Australia - Watch The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Before You Go

Australia is a country like no other — vast, diverse, and endlessly fascinating. From sun-drenched coastlines to ancient deserts, cosmopolitan cities to remote rainforests, it offers an extraordinary range of experiences within a single destination. Time-Pressed Travel will create your ideal Australia itinerary.

Nature lovers will be awed by the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral system, and the rugged beauty of the Outback. Iconic landmarks such as Uluru, Sydney Opera House, and the Twelve Apostles provide unforgettable moments, while unique wildlife — including kangaroos, koalas, and platypuses — delights visitors of all ages.

Australia’s cities are equally compelling. Sydney is glamorous and outdoorsy, Melbourne is known for its culture and coffee, Brisbane offers a relaxed riverside vibe, and Perth brings big-city energy to the remote west. Each blends urban sophistication with access to nature and offers a warm welcome to travellers.

Beyond the sights, Australia is about space, sunshine, and a strong sense of freedom. Whether you're surfing, hiking, wine tasting, or road-tripping along dramatic coastlines, you'll find yourself immersed in landscapes that are both beautiful and humbling.

Friendly, laid-back, and easy to explore, Australia is a destination that truly has something for everyone — and the journey, as they say, is well worth the distance.

Choosing just one film to watch before visiting Australia is no easy task — the cinematic offerings are as vast and varied as the country itself. There's the iconic, if slightly clichéd, Crocodile Dundee, which introduced global audiences to a certain outback charm (and oversized knife). For something more moving, Rabbit-Proof Fence delivers a powerful account of Australia's troubled past through the eyes of three young Aboriginal girls. Eric Bana’s chilling performance in Chopper captures the darkly fascinating world of real-life criminal Mark “Chopper” Read, while Baz Luhrmann’s sweeping epic Australia gives viewers a grand, romanticised view of the country’s landscape and history.

For those drawn to stories of resilience and solitude, Tracks follows one woman’s astonishing journey across the desert with camels and a dog. Horror fans might brave Wolf Creek, a terrifying thriller that paints the outback in far darker tones. And for a dose of uniquely Australian humour, there’s Kenny, the brilliantly endearing mockumentary about a portaloo plumber with philosophical leanings and a heart of gold.

Our top pick? The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert — a bold, glittering, and unexpectedly moving film that, in our view, captures something essential about Australia’s spirit, landscapes, and sense of humour.

If you want to get a sense of Australia beyond the kangaroos, beaches and barbecue clichés, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is the perfect pre-trip film. Camp, colourful and defiantly unconventional, this 1994 cult classic is more than a road trip in drag — it’s a joyous, emotional and eye-opening journey through both the Australian outback and the many layers of Australian identity.

The film follows Mitzi, Felicia and Bernadette as they travel across the heart of Australia in a beaten-up bus named Priscilla, on their way to perform a show at a remote resort. Along the way, they encounter a range of characters — some welcoming, some hostile — and experience the challenges of performing flamboyant art in some of the country’s most conservative corners.

At its core, Priscilla is about visibility, resilience, and friendship. It’s about being boldly yourself in places where you might not be accepted — a theme that still resonates today. For travellers, it’s a vivid introduction to the complexities and contrasts of Australian society, especially outside its big, coastal cities.

But the film is also, quite simply, a love letter to Australia’s epic landscapes. As Priscilla rolls through the red heart of the country — past ghost towns, roadhouses, and dusty plains — viewers are treated to some of the most stunning outback scenery ever put on screen. These aren’t just pretty backdrops; they’re a vital part of the story. The vastness, isolation and raw beauty of the terrain reflect the emotional journeys of the characters and speak to the scale and drama of the country itself.

Watching Priscilla before you go also prepares you for Australia’s unique sense of humour — dry, self-deprecating, and often outrageous. The film is full of memorable one-liners, visual gags, and unexpected tenderness. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet manages to handle serious themes — gender, acceptance, ageing, loss — with real heart.

Importantly, it challenges assumptions. Many international visitors associate Australia with rugged masculinity and no-nonsense stoicism. Priscilla flips that on its head, offering a story that centres joy, theatricality, and vulnerability. At the same time, it doesn’t pretend that all of Australia is accepting. Some of the most powerful moments come when the characters face prejudice, but continue on, supported by friendship and determination. It’s not a sanitised version of Australia — but it is an honest, hopeful one.

For all its eccentricity, Priscilla has become a national treasure in Australia, even being adapted into a successful stage musical. It represents a milestone in Australian film and LGBTQ+ representation, and has become a point of pride for many Australians — an example of how the country can embrace diversity and challenge stereotypes.

So before you jet off to Sydney, Melbourne, or beyond, take two hours to watch Priscilla. You’ll laugh, you might cry, and you’ll certainly come away with a deeper, more colourful sense of the country you’re about to explore. Priscilla isn’t just about a drag show in the desert. It’s about difference, daring, and the wide, wild beauty of Australia — and there’s no better introduction to a land where anything, and anyone, can find a place.