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Since 2005 the film world has been buzzing with news of Baz Luhrmann’s epic film Australia. Initially cast with Nicole Kidman and RussellCrowe, the leading-man spot was also reportedly in the hands of Heath Ledger before going to Wolverine and musical-theatre guru Hugh Jackman.

Finally it’s almost out (November 26 is the release date)! And it seems like everyone – including folks here in Australia – is waiting to see what the Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet director has come up with this time.

Whatever the actual film is like, we already know that its main character is the stunning Aussie landscape. So let’s take a leaf out of Baz’s location-scouting handbook, and see what the real places used as locations in the movie are really like. You might not be an Australian actress playing an English aristocrat or a leading man with a penchant for Peter Allen and hairy sideburns, but you can still take in the landscape and have a transformative experience.

Sydney

While most of the film was shot on location in more remote, rugged places, a small amount of filming was done in Australia’s biggest city, Sydney. Some interiors were shot at the Fox Studios. You can visit, but it’s not set up for tourists, so don’t bother.

Sydney Harbour

Worth a visit is the magnificent Strickland House, on the shores of Sydney Harbour in the exclusive suburb of Vaucluse. The grand house and lush grounds of this 1850s villa are open daily. In the film, Strickland House plays the role of Darwin’s Government House.

If you’re a real Australia groupie, you could also venture about 60km southwest of the city to stand outside Camelot, a glorious brick house from the 1880s. Word is, it’s used as Nicole Kidman’s English home. The house is in private hands and not open to the public.

Bowen, Queensland

This neat town on the sunny Queensland coast was used extensively in Australia as a stand-in for Darwin. It’s between tourist-friendly Townsville and Mackay and looks out over the Great Barrier Reef. The town – while small – makes a great stop for visitors. Its location on a small peninsula means it’s surrounded by 8 beaches. Perfect!

While Bowen could be regarded as ‘sleepy’, it does host the Big Mango - another in the long line of ‘big things’ Aussie towns seem to love so much.

Darwin, Northern Territory

Bungle Bungles from the air

While modern Darwin was mostly replaced by smaller Bowen, Australia’s most cosmopolitan city still caught some of the Australia action. The iconic Stokes Hill Wharf features prominently in the film – it’s where Our Nic gets off the boat from England.

More than that, though, it’s the centre of Darwin’s vibrant wharf precinct, where visitors can enjoy restaurants, historic walks and live entertainment. Darwin is a great place to visit, and the waterfront positively hums with activity.

Kununurra, Western Australia

The bulk of Australia was filmed outside Kununurra, a town of around 3,800 people in the remote far north of Western Australia. Not many people make the epic journey to the Kimberley region of Australia, but those that do are treated to a genuinely wild, spectacular part of the world.

The town is a mid-20th century invention, springing up on the back of a massive irrigation scheme. Around 750 square kilometres became productive farm land, and the area is still a major centre for melons, mangoes and seed crops. Tourists can explore the area, taking in the massive Argyle diamond mine (the largest in the world), the majestic Ord River and the unforgettable sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungle Ranges. There are also a wide variety of water-based recreational activities available.

-John Ryan

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s complete list of Sydney tours and things to do, Melbourne tours, and more things to do in Australia.