Oceania
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia
Australian World Heritage Sites · UNESCO sites in Australia map · historical landmarks in Australia
Australia has 22 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List — 5 cultural, 12 natural and 5 mixed inscriptions, inscribed between 1981 and 2025. This map of UNESCO sites in Australia covers every listing, with a short description, the inscription year and the nearest airports — the fastest way to see the country's most important historical sites and landmarks in one place.
Australian World Heritage Sites range from Australian Convict Sites onwards; Great Barrier Reef was the country's first inscription, added in 1981; Murujuga Cultural Landscape is the most recent, listed in 2025; recurring threads across the list include wild places, ancient civilizations and sacred mountains.
Start with Australian Convict Sites, Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte) and Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, then use the map above to plan a route between the rest.
- Sites
- 22
- Cultural
- 5
- Natural
- 12
- Mixed
- 5
- First inscribed
- 1981
Sites on the map
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Flying in
Airports closest to the most sites in this country.
- MQLMildura2 sites
- AYQYulara2 sites
- MHUMount Hotham1 site
- PTJPortland Airport1 site
- LSYLismore1 site
- TSVTownsville1 site
Keep exploring
All 22 sites in Australia
List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia
Every inscription with its year and category. Open a site for its story, map location and nearest airports.
| Site | Year | Type | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Convict SitesThe property includes a selection of eleven penal sites, among the thousands established by the British Empire on… | 2010 | Cultural | The property includes a selection of eleven penal sites, among the thousands established by the British Empire on Australian soil in the 18th and… |
| Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte)Riversleigh and Naracoorte, situated in the north and south respectively of eastern Australia, are among the w. | 1994 | Natural | Riversleigh and Naracoorte, situated in the north and south respectively of eastern Australia, are among the w. |
| Budj Bim Cultural LandscapeThe Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, located in the traditional Country of the Gunditjmara people in south-eastern. | 2019 | Cultural | The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, located in the traditional Country of the Gunditjmara people in south-eastern. |
| Gondwana Rainforests of AustraliaThis site, comprising several protected areas, is situated predominantly along the Great Escarpment on… | 1986 | Natural | This site, comprising several protected areas, is situated predominantly along the Great Escarpment on Australia’s east coast. |
| Great Barrier ReefThe Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. | 1981 | Natural | The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest coll. |
| Greater Blue Mountains AreaThe Greater Blue Mountains Area consists of 1.03 million ha of sandstone plateaux, escarpments and gorges domi. | 2000 | Natural | The Greater Blue Mountains Area consists of 1.03 million ha of sandstone plateaux, escarpments and gorges domi. |
| Heard and McDonald IslandsHeard Island and McDonald Islands are located in the Southern Ocean, approximately 1,700 km from the Antarctic. | 1997 | Natural | Heard Island and McDonald Islands are located in the Southern Ocean, approximately 1,700 km from the Antarctic. |
| K’gariK’gari lies just off the east coast of Australia. At 122 km long, it is the largest sand island in the world. | 1992 | Natural | K’gari lies just off the east coast of Australia. At 122 km long, it is the largest sand island in the world. |
| Kakadu National ParkThis unique archaeological and ethnological reserve, located in the Northern Territory, has been inhabited continuously… | 1981 | Mixed | This unique archaeological and ethnological reserve, located in the Northern Territory, has been inhabited continuously for more than 40,000. |
| Lord Howe Island GroupA remarkable example of isolated oceanic islands, born of volcanic activity more than 2,000 m under the sea, these… | 1982 | Natural | A remarkable example of isolated oceanic islands, born of volcanic activity more than 2,000 m under the sea, these islands boast a spectacular… |
| Macquarie IslandMacquarie Island (34 km long x 5 km wide) is an oceanic island in the Southern Ocean, lying 1,500 km south-east of… | 1997 | Natural | Macquarie Island (34 km long x 5 km wide) is an oceanic island in the Southern Ocean, lying 1,500 km south-east of Tasmania and approximately halfway… |
| Murujuga Cultural LandscapeMurujuga is a deeply storied land and seascape located in northwest Australia. | 2025 | Cultural | Murujuga is a deeply storied land and seascape located in northwest Australia. |
| Ningaloo CoastThe 604,500 hectare marine and terrestrial property of Ningaloo Coast, on the remote western coast of Australia… | 2011 | Natural | The 604,500 hectare marine and terrestrial property of Ningaloo Coast, on the remote western coast of Australia, includes one of the longest… |
| Purnululu National ParkThe 239,723 ha Purnululu National Park is located in the State of Western Australia. | 2003 | Natural | The 239,723 ha Purnululu National Park is located in the State of Western Australia. |
| Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton GardensThe Royal Exhibition Building and its surrounding Carlton Gardens were designed for the great international exhibitions… | 2004 | Cultural | The Royal Exhibition Building and its surrounding Carlton Gardens were designed for the great international exhibitions of 1880 and 1888 in… |
| Shark Bay, Western AustraliaAt the most westerly point of the Australian continent, Shark Bay, with its islands and the land surrounding it, has… | 1991 | Natural | At the most westerly point of the Australian continent, Shark Bay, with its islands and the land surrounding it, has three exceptional natural… |
| Sydney Opera HouseInaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together… | 2007 | Cultural | Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and… |
| Tasmanian WildernessIn a region that has been subjected to severe glaciation, these parks and reserves, with their steep gorges, covering… | 1982 | Mixed | In a region that has been subjected to severe glaciation, these parks and reserves, with their steep gorges, covering an area of over 1 million ha… |
| Uluṟu-Kata TjuṯaSacred red monolith of the Anangu. | 1987 | Mixed | Sacred red monolith of the Anangu. |
| Uluru-Kata Tjuta National ParkThis park, formerly called Uluru (Ayers Rock – Mount Olga) National Park, features spectacular geological formations… | 1987 | Mixed | This park, formerly called Uluru (Ayers Rock – Mount Olga) National Park, features spectacular geological formations that dominate the vast red sandy… |
| Wet Tropics of QueenslandThis area, which stretches along the north-east coast of Australia for some 450 km, is made up largely of trop. | 1988 | Natural | This area, which stretches along the north-east coast of Australia for some 450 km, is made up largely of trop. |
| Willandra Lakes RegionThe fossil remains of a series of lakes and sand formations that date from the Pleistocene can be found in this region… | 1981 | Mixed | The fossil remains of a series of lakes and sand formations that date from the Pleistocene can be found in this region, together with archae. |
Frequently asked questions about World Heritage in Australia
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are there in Australia?
- Australia has 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 5 cultural, 12 natural and 5 mixed.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Australia?
- Great Barrier Reef was inscribed in 1981. The Great Barrier Reef is a site of remarkable variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia. It contains the world’s largest coll.
- What is the newest World Heritage Site in Australia?
- Murujuga Cultural Landscape, inscribed in 2025. Murujuga is a deeply storied land and seascape located in northwest Australia.
- Which sites in Australia are natural World Heritage Sites?
- 12 of the 22 listings are natural: Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte), Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Greater Blue Mountains Area, Heard and McDonald Islands and K’gari.
- Which UNESCO sites in Australia are easiest to reach?
- Each site page lists the closest airports with distance, so you can pick the gateway city first and work outwards. The "Flying in" panel on this page shows the main gateways for Australia.
- What are the main historical sites and landmarks in Australia?
- The 22 UNESCO-listed sites above are Australia's internationally recognised historical sites and landmarks, starting with Great Barrier Reef (1981). Each entry links to a full page with a map, photos and travel notes.
- Is there a map of Australian World Heritage Sites?
- Yes — the map on this page plots all 22 Australian UNESCO World Heritage Sites; click any marker to open that site's page.