This tiny town just beat every capital city for the best skyline

Rachael ThompsonBy Rachael Thompson
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The most popular skylines in Australia have just been revealed with some surprising results.

Whether it’s a sunset over a beach or a cityscape at dawn, Australians are constantly chasing the perfect skyline. But where are the most sought-after spots to chase the horizon? A new study by Frameshop combined Instagram hashtag counts, Google search trends and a weighted popularity index to determine the country’s most loved, photographed, and searched skyline views. Queensland took the crown as the Australian state with the most coveted skylines, with seven out of the top 10 positions.

A sunset view in Port Douglas.
Port Douglas boasts the country’s most popular skyline. (Image: Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree)

Leading the list? Port Douglas, with 577,000 Instagram posts and 480 monthly searches. Lush rainforest meets the shimmering Coral Sea in this North Tropical Queensland haven which offers brilliant sunset viewing opportunities. Rex Smeal Park showcases breathtaking views over Four Mile Beach and is one of the best sunset locations in the area. Or for the perfect sunrise, summit the FlagHill Trail and be rewarded with 180-degree views of the Coral Sea and surrounding islands.

A sunset view across Kangaroo Point in Brisbane.
Kangaroo Point was the second most popular spot. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Richard Greenwood)

Next on the list is Kangaroo Point in Brisbane with 105,000 tagged Instagram posts and the highest monthly search volume on the list at 760. Head to the Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park to get a picture-perfect view of the city skyline, Story Bridge and the surrounding river. Glass House Mountains took out the third spot with Mount Ngungun Summit Track and Jack Ferris Lookout offering spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and countryside.

A Sydney Harbour view from Milsons Point.
The spectacular Sydney Harbour view from Milsons Point. (Image: Steve Back/Destination NSW)

Which skyline spots are making the biggest impression? Here are the top 10 locations Aussies are snapping, searching and admiring. 

Australia’s most loved skylines

  1. Port Douglas
  2. Kangaroo Point
  3. Glass House Mountains
  4. Tamborine Mountain
  5. Snapper Rocks
  6. Cottesloe Beach
  7. Warners Bay
  8. Lake Burley Griffin
  9. Fitzroy Island
  10. Wellington Point

In addition to ranking the top 10 skylines across Australia, the report also evaluated the leading spots in each city.

The most loved local skyline view in your city

Port Douglas, Cairns

Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra

Kangaroo Point, Brisbane

Kangaroo Island, Adelaide

Mindil Beach, Darwin

Warners Bay, Newcastle

Milsons Point, Sydney

St. Kilda Pier, Melbourne

Cradle Mountain, Launceston

Lake Wendouree, Ballarat 

Kingston Beach, Hobart

 

Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
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The Gold Rush town that’s become Victoria’s best country escape for foodies

    Jocelyn PrideBy Jocelyn Pride
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    The well-preserved Gold Rush town where an idyllic country vibe meets the best of city living.

    Cafe culture

    ‘Slow down’ is the mantra of Tortoise Espresso , and it’s apt for anyone visiting town. This local coffee hangout was the brainchild of Lloyd Meadows, who at 16 started it as a hole in the wall of an old pub. Five years on, it graces a fine shopfront with a menu of around 60 different coffees. Other one-off centrally located daytime cafes, such as Saffs, Togs, Saint Florian and Lazy Bones, are tucked into historic buildings and serve creative menus featuring local produce. A personal favourite is Origini, where chef Luca Sartori brings a taste of northern Italy to his rustic restaurant. For the best banh mi outside Vietnam head to Super Hero, and the pastries at Johnny Baker are legendary.

    the Saint Florian Cafe, Castlemaine
    Saint Florian is one of many businesses tucked away in a historic building. (Image: Griffin Simm)

    On the town’s fringe you’ll find some treasured cafes: Blackbird. Grist, Doveton Corner Store, and the cosy Aitken’s Corner. The Mill precinct also brings another dimension to Castlemaine. Located directly opposite the beautiful Botanical Gardens, this once-derelict woollen mill is a hive of creativity and collaboration. Retaining an industrial feel, it is home to a myriad of 44 unique businesses, galleries and studios that stretch over the three-hectare site.

    Brilliant brews, bars and food

    diners at The Mill, Castlemaine
    The Mill is home to many local businesses. (Image: Visit Victoria/Michelle Jarni)

    The Mill is also home to one of Castlemaine’s bespoke breweries, Shedshaker Brewing Company and Taproom. Within the sensitively restored walls of the oldest part of the building (circa 1875), small-batch, handcrafted beer features alongside fine wholesome food and live music.

    A more recent newcomer to the brewing scene is Love Shack . Starting small as a laneway pop-up in 2021, visionaries Conna Mallett and Harry Cox were armed with a Melbourne beer culture pedigree, which helped them create a great new ‘pub’ that feels as though it’s been there since the 1850s. Other atmospheric bars and restaurants are dotted around town – Grafting Cellars for local wines by the pour; buzzy Mostyn Street Cellars; Table Records plays vinyl on weekends; and the quirky Maurocco bar is not to be missed.

    food and drinks at Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro, Castlemaine
    The nostalgic Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro serves comfort food. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    For food you’ll write home about, the hatted Bar Midland serves exquisite dishes from Victorian-only produce. The freshly renovated Wild is located in the original firestation, Voor Ouker specialises in Indonesian/Dutch fusion, and the Railway Hotel oozes English pub charm.

    the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
    Theatre Royal is the longest continually operating theatre on the mainland. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

    Much-loved Teatro Regio, found in the magnificent Theatre Royal , is the go-to for pizzas with a twist. As mainland Australia’s longest continually running theatre, this grand dame is also one of more than a dozen performance spaces that add to a rich and diverse entertainment and festival scene.

    pizza at Theatre Royal
    Dine before a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria)

    Quirky country stays

    Quirky, authentic and perfectly located, the Midland Hotel is a private hotel that dates back to 1879. Each of the nine rooms at the Northern Arts Hotel is different and named in honour of an Australian artist. Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation also has a range of properties to suit all types of travellers.