TOP 10 All-Australian Adventure Hot Spots for World Toilet Day!

Last Updated on November 20, 2019 by Red Nomad OZ

Classic Aussie Dunny, Quobba Blowholes, Western Australia
Classic Aussie Dunny, Quobba Blowholes, Western Australia

World Toilet Day was November 19, and I forgot.

Bummer!

Forgetting the biggest event on the loo lover’s calendar is a dunny detective’s disaster! A toilet tragic’s tragedy!! A convenience chaser’s catastrophe!!!

BUT …

… then I think about the 4.2 billion people without safely managed sanitation facilities and the 673 million people worldwide who practice open defecation. The 2 billion people whose drinking water is contaminated with faeces, the 432,000 diarrhoeal deaths per year, and the children in conflict zones 20 times more likely to die from sanitation-related illness than violence.

That makes my dunny disaster look like a s**t-storm in a teacup.

World Toilet Day

Check out the World Toilet Day official fact sheet HERE for some even more scary facts that’ll make you realise how lucky we are in Australia.

So while you’re admiring 10 All-Australian amenities, with the 10 amazing All-Australian adventure hot spots that go with them, spare a thought for those for whom doing their ‘business’ is SO not a pleasure. Then keep reading for ideas about how YOU can help!

Timber Creek Pontoon Loo with a selection of Victoria River Crocodiles!
Timber Creek Pontoon Loo with a selection of Victoria River Crocodiles!

1 Timber Creek, Northern Territory

Afloat on a small (and relatively unstable) structure surrounded by crocodiles on Australia’s wildest river is enough to make you want to – well, YOU know! Luckily, this croc-proof (we hope!) purpose-built pontoon has ALL the amenities to survive a Victoria River Crocodile Cruise – drinks and snacks while enjoying a Northern Territory sunset AND crazy-cool crocodile cruise conveniences if nature’s call gets a little bit too much.

That’s a relief in more ways than one!  Read more about cruising with crocodiles HERE!

The Neck from Truganini Lookout, Bruny Island, Tasmania
The Neck from Truganini Lookout, Bruny Island, Tasmania

2 Bruny Island, Tasmania

Bruny Island isn’t just the last stop off the Tassie coast before Antarctica! Dress up in some (REALLY unfashionable) heavy weather gear for a wet and wild ride over heaving seas, through keyhole rocks, past rugged islands adorned with seals and right under the second highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere before reaching the Great Southern Ocean!

En route to the cruise departure point, don’t miss this loo on the Neck (are you wondering why it’s called that?) far below Truganini’s Lookout!  Discover Beauty and the Beasts on Bruny Island Cruises HERE to see why it’s one of my favourite Australian adventure hot spots!

3 Mt Kosciuszko, New South Wales

Australia's Highest Public Toilet
Mt Kosciuszko summit view (bottom left) and (clockwise from top left) Rawsons Pass Loo; Loo from summit; Loo close-up

Climbing Australia’s highest mountain is embarrassingly easy – you heard it here first!  It’s only 2228 metres (7310 feet) above sea-level, making it lower than the height above which lots of people live! BUT … ‘mountaineers’ like me who climb it can bag their first (and in my case only) ‘Seven Summits’ peak.

Although I don’t know from personal experience, I bet it’s the ONLY Seven Summits peak with a view over the highest Public Toilet in the land!!  But I’ll let the REAL mountaineers prove me wrong!  Go HERE for more about how I climbed Mount Kosciuszko!

Head of Bight Loo View with Whales and Cliffs
(Clockwise top left) Head of Bight Loo; Bunda Cliffs and Bight; View from Loo; Whales

4 Head of Bight, South Australia

Head of Bight – highest point of the distinctive bite-shaped coastal curve along the southern Australian coastline – isn’t easy to get to. But you’ll drive right past it on the 4100+ km (2500+ mile) road trip across the Nullarbor Plain between Sydney and Perth! At the 2300 km mark, just over half-way from Sydney, take a pit stop to watch whales cavorting with their calves under the longest line of sea cliffs in the world!

And visit the Head of Bight loo that overlooks it all!  Check out my story about seeing the Whales at Head of Bight HERE!

5 Point Quobba, Western Australia

View of the Loo (that black speck!) from the Lighthouse against the Quobba Blowholes, Western Australia
View of the Loo (that black speck!) from the Lighthouse against the Quobba Blowholes, Western Australia

Killer king waves, shipwreck stories, blowholes and extreme water sports make Point Quobba one of the wildest stretches of rugged, rocky coastline in Oz (above and top) – and one of the most picturesque!

If action adventure with a massive dose of danger isn’t quite your thing, just find a vantage point (away from the edge!) and you’ll probably see a whale.  When you’re not being distracted by the thrill-seekers getting a drenching at the blowholes, that is!

Alternatively, just take in all the action from the vantage point of this classic Aussie dunny overlooking the famous blow hole.  I promise that you won’t miss anything while you’re doing your business – because the door doesn’t close!

The famous Quobba Blowhole at Quobba Point is just one of the many superb Australian Coastal and Beach Holiday Destinations you can read about HERE!

6 Mt Hotham, Victoria

Mount Hotham Loo View and Features, with early autumn daytime temperature!
Mount Hotham Loo View and Features, with early autumn daytime temperature!

Whether it’s summer or winter, the view over this part of the Australian Alps is white.  Visible in summer, the white-bleached tree trunks killed by bushfires outline the many-layered mountain ranges surrounding Mount Hotham. In winter, they’re covered in snow.

It’s likely to be significantly cooler than the plains below at any time of year, so when you get there, admire the white view from the ski lift transit lounge loo AND appreciate the civilised conveniences plumber who installed just one tap – HOT!

Read all about the Mount Hotham loo (and surrounds!) HERE!

7 Richmond, Queensland

Richmond Fossil Field Coprolite 'Drop' Zone with (from top left) View of Loo; Fish Fossil extraction; Richmond Pliosaur
Richmond Fossil Field Coprolite ‘Drop’ Zone with (from top left) View of Loo; Fish Fossil extraction; Richmond Pliosaur

If you’re a keen prehistoric fossil-fossicker, the chances of striking it lucky on the Outback Queensland Dinosaur trail are better than average.  Especially at Richmond, where the soft Toolebuc formation on what was once an inland sea under 30-40 metres of water has given up world famous fossil relics like the Richmond Pliosaur, Minmi and Kronosaurus.

Even the dunny gets in on the act – but while you can make your ‘deposit’ at the future coprolite drop zone (aka the loo), chances are good you won’t be around when it’s unearthed as a fossil!

Discover more about Queensland’s famous Richmond fossil fields HERE!

8 Warraweena, South Australia

For a taste of what’s on offer in one of the top Australian adventure hot spots, the ancient wonderland us South Aussies call the Flinders Ranges, head out to the privately owned Warraweena Conservation Park.  In the less well known northern Flinders Ranges you’ll find rugged 4WD tracks, mountain climbing, wildlife, stunning scenery, historic sites and eco-tourism all in one handy location.

Sliding Rock Mine Loo and Visitor Information Centre, Warraweena, Flinders Ranges
Sliding Rock Mine Loo and Visitor Information Centre, Warraweena, Flinders Ranges

You’ll also find the only combination scenic public toilet/visitor information centre I’ve ever seen at the historic Sliding Rock Mine site!

But that’s not all!  Go HERE for a LOT more things to do throughout the amazing Flinders Ranges.

9 Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

This tiny sub-tropical paradise 600 km (370 miles) off the east coast of Australia has so many world exclusives it’s hard to know where to start. First up, there’s Balls Pyramid – highest volcanic rock stack in the world. Then there’s only golf course on earth on World Heritage turf and world’s southernmost tropical reef. Even the wildlife gets in on the act with the endemic Lord Howe Island Woodhen and Phasmid, a large stick-insect.

Scenic Public Loo, Lord Howe Island
Scenic Public Loo with Mounts Lidgbird and Gower in the background, Lord Howe Island

And then there’s this awesome view – clearly visible from what has to be one of the most scenic loos downunder! Australian adventure hot spots don’t get much better than this!  A Lord Howe Island Holiday can be awesome – read about mine HERE!

10 Tunnel Creek, Western Australia

Tunnel Creek (lower left) with Boab Tree (right) and Carpark Loo (top), Gibb River Road, Kimberley
Tunnel Creek (lower left) with Boab Tree (right) and Carpark Loo (top), Gibb River Road, Kimberley

Although the Gibb River Road has claimed countless tyres, axles, windscreens and suspensions over its 660 km (410 miles) length full of tyre-shredding rocks, perilous creek crossings, red dust and bone-jarring corrugations.  But it’s still a popular Aussie road trip, most likely because of the stunning Kimberley natural attractions scattered along its length!  Take a short detour to Tunnel Creek and go underground for a different perspective of the Kimberley Region.

And while you’re there, detour into the even more welcome attraction you’ll find under the rocky cliffs.  There’s more about the amazing Kimberley region HERE!

Self Portrait: the most Glamorous Little Outhouse in OZ!
Self Portrait: the most Glamorous Little Outhouse in OZ!

We’re very lucky down here to have so many Australian adventure hot spots with amazing attractions and awesome amenities in some of our most remote and adventure-filled locations.

So while it’s easier for us (read: me!) to forget World Toilet Day even though it’s been an official UN day since 2013, we can contribute to the impact it’s having around the world on any day!

How to get involved:

World Toilet Day is about working together to eliminate the life-threatening hazards caused by poor sanitation in places where the ‘adventures’ many people face in doing their business are a lot less welcome.

If you’re not sure how you can help, here’s a few ideas:

  • Who Gives a Crap:  Buy your toilet paper (and/or tissues and kitchen paper) from this innovative company, and 50% of profits are donated to building toilets for those in need (the other 50% mostly goes to growing the company).  Get in quick and you could order the wicked Gift Edition Loo Paper to make Xmas REALLY fun!
  • Toilet Twinning:  Your £60 donation (about $AUD114 on 20/11/19) funds a community loo project, and you’ll get a pic and the coordinates of your toilet ‘twin’ to hang in your own amenities! Can’t afford that?  Check out the website for other fundraising products and ideas.
  • Sanitation First:  Send a Shitty Gift (their words, not mine) for any occasion – check out the graphic range of gift cards – and you’ll be helping this organisation tackle poverty one toilet at a time (again, their words, not mine)!!
  • TEAR Australia:  Sanitation is just one of several initiatives this organisation has to reduce poverty.  Check out their collection of Really Useful Gifts!
  • World Toilet Day official website: more information and ideas, don’t forget to mark the date on your calendar for next year.

Got more ideas?  Put them in the comments below!

 

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24 comments

  1. So good to see the different kinds of toilets in these tourist places. In India this is still a problem. Till recently in villages and interior parts of India people used to defecate in open. Tourists too find it difficult to spot a toilet during road trips. We do need such days as reminders and encourage initiatives to make toilets.

    1. It’s a problem in many parts of the world, Indrani – we are so lucky here in Australia, but I wanted to show that not everyone has the good facilities we are accustomed to here. I’m glad there is so much more awareness now.

  2. I was surprised that it is possible to write a post about toilets 🙂 But it is excellent! I’m impressed. I never knew that World Toilet Day exists. And haven’t seen such funny toilets before. It’s excellent facilities, and you are safe. It’s a great idea that you give information how people can help with sanitation issues. I hope to visit Australia one day because it is on my bucket list.

  3. For one moment I thought why are you talking about toilets in an article about Australian adventure spots. But this is a great way to talk about the problems of sanitation and open defecation. India, though has achieved a lot in the last few years in this department, a lot more needs to be done. And the last bit about getting involved is also helpful.
    As for the adventures in Australia, all of them sounds quite exciting.

    1. Aussie adventures are all the better for having somewhere clean to do your business, Amrita – also with a great view! But it’s sad to think how many unnecessary deaths are caused by poor sanitation, that’s why I chose to highlight this issue in my post.

  4. Sometimes we take these amenities for granted, don’t we? Nice compilation of gorgeous spots that are well-facilitated. The one at Timber Creek is just too freaky though!

  5. I knew about World Toilet Day and of course I believe in thanking those people who ensure that we can have these facilities in time of need or at places where we do need them. I loved your post for it is not about travel but of identifying such things which we take for granted. And if its not there, we simply complain. Sanitation is so very important.

    1. We’re lucky to have a lot of public amenities down here in Australia, Manjulika – and lots of them are in tourist hot spots! But it’s sobering when you think how many people don’t have access to ANY toilet, and luckily there is something we can do about it.

  6. Great post!! I have always had Australia on my list since I could remember and this list has some really great recommendations. I mean Mt Kosciuszko, New South Wales looks something out of a picture book and super pristine. I never knew that world toilet day exists but great to know.

    1. Just imagine how many others you’ll be able to introduce to World Toilet Day now that you know about it, Daniel! Hope you get to experience some of Australia’s best adventures (and loos!) someday 😀

  7. Wait, there’s a World Toilet Day? Love it and I love your collection of top 10 sites! But that floating one in the middle of croc-filled waters is kind of scary and strange!

    1. I was surprised when I first heard about World Toilet Day too, Kavita! Despite my credentials as a downunder dunny detective, I’d never heard of it until a couple of years ago. We’re lucky to have so many cool conveniences down here, even if some of them are in the middle of crocodile habitats 😀

  8. So World Toilet Day is a day I have never heard of. What an interesting basis for this blog post. Having the proper facilities is a good thing when you visit some of these out of the way spots. I don’t want to be messing with crocodiles. Definitely good to read about a list of places in Australia with good facilities – with views, things to do and good information close by. Thanks for sharing the information at the end about how people can help with sanitation issues around the world.

    1. Apparently we’re lucky to have pretty good public amenities down here in Australia compared to some other places, Linda – hope you get to experience some of them (and the adventures that go with them!!) someday. But maybe not the crocs 😀 And don’t forget World Toilet Day in November!

  9. This is a fantastic post and I thought I would never read about a post on toilets! I even read this during my lunch break and I was thinking ‘what the hell’ but I did see the funny side of this in places. 🙂 I try and not forget World Toilet Day later on this year. 😀

    1. Haha, there’s a LOT more toilet posts on my blog, Danik! I’ve even written a book about the most scenic Aussie loos!! World Toilet Day is a big event on the dunny detective’s calendar – maybe we’ll both be celebrating it later this year!

  10. OMG! This is fun and interesting. I have never thought these crazy ideas exist especially the one in Timber Creek. God! I think I won’t be able to do anything with all the crocs around.

    1. Just have a couple of drinks while you’re watching the sunset, Clarice, then you’ll forget all about the crocs while you’re doing your business! It worked for me, anyway!

    1. Glad you liked it, Jenn! Let’s face it – the older we get, the better we get at crossing our legs 😀 SO … we may as well enjoy the adventure while we’re doing our business!!

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