All 100 emerging destinations and experiences

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Discover Australia’s top 100 emerging destinations and experiences.

Australia’s always-evolving tourism offering is what has inspired us to highlight emerging destinations and experiences.

What do we mean by emerging? Think everything from Australia’s next holiday hotspots and regions on the rise to tiny towns now on the map thanks to innovative new dining or hotel options. And from places we might think we know well whose reinventions are prompting us to look again to the latest travel trends and more.

Here is the complete list, for you to keep your own appetite for exploring Australia well and truly whetted.

Towns

See Australia’s top emerging towns here.

1. Mapleton, Queensland

2. Witchcliffe, Western Australia

3. Mount Beauty, Victoria

4. Mount Gambier, South Australia

5. Nagambie, Victoria

6. Oatlands, Tasmania

7. Esperance, Western Australia

8. Yeppoon, Queensland

9. Tenterfield, New South Wales

10. Jabiru, Northern Territory

Neighbourhoods

See Australia’s top emerging neighbourhoods here.

11. Sandstone Precinct at Circular Quay, NSW

12. Pentridge Precinct, Coburg, Victoria

13. Noosaville industrial area, Queensland

14. Dromana Habitat, Victoria

15. Adelaide’s Inner West, SA

16. Tiger Lane precinct, Canberra, ACT

Regions

See Australia’s emerging regions here.

17. Scenic Rim, Queensland

18. Southern Flinders Ranges, SA

19. Mid West, WA

20. Mildura-Wentworth, NSW-Victoria border

21. Central Coast, NSW

22. Kimberley, WA

23. Peel, WA

24. Gippsland, Victoria

25. Townsville, Queensland

26. Launceston and Northern Tasmania

Cities

See Australia’s emerging city experiences here.

27. Brisbane precincts, Queensland

28. Dairy Road, Canberra, ACT

29. kipli takara walking tour, Hobart, Tasmania

30. Geelong comes of age, Victoria

31. Albury’s first degustation, NSW

32. Foodie experiences in Darwin

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Stays

See Australia’s top emerging stays here.

33. Basalt, Orange, NSW

34. Baillie Lodges, Kangaroo Island, SA

35. Sea Sea, Crescent Head, NSW

36. Samphire Rottnest Island, WA

37. Ampersand Estates, Pemberton, WA

38. Sunnymead, Aireys Inlet, Victoria

39. The Louise, Barossa Valley, SA

40. Rangelands Outback Camp, Queensland

41. The Oaks Ranch, Eurobodalla, NSW

42. Melbourne CBD’s luxury new hotels, Victoria

Food and wine

See Australia’s emerging food and wine experiences here.

43. Murwillumbah, NSW

44. Kuti Shack, Goolwa, SA

45. Portarlington Mussel Tours, Victoria

46. Granite Belt Wine Region, Queensland

47. Canberra Wine District, ACT

48. Sustainability in McLaren Vale, SA

49. Trentham, Victoria

50. Kakadu Full Moon Feast, NT

51. The Rockley Pub, NSW

Culture

See Australia’s top emerging cultural experiences here.

52. Bruce Munro at Discovery Parks King Canyon, NT

53. The Banya, Mullumbimby, NSW

54. Outback Queensland’s festival calendar, Queensland

55. Fine Vines festival, WA

56. Queenstown, Tasmania

57. Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat, Victoria

58. Wintjiri Wiru, Uluru, NT

59. Harvest Rock Festival, SA

60. Cultural Attractions of Australia, ACT, NSW, SA, Queensland and WA

61. Regional galleries, NSW and Victoria

62. Street art, NSW

63. Cairns Italian Festival, Queensland

Sustainable

See Australia’s top emerging sustainable experiences here.

64. Wuldi Cultural Experience at Gemtree Estate, SA

65. Wellness in Shoalhaven, NSW

66. Gumbaynggirr Country, Coffs Coast, NSW

67. Gold Coast Dive Trail, Queensland

68. Bundaberg, Queensland

69. Margaret River, WA

70. Positive Energy Adventures and Retreats, NSW

71. Inclusive travel

72. Fraser Coast, Queensland

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Trails

See Australia’s top emerging trails here.

73. Rail trails, NSW and Victoria

74. Slow food and rail tour, NSW

75. Tasmanian Walking Company, Tasmania

76. Australia’s bushwalking state, NSW

77. Dam mural in Wellington National Park, WA

78. Silo Art Trail, Victoria

79. Seasoned Tasting Trail, Victoria

80. Warlu Way, WA

Coast & Island

See Australia’s top emerging aquatic experiences here.

81. North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah, Queensland

82. Wellness on Dirk Hartog Island, WA

83. The Big Lap by sea

84. Boomerang Beach, NSW

85. Mission Beach, Queensland

86. Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail, NSW

87. Nuyts Archipelago, SA

88. Tiwi Islands, NT

89. Wagait Beach/Cox Peninsula, NT

Nature

See Australia’s emerging nature experiences here.

90. Wildlife Wonders, Great Ocean Road, Victoria

91. Tiny houses, Australia-wide

92. Grampians/Gariwerd, Victoria

93. Yagurli Tours, Queensland

94. Yarriba Dreaming, Queensland

95. Wild South Coast Way on the Heysen Trail, SA

96. The Pilliga, NSW

97. Murray River, SA

98. On Board Expeditions, Tasmania

99. Christmas Island, WA

100. Bremer Bay, WA

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7 pinch-me moments I had at the new Monarto Safari Lodge

    Katie Carlin Katie Carlin
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    Monarto Safari Resort’s new Safari Lodge delivers so much more than a memorable stay; it’s packed full of unforgettable moments.  

    Just a year after the 78-room Monarto Safari Resort opened, the new Safari Lodge brings a more intimate and exclusive overnight African safari experience to Australia just outside of Adelaide. But just how similar is it to an African safari?

    Consider these pinch-me moments I had during my stay and decide for yourself. 

    1. Cheetah sightings at check-in

    monarto safari lodge cheetahs
    Spot cheetahs before you even check in.

    Safari Lodge is set within the Wild Africa precinct of the expansive, open-range Monarto Safari Park. I expected to see animals, but I didn’t expect to see two cheetahs stalking the fenceline just behind my tent at check-in.

    I cross the paddock to get a closer look. Both are now perched like a sphinx on a hill overlooking the 20 premium tents that make up Safari Lodge. I stand here, locked in place, waiting to see if they make a move. After 10 minutes like this, I turn to get settled into the tent but throw a final look in their direction; they’ve slinked back down, now barely visible in the grass. I’m sure I’ll be dreaming about this encounter later tonight. 

    2. Sipping champagne as a giraffe sips from a waterhole

    giraffes at monarto safari lodge
    Enjoy champagne while meeting the locals. (Credit: Katie Carlin)

    The all-inclusive stay includes a 2.5-hour Sunset Safari that takes guests into the Wild Africa precinct onboard a purpose-built Safari Land Cruiser for a chance to see free-roaming herds of African animals up close.

    The safari drive culminates in a champagne and canapé stop in a fenced and sheltered viewing area of the precinct. A chance to watch the sun set as animals gather around one of the many waterholes. And we’re in luck! Two giraffes are stripping leaves from a nearby tree as three white rhinos graze to my right. One giraffe starts galloping, in that funny head-bobbing way giraffes do, to the water’s edge. It splays its legs and bends its long neck down to start slurping up water. I find giraffes endlessly entertaining, and sipping champagne while watching the scene play out is the icing on the cake. 

    3. A rain shower with views of a waterhole where African animals gather

    monarto safari lodge King Safari Tent
    Enjoy views from the King Safari Tent.

    I am staying in tent 17, one of the best positioned tents for animal encounters, due to its proximity to the waterhole. Not only does the spacious 71-square-metre King Safari Tent feature a king bed, lounge area, separate dressing room with kitchenette, coffee machine, kettle and fully stocked mini bar, and ensuite bathroom. But you can even glimpse the waterhole from the rain shower. It’s thoughtful details like this that keep you connected to the safari experience no matter where you are located.  

    4. Feeding lions from within a caged dome

    Lion 360 experience at monarto safari resort
    Step into the Lion 360 experience. (Credit: Katie Carlin)

    Monarto Safari Park isn’t a zoo. Set across 1500 hectares of South Australian bushland, it’s an expansive safari experience. It’s been designed to support complex social groupings, natural behaviours and long-term species management. Entry is included for guests, but I’ve decided to upgrade my experience with tickets to Lion 360. 

    Senior Keeper Rachel Hemming herds 15 of us into a domed cage for the unique lion feeding experience. She leads Monarto’s care and conservation breeding programs for their iconic big cats. “Make sure you don’t get too close to the edge of the cage; the lions like to mark their territory,” she warns. 

    She starts making cat-like calls to Kubwa, Kashka and Kito, the three male lions lazing somewhere out of sight behind the tree line in the distance. The promise of food eventually lures the lions over. I’m in awe of their size as they pace back and forth, pausing to take the meat as it’s fed to them via tongs.

    In her excitement, one lady has inched too close; a lion takes aim and hits his mark before she realises her mistake. I see her leaving the gift shop with a new jacket not long after the tour ends. 

    5. A swim in a private plunge pool with a floating charcuterie board

    Monarto safari Lodge swim in a private plunge pool with a floating charcuterie board
    Tuck into a poolside treat. (Credit: Katie Carlin)

    The Safari Lodge reception is also home to a restaurant and bar, heated swimming pool and several private plunge pools available to book. After a morning spent at Monarto Safari Park, a dip in one of the private plunge pools sounds too good to skip.

    I change into my swimmers and make my way to the lodge. A generous charcuterie board arrives shortly after I slip into the pool. I’m told floating trays are already on order, but picking at the selection of cheeses, meats, nuts and fruit while perched on the edge sipping champagne is just as indulgent as it is having it float in the water. I never make it to the gym or pickleball court beside the lodge, but I have no regrets. 

    6. A front-row seat to a male rhino rejected by two females

    male rhino grazing
    Watch a rhino’s unlucky day. (Credit: Lucas Alexander)

    Louis Tonkin, our Wild Africa Tour host, is giddy with excitement when he spots the three white rhinos on our Sunset Safari drive. He has an inkling that we’re about to get a show.

    He pulls to the side and tells us what terrible eyesight white rhinos have, struggling to spot a motionless animal or object even from a short distance. However, they make up for it with acute hearing and an incredible sense of smell. Which explains why the larger male rhino is methodically creeping towards the two disinterested females grazing metres in front of him, then suddenly freezing on the spot. He’s hoping one will be open to mating with him. He takes another wary shuffle forward and suddenly the smaller of the two turns and charges towards him, butting him hard with her head. It’s a firm no. The male, denied, sheepishly backs away. 

    7. Watching a dazzle of zebra from the comfort of a luxury safari tent

    monarto safari resort zebra
    Wildlife encounters abound.

    Rain clouds loom, and the wind is howling, but thankfully it hasn’t deterred the zebras. I’m brewing a cup of Monarto’s Serengé-T – a vanilla rooibos blended with Daintree black tea and butterfly pea flower when I spot them. Six zebras are prancing across the plains for a drink at the waterhole. I watch their antics from the deck of my King Safari Tent, wrapped in a merino blanket made by Australian-owned Grampians Good Co. and marvel at the fact I get a front-row show to these wild animals. 

    After they disappear from view, I sit with the sketch pad and pencils I find in the cupboard and start drawing some of my most memorable animal encounters from the weekend – starting with the two hippos I saw ravenously munching on grass at dusk as we made our way out of the Wild Africa precinct last night. This really is as close to an authentic safari experience as you can get outside of Africa. 

    Start planning a wild stay in the luxurious Safari Lodge at monartosafariresort.com.