There aren’t many places on earth that can compare to Australia’s spirit of adventure. Blessed with striking landscapes and a rugged coastline, the sun-drenched country down under is the perfect setting for a wide variety of exhilarating outdoor activities. So, here’s our list of the 5 most adventurous activities in Australia

The Great Barrier Reef

One of the 7 natural wonders of the world, The Great Barrier Reef is larger than China’s Great Wall, and the only living thing on the planet visible from space. While visitors enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the world’s largest coral reef, they can get involved with everything from snorkelling to scuba diving, glass-bottomed boats to cruise ship tours, helicopter to light aircraft tours, sail boats to semi-submersibles, swimming with dolphins to whale watching, and so much more.

One of the most remarkable parts of nature in Australia, The Great Barrier Reef contains more than three thousand individual coral cays and reefs, which have all been blessed with an abundance of marine life. With literally hundreds of tropical islands dotted throughout, surrounded by beautifully golden, sun-soaked beaches, the Great Barrier Reef is up there near the top of the list for the most popular tourist destinations, not only in Australia, but the rest of the world as well.

Fraser Island Adventures

Situated off the coast of Southeast Queensland, World Heritage-listed Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. For one of the most unique 4X4 adventures available in Australia and the world at large, you need a vehicle with a capacity for high-clearance and low-range to get around, as there are no paved roads on the island at all.

Once you make it through the island’s soft white sands of the interior, you’ll be enjoying the exhilarating experience of cruising beside the surf along the seemingly endless stretch of sand of 75 Mile Beach. On your journey you can stop by the rusted Maheno shipwreck, before exploring The Cathedrals colourful, red-streaked cliffs. You can enjoy it all on Fraser, from fishing on the surf beach, to mountain biking through sand dunes, before heading back inland to hike through the subtropical rainforests, and swimming in the crystal clear streams and lakes.

Cairns Skydiving

While these days you can skydive in almost any country in the world, Australia remains at the top of the list for many thanks to the incredible views that accompany the fall to earth. Get ready for a thrilling experience jumping out of a plane above epic places from Byron Bay in New South Wales, to Wollongong in Sydney, and St Kilda in Melbourne, but many will opt to skydive in Airlie Beach or Cairns for the unrivalled views of The Great Barrier Reef.

Horizontal Falls Jet Boating

Located deep in the rugged region of the Kimberlies in Western Australia, Horizontal Falls has jetboats and seaplanes just waiting some adrenaline-filled adventures. Most of the available tours start with a low altitude seaplane flight over other spectacular scenery like the coastline of red cliffs rising in the Buccaneer Archipelago, and the over 800 islands dotting the gorgeous turquoise sea. Soon afterwards you’ll be skidding across the glassy waters in a jet boat, before heading through the powerfully seething 11 meter tides gushing through the 2 narrow gorges of horizontal falls.

Blue Mountains Abseilling

Get ready for the unforgettable experience of scaling down the sheer limestone cliff face of the Blue Mountains into the blue misty haze of the World Heritage-listed wilderness area below. Encompassing the iconic pinnacles of The Three Sisters rock, along with gorgeous waterfalls, plunging valleys, and forests of eucalyptus stretching to the horizon, the Blue Mountains National Park is only around 50 kilometres west of Sydney and one of the most popular day trips.

While rappelling down these cliffs and waterfalls is one of the most exhilarating ways to experience this amazing wilderness, there are also tours available for rock-climbing, mountain biking, and canyoning.