Nestled on NSW’s glittering Sapphire Coast, 450 kilometres south of Sydney, Merimbula is where you’ll find some of the country’s most succulent Sydney Rock and Angasi oysters. Start your visit by driving along the Oyster Trail, from estuary to estuary, to meet the producers and sample the freshly shucked mollusks. Once you’ve eaten your fill, kayak down the serene Pambula River on an Aboriginal Culture Tour as your First Nations guide shares the region’s Aboriginal culture and history, leading you to scenic spots such as tranquil Severs Beach, where you’ll enjoy a refreshing morning tea. For a seaside meal, take a table at Valentina right by the water, where Italian-ish seafood is the order of the day.

Resting on the northern edge of Tasmania, and a 35-minute drive west from Devonport, Burnie is an industrial port town where the streets are lined with Art Deco-style buildings. By day, explore the award-winning Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden or sip drams at Australia’s oldest operating whisky distillery, Hellyers Road. Then make your way to the Little Penguin Observation Centre just before dusk and perch on the boardwalk between October and March to watch the world’s smallest penguins come ashore, as volunteer guides teach you all there is to know about the adorable birds. The newly-opened One North Terrace is footsteps from West Beach, and offers 30 contemporary coastal rooms, including a two-bedroom deluxe apartment for families.

Crowned by the red-and-white candy striped Mersey Bluff Lighthouse, Devonport is where the trans-Tasman Spirit of Tasmania ferry arrives after departing from Victoria. Here you’ll watch Little Penguins – also known as Fairy Penguins – waddle along on Lilico Beach, and also have the chance to spot platypus in the wild at the 66-hectare Tasmanian Arboretum. Learn about the region’s seafaring history at the Bass Strait Maritime Centre, then take the 15-minute drive east to Ghost Rock Wines for a guided tasting of their Lo-Fi drops and a hearty lunch, where the menu shines a spotlight on Tassie produce. If you’re planning to stay a while, you can even stay the night.

Sprawled over the surface of a long dormant volcano on the Limestone Coast, Mount Gambier is speckled with natural sinkholes, ultra-blue crater lakes and lush forests that glow at night with bioluminescent fungi (ghost mushrooms). Drop your bags at historic Delgattie Estate then take the 20-minute drive south to Port MacDonnell to embark on a First Nations-led two-hour Explore the Coast adventure with Bush Adventure Tours to forage for wild treasures along the coastline before feasting on bush tucker. Head back into town and wander the sunken fairytale garden at Umpherston Sinkhole, or take a dip at Little Blue Lake, where stairs and a pontoon guide you safely down the eight-metre-high walls.

Surrounded by the rugged Mundi Mundi Plains, Broken Hill is an outback town a two-and-a-half-hour flight west of Sydney that’s perhaps best known for being the setting of the beloved film,The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Recreate the film’s iconic scenes at The Palace Hotel or amid the region’s otherworldly landscapes, including the Living Desert State Park and its fantastical sandstone sculptures. From March 2025, Muntawintji Heritage Tours will offer half-day guided Kulluwirru Dreaming tours through Muntawintji National Park and its restricted historic site, sharing the stories of traditional rock art and ochre stencils that have graced the area for centuries.

An easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne, pretty Point Lonsdale boasts award-winning farm-gate producers (follow the Bellarine Taste Trail) and front-row access to diving, water sports and bird watching at Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park. Base yourself at Lon Retreat, a sandstone homestead with seven suites, a mineral pool, day spa and private access to the beach.

Often viewed as the gateway to the rest of sunny Queensland, the coastal town of Maroochydore has plenty to offer in itself. Think golden beaches minus the crowds, cool Ocean Street cafés, all manner of watersports on the Maroochy River and beautiful, breezy stays such as Loea – a motel-turned-Instagram-friendly oasis of whitewashed walls and wicker furniture.

Off Tasmania’s windswept east coast, Maria Island is accessible by ferry from Triabunna, just over an hour’s drive from Hobart. In the history-steeped national park, which is free of cars and shops, highlights include the Darlington Probation Station – a UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict site – and the 4.3-kilometre-return track to the swirling Painted Cliffs.

No trip to Coffin Bay, a 50-minute flight from Adelaide, is complete without tasting the region’s world-famous oysters. You can even pull on some waders and pluck them from the water yourself on a 90-minute Oyster Farm Tour. Or meet sea lions, dolphins and more on a three-day wildlife tour of the Eyre Peninsula with Australian Coastal Safaris.

Just over two hours from Perth, and 10 minutes from beachside Busselton and its 1.8-kilometre jetty, Vasse village is a great pit stop en route to Margaret River. Stroll the leafy boulevards, take in the street art and don’t skip a long lunch at pioneering winery Vasse Felix, a 20-minute drive away.

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A 90-minute drive from Byron Bay and just across the river from Yamba, Iluka is best known for its nature reserve, which is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, and impressive fishing hauls. Walk the easy 2.6-kilometre Iluka Rainforest Track and grab locally caught lunch at one of the Clarence River Fishermen's Co-operative retail outlets before strolling the Break Wall for epic views of the coastline.

A good break for beginner surfers, Middleton Beach is also a picturesque spot to fish or simply splash about in the chilly waters of the Great Australian Bight. On the Fleurieu Peninsula, only an hour’s drive from Adelaide, stay in one of the 12 striped Beach Huts – there’s an on-site restaurant, shared dining area and lovely communal lawn just minutes from the sand. Don’t miss the opportunity to share the wisdom of the area’s local custodians, the Ngarrindjeri, on a 2.5-hour cultural tour that departs nearby Port Elliot, where you’ll learn first-hand about the power of local bush foods and medicines.

Country charm meets a celebrated food culture in Berry, two hours’ drive from Sydney’s CBD. Check in at The Berry View – the 1970s-era hotel has been upgraded for the modern traveller, explore the homewares shops on the main drag and dine at Queen St. Eatery, a chic French bistro. A stop at The Famous Berry Donut Van before heading home is non-negotiable.

One of Australia’s oldest wine regions, Rutherglen is three hours from Melbourne, just shy of the NSW border. Follow the Muscat Mile to sample the fortified vino the area is famous for, enjoy a picnic at All Saints Estate and sleep in a French Provincial tower at Mount Ophir Estate.

Picture-perfect beaches, friendly locals, laid-back vibes: this Tweed Coast town ticks all the boxes for a cruisy escape. A 35-minute drive north of Byron Bay, it’s also home to an up-and-coming culinary scene – fine-diner Pipit serves seasonal set menus and Black Drop Cafe is a must-visit for coffee and a casual meal (the Shitake mushroom scramble is a delicious choice).

Drive three hours’ north-west of Brisbane and you’ll find eucalypt forests, waterfalls and rugged peaks more than 1100 metres above sea level within the Bunya Mountains National Park. This is the country of the Wakka Wakka, Jarowair and Barrumgum Peoples where visitors can immerse themselves in the local knowledge, heritage and history via a tour that loops in the area’s Bush University. (Expect dance, meals grounded in native produce and even a hands-on clay-making workshop). For stays, there are several kid-friendly camping areas or reserve a well-equipped holiday home via Bunya Mountains Accommodation Centre.

Surfers love the swell at Hawks Nest, three hours’ drive north of Sydney or 45 minutes from Newcastle Airport, but there’s also Jimmys Beach on the bay side, a sheltered spot that’s ideal for families and kayaking or paddleboarding. Dark Point, at the northern end of Jimmy’s, has long been considered a sacred site by the local Worimi people, where clans (nuras) would gather to feast on seafood and other spoils. Take it all in with a wander to its headland, where you’ll be greeted by views over nearby Broughton Island. Book an Airbnb or one of Myall River Camp’s safari-style glamping tents complete with a kitchen, private deck and modern ensuite.

Packed with beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the 1800s, Evandale is a must-visit for history buffs. Drive two hours north of Hobart to marvel at the late-Georgian and early-Victorian architecture (St Andrews Church and The Clarendon Arms hotel are standouts). If you’re nearby in February, don’t miss the charming National Penny Farthing Championship.

A beachside suburb of Perth, Scarborough is just 20 minutes from the city centre. Enjoy the photogenic stretch of white sand or take a dip in the geothermally heated pools overlooking the waves. You’ve got plenty of food options, too: pick up a danish at Harvest Boulangerie or sip a Scandi-inspired cocktail at Skol.

Billing itself as ‘the place where the outback meets the tropics’, Katherine is the gateway to Nitmiluk National Park. In town, explore the Aboriginal-owned and operated Mimi Aboriginal Art and Craft Centre and snack on a legendary toastie from The Black Russian Caravan Bar before heading out on a spectacular sunset tour of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge.

Surrounded by 50-plus vineyards, this laid-back Granite Belt town is at the centre of the state’s emerging wine industry. Drive 2.5 hours south-west of Brisbane to taste European varieties like graciano and tempranillo with Granite Highland Maxi-Tours, craft beer at the Granite Belt Brewery and cheese at Jersey Girls Cafe. 

A two-hour flight from Perth, this coastal town serves as a jumping-off point for those who want to dive with whale sharks, humpback whales and turtles in the glimmering waters of Ningaloo Reef. The region has a wealth of experiences that bring visitors closer to the traditional custodians, the Baiyungu, Thalanyji and Yinigurdira peoples. With Baiyungu Dreaming, the landscapes leap to life accompanied by the storytelling of owner and Baiyungu woman Hazel Walgar and her team. Deepen your connection to nature with a stay at Sal Salis, a luxurious eco-retreat, where all 16 tents are nestled in the dunes of the Cape Range National Park.

Surrounded by the Simpson and Tanami deserts, Alice Springs benefits from its otherworldly location – visitors make a beeline for the waterhole at Simpsons Gap. On clear nights, take in the region’s dark skies and dazzling display of stars from your balcony at DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs. Be sure to spend time exploring the many galleries in town showcasing First Nations art. Over 1000 works bring the diversity of local work alive at Araluen Arts Centre and Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists is a studio that supports Indigenous artists living with a disability.

Port Lincoln isn’t known as the seafood capital of Australia for nothing; it’s an unbeatable spot for just-caught bluefin tuna and southern rock lobster. Make the seven-hour scenic road trip from Adelaide, drop your bags at Eyre Way – a Scandi-chic tiny house half-an-hour out of town – and head to Line & Label for juicy Coffin Bay oysters.

For a dose of artsy charm, it’s tough to do better than Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, 90 minutes north of Brisbane. Complete with a gallery-packed main street, this is the ideal destination for antique shoppers and First Nations art enthusiasts (your first stop should be the ever-exciting Munimba-ja Arts Centre just east of the town centre). Make your home at Maleny Lodge, where the weatherboard cottage dates back to 1905 and is filled with vintage rocking chairs and clawfoot tubs.

Often dubbed ‘the new Byron Bay’ (a 90-minute drive north), this sleepy town in Far North NSW has several world-class surf breaks. Prefer to flop and drop? Watch the waves roll in from the rooftop pool at The Surf, a boutique hotel with 12 pastel-hued rooms and suites. A 2.5-hour journey south you’ll find the World-Heritage Listed Dorrigo National Park, where wandering the Gondwana Rainforests of the Gumbaynggirr people is like being transported back in time. (Families, take note: during school holiday periods, a must-do cultural tour of the park led by a Gumbaynggirr guide is available).

In Swansea, eastern Tasmania’s otherworldly beauty is clear: sheltered beaches, coastal wilderness and the pink granite peaks of The Hazards range come together in a majestic combination. Freycinet National Park, about an hour away by car, has plenty to keep you busy. Cruise crescent-shaped Wineglass Bay, tackle scenic mountain tracks and recharge in your stone cottage at Piermont Retreat.

Just over an hour from Canberra in NSW’s Southern Tablelands, Braidwood’s wide, tree-lined streets and heritage-listed colonial buildings make for one very picturesque townscape. Black truffle season kicks off in June; join in the hunt at Durran Durra before retiring to your elegantly appointed guest house at Mona Farm.

Quaint and compact, Milawa is about a three-hour drive north-east of Melbourne and the gateway to the King Valley wine region. Check in at quietly luxurious Lancemore Milawa, then head out on a leisurely bike ride along the 12.5-kilometre Pedal to Produce route, stopping off at the Brown Brothers cellar door and Milawa Cheese Company.

With its quiet atmosphere and natural bush setting, it’s hard to believe Kyneton is just an hour’s drive from Melbourne. The pretty town has a plethora of art galleries (Lauriston Press houses paintings, prints and ceramics) and artisanal eateries (the hatted Midnight Starling serves up French bistro-style fare), while its proximity to Hanging Rock makes it a prime bushwalking destination. Get a group of friends together and stay at The Old Rectory, which was built in 1850 and retains many of its original features.

It’s hard to miss Northam on the 90-minute drive north-east of Perth: part of the Public Silo Trail, you’ll pass a bright, 38-metre-high mural on your way into town. The area is also home to over 180 historical buildings, one of which has been transformed into the chic Farmers’ Home Hotel.

Tucked away in the Adelaide Hills (a 30-minute drive from the city centre), this tiny town (population: 397) is a mecca for food lovers. Fourth Hill Providore serves up flaky pastries and Roman-style pizza in a light-filled barn, Udder Delights sells a stunning range of house-made cheeses from ash brie to Heysen blue and Stanley Bridge Tavern is all about fancy pub grub.

Just shy of Tasmania’s north-western tip, Stanley is a picture-perfect fishing village, all well-preserved cottages and rugged coastline. Climb The Nut (an ancient volcanic plug that juts into Bass Strait), take in the Regency-era architecture at Highfield Historic Site and cosy up in front of the fire at the gorgeously restored Ship Inn, once an 1800s sailor’s tavern.

Just an hour away from Melbourne by ferry, Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula makes for an easy gourmet getaway. Pick blueberries at Tuckerberry Hill Berry Farm, sip zesty pinot gris at Terindah Estate and the 18-hour, slow-cooked lamb with sumac yoghurt at the Portarlington Grand Hotel before heading upstairs to your seafoam-green inspired room overlooking shimmering Port Phillip Bay.

Nestled in the lush hinterland between Byron Bay and colourful Nimbin, the Northern Rivers town of Eltham is mainly known for its huge country pub, The Eltham Hotel. Rooms have been recently upgraded with plush velvet armchairs and eclectic artwork but there are still plenty of classics on the menu (think chips and gravy and eggplant parmigiana).