Start Your UNESCO Journey By Motorhome in 2019

Ticking at least a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites off your bucket list should be one of your top priorities in 2019. One thing we wanted to make sure we included were sites that were accessible by motorhome, or at the very least… that you could drive too.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites include a number of different sites around the world that includes towns, regions, national parks, temples and natural landscapes. Prized and protected for their cultural, historical or natural significance, they represent some of the most beloved landmarks on the planet. UNESCO currently protects over 1000 sites worldwide - and around 400 of those are in Europe.

We’ve put together from around the world, accessible by motorhome that we think everyone should see in their lifetime.

Acropolis, Athens - Greece

Before you pickup your motorhome rental and chase the sun out of Athens, you need to check out the ancient Acropolis. It’s a short uphill walk to the top of the hill, but the views and colossal ruins that greet you once you reach the peak are next to none. There are smaller ruins like the famous female statues at the Erechtheum temple which look spectacular (particularly at sunset).

Giants Causeway, Country Antrim, Northern Ireland

Giant’s Causeway earned its name from the legends of an ancient roadway, once used by giants to cross between Ireland and Scotland. The 40,000 dramatic basalt columns were actually formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. Regardless of its origins, you can visit the UNESCO-listed site year-round; it’s generally quietest first thing in the morning and late afternoon in the summer months. If you have the foresight check the tide times too, as it is most visible and explorable at low tides.

Þingvellir National Park, Iceland

Þingvellir (pronounced Thingvellir) was Iceland’s first national park and now exists as one of the most visited tourist attractions. It’s home to the rift valley, marking the edge of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – the place where, tectonically, Europe ends and North America begins. Not convinced? Well a chilly dive in the waters here will prove it, you can scuba right between the two plates. As well as being the home to the first Parliament of Iceland in 900 AD, it’s now one of the most phenomenal places from which to see the Northern Lights and is popular with Game of Thrones for being the spot where wildlings camped on-screen.

Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

The mountains at the heart of the park have cultural and religious significance for Maori, and symbolise the spiritual links between the community and its environment. Keep an eye on the weather warnings and make sure you are prepared as the weather can turn quickly on the hike. This is one of New Zealand’s great hikes and takes around five hours to complete, you’ll love the emerald lakes at the peak of the walk.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

There are currently 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Australia as of 2017. This includes 3 cultural sites, 12 natural sites, and 4 mixed sites - the one we want to talk about is Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The entrance point to the park requires you to pay, however once inside you can park your motorhome for epic views. Witnessing a sunset and sunrise at Uluru is awe-inspiring. We recommend visiting between June-July in Australian winter when it’s actually cool enough as temperatures can soar as high as 45 degrees celsius.

Cueva de las Manos, Río Pinturas, Argentina

The Cueva de las Manos, Río Pinturas, contains an exceptional assemblage of cave art, executed between 13,000 and 9,500 years ago. It takes its name (Cave of the Hands) from the stencilled outlines of human hands in the cave, but there are also many depictions of animals, such as guanacos (closely related to the llama), still commonly found in the region, as well as hunting scenes. The people responsible for the paintings may have been the ancestors of the historic hunter-gatherer communities of Patagonia found by European settlers in the 19th century.

Redwood National Park, California

You’ll be amazed at how small you feel walking amongst these giants. The Redwood National Park in California is best known for its giant coast redwood trees. In fact, these trees are the tallest and largest tree species of its kind on Earth. Hence, the park was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO to preserve the park and its components. There is no better place to explore them than here in the Avenue of the Giants. Stay in one the campsites or hike along some of the epic trails to truly take it all in.

Hire a motorhome and get closer to these UNESCO world heritage sites. Some of these places require more than a day to experience the magic, hence a motorhome being a great option. How else will you get to experience the epic sunrises and sunsets at Uluru or the dappled light changes between the Californian Redwoods.

Have you paid any of these UNESCO world heritage sites a visit? Let us know which path you’ll follow in the comments below.