The next chapter of Australian travel isn’t about more, bigger or better. It’s about choosing experiences with more care.
In an era when algorithms might be able to tell us where to go, but not why it matters, the idea of an anti-bucket list feels timely. For decades, travel has been framed around cramming in as many places as possible – a race around the world before our time runs out. Australian Traveller is upending that logic – not in a bid to abandon ambition, but to question it. To shift the focus from collecting destinations to engaging with them – travelling more slowly, more intentionally, and with a greater regard for place.
The Australian Traveller anti-bucket list isn’t about doing less; it’s about paying closer attention. The destinations that follow are not new; what’s new is how to approach them. From long-distance tracks in Western Australia to a landmark loo in Maryborough, each offers a way of travelling that values context over ticking off a checklist. Here’s where to go deeper and stay longer.
The South West region of WA
Hikers are dwarfed by the scale of the Great Southern coast. (Image: Rachel Claire & Jessica Wyld)
The tea-coloured water contrasts with the clear blue ocean. (Image: Rachel Claire & Jessica Wyld)
How to visit differently: Walk a 60-kilometre section of the Bibbulmun Track with Cape2Camp as an exercise in digital disconnection rather than endurance. With phones switched off, and logistics sorted, tiny details – like the land, the light, the weather and the people moving through the landscape – come into focus.
The Tweed, NSW
The power of Wollumbin viewed across the cane fields. (Image: Hannah Puechmarin)
Why you should visit: In addition to its coastal towns, quaint villages and green haze of the hinterland, the Tweed has emerged as one of Australia’s most compelling food regions. On Bundjalung Country, the scene is grounded in stewardship: of soil, of stories and of community. Visit the restaurants led by chefs, producers and educators redefining what sustainability looks like in practice.
Michele Stephens is the co-owner of Farm & Co. (Image: Hannah Puechmarin)
How to visit differently: The Tweed’s culinary scene is being carefully shaped by local women. Time a visit around the annual Savour the Tweed festival when many of the region’s female farmers, chefs and First Nations voices come together around shared tables. Use the festival as an entry point; in the Tweed, the richest experiences come from who is leading the conversation and why.
Kakadu National Park, NT
Witness more birdlife on the Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) billabong. (Image: Tourism & Events NT/@cruising.cat)
Why you should visit: Kakadu is full of big-ticket sights. Wetlands spill into tropical savannahs, rocky escarpments rise from floodplains, caves swirl with ancient rock art and billabongs are alive with crocodiles. It is a place of dramatic seasonal change, where waterfalls thunder after the wet and contract into stone amphitheatres in the dry. Few national parks offer this scale of biodiversity alongside such deep, continuing Indigenous custodianship.
How to visit differently: Look to the skies. Kakadu is home to more than 280 bird species – around a third of Australia’s total – and birdwatching offers a more mindful way to move through the park. Time a visit with Kakadu Bird Week in September when wetlands and woodlands come alive with kingfishers, finches and raptors.
Coonabarabran & Broken Hill, Outback NSW
Spot the Milky Way in Broken Hill. (Image: Destination NSW/Damian Bennett)
Why you should visit: The vast arid landscape of Outback NSW is furnished with termite mounds, skeletal trees, car cemeteries and broken-down sheds collapsing into the dust. Broken Hill sits at its centre; a mining town long favoured by artists for cinematic skies captured so memorably in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Coonabarabran, gateway to the Warrumbungles, has a very different identity with its volcanic peaks and mountainous landscape the main attraction. Geographically, it’s like slicing a layer cake of Australia’s existence.
How to visit differently: Visit at night. With minimal light pollution, this is one of Australia’s greatest noc-tourism regions. Stargaze in Warrumbungle National Park, the nation’s first Dark Sky Park, or time a visit to Coonabarabran with events like the OzSky Star Safari. In Broken Hill, guided shows under a blue-back sky add context. Plan travel around celestial moments such as meteor showers, equinoxes or lunar eclipses and let darkness, rather than daylight, inform the itinerary.
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The WA Coast: Fremantle to Broome
Discover the contrasting elements of Cape Peron. (Image: Imogen Eveson)
Why you should visit: Australia’s west coast is one of the most biodiverse shorelines on the planet. Between Fremantle and Broome lie whale migration routes, coral reefs, remote islands, shipwreck history and living Indigenous culture. What is most thrilling about this vast marine corridor is that it’s where nature, science and stories converge far from the crowds.
Enjoy evening entertainment back onboard Le Soléal. (Image: Imogen Eveson)
How to visit differently: Travel on an expedition cruise with PONANT Explorations, sailing from Fremantle to Broome. Naturalists lead Zodiac excursions to the islands and reefs rarely reached by travellers, while whale encounters, shore landings and lectures replace port hopping.
The Murray River
Cruising the Murray is one of the best ways to discover this stunning region. (Image: Krista Eppelstun)
Why you should visit: The towns that have sprung up along the banks of the Murray River offer everything from slow stays to incredible epicurean experiences. While the Murray is the main event, you’ll stay for everything it leads you to, from the otherworldly landscapes of Mungo National Park to candy-pink salt lakes and acclaimed wineries.
Weave through the scenic river red gum landscape. (Image: Krista Eppelstun)
How to visit differently: The Murray rewards travellers who slow to its pace. Travel with All Seasons Houseboats and let the mighty river set the rhythm. Wake at first light to watch the sun roll across the sky. Go swimming, birdwatching and fishing on the riverbanks. And cut yourself adrift from the binding timetable of the everyday along the river, which stretches across three states.
Enjoy a slice of the good life cruising the Murray River in Mildura! Where sun-kissed days meet tranquil waters, it's the perfect escape.
Maryborough, Queensland
Marvel at Maryborough’s military past. (Image: Joanne Karcz)
Why you should visit:Maryborough is a quietly substantial regional Queensland town, shaped by rail, river trade and civic ambition. It’s known for its heritage streetscapes, military history and as the birthplace of Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers.
Local artist Akos Juhasz painted the murals in the ladies’ and men’s restrooms. (Image: Joanne Karcz)
How to visit differently: Start with the public toilets. The art-filled Cistern Chapel turns a utilitarian stop into a cultural event, complete with murals, music and volunteer ‘flusher ushers’. It’s a reminder that civic pride can be playful and that sometimes the most revealing landmarks aren’t the ones signposted from the highway. The city centre attraction is part of the local mural trail.
Red Centre, NT
A quiet moment of stillness, looking up in awe at the walls of Kings Canyon. (Image: Tourism NT/@75vibes_)
Why you should visit: Travellers who visit the Red Centre in the low season (November to April) are rewarded with dramatic skies, shifting patterns of light, desert wildflowers and waterfalls that briefly transform iconic landscapes. With crowds thinned by the heat, and the Earth beaten by rain, wind and storms, the season offers up transformative moments in travel that very few experience.
Yalka Ratara Eco Camp sits softly on the earth. (Image: Sarbo Studio)
How to visit differently: Embark on a six-day Red Centre & Uluru Explorer tour with Intrepid Travel to meet Traditional Owners, linger at icons when the tour buses retreat, bed down at the gorgeous Yalka Eco Stays and embrace the beautiful unpredictability of the season. A wake-up call at dawn goes beyond beating the heat. Yes, it’s when the temperatures soften. But it’s also when mobs of kangaroos move through the spinifex and the rock faces shift from inky purple to rust and rose.
Enjoy dinner and a show under a dark desert sky at Earth Sanctuary. (Image: Tourism NT/Plenty of Dust)
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Clermont, Queensland
Take to the skies on a scenic flight with Bush Heli-services.
Why you should visit: Clermont is a reminder that the outback isn’t only found at the end of an epic road trip. Clermont is in the heart of Queensland’s historic gold country, just a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Mackay. It sits amid wide plains, quiet creeks and remnants of boom-and-bust ambition. The town is part of the Great Inland Way, a 16-day road trip from Sydney/Warrane to Cooktown/Gungardie.
How to visit differently: Do something hands-on. Fossick for gold with Golden Prospecting Tours, camp under the Milky Way or take a scenic flight with Bush Heli-Services to trace plains and waterways that follow the natural contours of the land. These are the modern-day riches you’ll discover in Clermont if you slow down, instead of passing through.
Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria
Score a taste of the quaint countryside surrounds. (Image: Unsplash/You Le)
Why you should visit: Victoria’s breathtaking Bellarine Peninsula will help you shrug off your big-city stresses. Here, the clang and clatter of crashing waves replaces traffic noise; vineyard roads taper into clifftop paths; and the unhurried way of life means meals always extend longer than planned. Visit the underrated peninsula for the well-preserved Victorian-era charm of Queenscliff to the coastal walks along Barwon Bluff and small producers pouring wine and spirits. The region is a prime place for a reset.
A retreat to reconnect and inspire slow living. (Image: Nikole Ramsay)
How to visit differently: Stay put. Discerning wellness warriors have long had Lon Retreat & Spa on their radar for its mineral pools and dreamy, adults-only suites. But the luxury hideaway, one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, recently tapped into a rising interest in contrast therapy with its new immersive thermal environment. The sanctuary features a Finnish sauna, magnesium-rich pool, Swedish soak bucket and communal fire pit.
Hamilton Island, Queensland
Climb to the top of the popular Passage Peak Hamilton Island hike. (Image: Riley Williams)
Why you should visit: Spectacular Whitsunday blues, tropical island energy and endless activities under the sun – this tried-and-true destination is an Aussie family favourite for a reason. Whether you’re dining on freshly caught coral trout or kayaking at Catseye Beach, Hamilton Island invites travellers to reset for good.
Embark on an exhilarating new adventure on Hamilton Island. (Image: Harry Gruttner)
How to visit differently: Swap the typical flop-and-drop sun bed experience for an adrenaline-pumping adventure along Hamilton Island’s new e-mountain biking trails. You’ll get to connect with nature and challenge yourself while getting to see some of the island’s most stunning corners. It’s an invigorating new way to experience this popular destination anew.
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Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.
Mention the Macedon Ranges and most people will think of day spas and mineral springs around Daylesford, cosy weekends away in the countryside or the famous Hanging Rock (of enigmatic picnic fame). Or they won’t have heard of the Macedon Ranges at all.
But this cool-climate destination has been inconspicuously building a profile as a high-quality food and wine region and is beginning to draw serious attention from oenophiles and epicureans alike.
The rise of Macedon Ranges wine
Barrels of liquid gold at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
With elevations ranging from 300 to 800 metres, Macedon Ranges vineyards are among the highest in the country. This altitude, combined with significant day/night temperature swings, makes for a slow ripening season, in turn nurturing wines that embody elegance and structure. Think crisp chardonnays, subtle yet complex pinot noirs and delicate sparkling wines, along with niche varietals, such as gamay and nebbiolo.
Despite the region’s natural advantages – which vary from estate to estate, as each site embodies unique terroir depending on its position in relation to the Great Dividing Range, soil make-up and altitude – the Macedon Ranges has remained something of an insider’s secret. Unlike Victoria’s Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, you won’t find large tour buses here and there’s no mass marketing drawing crowds.
Many of the 40-odd wineries are family-run operations with modest yields, meaning the wineries maintain a personal touch (if you visit a cellar door, you’ll likely chat to the owner or winemaker themselves) and a tight sales circle that often doesn’t go far beyond said cellar door. And that’s part of the charm.
Though wines from the Macedon Ranges are just starting to gain more widespread recognition in Australia, the first vines were planted in the 1860s, with a handful of operators then setting up business in the 1970s and ’80s. The industry surged again in the 1990s and early 2000s with the entry of wineries, such as Mount Towrong, which has an Italian slant in both its wine and food offering, and Curly Flat, now one of the largest estates.
Meet the new generation of local winemakers
The Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
Then, within the last 15 years, a new crop of vignerons like Andrew Wood at Kyneton Ridge Estate, whose vineyard in 2024 was the first in the Macedon Ranges to be certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Geoff Plahn and Samantha Reid at Paramoor, who have an impressive cellar door with a roaring fire and studded leather couches in an old Clydesdale barn; and Ollie Rapson and Renata Morello at Lyons Will, who rapidly expanded a small vineyard to focus on top-shelf riesling, gamay, pinot noir and chardonnay, have taken ownership of local estates.
Going back to the early days, Llew Knight’s family was one of the pioneers of the 1970s, replacing sheep with vines at Granite Hills when the wool industry dwindled. Knight is proud of the fact that all their wines are made with grapes from their estate, including a light, peppery shiraz (some Macedon wineries purchase fruit from nearby warmer areas, such as Heathcote, particularly to make shiraz) and a European-style grüner veltliner. And, as many other wineries in the region do, he relies on natural acid for balance, rather than an additive, which is often required in warmer regions. “It’s all about understanding and respecting your climate to get the best out of your wines,” he says.
Curious residents at Kyneton Ridge Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
Throughout the Macedon Ranges, there’s a growing focus on sustainability and natural and low-intervention wines, with producers, such as Brian Martin at Hunter Gatherer making waves in regenerative viticulture. Martin previously worked in senior roles at Australia’s largest sparkling winemaking facility, and now applies that expertise and his own nous to natural, hands‑off, wild-fermented wines, including pét‑nat, riesling and pinot noir. “Wild fermentation brings more complexity,” he says. “Instead of introducing one species of yeast, you can have thousands and they add different characteristics to the wine.”
The estate’s vineyard, where cool-climate grapes are grown. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
Most producers also focus on nurturing their grapes in-field and prune and pick by hand, thus avoiding the introduction of impurities and the need to meddle too much in the winery. “The better the quality of the fruit, the less you have to interfere with the natural winemaking process,” says Wood.
Given the small yields, there’s also little room for error, meaning producers place immense focus on quality. “You’re never going to compete in the middle [in a small region] – you’ve got to aim for the top,” says Curly Flat owner Jeni Kolkka. “Big wineries try to do things as fast as possible, but we’re in no rush,” adds Troy Walsh, owner and winemaker at Attwoods. “We don’t use commercial yeasts; everything is hand-harvested and everything is bottled here, so we bottle only when we’re ready, not when a big truck arrives.” That’s why, when you do see a Macedon Ranges product on a restaurant wine list, it’s usually towards the pointy end.
Come for the wine, stay for the food
Dining at Lake House Daylesford is a treat. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
If wine is the quiet achiever of the Macedon Ranges, then food is its not-so-secret weapon. In fact, the area has more hatted restaurants than any other region in Victoria. A pioneer of the area’s gourmet food movement is region cheerleader Alla Wolf-Tasker, culinary icon and founder of Daylesford’s Lake House.
For more than three decades, Wolf-Tasker has championed local producers and helped define what regional fine dining can look like in Australia. Her influence is palpable, not just in the two-hatted Lake House kitchen, but in the broader ethos of the region’s dining scene, as a wave of high-quality restaurants have followed her lead to become true destination diners.
The hatted Midnight Starling restaurant is located in Kyneton. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
It’s easy to eat well, whether at other hatted restaurants, such as Midnight Starling in the quaint town of Kyneton, or at the wineries themselves, like Le Bouchon at Attwoods, where Walsh is inspired by his time working in France in both his food offering and winemaking.
The beauty of dining and wine touring in the Macedon Ranges is that it feels intimate and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemaker, hear about the trials of the latest vintage firsthand, and taste wines that never make it to city shelves. And that’s worth getting out of the city for – even if it is just an hour down the road.
Delicate dishes on the menu at Midnight Starling. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
A traveller’s checklist
Staying there
Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
Enjoy a four-course menu at the one-hatted Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, Japanese-inspired fare at Kuzu in Woodend or unpretentious fine dining at Mount Monument, which also has a sculpture park.
Drinking there
A tasting at Passing Clouds Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
Settle in for a tasting at Boomtown in Castlemaine, sample local drops at the cosy Woodend Cellar & Bar or wine-hop around the many cellar doors, such as Passing Clouds.
Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
Playing there
Idyllic scenes at Castlemaine. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
Wander through the seasonal splendour of Forest Glade Gardens, hike to the summit of Hanging Rock, or stroll around the tranquil Sanatorium Lake.
Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)
