave yourself along the Burleigh Heads headland walk, it’s great and extremely picturesque. By the way, Burleigh Heads is about a half hour drive away from Surfers Paradise. Anyway, on to the good bit…Tallebudgera Creek; the glistening, light blue lagoon positioned at the end of the headland walk. Take a whole day here to wind down, relax and take in the incredible scenery; you’ve got the National Park on one side and the creek to the other…perfection.
TOP TIP: Bring a snorkel – there are schools of teeny, shiny fish everywhere.
Wallaby watching at Geoffrey Bay, Magnetic Island
Here’s another one to add to your Maggie Island itinerary. At dusk, when the weather begins to cool down a little, head on down to Geoffrey Bay (it is just to the right of where the ferry drops you off, so a perfect activity to end the day with).
Here, you’ll come across the island’s huge population of rock wallabies…it’s amazing! They’re super cute, extremely friendly and will keep you entertained for hours. Be sure to keep very quiet and make minimal movement, then they should come right up to you.
TOP TIP: Pack a banana, they love them!
Lake Echam, Cairns
Second to the Great Barrier Reef, this was one of the highlights of my time spend in Cairns. It is simply just a huge lake, but it’s so much fun! It was formed by a volcanic crater, so the water is naturally really warm and super clear. There are numerous pontoons around to jump in from and swim between. It is a pretty cool, unique location surrounded by the Atherton Table rainforest.
TOP TIP: Look out for tree kangaroos.
From our RatPackers
Genuinely saved me a lot of dolla and stress, thank you so much!
Steve and I were incredibly impressed with Reuben's great professionalism and his ability to find us a wonderful deal for our upcoming N.Z holiday in 2024. Reuben was so helpful, informative and gained us a awesome JUCY Campervan package. Thank you so much for all your assistance.🤩 I would highly recommend Rat Pack Travel to all travellers. 😊Lindy Jurd.
Great service from Ben, can’t recommend RatPack enough. Got us a great price over a really busy period and got us the van we wanted. So easy and will definitely use them again in the future.
Gregg was very helpful in helping me plan my trip very last minute! Thanks so much
Jenna was a huge help getting me a camper for my trip up through the East Coast. Availability was tight and I can’t thank Jenna enough for sorting and at a great price. Definitely worth taking the stress out of searching and using these guys.
Seems to good to be true but Ratpack are everything they say and more. Helped me so much to choose a van and made the whole process so easy! Big shout out to Jenna and all her help above and beyond thanks so much!! Highly recommend
Ben from RatPack Travel was amazing!! Highly recommend getting in contact with this company if you’re unsure what kind of vehicle is best suited for your road-trip plans!
Jenna was so helpful and informative. She made the whole process of booking a camper so easy and answered any questions that I had. I would 100% recommend Ratpack travel for booking a campervan trip! Thanks Jenna 😀
Jenna was amazing! She took all the worry and stress out of booking our holiday! She was so helpful and patient, offering so much advice and securing us a lovely discount as well! Congratulations RatPack Travel - you have a winner in Jenna!
Messaged on Instagram and within a few minutes Reuben had replied, he went through every bit of detail to help arrange our east coast trip, providing the specification of the van and the true costings without any pressure. Very excited to start our trip next month, credit to the team for sure
Mikey was amazing and helped us out a great deal! Can’t recommend them enough!
Just booked a camper through Ratpack Travel with Gregg. He was super professional and talked me through the entire process with constant updates - absolute legend. One of the easiest experiences booking a camper I've had. Would definitely recommend!
Reuben was so helpful to deal with. Would highly recommend
Thanks for sorting out a camper for us Ben! I look forward to the trip and travelling in the RV you found for us
Gregg was fantastic chasing a great price and was extremely responsive - he called when he said he would, chased options immediately and was quick with follow up communication. The process was quick and painless and ended with us getting a great deal.
