Asking a travel writer to choose their favourite thing to do on holiday is like searching for an empty patch of sand at Bondi Beach on a perfect summer’s day – impossible. This year, as Travel and News Editor of Time Out Australia, I’ve been lucky enough to visit every Australian state and territory, saying yes to any experience thrown my way.
To provide you with some inspiration for your 2025 adventures, I’ve rounded up all the coolest things I did in Australia this year. Do yourself a favour and add them to your own Aussie bucket list.
1. Attending Adelaide Fringe Festival
March is a magical time to be in Adelaide, as revellers descend in droves to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest arts festival: Adelaide Fringe. I was one of the lucky, first-time festivalgoers in 2024 who got to witness the entire city shut down and show up to support more than 6,000 artists performing in a whopping 1,400 shows. The electric energy in the Garden of Unearthly Delights was contagious, with Hans: Disco Spektakulär and Limbo – The Return being my standout performances from the whirlwind weekend.
2. Hiking Hill Inlet in the Whitsundays
Whitehaven Beach is easily the number one Aussie beach that I come across in global rankings of the best beaches in the world. And after soaking up the surreal scenes from Hill Inlet Lookout, I can confirm it’s just as dreamy as it looks in the glossy travel magazines. What makes the 1.3-kilometre lookout hike even more special is that it’s only accessible by boat – so the journey’s just as good as the destination.
3. Truffle hunting in Canberra
Despite living in our nation’s capital for four years, I had no idea that Canberra is home to some of the world's finest truffles. This winter, I got my hands dirty and hunted for the elusive ‘black gold’ alongside The Truffle Farm’s charming truffle dog duo. The experience was capped off with a seasonal truffle degustation, featuring a heroic truffle mushroom agnolotti that I still dream about.
4. Watching Wintjiri Wiru at Uluru
Uluru’s famous drone show is the definition of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Twelve-hundred drones light up the desert's night sky for this immersive cultural storytelling show, sharing a powerful chapter of the ancestral Mala story, narrated in the local Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara languages. I was impressed not only by the intricate drone choreography, but by how beautifully the local Anangu culture was woven into the experience.
5. Going on a 4WD tour around K’gari
Bus tours aren’t typically my cup of tea, but the Beauty Spots 4WD Tour on K’gari – the world’s largest sand island – was so exhilarating, I’d almost classify it a theme park ride. Bouncing along 75 Mile Beach (AKA, the ‘Sand Highway’) made me feel like a child again, and each new stop was more awe-inspiring than the last. My favourites included the S.S Maheno shipwreck, Eli Creek, Champagne Pools and Lake McKenzie.
6. Seeing the seals on Kangaroo Island
If you ask whether I’m a dog or cat person, it’s an easy “dog” – and the (seal) pups on Kangaroo Island are no exception. I was amazed to discover that the remote island is home to Australia’s largest sea lion population, and my heart melted watching the chubby pups snuggle up to their mums in the sand. Thank goodness for the strong winds, otherwise I might’ve spent my whole weekend at Seal Bay Conservation Park.
7. Dining at Aløft in Hobart
Before this year, I’d never had anything more than a three-course meal – so the nine-course degustation at Hobart’s sleek waterfront restaurant Aløft was a serious upgrade. I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar, which seriously made my night. I got to watch the chefs in action and hear about the origins of each ingredient. The crowd-favourite tempura eggplant, lightly tossed in chilli sauce, was my stand-out dish of the night.
8. Kayaking with dolphins on the Sunshine Coast
Growing up on Australia's East Coast, I’ve had my fair share of dolphin encounters, but none quite like the one I had on an exhilarating eco-kayaking tour with Epic Ocean Adventures. We launched our kayaks from the incredibly stunning and remote Double Island Point in Great Sandy Marine Park, and within minutes, spotted our first pod of bottlenose dolphins mere metres away. As if that wasn’t magical enough, humpback whales made a distant appearance shortly after.
9. Snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef
Sure, it’s cliché, but the Great Barrier Reef – the world’s largest coral reef – really lives up to the hype. I was shocked to see how much of the coral was still thriving, and ended up snorkelling until my lips turned blue. Visiting the reef also really opened my eyes to the importance of doing everything we can to preserve its technicolour marvels for future generations.
10. Getting lost at MONA in Hobart
Everyone I know who’s visited Hobart says the famous avant-garde gallery, MONA, is a must – and now I’ve been, I couldn’t agree more. Half the fun is the ferry ride to this weird and wacky wonderland of old and new art, with unexpected artworks hiding around every corner. My two highlights were James Turrell’s mind-expanding Event Horizon installation, alongside Faro Restaurant’s impressive dining room, which offered unreal views over the River Derwent.