When most people think of Australia, they probably think of the Great Barrier Reef, surfing and the beach. Those places are distinctly Australian vacation spots, but there are other options when it comes to picking the perfect place to get married and honeymoon. Australia offers some of the most romantic, unusual, and secluded wedding destinations in the world. There is someplace for every taste that not only provides a beautiful wedding backdrop, but also plenty of beautiful landscapes for your honeymoon, whether you seek adventure or relaxation. See below for four distinctly different Australian wedding destinations.
Margaret River
The Margaret River Region is located in Western Australia to the south of Perth. The region is known for wine, waves, and caves. The location makes for a great variety of honeymoon activities to do and different backdrops to choose from for your wedding. The wine and food of the region is world famous, so you know you will be eating and drinking well no matter what you do or where you go in the region. Once your beautiful wedding and reception are complete, the fun begins with these options for honeymoon activities:
- Taking a tour through the 3 caves and learn about the geology and ecology
- Food and wine tours
- Learning to surf in the calmer sections of the coast
- Visiting Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park for hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, and more
- Whale watching or salt water fishing
- Hiking through the Bonarup Karri Forest
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are all about love and weddings. After all, the Heart Reef itself is located right in the middle of the Whitsunday Islands. You can’t argue with Mother Nature, and she obviously intended for love to be here in the 74 island chain located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. It offers a variety of breathtaking wedding backdrops of white sand beaches and beautiful blue waters to traditional chapels. When the wedding and reception are over, the newlywed couple have unlimited choices of activities to do there (including nothing but relaxing on secluded beaches!) If you are up for activities, here are just a few of many options for honeymoon adventures:
- Yachting in the yacht capital of the world
- Whale watching in June through September
- Crocodile safari cruises in the Proserpine River Wetlands
- Swimming in the natural pool at Cedar Creek Falls
- Pampering at one of the many spas in the islands
Snowy Mountains
When you think of weddings in Australia, you may start to realize that it is not all about surfing and beaches. The Snowy Mountains are located in New South Wales and the climate features 4 season changes. Australian summers in the mountains are still temperate and comfortable, with temperatures ranging up to 21 degrees Celsius (up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit). Destination weddings are available at all of the ski resorts in the Snowy Mountains. Ski lodges can host your wedding and also assist you with accommodations and tours. In addition to tours, you can also do the following:
- Horseback riding or Brumby horse watching
- Tour the 440 million year old limestone Yarrongobilly Caves
- Trout fishing
- Mountain climbing
- Kayaking, boating, and river rafting
Daintree Rainforest
From the oceans to the rainforest, you can choose your favorite type of location to be married in. About a two hour drive north of Cairns in Queensland is the Daintree Rainforest. Daintree is an amazing destination for any occasion, but not many can say they were married in the oldest rainforest in the world. There are several different locations within the rainforest or in the surrounding lodges and hotels that can serve as the wedding venue. The Daintree Rainforest also has much for you to explore during your honeymoon including:
- Seeing the rainforest from above the canopy on the skyrail
- Learning from aboriginal people about traditions and cultural history on guided tours
- Walking tours and cruises that focus on exploring the biodiversity of the rainforest
- Nocturnal tours allowing you to see a different side of the rainforest at night
- Boating in the Coral Sea right alongside of the Daintree
Weddings and honeymoons in Australia afford you beautiful landscapes that make your day as special and amazing as it should be for you, the couple and all of your family and guests. As you can see, there are four very distinct types of locations in Australia: secluded islands, wine country, rainforests, or mountain retreats. There is something for every type of taste. Since Australia is so diverse, having your own rental car will ensure you can visit more than one type of climate during your honeymoon.
