Back in July, we shared the news that three Victorian destinations – Warrnambool, Mount Beauty and Trentham – were vying for the prestigious title of Australia's Top Tourism Town. Well, the national event has taken place, and we're thrilled to reveal that the charming country township of Trentham has taken out a gold medal. Cue the applause!
The annual Top Tourism Town Awards are held in Canberra and celebrate winners across three categories: Best Tourism Town (population 5,000+), Best Small Tourism Town (population 1,500-5,000) and Best Tiny Tourism Town (population less than 1,500). Competition is fierce, and the champions are decided through a combination of public votes and scores from an expert industry judging panel.
Trentham, located on the edge of Wombat State Forest in central Victoria, was crowned the winner of the Best Tiny Tourism Town – cute! Boasting a Gold Rush-era streetscape, some excellent dining options (hello, Du Fermier – aka one of the state's finest regional restaurants) and easy access to some spectacular natural wonders (Trentham Falls is Victoria's highest single-drop waterfall), we're not even remotely surprised it took out the category.
Oh, and it's also home to the Great Trentham Spudfest – a beloved annual two-day event dedicated to the humble potato. If you want to get a taste of what this welcoming country community is like, this is a beautiful example that brings everyone together to enjoy fresh produce, local wines, live music and so much more. It's safe to say we're big fans – brb while we go book a weekend getaway to the region.
The other big winners included Western Australia's seaside hub of Fremantle, which took out the Top Tourism Town for 2025; and Bungendore on the outskirts of Canberra, which was crowned the Top Small Tourism Town for 2025.
You can read the full list of winners (and plan your next Aussie road trip accordingly) below, or read more 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
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