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Revealed: This coastal Qld town is one of the most welcoming on Earth

Credit: Mark Fitz

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
Australians pride themselves on being an easy-going bunch. But there are some places where the locals just welcome you with open arms.

It’s hard to be grumpy when the sun is shining and the soporific sound of waves can lull you into a snooze at any time of day – it’s why so many family holidays or solo getaways involve the beach. So it shouldn’t be a shock, then, that a coastal Queensland town has made Booking.com’s 14th annual Traveller Review Awards, coming in the top 10 Most Welcoming Towns/Cities list.

And the Most Welcoming Town is…

welcoming towns booking.com
It’s hard not to be friendly with views like this. (Credit: Mark Fitz)

Decided by more than 370 million verified reviews from travellers globally, the awards celebrate the partners who consistently deliver standout hospitality. Most Welcoming Places on Earth categories highlight destinations where the guest experience feels personal, authentic and genuine. And those millions of reviewers place Noosa Heads in the Top 10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth.

We’ll admit, it’s a little confusing, considering Noosa Heads is generally considered a town. But it has the big punch of a city and sits on the Top 10 list with the likes of Montepulciano in Italy and Takayama in Japan – so we know it deserves its place.

“Being named one of the World’s 10 Most Welcoming Towns is a proud moment for Noosa and a reflection of the values we hold as a community," said Tourism Noosa CEO, Sharon Raguse.

“Noosa has long been known for its openness, warmth and respect for visitors, and this recognition acknowledges the effort our industry makes to ensure every guest feels welcome, valued and connected to place. It’s a meaningful endorsement of a destination that leads with care, community and a genuine love of hosting people from around the world."

Alongside the Most Welcoming Cities on Earth list came the announcement of this year’s Most Welcoming Places in Australia. Margaret River Town in Western Australia made the top 10, as did Daylesford in Victoria and St Helens in Tasmania.

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AI Prompt

What we love about Noosa Heads

welcoming towns booking.com
Kayak the Noosa Everglades. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

What’s not to love about Noosa Heads? We’ve already ticked off the unbeatable hospitality of locals, and there are plenty more reasons. Hikers and nature lovers can explore the beauty of Noosa National Park, offering coastal trails, pristine beaches, and littoral rainforest, while kayakers will love the famous Noosa Everglades. Of course, if you prefer your beach days and nature immersions without the walk, there are plenty of places around town for you as well. Arrive between June and November, and you’ll likely spot the yearly migration of humpback whales as they make their way along the coast.

Those looking to unwind will find a range of bathhouses and spas that will have them forgetting they were ever stressed in the first place. While foodies can dine their way through the many restaurants and cafes that make the Noosa Heads food scene so memorable.

The full list of winners

Noosa Park Little Cove welcoming towns booking.com
Noosa Heads has been named one of the Most Welcoming Towns in the World. (Credit: Mark Fitz)

2026’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth:

  • Noosa Heads, Australia
  • Montepulciano, Italy
  • Magong, Taiwan
  • San Martín de los Andes, Argentina
  • Harrogate, United Kingdom
  • Fredericksburg, Texas, United States
  • Pirenópolis, Brazil
  • Swakopmund, Namibia
  • Takayama, Japan
  • Klaipeda, Lithuania

2026’s Most Welcoming Cities in Australia:

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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3 vintage train journeys to step back in time and explore NSW

(Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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    From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.

    Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.

    Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train carriage
    Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.

    The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.

    The Riverina

    Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train travelling through nsw
    Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.

    The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.

    North Coast

    Forest Sky Pier
    Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.

    Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.

    Golden West

    winery experience in new south wales
    Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.

    Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.

    Special event journeys

    meal onboard Vintage Rail Journeys Southern Aurora train
    Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)

    Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.

    For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.

    Step back into the golden age of rail travel at vintagerailjourneys.com.au.