22 places to discover
Airlie Beach is a coastal town and beach in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, Australia, on the Coral Sea coast. It serves as the mainland gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. The town centres on a sandy foreshore, the man-made Airlie Beach Lagoon, Coral Sea Marina and the Bicentennial Walkway, and is known for sailing, island day trips and access to Conway National Park.
Albert Park Lake is a large artificial lake at the centre of Albert Park Reserve in the suburb of Albert Park, about 3 kilometres south of central Melbourne, Victoria. Surrounded by a 5-kilometre walking and cycling circuit and extensive parkland, it is known for its Melbourne skyline views, sailing and rowing activities, and as the centrepiece of the Australian Grand Prix circuit. The lake and reserve form a major urban recreation area for walking, cycling, picnicking and birdwatching.
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, stretching over 2,300 kilometres along the Queensland coast. Accessed from Port Douglas in the Shire of Douglas, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Marine Park renowned for its diverse coral, 1,500 species of fish, and clear tropical waters. It is Australia's most iconic natural attraction and a major centre for snorkelling, diving and marine tourism.
Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island of the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia, located in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park off the coast of Airlie Beach. It is a developed resort island known for its beaches, marina, and as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach. The island combines resort accommodation, natural bushland, and reef access within the Whitsunday Region local government area.
Hayman Island is a private resort island in the Whitsunday Islands off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Located at the northernmost point of the Whitsunday group, it is known for its luxury InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, fringing coral reefs, white sandy beaches and tropical national park surroundings. The island is accessible only by boat, helicopter or seaplane and is a base for reef exploration.
Horseshoe Bay is the largest bay and a residential village on the northern coast of Magnetic Island, about 8 kilometres from Nelly Bay ferry terminal within the City of Townsville, Queensland. Framed by granite headlands and backed by Magnetic Island National Park, it features a long sandy beach with calm waters. It is notable as the island's main hub for water sports, sailing, kayaking and swimming, and as a base for bushwalks and wildlife viewing.
Kettering is a small coastal town in the Kingborough municipality south of Hobart, Tasmania, situated on the western shore of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel opposite Bruny Island. It serves as the mainland terminal for the Bruny Island vehicle ferry and is known for its sheltered harbour, marinas, and boating community. The town offers waterfront views, seafood venues, and access to Channel region attractions, making it a key stop for visitors exploring southern Tasmania.
Lake Bonney is a large freshwater lake adjoining the town of Barmera in the Riverland region of South Australia, within the Berri Barmera Council area. Connected to the River Murray system, it is the central natural feature of Barmera and a major inland recreation destination. Notable for its expansive foreshore reserve, water sports, birdlife and lakeside parklands, it supports swimming, boating, fishing and community events and forms the scenic focus of the town.
Lake Burley Griffin is a large artificial lake in central Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, created in 1963-1964 by damming the Molonglo River with Scrivener Dam. Designed as the centrepiece of Walter Burley Griffin's 1912 plan for the capital, it spans about 11 kilometres and separates the Parliamentary Triangle from northern suburbs. Surrounded by national institutions, parks and cycling paths, it is Canberra's main recreational and scenic focal point.
Lake Cootharaba is a large, shallow natural lake on the Noosa River in the Noosa Shire, Queensland, north of Noosa Heads near Boreen Point. It is the largest lake in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve and gateway to the Noosa Everglades within Great Sandy National Park. Notable for its warm, shallow waters averaging 1.5 metres deep, it is popular for sailing, kayaking, swimming and fishing, and is fringed by national park, wetlands and small lakeside communities.
Lake Ginninderra is an artificial urban lake in Belconnen, north-west Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, created in 1974 by damming Ginninderra Creek. Covering about 1.48 square kilometres with a 7.4 kilometre foreshore, it serves as a sediment trap and major recreational reserve for the Belconnen district. Surrounded by parklands, walking and cycling paths, and reserves such as John Knight Memorial Park, it is a popular destination for walking, cycling, water sports and birdwatching.
Lake Hume is a large artificial reservoir on the Murray River on the Victoria–New South Wales border near Tallangatta in the Towong Shire, Victoria. Formed by the Hume Dam, it is one of Australia's largest reservoirs and a major water storage for irrigation and town supply. Notable for its expansive water body, dam wall, foreshore reserves, and recreational opportunities including boating and fishing, it is a popular regional visitor destination.
Lake Jindabyne is a large artificial lake on the Snowy River at Jindabyne in the Snowy Monaro region of New South Wales, within the Snowy Mountains. Created in 1967 by Jindabyne Dam as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, it flooded the original township. Notable for its alpine setting, trout fishing, water sports and foreshore parklands, it serves as a year-round gateway to Kosciuszko National Park and nearby ski resorts.
Lake Wendouree is a large artificial urban lake in Ballarat, Victoria, located west of the city centre adjacent to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Created in 1851 by damming Yuille's Swamp, it covers about 238 hectares and is encircled by the 6-kilometre Steve Moneghetti Track. Notable as the venue for rowing and canoeing at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, it is Ballarat's central recreational area for walking, cycling, rowing, sailing and birdwatching.
Magnetic Island is a large coastal island 8 km offshore from Townsville in North Queensland, Australia, within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. About 75% of the 52 sq km island is Magnetic Island National Park. It is known for granite boulders, eucalypt woodland, 23 bays and beaches, abundant koalas and rock-wallabies, and World War II fortifications. Accessible by ferry, it offers beach, bushwalking and snorkelling experiences.
Metung is a small waterfront village in East Gippsland, Victoria, situated on a narrow peninsula between Bancroft Bay and Lake King on the Gippsland Lakes system. Located about 314 kilometres east of Melbourne and 31 kilometres from Bairnsdale, it is known for its sheltered waterways, jetties, and relaxed lakeside character. The village serves as a centre for boating, fishing and dining, and is a gateway to the Gippsland Lakes and nearby coastal attractions.
Moreton Bay Marine Park is a 3,400 square kilometre protected marine park in South East Queensland, stretching from Caloundra to the Gold Coast and encompassing Moreton Bay, its islands and estuaries. Established in 1993 and rezoned in 2009, it protects diverse habitats including seagrass beds, mangroves, coral reefs and sand islands. It is notable for its biodiversity, Ramsar-listed wetlands and importance for dugongs, turtles, dolphins and migratory humpback whales.
Palm Cove is a coastal suburb and resort beach located about 27 kilometres north of Cairns in Far North Queensland, Australia, within the Cairns Region. Known for its curved sandy beach lined with melaleuca and palm trees along Williams Esplanade, it is a low-rise resort village with boutique accommodation, restaurants and a jetty. It serves as a base for Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest visits while offering a calm beachfront setting.
Pong Dam Lake, also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar, is a large man-made reservoir created by the Pong Dam on the Beas River in Kangra district. Completed in 1975, it is one of Northern India's largest wetlands and was declared a Ramsar Site in 2002. The lake serves as a critical wintering ground for over 100,000 migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway and supports diverse aquatic life.
Raffles Marina is a waterfront yacht marina located at 10 Tuas West Drive in the Tuas planning area at Singapore's western tip, overlooking the Johor Strait and Tuas Second Link. Opened in 1994 on reclaimed land, it offers over 300 berths, a private lighthouse, clubhouse, hotel and dining facilities. Notable for its sunset views, yachting services and as Singapore's only marina with a private lighthouse, it serves both members and public visitors.
Shute Harbour is a sheltered natural harbour and mainland ferry port in the Whitsunday Region of Queensland, about 10 km east of Airlie Beach. It serves as the main gateway for passenger ferries and private vessels to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Framed by Conway National Park, it features the redeveloped Shute Harbour Marine Terminal with pontoons, foreshore parkland and views across the Coral Sea.
The Water Sports Institute at Kadmat is a dedicated water sports training and recreation centre located on Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep. Operated under the Lakshadweep Administration and SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports), it is situated on the island's extensive lagoon. The institute is notable for offering professional training and tourist activities such as kayaking, sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling in clear lagoon waters.