10 Natural Wonders From Around the World

Nature lovers and adventure seekers alike, look no further than these natural wonders of the world.

Travelling to new places is incomplete without immersing yourself in nature. If you love getting lost amongst towering trees, breathtaking landscapes and indelible vistas, pack your rucksack and make tracks for these natural paradises.

1. Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada

Travelling with: Alexis Buxton-Collins

At 700 metres above sea level, the aptly named Big Lookout gazes out from a flower-filled alpine bog over brooding mountain ranges, windswept volcanic beaches and glacier-carved fjords. Across the bay lies a tall granite dome erupting from a sea of trees. This is the mountain that gives the World Heritage-listed Gros Morne National Park its name.

the Western Brook Pond — Western Brook Pond is a spectacular glacier-cut freshwater fjord.

I’m visiting as part of World Expeditions’ Gros Morne Adventure, a week-long walking trip that takes me to the heart of this remote and staggeringly beautiful park perched high up on the north-western tip of Newfoundland. Adrift in the wild Atlantic Ocean, this remote island didn’t join Canada until 1949 and the locals still have a fiercely independent streak and take evident pride in the beauty of their surroundings. It is hard to express the remoteness of this place. Gros Morne doesn’t just feel like another planet; it contains multiple worlds, each of them somehow more beautiful than the last.

2. Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, USA

Travelling with: Katie Carlin

I am camped on the bow of Holland America Line’s Koningsdam, anticipating the thunderous crack of a tidewater glacier as we cut a path through the icy-cold waters of Glacier Bay National Park. “The brilliant blue of the ice will shine bright in this fog," reassures the park ranger over the speaker as we journey closer to Margerie Glacier.

Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park — Snow-capped mountains surround Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park.

Alaska is warming twice as fast as the rest of the Earth and 95 per cent of its 100,000 glaciers are thinning, stagnating or retreating at an alarming rate. Jagged chunks of ice float past, a sea otter appears briefly and tufts of fog hover as we take the last bend. Margerie doesn’t disappoint. Her face towers 60 metres above sea level and stretches around 1.4 kilometres wide – but for how long? Even something this grand could disappear if we can’t correct our course in time.

A brown bear (Ursus arctos) walking along the shore of Glacier Bay National Park in Southeast Alaska — Brown bears (Ursus Arctos) inhabit the Glacier Bay National Park.

3. Aareschlucht, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Travelling with: Emily Murphy

Dreamlike landscapes are the norm when traversing Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region but even still, Aareschlucht (Aare Gorge) is a phenomenal outlier. Formed by glaciation over thousands of years, the limestone gorge and icy-blue glacial water of the Aare River are mystical and oddly enticing. But that 200-metre drop-off is somewhat of a disincentive. The hike through the gorge winds its way through 1.4 kilometres of footbridges and tunnels. Start in the east entrance and finish with a crescendo of waterfalls and rapids at the narrowest parts of the gorge.

the mystical Aare River in Aareschlucht, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland — The icy-blue glacial water of the Aare River is dreamlike.

4. Antarctica

Travelling with: Angela Saurine

Standing alone on the deck of an expedition ship admiring the reflection of jagged icebergs and snow-capped mountains cutting into a soft pastel sky in the silky water below, tears begin to stream down my face.

a humpback whale appears near the inflatable boat — See a humpback whale breach the surface before your very eyes.

After days exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, with the roaring sound of glaciers calving, whales swimming beneath our Zodiac and penguins nibbling at our camera straps, the magnificence of the frozen continent has moved me like nowhere else on Earth.

Expeditions - Zodiac cruises through Antarctic iceberg landscape at Portal Point — Journey through the Antarctic with Expeditions – Zodiac cruises.

5. Great Blue Hole, Belize

Travelling with: Sarah Reid

It’s a thrillingly eerie feeling descending into the cobalt abyss of the Great Blue Hole, a giant marine sinkhole near the centre of Lighthouse Reef some 70 kilometres off mainland Belize.

Recreational dives descend to 40 metres, meaning most divers will experience the discombobulating effects of nitrogen narcosis as you make your way down, along and back up a section of the limestone sinkhole wall adorned with stalactites. If you’re lucky, you might spot some sharks patrolling the depths.

an aerial view of Blue Hole in Belize — Off the coast of Belize lies the majestic Blue Hole.

6. Abisko National Park, Swedish Lapland, Sweden

Travelling with: Taylah Darnell

It’s 1am when I pull on my hiking boots. Abisko National Park in the heart of Swedish Lapland is only a two-kilometre walk from my accommodation and I’m taking advantage of summer’s midnight sun to hike part of its well-known but rarely trodden Kungsleden trail. The rushing of Abiskojåkka’s ice-laden water is the only sound I hear as I gaze up at Abisko Sky Station in the distance. It’s in this moment that I bookmark the spot in my mind; vowing to return for aurora borealis in winter.

a scenic wooden path in Abisko National Park — Stroll along the scenic wooden path in Abisko National Park.

7. Waipoua Forest, New Zealand

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Admire the bark of the kauri trees twisting and curling on trunks that soar out of reach while walking among the giants of the Waipoua Forest. The mighty Tāne Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) stands an impressive 51 metres tall, presiding over a grove of kauri trees that is said to be among the oldest and largest in the world. The towering trees are intertwined with the lives of Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand and part of the largest remaining tract of native forest in Northland.

a giant kauri tree in Waipoua Forest, New Zealand — A giant kauri tree in Tāne Mahuta, also called “God of the Forest". (Image: Miles Holden)

8. Guyana, South America

Travelling with: Sarah Reid

It’s any wonder how one of the most biodiverse corners of the planet remained off our radars for so long. But now this English-speaking South American nation is becoming a go-to destination for wilderness adventure.

the stunning Kaieteur waterfall in Guyana — Kaieteur Falls is a wondrous sight to see in Guyana.

From hiking for days (or braving a small plane ride) to marvel at the thundering glory of Kaieteur Falls to spotting giant anteaters by horseback, Guyana’s dense tropical rainforests and sweeping savannahs, largely untouched by logging and mining, are ripe for exploration.

a Scarlet Macaw perched on a branch in the rainforest of Guyana — Scarlet Macaws are native to the evergreen forest of Guyana.

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9. Scottish Highlands, Scotland

Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

The Scottish Highlands have inspired countless folklore tales and poems. The landscape is as harsh and dramatic as it is beautiful, captivating humans throughout history with its green glens, glittering lochs and toothed mountains. Throughout the seasons, the landscape shifts.

sunrise at Quiraing on the Isle of Skye, Scotland — Majestic sunrise views at Quiraing on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Come summer, flowering heather colours the hillsides with a dreamy purple hue. In winter, the stark mountains are frosted with porcelain-white snow. In all iterations, the Scottish Highlands enthral visitors with magic, magnificence and mysticism.

a furry highland cow in Isle of Skye, Scotland — Meet the gentle giants of the Scottish Highlands.

10. Atacama Desert, Chile

Travelling with: Catherine Marshall

Miracles are visited upon this brittle wasteland stretched between the Andean Plateau and the pampas of northern Chile. Lakes blush with flamingos’ reflections; mesquite trees appear like sudden cloudbursts on the plains; quinces and pomegranates grow fat on snowmelt drifting down from the Andes.

Occasionally, wildflowers paint the desert in primary colours. There’s beauty, too, in the monochrome renditions of the world’s driest place (besides the polar regions): salt-crusted pans glittering in the sunlight, chalky wastes rippling towards a line of volcanoes, skies so unsullied the world’s leading astronomers use the desert as their terrestrial base for heavenly studies.

pink flamingos at the Laguna Colorada in Bolivia — Spot pink-coloured flamingos at the Laguna Colorada.

We have curated the ultimate list of wonder-filled travel experiences; keep reading the 100 Wonders of the World for the full list.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

10 natural wonders for adventure seekers around the world