15 regional towns to visit in Australia (that are anything but boring)

If you keep driving west past the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road, you’ll hit Port Fairy – a coastal gem of a town that the locals would rather keep secret. Once a 19th-century whaling port, it’s now a mix of windswept beaches, bluestone cottages and a brilliant food and wine scene. Check into the highly regarded Drift House, a design lover’s boutique hotel that pairs its heritage bones with sleek modern touches (and one of the best breakfasts on the coast). Wander the Moyne River boardwalk, browse the galleries along Sackville Street, then order wood-fired pizza and local pinot at Coffin Sally or oysters and small plates at Conlan’s Wine Store. Time your evening for the Griffiths Island walk – wallabies, shearwaters and those golden-hour lighthouse views are pure magic.

How to get there: A 3.5-hour drive from Melbourne

Don’t miss: The Port Fairy Folk Festival in March

Only a short two hours' drive away from Melbourne, Bendigo is a gorgeous destination for a short weekend getaway out of the big smoke. The former gold rush town – recently awarded a silver medal in the Top Tourism Town Awards – blooms to life in spring, with the town’s vibrant tulip display, annual comedy showcase and yoga festival, plus plenty of wine and food trails. Fun fact: Bendigo and its surrounds are so focused on dining and drinking that the region was crowned Australia’s first UNESCO city of gastronomy in 2019. After fuelling up, hop over to Bendigo Art Gallery to see gems from its heritage collection, or take your bike or your bushwalking shoes to the 210km Goldfields track, where you’ll encounter historic forests, villages and old mining relics. Don’t leave without grabbing an award-winning vanilla slice from Bridgewater Bakehouse for the road home.

How to get there: 2-hour drive northwest from Melbourne

Don’t miss: The Bendigo Art Gallery, one of Australia’s oldest and best regional galleries, hosting major international exhibitions

There are so many reasons to visit Daylesford that it's surprising most Melburnians aren't there every weekend. Set among the verdant, rolling hills of central Victoria, this former gold rush town is particularly popular in winter when fireplaces roar to life and day spas offer a warm escape from the cold. With 80 per cent of the country's mineral springs found here, a soak at the famous Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa is a must. Relaxation aside, there are also contemplative art galleries, heritage train rides and a museum that tells the stories of the Dja Dja Wurrung people who are the traditional owners of the land. For a simple slice of tranquillity, pick up some picnic goods and head to the pristine Lake Daylesford. Or if you have cash to splash, treat yourself to a leisurely farm-to-table lunch at the region’s finest restaurant, Lake House.

How to get there: 1.5-hour drive northwest from Melbourne

Don’t miss: A mineral soak at the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa

On the edge of the Great Dividing Range, Toowoomba isn’t your typical country town. Known as Queensland’s 'Garden City', it blooms year-round with jacarandas, heritage homes and a truly impressive food scene. Every September, the city lives up to its name during the Carnival of Flowers – a citywide celebration of parades, garden tours and long lunches. Come any other time of year and the charm holds: local kids busking with guitars on the street corners while their parents clap them on - the kind of wholesome scene you really only see in a small town. Stop in for a delicious lunch at Loulaki, where the Mediterranean plates are bright, generous and far better than they have any right to be this far from the sea. 

How to get there: 1.5-hour drive from Brisbane

Don’t miss: The Botanic Gardens at Queens Park during flower season (September), followed by a detour to The Baker’s Duck for possibly the best almond croissant in the state

Most of the tiny towns on the Sunshine Coast offer a three-for-the-price-of-one kind of deal, and Eumundi is no exception. This tropical township, located just 90 minutes from Brisbane, gives you easy access to stunning national parks, beautiful beaches and its historical town centre, which is home to modern art galleries, boutique wineries, cosy cafés and local museums. The biggest drawcard for road trippers is Eumundi’s longstanding open-air market (we’re talking since the '80s here!), which bursts to life every Wednesday and Saturday morning with both seasoned and budding artisans, performers and creators.

How to get there: 90-minute drive north from Brisbane

Don’t miss: The legendary Eumundi Markets

Margaret River is easily one of the most charming little pockets of Western Australia and a must-visit on your next adventure out west. ‘Margs’, as she’s known to locals, has a reputation for producing some of Australia’s finest wines, with more than 90 cellar doors ready to fill your cup. However, she has a whole lot more up her sleeve than just a good pour. When you pay Margs a visit, she might take you for a wander through the region’s fairytale forests, along stunning coastal trails, or into the depths of sparkling crystal caves. Also a legendary surf spot, Margaret River is an epic spot to catch a wave from total beginners to World Surf Lifesaving champs. 

How to get there: 3-hour drive south from Perth

Don’t miss: Wine tasting your way down Caves Road, home to some of Australia’s best chardonnays

With fiery sunsets, milky low moons, red dirt (the Pindan) and azure waters, it’s no wonder Broome’s population swells from 14,000 to more than 45,000 during the Dry Season. Located at the tip of WA, 2,400 kilometres north of Perth, this tiny town is visually and culturally so stimulating that just one visit is never enough. You’ll find plenty of ways to entertain yourself on both land and water, where you can also dive into Broome’s fascinating history as a pearling port and a melting pot of Japanese, Aboriginal and European cultures. Our top picks? Embark on a sunset camel ride along Cable Beach, catch a flick at Sun Pictures and have a ginger beer at Australia’s most remote brewery.

How to get there: 2.5-hour flight or 22-hour drive from Perth

Don’t miss: The natural light show known as the Staircase to the Moon, best viewed from Town Beach between March and October

Pack your robe and unwind in style at this chic coastal town, located on South Australia’s stunning Limestone Coast. Dive into the town’s past as one of SA’s busiest international ports by following the Robe Coastal trail, which links the historic Robe Lighthouse, the ruins of Old Robe Gaol, and the Insta-famous Cape Dombey Obelisk to the town centre, before winding all the way to Long Beach. This is one of the rare beaches where you can drive onto the sand, offering plenty of secluded spots to go for a dip or set up a sunset picnic. 

How to get there: 3.5-hour drive southeast from Adelaide

Don’t miss: The striking Cape Dombey Obelisk, perched dramatically on the cliffs and visible for miles

Coober Pedy is one of the most remote towns in South Australia and potentially the coolest spot on this list. Best known as the nation's opal capital, the mining settlement’s rugged, red landscapes have served as a backdrop in countless films like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. When it comes to unique stays, it’s hard to beat Coober Pedy’s underground cave motels, originally built by locals to escape the dry summer heat. Learn more about Coober Pedy’s fascinating past by going on a self-guided tour through its labyrinth of underground galleries, mines and museums, featuring the world’s largest display of opals. 

How to get there: 8.5-hour drive north of Adelaide (or a 2-hour flight)

Don’t miss: Sleeping underground at one of Coober Pedy’s dugout hotels – a true outback experience

With its colonial-era bridge (Australia’s oldest), eerie convict-built gaol and charming Georgian streetscape, this historic town looks like something straight out of a period film. Richmond’s scenery is so charming that it was in fact named Australia’s most beautiful town in 2024. Situated in the rolling hills of Tasmania’s Coal River Valley wine region, just 30 minutes from Hobart, the road into town is dotted with wineries – Puddleduck, Pooley Wines, Every Man and His Dog vineyard – and you’ll also find the Killara Distillery, Wicked Cheese Company, Littlewood Berry Farm, Federation Artisan Chocolates and Coal River Farm to stop and load up on local goodness. Once in the town, peruse the antique stores, stroll through the old Richmond Gaol, then buy some duck food and head down to the riverbank park. There you’ll find an excellent vista of the Richmond Bridge, which is the oldest stone-span bridge in Australia. 

How to get there: 30-minute drive northeast of Hobart

Don’t miss: Snapping a photo of the Richmond Bridge

The Stuart Highway slices straight down the middle of Australia; at the cross-section between the south, north and west is Katherine. Population: 10,000. Kilometres to Darwin: 317. Activities: endless. Whether you are stopping through on a road trip or sticking around to explore the Big Rivers Region, there’s plenty to do in the town where the outback meets the tropics. Plunge into the warm waters at Katherine Hot Springs or Bitter Springs, cruise down the mighty Katherine River, and explore the pointy limestone structures at Cutta Cutta Caves. If keeping busy is your thing, you can embark on the five-day Jatbula Trail, which includes 58 kilometres of swimming holes, ancient rock art and waterfalls. 

How to get there: 3-hour drive south from Darwin

Don’t miss: A cruise through Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, where red cliffs rise high above the Katherine River

Known to locals as 'Alice', this quintessential Aussie town sits in the beating heart of our nation’s Red Centre halfway between Darwin and Adelaide. Due to its remote location (and by remote, we mean smack bang in the middle of the outback), it’s one of the most spectacular places to go stargazing in Australia. When the sun comes up, you can hop in a hot air balloon or hop on a camel for a different perspective of the landscape; admire contemporary Aboriginal art at Araluen Arts Centre; and explore the nearby West MacDonnell Ranges for world-famous hikes, like the Larapinta Trail. For the ultimate outback adventure, time your visit with Parrtjima, A Festival in Light – Australia’s biggest light and art spectacular, which shines brightly under the starry skies of Alice Springs for ten days every April.

How to get there: 2.5-hour flight from most major capitals or a 15-hour drive south from Darwin

Don’t miss: The Parrtjima Festival in Light each April