The US is, and I’m sure you won’t mind my saying this on our behalf, one of the more braggadocious countries on the planet. It speaks loudly, unabashedly and with great conviction about anything and everything, including things it has no right speaking in any degree of conviction about. And yet! It’s hard for us to say we’re wrong, especially when it comes to matters of great natural beauty.
Unfortunately, we have another country that gives us a serious run for our money: Australia. That counterpart island on the other side of the world is every bit as different as it is the same, and it has some locations of its own that bear striking resemblances to the best of our natural wonders. Not that somewhere needs to look like America for you to visit it, but nonetheless…Here are some of the weirder parallels between the US and Australia; places that might give you some inspiration if you’re looking to up sticks for a while.
1. Coastal Paradises
Let’s start with something irresistible: the coast. The US’ many and varied coasts are stunning places to visit in and of themselves, especially if you deign to visit Florida; the Gulf Coast is a stunning place to explore, to say the very least about it. But if you’ve been there before, and fancy flying thousands of miles to somewhere else that’s sort-of the same, where on earth do you go?
The answer, of course, is Queensland. Queensland, with its harsh summer heat, is a humid dream of a place with turquoise waters and a relaxed coastal culture to die for. You get a surprisingly similar sun-soaked experience, albeit without the Cubano sandwiches.
Photo by Vera S Pereira
2. Desert Landscapes
Australia is, arguably, synonymous with its Outback. The country’s inland is a formidable environment of punishing weather and punishing landscapes, from arid scrublands to seemingly endless deserts. What more could there be to love?
For those of us that fancy a good long trip to Utah, but also fancy being able to have a slug or two while we’re at it, there’s no better alternative than the vast red deserts of the Australian Outback.
Photo by Gu Bra
3. Mountain Escapes
Now, America has its fair share of stunning mountain ranges, even if it has to share some of them with Canada. Still, it’s not the US you turn to for good mountaineering; it’s Europe. Mont Blanc hiking tours are highly recommended for good reason, Mont Blanc being one of the more edificial mountains of the French and Italian Alps.
If you’re already heading Australia, though, you’ll find the Australian Alps sporting enough for you, particularly if you travel to Victoria’s Alpine National Park for a spot of unconventional Southern-Hemispherical skiing.
Photo by Gabriele Battimelli
4. Rainforests and Unique Ecosystems: Daintree vs Pacific Northwest
Last but not least, there’s the rainforests. While we might not consider the Twin-Peaks-ean atmosphere of Washington state as rainforest-y, it’s true – and true too for Oregon. And even truer still for Daintree Rainforest in North Queensland. In fact, Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest in world history; if you want rainforestry, you come here. Period.
The US is, and I’m sure you won’t mind my saying this on our behalf, one of the more braggadocious countries on the planet. It speaks loudly, unabashedly and with great conviction about anything and everything, including things it has no right speaking in any degree of conviction about. And yet! It’s hard for us to say we’re wrong, especially when it comes to matters of great natural beauty.
Unfortunately, we have another country that gives us a serious run for our money: Australia. That counterpart island on the other side of the world is every bit as different as it is the same, and it has some locations of its own that bear striking resemblances to the best of our natural wonders. Not that somewhere needs to look like America for you to visit it, but nonetheless…Here are some of the weirder parallels between the US and Australia; places that might give you some inspiration if you’re looking to up sticks for a while.
1. Coastal Paradises
Let’s start with something irresistible: the coast. The US’ many and varied coasts are stunning places to visit in and of themselves, especially if you deign to visit Florida; the Gulf Coast is a stunning place to explore, to say the very least about it. But if you’ve been there before, and fancy flying thousands of miles to somewhere else that’s sort-of the same, where on earth do you go?
The answer, of course, is Queensland. Queensland, with its harsh summer heat, is a humid dream of a place with turquoise waters and a relaxed coastal culture to die for. You get a surprisingly similar sun-soaked experience, albeit without the Cubano sandwiches.
2. Desert Landscapes
Australia is, arguably, synonymous with its Outback. The country’s inland is a formidable environment of punishing weather and punishing landscapes, from arid scrublands to seemingly endless deserts. What more could there be to love?
For those of us that fancy a good long trip to Utah, but also fancy being able to have a slug or two while we’re at it, there’s no better alternative than the vast red deserts of the Australian Outback.
3. Mountain Escapes
Now, America has its fair share of stunning mountain ranges, even if it has to share some of them with Canada. Still, it’s not the US you turn to for good mountaineering; it’s Europe. Mont Blanc hiking tours are highly recommended for good reason, Mont Blanc being one of the more edificial mountains of the French and Italian Alps.
If you’re already heading Australia, though, you’ll find the Australian Alps sporting enough for you, particularly if you travel to Victoria’s Alpine National Park for a spot of unconventional Southern-Hemispherical skiing.
4. Rainforests and Unique Ecosystems: Daintree vs Pacific Northwest
Last but not least, there’s the rainforests. While we might not consider the Twin-Peaks-ean atmosphere of Washington state as rainforest-y, it’s true – and true too for Oregon. And even truer still for Daintree Rainforest in North Queensland. In fact, Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest in world history; if you want rainforestry, you come here. Period.
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