AS SEEN ON SCREEN!

Take a look at the real-life Australian locations that inspired these big movie blockbusters

From the crocodile-infested wetlands of the NT to the bright lights of the Sydney Harbour, it’s little wonder the diverse landscapes in Australia have notched up a raft of movie credits. For keen cinephiles looking for some homegrown travel inspiration, follow in the footsteps of your favourite silver screen characters by visiting some of these real-life scenestealing filming locations around the country…

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (2017)

The idyllic islands of the Whitsundays were used as a stand-in for the Caribbean in the fifth instalment of the blockbuster Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise. Filmed entirely in the Sunshine State, the swashbuckling movie made use of the cluster of beautiful isles and beaches that comprise the archipelago, in particular the renowned Whitehaven Beach.

THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT (1994)

Repeatedly voted as one of Australia’s best homegrown films, this classic sees drag queens (Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, and Terence Stamp) enjoy a colourful, cross-country adventure from Sydney to Alice Springs in an old tour bus. Much of the film was shot 1000 kilometres west of Sydney in the outback mining town of Broken Hill, including a memorable stopover at Mario’s Palace (now the Palace Hotel). Numerous scenes were filmed at the hotel, and its muralcovered walls are instantly recognisable.

CROCODILE DUNDEE (1986)

The fish-out-of-water tale of outback croc hunter Mick Dundee (played by comic legend Paul Hogan) catapulted the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park onto the global tourism radar, thanks to many of the movie’s iconic scenes using the park as a backdrop. Covering 20,000 square kilometres of landscape, the ’80s classic showed off the rich red backdrops, cascading waterfalls, deep blue billabongs and stunning tranquil wetland that make Kakadu so special.

AUSTRALIA (2008)

Frequently touted as our answer to Gone With the Wind, there’s little doubt that Baz Luhrmann’s epic historical drama is the stuff of Hollywood’s golden age. Starring Nicole Kidman, the movie, which is set between 1939 and 1942, showcases amazing Top End scenery. Fans should make a beeline for Darwin’s historic Stokes Hill Wharf — the location of the infamous bombing of Darwin, portrayed in the movie.

BABE (1995)

Despite appearances to the contrary, the heartwarming tale of the lovable pig was not shot in beautiful English countryside, but in the sleepy farming town of Robertson, NSW. Known locally as the “Green Heart of the Highlands”, the tiny farming town is a nature-lover’s dream thanks to its idyllic lush forests, walking trails and waterfalls. Indeed, its beauty saw Babe star Miriam Margolyes — who lent her voice to the character of Fly, the border collie sheepdog — actually build a home here.