Touching down in a new city or country always makes us feel giddy – but it’s even more special when you’re welcomed with open arms. Handily, Australia’s ten most welcoming towns for 2025 were unveiled earlier this year, and there are plenty of hidden gems to make friends with.
For its 13th annual Traveller Review Awards, Booking.com used a whopping 360 million verified reviews to determine the world’s most welcoming regions and towns. We already covered the news that South Australia earned a spot among the ten most welcoming regions on the planet, but now we're narrowing in on the ten friendliest cities and towns across the country.
Montville, a charming village in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, topped the list for 2025 – and judging by the photos, it looks as lovely as it sounds. Home to around 1,000 friendly locals, Montville is the perfect short break from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. The town charms with its gorgeous galleries, craft shops and small boutiques, showcasing local artworks, handmade goods and the town’s quirky architectural character. In Montville, you’ll also find plenty of cosy cafés to mingle with the locals, plus you can stay in good company at a rainforest eco-retreat, homely B’n’B, country cabin or mountain-view apartment.
The good vibes must be contagious, as Australia’s most welcoming town in 2022, Maleny, came just behind Montville this year, marking another win for Queensland. The two hinterland towns are only a 15-minute drive apart, meaning you can easily kill two birds with one stone when visiting the Sunshine Coast.
Victoria had the highest number of towns included in the top ten, with Ocean Grove in fifth, Halls Gap in eighth and Daylesford – last year’s most welcoming town – in ninth. So, just how friendly are each of these spots? There’s only one way to find out – take your pick from the list below and go say g’day.
These are the 10 most welcoming cities in Australia for 2025
- Montville, QLD
- Maleny, QLD
- Margaret River Town, WA
- Mudgee, NSW
- Ocean Grove, VIC
- Bicheno, TAS
- Port Lincoln, SA
- Halls Gap, VIC
- Daylesford, VIC
- Orange, NSW