From the country to the coast, Australia is full of incredible towns that each boast their own quirks and charm. Some shine for their beautiful beaches, others pour world-class wines and a few are so far off the beaten track that they barely see a soul all year. If you’re chasing travel inspo for your next Aussie getaway, you’ve come to the right spot. The results of Australia’s prestigious annual Top Tourism Town Awards have just dropped, celebrating winners across three categories: best tourism town, small town and tiny town.
Earlier this year, finalists from each state and territory were revealed, with the gold winners going head-to-head in the national showdown at Parliament House this morning (September 3). The competition was fierce, with the champions decided through a combination of public votes and scores from an expert industry judging panel.
Drumroll, please… the 2025 Top Tourism Town award (for towns with more than 5,000 residents) went to Fremantle, located 30 minutes from Perth in Western Australia. Affectionately known as ‘Freo’, this seaside cultural hub is where the Swan River kisses the Indian Ocean. Visitors can wander along the foreshore to South Fremantle, cool down in the free museums (WA Maritime Museum, WA Shipwreck Museum or Fremantle Arts Centre), potter around the Fremantle Markets (one of only two surviving market halls in WA), and enjoy a swim at the beautiful Bathers Beach. It’s worth mentioning that Bathers is WA’s first licensed beach area, so bring a few bevvies and settle in for a sunset session with BYO treats.
Last year’s champion, Devonport, just missed out on a back-to-back victory, coming in runner-up for the Top Tourism Town 2025. Perched on Tasmania’s spectacular north-west coast where mountains tumble into the sea, this little gem has proven its staying power – two years in the top ranks is no fluke. Rounding out the podium was the beautiful coastal town of Kiama on NSW’s South Coast.
Next up, the Small Tourism Town award (for populations between 1,500 and 5,000) went to the charming country town of Bungendore, located 35 minutes from Canberra CBD. Here, you can ditch the big smoke for fresh, farm-to-table produce, family-run wineries, quirky antique stores and a bakery that easily rivals any in the big city. Tasmania’s picturesque Deloraine, just 40 minutes from Launceston, took out runner-up, while Queensland’s dreamy Airlie Beach – the gateway to The Whitsundays – claimed third place.
The final (and cutest) award of the night, the Top Tiny Town (for populations less than 1,500), went to Trentham in regional Victoria. Brimming with natural beauty and a goldrush-era streetscape, this quaint town edged out NSW’s coastal gem Huskisson and Queensland’s historic seaside village, the Town of 1770.
You can read the full list of winners (and plan your next Aussie road trip accordingly) over here.
Australia’s Top Tourism Towns for 2025
- Gold: Fremantle, WA
- Silver: Devonport, TAS
- Bronze: Kiama, NSW
Australia’s Top Small Tourism Towns for 2025
- Gold: Bungendore, CBR
- Silver: Deloraine, TAS
- Bronze: Airlie Beach, QLD
Australia’s Top Tiny Tourism Towns for 2025
- Gold: Trentham, VIC
- Silver: Huskisson, NSW
- Bronze: Town of 1770, QLD