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If your weekend-getaway group chat has been circling the same “where should we go next?” debate, consider this your cheat sheet. The 2026 NSW Top Tourism Town Awards have just dropped, and they’re basically a ready-made hit list of regional gems worth building a weekend (or a week) around. Presented on Wednesday, May 27, the annual awards spotlight the towns doing regional travel right – standout experiences, a heap of local pride and the kind of charm that makes you seriously consider a tree change. And this year’s winners? A mix of coastal crowd-pleasers, food-and-wine darlings and teeny villages that punch well above their weight.
Taking out Gold in the Top Tourism Town category (for populations over 5,000) is Kiama – the gorgeous coastal town just under two hours south of Sydney. All rolling green hills, dramatic coastline and that famous blowhole (the biggest in the world, really), Kiama has long been a go-to for Sydneysiders chasing sea air without the slog. But what keeps it interesting is its buzzy creative scene, a packed events calendar and enough coastal walks to justify a second coffee (or a third). Close behind is Orange, which also nabbed the People’s Choice award – proof that people travelling around NSW are firmly on board with its cool-climate wine, produce-driven restaurants and distinct four-season appeal. Perched on the slopes of an ancient volcano, Orange is home to a wildly impressive foodie scene and magical countryside vibes – the kind of place where long lunches blur into golden-hour vineyard views. Then there’s Wollongong, taking Bronze and reminding everyone it’s far more than Sydney’s southern neighbour. With its ocean pools, skydiving thrills and the swooping drama of the Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong delivers high-impact scenery and a solid line-up of eating, drinking and activity options.
In the Small Tourism Town category, Gold goes to Gulgong, a gold rush-era beauty that leans all the way into its heritage. Think wide verandahs, historic streetscapes and hands-on museums.Silver winner Gloucester offers a different kind of escape. Set beneath the Bucketts and acting as a gateway to the World Heritage-listed Barrington Tops National Park, this is where you go to properly unplug. Rivers, forests and fresh country air do most of the heavy lifting. Meanwhile, Thirlmere (Bronze) makes a strong case for the low-key weekender, pairing lakeside tranquillity with heritage hits like the NSW Rail Museum. The People’s Choice in this category heads to Shoal Bay, where turquoise water and the summit views from Tomaree Head Summit do a convincing job of selling the dream.
Then there’s the Tiny Tourism Town category – the cutest prize of the lot. These are the places you might not have heard of, but absolutely should. Gold winner Broke (in the Hunter Valley’s Broke Fordwich region) is all boutique wineries, local produce and low-key romance. It’s less polished than its Hunter neighbours, and that’s exactly the point. Silver goes to Millthorpe, which also took out the People’s Choice award. With its heritage streets, creative community and excellent food scene, Millthorpe manages to feel both nostalgic and quietly contemporary – a balance many towns chase but few nail. And in Bronze, Mungindi proves that big experiences don’t require big populations. Straddling the NSW–Queensland border along the Barwon River, it’s all wide skies, good fishing and genuine, no-frills hospitality.
Finally, a nod to Huskisson, which enters the Hall of Fame after three consecutive Gold wins. Set in Jervis Bay, it’s the kind of place that feels almost impossibly blessed: white-sand beaches and a steady stream of dolphins and whales tracing through the crystal-clear waters. If you needed a reminder that NSW’s coastline is world-class, consider this it.
The takeaway? Regional NSW pretty much has it all. Road trip, anyone?
NSW Top Tourism Town Awards 2026
Top Tourism Town (Population over 5,000)
- Gold: Kiama
- Silver: Orange
- Bronze: Wollongong
- People’s Choice: Orange
Small Tourism Town (Population 1,500–5,000)
- Gold: Gulgong
- Silver: Gloucester
- Bronze: Thirlmere
- People’s Choice: Shoal Bay
Tiny Tourism Town (Population under 1,500)
- Gold: Broke
- Silver: Millthorpe
- Bronze: Mungindi
- People’s Choice: Millthorpe
Hall of Fame
- Huskisson
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