Our Story

Aussie Bucket List is 100% Australian. Made in Australia, by Australians, for all.

Aussie Bucket List® is an award winning website and smart-phone application developed in Australia, by Australians, for all. We are a 100% Australian owned female-founded business based on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The team at Aussie Bucket List® has conducted the research for you, refining a curated list of only the best and most reputable experiences, destinations, venues and events all across Australia. 

The Aussie Bucket List® concept has evolved since early 2015. We started out by promoting all of the wonderful free bucket list experiences across Australia on our social media pages. This resulted in an organic following of thousands of people in Australia and across the world engaging with us about Australia's unique experiences. We have spent the last 20+ years exploring, chatting with locals and researching each region of Australia, which has evolved into developing a platform for all people travelling Australia to enjoy and benefit from.

Image by Aussie Bucket List - Pats Farm Luxury Eco Chalets

What Drives Us

Aussie Bucket List® inspires Australian's to live their best life, encouraging people to get outside and explore their own backyards. When you are outside exploring, you get physical exercise, fresh air and sun exposure which has proven to be beneficial for your physical health and has a positive impact on your mental health and overall well-being. While exploring the natural beauty of Australia, you naturally develop an appreciation for nature and our environment. Research has proven that taking your kids with you on outdoor adventures stimulates their cognitive development. The vitamin D they receive from the sun helps to boost their mood, whilst they experience an adventure they will remember for a lifetime. 

Below is a photo of our Founder, Samantha Porter, abseiling down Mount Ngungun. The smile on her face while ticking off this Aussie Bucket List experience, says it all!

Aussie Bucket List® has a goal to drive a movement of people that appreciate nature, the unique and diverse Australian environment and become advocates for our native wildlife and the habitat in which they live. We are committed to promoting environmentally friendly activities by reminding society to take care of our environment when out exploring. This includes staying on marked trails to reduce our impact on the environment, assisting with land management and rehabilitation, taking rubbish with you or placing it in the bins provided, and to take nothing but photos with you and leave nothing but footprints behind.

Aussie Bucket List® is committed to making the world a better place, with a commitment of investing 10% of profits to conservation and mental health initiatives, to enhance the mental health of Australians, to protect our native wildlife and conserve their habitat.

Our Mission

To empower every traveler to live a more fulfilling life by discovering, planning, and "ticking off" the world-class experiences Australia has to offer. We bridge the gap between inspiration and adventure, ensuring that every journey taken through our platform contributes positively to the traveler’s wellbeing, the local economy, and the preservation of our natural environment.

Image by Samantha Porter - Lake McKenzie, K'Gari

Our Core Values

Mental Health & Well-being

We believe that adventure is a form of medicine. Research shows that having experiences to look forward to—and the sense of achievement found in "ticking them off"—significantly boosts mental resilience and happiness. Aussie Bucket List is designed as a wellbeing tool, encouraging Australians to step away from the screen, reconnect with nature, and foster deeper connections with themselves and their loved ones.

Support for Small Business

The heartbeat of Australian tourism lies in its local operators. We are fiercely committed to championing small businesses, from the family-run orchard to the regional tour guide. By providing a high-visibility, low-barrier platform, we help local entrepreneurs compete on a global stage, ensuring that tourism dollars stay within the communities that make these experiences possible.

Commitment to Sustainability

We don’t just promote the Australian landscape; we actively work to protect it. Our "Leave No Trace" philosophy is backed by action: we are committed to donating 10% of all our profits directly to native wildlife conservation and habitat protection, and Australian mental health support services. We believe that travel should be a force for good, ensuring that the bucket-list destinations of today are still thriving for the explorers of tomorrow.

Inspiring Purposeful Adventure

We move beyond generic travel directories by offering a curated, quality-first alternative. Every experience on our platform is hand-picked and must meet our "Gold Standard" of excellence. By focusing on purposeful adventure, we help travelers cut through the noise of AI-generated summaries to find authentic, life-changing moments that are truly worthy of their bucket list.

Aussie Bucket List Fast Facts

• 100% Australian Owned: Supporting our local industry from the ground up.
• Curated Excellence: Only Australia's best 4.5-star+ make the list.
• Impact Driven: Every "tick-off" supports wildlife conservation and Australian mental health initiatives.
• Award-Winning: Voted Best Australian Travel Experience Platform 2025

Founders Note

"Aussie Bucket List was born from the belief that life is measured by moments, not just years, objects or dollars in the bank. By making it easier to find and experience the best of our backyard, we aren't just building a travel app - we're building a movement toward more intentional, joyful and healthy living." 

  - Samantha Porter, Founder

Image: Lucette and Samantha Porter - Swimming with Dolphins Experience at Sea World