1. Maleny, QLD
Where is it?
A one-and-a-half hour drive from Brisbane.
How many people live there?
Roughly 3,400
What is it known for?
Set within the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, it’s a cool retreat in the shade of the Glass House Mountains.
What to do while you’re in town
Maleny is a lush and tropical town with a calming and relaxed vibe. Start the day bright and early with a walk along the Maleny Trail for the chance to catch a glimpse of the shy platypus swimming in waterways at sunrise.
Nearby, Maple Street has an array of boutique shops to explore; Rosetta Books is worth perusing, featuring a coffee shop to boot. Also on Maple Street is Colin James Fine Foods, renowned for serving the best ice-cream in Queensland.
Make sure you try some of the more exotic flavours, such as pistachio and rosewater. The Brouhaha Brewery is also a must-visit. Order a beer paddle to sample a small selection of beers on tap and grab lunch while you’re there.
Maleny is a town set within the Sunshine Coast Hinterland
2. Denmark, WA
Where is it?
Denmark is a four-and-a-half hour drive from Perth, or you can fly to nearby Albany and hire a car for the 40-minute trip into town.
How many people live there?
2,550
What is it known for?
A vibrant little town in WA’s far south, Denmark is characterised by beautiful seascapes and a tight-knit community who are passionate about producing top quality food and award-winning wines.
What to do while you’re in town
The beaches in Denmark are a major drawcard – try Light Beach for waves or the placid Greens Pool waterhole for snorkelling. After a day of swimming, grab a homemade pie from Denmark Bakery in the town square before tackling the scenic section of the Bibbulmun Track towards Walpole.
Walk the whole way there and on to the Valley of the Giants. Its Treetop Walk through the canopy of 400-year-old trees is mesmerising. If you’ve got kids, they will love Dinosaur World just out of town.
You’ll find vibrant Denmark in WA’s far south
3. Hervey Bay, QLD
Where is it?
By car, Hervey Bay is a three-and-a-half hour drive north of Brisbane. Otherwise, Virgin Australia, QantasLink and Sunstate Airline fly to Hervey Bay’s Fraser Coast Airport; from Brisbane and Sydney.
How many people live there?
53,000
What is it known for?
Its whale watching vantage points may have put Hervey Bay on the map, but travellers are beginning to appreciate it for so much more than just the marine life that frolics offshore.
What to do while you’re in town
Whale watching is the obvious one here. The season generally runs from July to November in Hervey Bay. You can also expect to see dolphins, turtles and dugongs at the same time.
There are also a number of ways to fill your itinerary while on-land. The Urangan Pier is a historic landmark that was initially built as a deep-water, cargo-handling spot to facilitate the export of sugar, timber and coal. Hervey Bay is also conveniently close to the UNESCO-listed Fraser Island, which we could wax lyrical about for pages.
A southern humpback at play in Platypus Bay, just off whale-intensive Hervey Bay
5. Margaret River Town, WA
Where is it?
Margaret River is just under 3 hours’ drive from Perth.
How many people live there?
6,400
What is it known for?
Margaret River is a triple threat of fine dining, world-renowned wine country and enviable surf-breaks, all while still retaining its country town charm.
What to do while you’re in town
No visit to Margs, as it’s known locally, would be complete without calling into a winery. Find a full list here. Next, wander and check out the town’s cool boutique shops.
Margaret River Collaborative is a stylish space selling homewares, loose-leaf tea, and bits and bobs from local creatives, it’s a top spot to pick up a few souvenirs. If you’d rather be active, hire a bike and hit up the nearby mountain biking trails. Before farewelling Margaret River enjoy a visit to Wilyabrup Dreaming Pottery.
Enjoy the early spoils of the Margaret River region.
5. Montville, QLD
Where is it?
Right next door to Malaney, just 90 minutes north of Brisbane on the Blackall Range.
How many people live there?
Less than 1000
What is it known for?
The cute-as-a-button town of Montville is considered by many to be the creative heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
What to do while you’re in town
More a village than a town thanks to its tiny population, Montville is teeming with charming boutiques, studios and art galleries boasting work by both up-and-coming and established local artists.
Illume Creations sells glass sculptures and vases from local artist, Tina Cooper; Montville Art Gallery is housed in a 1920s Queenslander showcasing works from more than 30 award-winning artists; and don’t miss Secrets on the Lake Gallery – beautifully designed with magical views of Lake Baroon.
It would be hard to find a town more charming than Montville
6. Rockhampton
Where is it?
Rockhampton is a city in Central Queensland. The closest capital city is Brisbane, but even then, it’s a seven-hour drive should you choose to hit the road.
How many people live there?
78,000
What is it known for?
Part colonial, part country, and part contemporary, the ‘Rocky’ as the locals call it, is the beef capital of Australia.
What to do while you’re in town
Rockhampton straddles the Fitzroy River, the largest river on the Australian eastern seaboard. With a catchment area of 156,000 square kilometres it’s prime for Barramundi and King Threadfin fishing.
Throw in a line yourself or join a fishing charter. Alternatively, Capricorn Caves serves up a combo of ancient geology, adrenaline-charged adventure, and wondrous wildlife.
As the Beef Capital of Australia, travellers to Rockhampton can’t deny themselves of the region’s best export. The Ascot Stonegrill is one of the most highly-rated restaurants in Rockhampton to splurge on a steak.
‘Rocky’ as the locals call it, is the beef capital of Australia
7. Mildura, VIC
Where is it?
Mildura is a city in northwest Victoria. It sits on the banks of the vast Murray River
How many people live there?
30,000
What is it known for?
Considered the fruit basket of Victoria’s far northwest, Mildura’s a small town with big surprises. Its main claim to fame is that 95 percent of Australia’s dried fruit is produced here.
What to do while you’re in town
The town loves food and that’s no secret. There is a lot of cool little cafés and restaurants to choose from: the award-winning Stefano’s restaurant is bound to send your taste buds into a frenzy and Trentham Estate Winery & Restaurant offers a wide range of wines produced on the banks of the famous Murray River.
If you really want the best vantage point of the rich-red soils of Mildura, then a balloon ride is just the thing. Otherwise, take a tour through a 50-acre orchard with over 30 different citrus and avocado trees at Orange World.
Mildura is a small town with big surprises
8. Bendigo, VIC
Where is it?
Bendigo is about a 90-minute drive north of Melbourne.
How many people live there?
118,000
What is it known for?
The alluvial gold rush of the 1850s transformed Bendigo into the multicultural melting pot it is today. The city houses a legacy of grand buildings, historic gardens, avenues and charming homes – making it a delight to explore. It’s also a goldmine in terms of exceptional local produce.
What to do while you’re in town
Take aself-guided walking tour of the town or join a heritage guided walking tour to explore Bendigo’s iconic historical sites. Begin at the Visitor Centre and make your way to the Bendigo Town Hall.
Book ahead to enjoy high tea at Fortuna Villa, and marvel at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Head underground to explore the shafts and tunnels of Central Deborah Gold Mine for a taste of what it was like in Bendigo in the 1850s during the gold rush times. Jump on board Bendigo’s Vintage Talking Trams for an interactive history lesson.
The hop-on, hop-off tour weaves its way through the city, stopping at Bendigo’s main attractions, eateries, art and shopping precincts.
Wineries, craft brewers and boutique food producers abound in Bendigo. (Credit Christine Aldred)
9. Tanunda, SA
Where is it?
Tanunda is located in the heart of the Barossa Valley, an easily accessible one-hour and-20 minute drive from the centre of Adelaide.
How many people live there?
5,000
What is it known for?
The Barossa is renowned for its quality wines, but when you need to refuel you will also find a wide variety of food to sample in the region’s foodie hub, Tanunda.
What to do while you’re in town
If you are after a quick, good value and easy stop before you head off for a day of wine tasting, head to Tanunda Bakery and Café. Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop in neighbouring Nuriootpa (less than 10 minutes’ drive) is the place to stop in the Barossa, you’ll see that famous kitchen and the newer function centre with its surrounding nature walks.
Tanunda is located in the heart of the Barossa Valley
10. Mount Tamborine, QLD
Where is it?
Thirty kilometres from the Gold Coast and 70 kilometres from Brisbane.
How many people live there?
7,500
What is it known for?
Known as “the green behind the gold”, Tamborine Mountain is a serene place to escape the summer holiday mayhem of the Gold Coast.
What to do while you’re in town
It’s just a one-hour drive to the beach but there is loads to do on the mountain, too. Try the Firewater at the famous – or infamous – Tamborine Mountain Distillery.
Witches Falls Cheese Company has a great reputation, as does Ripples Massage for spa treatments. For something extra special, one of the best walking experiences on the mountain takes place 30 metres above the forest floor along the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, it’s the mountain’s equivalent of standing on the top floor of the Gold Coast’s Q1 building.
If local culture is more your thing, take a walk down Long Rd – particularly the section known as Gallery Walk. You’ll meander past Fudge Heaven, PJ Art Gallery, and the German Cuckoo Clock Nest.
Tamborine Mountain is a serene place to escape the summer mayhem
Source: https://t24hs.com
