It’s fair to say travelling around Australia can be an expensive exercise, especially when you start factoring in the eye-watering cost of flights across this broad brown land. But, among other things, season three of Going Places with Ernie Dingo encourages you to make a trip or two to a gorgeous destination outside the capital cities.
Here are seven options the show makes great cases for...
Charlotte Pass (NSW)
Yeah, you’re mainly going for the snow, but there’s more to Charlotte Pass than skiing (there’s also snowboarding). When the weather warms up, the place becomes a haven for bushwalkers intent on conquering Mount Kosciuszko. The snow gives way to blossoming wildflowers sprouting along now-accessible mountain bike tracks. Less deadly than Everest, that’s for sure.
Horizontal Falls (WA)
The clue is in the name. This gravity-defying wonder of nature was ticketed as “one of the greatest wonders of the natural world” by David Attenborough, despite us lobbying him for that nickname. Tucked away in a remote spot of the Western Australian coast, it can be viewed from the air or in a boat as you rush through the rapids.
Yirrkala (NT)
Heading about as far north as the Northern Territory will let you, you can get a taste of Indigenous culture when you visit Yirrkala. Aboriginal creations, including bark art, and an artists-at-work vibe of their arts centre will leave you feeling enriched.
Grampians (Vic)
A trip to the Grampians is a solid option for people who are anxious to leave the city, especially if that city is Melbourne because it’s not far away. Gariwerd, the Aboriginal name for the Grampians, is bursting with Indigenous culture, including various rock art sites open to the public. There are also plenty of scenic hikes to conquer, waterfalls to snap and vineyard wine tours which need testing.
Port Lincoln (SA)
A one-time contender for the capital of the colony, Port Lincoln is one of those cities with a strong story to tell. A story of maritime and pioneering history. A story told in their range of museums and galleries. If you hate stories, you’re probs more likely to get your coastal holiday fix through tasty seafood, wildlife tours and ocean adventures.
Hervey Bay (Qld)
With thousands of humpbacks passing through Hervey Bay every season, it has gained a reputation as the Whale Watching Capital of the World for good reason. Take a tour to see the big fellas pass by, swim at the scenic beaches or take off for Fraser Island. You know what we’re going to say, don’t you? You’re sure to have a whale of a time.
Bruny Island (Tas)
You come for the Neck, but stay for the shucks. Conquer the rugged south, relax in the rural north. Head through the Neck, a narrow bridge of land connecting northern and southern Bruny Island, for fairy penguins and short-tailed shearwaters. Finish it all up by slurping back some locally farmed oysters like some kind of .
Season 3 of Going Places With Ernie Dingo explores these wild places and more, starting on Wednesday, 12 June at 7:30pm on SBS and on Sunday, 16 June at 7:30pm on NITV. Catch up on the episodes at SBS On Demand.
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