Chris Hemsworth quickly rose to fame after his appearance in superhero film Thor which solidified his place in the Marvel universe.
However, despite the atmospheric rise to fame, he still calls Australia home and loves to explore when he gets an opportunity.
He sat down with Travel + Leisure and spoke about his favourite places around the nation.
“Australia has some of the most diverse, vibrant, and pristine coastlines in the world,” says Hemsworth.
The quality of life here is second to none; plus we have some of the most unique marine wildlife. There are places where the red dirt meets crystal turquoise water, and you can go days exploring the coast without seeing anyone else.
“You can be in the heart of a buzzing city, like Sydney or Melbourne, with great restaurants and beaches just around the corner.”
However, his three favourite places are as follows:
1. The Kimberley
Hemsworth recently went to the Kimberley in the Northern Territory and was in awe of the natural wonders there.
“In The Kimberley, we went fishing in one particular spot that rivalled Jurassic Park — there were crocodiles, snakes, buffalo, and an abundance of other amazing native wildlife. Sunset dinners in The Kimberley are another absolute must.
“The colours of the skyline there are as rich and vibrant as anywhere I've seen, and it is pretty special to see the millions of stars of the Australian outback’s night sky. We stayed at a beautiful place called Berkeley River Lodge, having dinner each night on a sand dune, barefoot in the desert sand was pretty cool.
“And one of the best afternoons in The Kimberley was swimming in a secluded waterhole at the base of a waterfall. We helicoptered down along the winding Berkeley River and then boated across to this really private spot. It's something I'll never forget.”
2. The Whitsundays
The Whitsundays are a must-see if you’re interested in seeing the Great Barrier Reef, which is the world’s largest coral reef at 2,300kms long.
“In the Whitsundays, we stayed at One&Only Hayman Island, which was a real highlight. Amazing food and wine, it overlooks the reef — plus, they have an awesome kids club, with face painting, fish feeding, jewellery making, and some great swimming pools for us to chill out as a family,” Hemsworth remembered.
“On the Great Barrier Reef, I went scuba diving for the first time, which was amazing. It’s like visiting another planet. We also had an afternoon at Whitehaven Beach, which was absolutely stunning—it has the most pristine white sand and crystal-clear water.
“The next day we took the kids for a picnic and a bit of beach cricket on Langford Island, just off Hayman Island. The kids loved running along the sand and playing in the shallows.”
3. Uluru
“We had the very special experience of meeting with Sammy Wilson, a local Anangu Traditional Owner. Listening to the local Indigenous people speaking with us about the cultural and spiritual significance of Uluru was fascinating and inspiring.
“The kids loved running around the base of the rock and exploring all the little caves and trails.”