From the sun-kissed shores of the east coast to the verdant wilderness regions up north, Australia is home to an array of breathtaking towns. Each one holds its own charm – some for their beautiful beaches, others for their epic trails and some for their romantic ambience. However, the best all-rounders have just been announced in a recent study, with the unexpected town of Bendigo taking out the title as the top town in Australia in 2024.
The award was bestowed upon the Gold Rush town by leading travel app Wotif, which has chosen an Aussie Town of the Year for the last seven years running – based on its search data, reviews and stats on accommodation quality and affordability.
If you're not familiar with the regional Victorian gem that is Bendigo, we suggest you rectify this ASAP. Renowned for its gold rush legacy, visitors can venture underground at the Central Deborah Gold Mine, explore the local Indigenous culture at the Djaa Djuwima First Nations Art Gallery and visit one of the largest and most innovative regional galleries, the Bendigo Art Gallery. Plus, Bendigo’s cultural and culinary scene led to the city being recognised as Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy. Needless to say, the town has a very impressive CV.
Closely trailing in second place was the regional NSW town of Broken Hill – a far cry from the coastal towns that often steal the glory in this beach-heavy state. And it's this individuality that has secured the town the position as the second best in Australia this year – with Destination NSW flagging the town’s alternative arts offerings, culturally significant historical sites (including the pub from the 1994 Australian movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) and star-gazing experiences as some of the town’s greatest drawcards.
Rounding out the top five was Queensland’s wine-growing region of Stanthorpe, the spectacular sandstone landscapes of Northern Territory’s Katherine and NSW’s historic inland colonial gem, Bathurst.
Almost all states and territories got a shout out in the top ten list of Aussie towns, apart from the ACT. Here is the full list of winners in the 2024 Wotif Aussie Town of the Year Awards:
- Bendigo, VIC
- Broken Hill, NSW
- Stanthorpe, QLD
- Katherine, NT
- Bathurst, NSW
- Tanunda, SA
- Griffith, NSW
- Stanley, TAS
- Exmouth, WA
- Coober Pedy, SA