![Wave Rock in Hyden showing a protective wall along its edges. [Image Don Pugh/Flickr]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2019/2/25/660x290/b_502x220x82/wave-rock-in-hyden-showing-a-protective-wall-along-its-edges-image-don-pughflickr_2213667.jpg "Wave Rock in Hyden showing a protective wall along its edges. [Image Don Pugh/Flickr]")
Australia is a vast, sprawling country, with desert, forests and beautiful beaches, but it also has its weirder side.
The following are just some of the cool and unusual spots to visit in Australia, including places that glow in the dark, a rock that looks like a wave, a ruined Spanish castle and a natural pavement.
Glowworm Tunnel - 2 Vera St, Helensburgh, Australia
The official name for this is the Metropolitan Tunnel, built in the 1980s. It was only used until 1915 due to the collection of smoke and soot from the trains passing through. The tunnel regularly gets flooded, but a glowworm colony took over the tunnel and made a home on the roof. When walking through, it is like looking at a constellation of blue and green stars.
Gippsland Lakes bioluminescence - Raymond Island, Australia
Staying with places that glow in the night, Gippsland Lakes in southeast Australia suffered many bush fires in 2006, which was followed in 2007 by torrential rains. This caused huge amounts of nitrogen rich soil and ash to be washed into the lakes. Then something strange happened, as a huge algae bloom of Nociluca Scitillans appeared. During the day it is evident from red patches on the water. However, at night it glows blue along the water's edge.
Wave Rock - 114 Wave Rock Road, Hyden, Australia
This is one wave you can’t surf on, even though it has one of the best swells in the world. The rock was formed over millennia into what geologists call a “flared slope.” While it looks like it is petrified water, it is not. Australia reportedly has several examples of this phenomenon, but Wave Rock is the best. An image of the top of the rock is included at the top of article.
Paronella Park - Japoonvale Road, Mena Creek, Australia
José Paronella was enjoying a honeymoon trip from Spain with his wife Margarita in 1925 when he saw this location. He then spent years planting trees, building a grand staircase to carry sand up the hill for concrete, and finally built a grand castle, inspired by Spanish castles, as well as the oldest hydro-electric dam in North Queensland. There was a foyer, a theatre and bars within the building and a waterfall. The site became a park, but gradually fell into disrepair and moss has taken over.
Eaglehawk Neck Tessellated Pavement - Eaglehawk Neck, Australia
Resembling a manmade pavement, Eaglehawk Neck is an isthmus which connects the Tasman Peninsula to Tasmania. The isthmus is covered in regular, rectangular-shaped saltwater pools. While they look human made, they are caused by a rare type of natural erosion. The phenomenon is extremely rare and found in only a few places in the world.
