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We travellers are obsessed with water. We want our hotel rooms to have views of it. We want our resort pools filled with it. We want our road trips and our train journeys to skirt it.
Overwater bungalows go for top dollar. The sound of waves lapping against a shore is one that brings an instant sense of calm and tranquillity (and a few extra bucks on the price tag).
So it’s no surprise to find that water is responsible for some of the world’s greatest and most interesting tourist attractions. We travel solely to see these phenomena, just to experience them. And they’re there because of water.
These attractions aren’t just pleasant views of water either – many are spectacular natural occurrences, dangerous or powerful. Some can also be man-made, artistic examples of the way humans have harnessed our obsession with water to turn it into something new and amazing.
From thundering waterfalls to famous fountains, ice-carvings to river surfing, water fuels our imagination, it inspires us, it thrills us. For travellers, these are the world’s waterborne highlights.
Rain Vortex, Singapore
Go with the flow It’s possible you’ve never thought about where the world’s tallest indoor waterfall is located, and what it would look like if you saw it. Well, it’s here at Singapore Changi Airport, and it’s spectacular.
Why we love it The Rain Vortex isn’t just tall, it’s also stunningly designed. It’s set in the middle of the Jewel, the 10-storey shopping and dining complex at Singapore Changi. Here, up to 37,850 litres of water pours through a circular hole in the middle of the roof every minute, crashing to the floor some 40 metres below; at night the cascade is lit with coloured lights, creating one of the world’s great photo opportunities. There are viewpoints for the Rain Vortex throughout the Jewel, and the Changi Airport Skytrain runs right through the middle of the complex, next to the falls.
Don’t miss If you can see the Rain Vortex then you’re in the right place to enjoy the Jewel’s other attractions. This includes the Canopy Park, a large series of gardens and play areas on the top level, as well as Yotel, a hotel, and more than 300 retail and dining outlets.
Essentials The Rain Vortex is open every day, year-round. It’s accessible via Singapore Changi Airport, and there’s accommodation nearby at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport (crowneplaza.com). See jewelchangiairport.com
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Go with the flow You know when you have a campfire and your eyes are constantly drawn to it, you can’t look away from the flames? Multiply that feeling by about 100, and you have Victoria Falls, “the smoke that thunders”, a mesmerising, almost two-kilometre stretch of cascades that tumble more than 100 metres to the rocks below.
Why we love it Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most spectacular natural attractions, water-based or not. To stand on the cliffs opposite these falls and feel the tremendous power as the Zambezi river just drops into an abyss is to understand your tiny place in the world. It’s possible to see the falls both from Zimbabwe and Zambia, though the Zimbabwean side offers the most extensive views; many tourists combine visits to those two countries to see the full extent of this epic cascade.
Don’t miss There’s whitewater rafting on the Zambezi, or the true adrenaline-seekers can have a soak in the Devil’s Pool, a calm lagoon (in dry season) on the lip of the falls, accessible from Zambia.
Essentials High season at Victoria Falls is April to June; however, mist during this period makes it difficult to see the falls from ground level. Views are clearer from July onwards. Victoria Falls is accessible by air from Johannesburg. See zimbabwetourism.net and zambiatourism.com, and check smartraveller.gov.au for latest advice. Read more on Victoria Falls here.
Horizontal Falls, Western Australia
Go with the flow This natural phenomenon was famously described by Sir David Attenborough as “one of the greatest wonders of the natural world”, and those able to witness the incredible torrent of water pouring in and out of Talbot Bay each day as huge tides flow through a narrow gap in McLarty Range would surely agree.
Why we love it There’s a caveat to this entry: the way the Horizontal Falls have traditionally been experienced by visitors – aboard a fast boat that roars through the torrent – is being phased out, and will be banned entirely from 2028 to protect the site and respect traditional owners’ wishes. Still, the falls can be viewed from above on a scenic flight, and operators are working to develop new on-water and land-based experiences that take in this phenomenon.
Don’t miss There’s much to see in the rugged Kimberley, from Mitchell Falls to the east, to Dampier Peninsula in the west. Plenty of adventure cruise companies run itineraries that include Horizontal Falls and its surrounding attractions.
Essentials If you would like to experience the falls at water level, 2028 will be your final chance. For those who would prefer a scenic flight, May to October is best for clear skies. See westernaustralia.com
Perito Moreno, Argentina
Go with the flow What’s more impressive than water? How about a solid wall of ice, a great frozen river? This is Perito Moreno, a 30 kilometre-long glacier in southern Argentina.
Why we love it There are plenty of glaciers in the world, though few as spectacular as Perito Morena in Patagonia. The reasons for this spectacle are numerous, not least of which is the viewpoints on Peninsula Magallanes, the lakeshore opposite the point where the glacier ends in a five-kilometre-wide wall of ice. This provides visitors with the chance to watch up close (in safety) as huge chunks of ice calve from the glacier, crashing into Argentino Lake below. If you’re very lucky, you could witness one of the glacier’s famed ruptures, which happen every few years, when pressure cracks the ice and water pours from one side of the lake to the other.
Don’t miss A few companies in the area offer “mini-trekking” on the ice – these are expensive, but also a rare opportunity to explore a living glacier on foot. Elsewhere in Los Glaciares National Park, there are spectacular hikes beginning in El Chalten, taking in views of Fitz Roy peak.
Essentials December to February, when the weather is warmest, is peak season, though the shoulder seasons will help you avoid the crowds. Stay nearby in El Calafate at Posada Los Alamos (posadalosalamos.com). See argentina.travel
Eisbachwelle, Germany
Go with the flow It’s the strangest thing, wandering the peaceful Englischer Garten in central Munich, enjoying the extensive parklands, then rounding a corner to discover surfers catching waves. The Eisbachwelle is a standing wave in a man-made canal, and it’s popular with surfers who would otherwise have to travel six hours to the nearest beach.
Why we love it Even if you aren’t an experienced surfer, there’s much to love about Eisbachwelle, if for no other reason than the pure absurdity of it. There’s plenty of amusement to be had just standing on the bridge in front of the wave – a stationary hydraulic jump, since you’re asking, a phenomenon in which water at high velocity discharges into an area of lower velocity, causing a sharp rise – watching surfers of various abilities show their skills, or lack thereof.
Don’t miss The real attraction here is the Englischer Garten itself, a 900-hectare park created in 1789. There’s a Japanese teahouse, a Greek-style temple, a Chinese pagoda and four large, very enjoyable beer gardens.
Essentials The Englischer Garten is open year-round, though you will find the most surfers in the summer months (also the best time of year for the beer garden). Stay nearby at the Platzl Hotel (platzl.de). See germany.travel
Trevi Fountain, Italy
Go with the flow Take a break from surfing and thundering falls, and turn instead to an 18th-century monument at a place that has been historically significant for more than 2000 years: Rome’s Trevi Fountain.
Why we love it This fountain is no secret. Almost every hour of every day you will find a crowd in front of the Trevi Fountain taking photos, flipping coins into the pool at its base, and craning their necks to get a good look. This fountain is so popular, in fact, that Roman authorities have instituted a queuing system and a limit of 400 visitors at a time. The fountain, designed in 1730 by architect Nicola Salvi and finished in 1762, is more than 23 metres high and almost 50 metres wide, and marks the terminal point of Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct that supplied fresh water to the city of Rome. This baroque edifice was extensively restored in 2024.
Don’t miss From here you can walk to the Forum, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori to name a few. You’re also very close to Colline Emiliane, an excellent restaurant that serves Emilia-Romagna cuisine.
Essentials You can visit Trevi Fountain any time of year, though summer is hot and crowded; shoulder seasons or winter are more pleasant. Stay nearby at Harry’s Bar (hotelharrysbartrevi.com). See italia.it
Nile Rapids, Uganda
Go with the flow You’re at a significant position when you stand on the riverbank in Jinja, Uganda: the source of the Nile, a 6650 kilometre waterway that supports a vast swathe of Africa. You’re also at one of the world’s great whitewater rafting spots.
Why we love it This is the White Nile, the longest branch of the world’s longest river, and it begins at Lake Victoria, which drains into a river system beginning at what is now the city of Jinja. Here there are some serious rafting rapids, ranging from Class II – slightly bumpy – to Class VI, which are wild and dangerous and not commercially raftable. In between you have a little of everything, though it’s the sheer mass of water pouring through this valley that takes the breath away. There’s lovely scenery too, though you’ll have very little time to appreciate it.
Don’t miss Jinja is an adventure sports capital, with kayaking, mountain-biking, hiking and even bungee-jumping offered on or around the Nile. The city is a two-hour drive from Kampala, the Ugandan capital.
Essentials High season in Jinja is June to August, when the skies are clear, but there’s still plenty of water flowing in the river. For a memorable stay check out Wildwaters Lodge (lemalacamps.com). See utb.go.ug
Niagara Falls, Canada/US
Go with the flow This famous cascade might not be as high as Victoria Falls (about half the height, in fact), but it is spectacularly powerful and eminently accessible, with multiple viewpoints from both the US and Canadian sides.
Why we love it There’s some serious water pouring over the abyss at Niagara Falls, which is actually three distinct cascades, one of which shares a border between the US and Canada, and the other two in the US. At Horseshoe Falls, the tallest and most picturesque, up to 168,000 cubic metres of water pours over the U-shaped cliff face every minute. Visitors can view this phenomenon up close from lookouts on both the US and Canadian sides, and check it out from below on one of the Maid of the Mist cruises.
Don’t miss This is a tourist-heavy area, so you’re going to find plenty to do on both sides of the falls. In Canada, ride a zip line, take in the views from Skylon Tower, and visit the Botanic Gardens. On the US side, ride the Scenic Trolley, walk the pathways that wind their way around the falls, and check out the observation tower.
Essentials This is a year-round destination, though it will be bitterly cold in winter. Autumn and spring provide the best chances for views and good weather. Stay nearby at Marriott on the Falls hotel (marriott.com). See destinationcanada.com and visitusa.org.au
Great Blue Hole, Belize
Go with the flow This natural phenomenon is so perfect it almost can’t be real: a circular sinkhole off the coast of Belize, 381 metres across and 124 metres deep, and one of the world’s great scuba-diving sites.
Why we love it When sinkholes like this occur on land, they’re known as cenotes. It’s far less common to find them in a marine environment, which makes the Great Blue Hole so amazing. Set on an atoll 70 kilometres offshore from Belize City, this 150,000-year-old sinkhole is remarkable more for its underwater rock formations than any colourful coral or marine life. At a depth of about 40 metres, divers can explore an underwater cavern filled with stalactites, before making their way back to the surface through schools of resident sharks. One for the bucket list.
Don’t miss Those who don’t fancy getting in the water here – or who don’t have an advanced dive certification – can take a scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole to snap some spectacular photos. See tropicair.com
Essentials You can dive year-round at the Great Blue Hole, though August to October is when the water is warmest. You can reach Belize City from major US ports; stay at Fort George Hotel and Spa (fortgeorgebelize.com). See travelbelize.org
Sapporo Snow Festival, Japan
Go with the flow Water doesn’t have to be in its liquid form to be impressive; it doesn’t have to be a natural phenomenon either. All of which brings us to Sapporo Snow Festival, one of the world’s premier displays of snow and ice carvings.
Why we love it There’s much to love about Sapporo – the capital of Hokkaido, in Japan’s far north – at any time of year, though winter is hugely popular thanks to the snow that reliably blankets the island. Every February, snow and ice carvers from around the world arrive to show their skills, creating frozen sculptures that can be more than 15 metres high. The city comes alive for this, particularly families, who make use of the massive snow slides and snow rafting rides that accompany the sculptures.
Don’t miss We mentioned the snow, and you can take advantage of that by going skiing elsewhere in Hokkaido. Niseko is a favourite among Australians, though Rusutsu is also popular, Tomamu is more relaxed, and Kiroro is perfect for families.
Essentials The Sapporo Snow Festival takes place next year from February 4 to 11. Sapporo is accessible from Tokyo by either air or rail, and you can stay at Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo (keioplaza-sapporo.co.jp), though book well ahead. See japan.travel
Dry zones: The world’s driest spots
Atacama Desert, Chile
You thought Death Valley was dry? Chile’s Atacama Desert enjoys average rainfall of about 15 milimetres a year – essentially a passing shower one afternoon. Once a year. The rest of the time this high desert, ranging from 2400 metres above sea level to more than 4000 metres, is a bone-dry landscape of red rock pierced by geysers and salt pools. See chile.travel
Death Valley, US
This is the hottest, driest and lowest point in North America, which is impressive. Death Valley, in eastern California, sits 86 metres below sea level, and experiences an average annual rainfall of about 50 millimetres. Visitors here can experience the Earth at its most starkly beautiful, a bleak, lunar landscape you will never forget. See nps.gov
Antarctica
Picture Antarctica and you probably don’t see a dry place – you see ice and snow. This is, however, the driest continent on Earth, with annual precipitation similar to that of the Atacama Desert. That makes Antarctica a fascinating place to explore, to view wildlife, to see icebergs and ice shelfs and glaciers, and marvel at nature. See antarctica.gov.au
Namib-Naukluft, Namibia
The Namib Desert is considered the world’s oldest desert, and forms part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park in western Namibia. Here you will find huge rocky outcrops, massive burnt-orange sand dunes, and a surprising amount of wildlife, the likes of hyenas, oryx and leopards. The only thing you won’t get is rain. See visitnamibia.com.na
Luxor, Egypt
If you can’t stand your holidays being ruined by inclement weather, have we got the place for you. In some years in Luxor, it doesn’t rain at all. Not once. On average, the city gets one millimetre a year. It also has the ruins of the ancient Egyptian cities of Karnak and Luxor, plus access to the Valley of the Kings. See www.experienceegypt.eg
