9 charming regional getaways to plot your escape to this year

Australia

07 May 2025

From rail trails connecting the dots between town and country to hinterland gems and headlining art, travelling regional Australia is the ultimate choose-your-own adventure.

1. Port Stephens, NSW

Travelling with: Lara Picone

The topography of Port Stephens spoils visitors with a veritable buffet of natural beauty, offering everything from shifting sand dunes to holiday-brochure beaches and lushly forested hikes. Being just two-and-a-half hours from Sydney also makes this Pacific-facing town a win. In fact, so bequeathed with enchantments is Port Stephens that it recently won Wotif’s 2025 Aussie Town of the Year. Check into the marina-edged Anchorage to check out the allure of this coastal hamlet.

The Anchorage Port Stephens — Escape to the luxe bayside retreat at The Anchorage Port Stephens. (Image: Destination NSW/Dallas Kilponen)

2. Southern Highlands, NSW

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Food, wine, art and outdoor adventures seem to be melded into the heart of the Southern Highlands in NSW. While the region attracts visitors year-round, the scene changes during winter, when cool-to-freezing temperatures inspire activities such as fireside dining and truffle hunting. Enjoy a curated picnic at Cuttaway Creek. Taste cool-climate wines at Dawning Day Farms . Congregate with friends at Ngununggula, Southern Highlands Regional Gallery before settling in for an intimate dining experience at Eschalot. Then, bunker down at The Pill Factory in Bundanoon.

Sarah Drinan and Dionisia Salas Installation View Tender at Ngununggula — Sarah Drinan and Dionisia Salas Installation View Tender at Ngununggula. (Image: Mim Stirling)

3. Coal River Valley, Tas

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Tasting Tasmania’s terroir is a gentle way to explore the Coal River Valley. While you can enjoy a river-sledding adventure or hire bikes to see the valley on two wheels, a cellar-door experience at Tolpuddle Vineyard is the ultimate celebration of the landscape. Visit the sleek, new tasting room on the Traditional Lands of the Mumirimina people to taste award-winning vintages of chardonnay and pinot noir with the vintners themselves.

a close-up of food at Tolpuddle Vineyard — Dine on local produce at Tolpuddle Vineyard. (Image: Adam Gibson)

4. Namadgi National Park, ACT

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Namadgi National Park makes up a whopping 46 per cent of the ACT’s total land area. Join Dhawura Tours to see Indigenous rock art, look for wildlife such as wombats and lyrebirds and walk the Mt Tennent Trail to really immerse yourself in the landscape. Pitch a tent in the national park near a squiggle of the Gudgenby River at the northern end of the Australian Alps.

hiking at Namadgi National Park, Canberra — Immerse yourself in nature at Namadgi National Park. (Image: We Are Explorers For Visit Canberra)

5. The Cairns Hinterland, Qld

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Head inland from Cairns to discover a Queensland region rich in heritage charm, outstanding natural beauty, and foodie and cultural attractions. The local farmers at the weekly Yungaburra Market sell produce grown in and around the Atherton Tablelands . Follow the crowds after the market, just 50 metres down the street, to Yungaburra Hotel . Take the pretty Peterson Creek walking track and try your luck at spotting the elusive platypus. North of Cairns, the vintage Kuranda Scenic Railway journeys through World Heritage-listed rainforest and past waterfalls to the hippie-chic village of Kuranda.

the lush greenery at Atherton Tablelands — The fertile fields make Atherton Tablelands the food bowl of the region. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Tourism Tropical North Queensland/James Vodicka)

6. The Tweed, NSW

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

The Tweed is the hip new regional getaway worth knowing about. The true heart of the Tweed in NSW lies in the fact it’s got the trifecta of coast, valley and river. And while it’s known for its landmark cultural attractions such as the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre and Minjungbal Museum and Cultural Centre, you could also tack together an itinerary based around culinary offerings or stopping points along the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

the scenic Tweed Valley — Coast, valley and river in the Tweed. (Image: Destination NSW/Trevor Worden)

7. Mandurah, WA

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

Mandurah is having a moment. Originally known as Mandjoogoordap, meaning ‘meeting place of the heart’, the WA town was recently named third-best destination in Australia in the 2025 Wotif Aussie Town of the Year Awards. From above, the coastal city is all rippled cobalt and aquamarine. Stroll along its wide sandy beaches, soak up those big skies, then set off to discover the Giants of Mandurah sculptures, followed with fish and chips by the sea.

the Giants of Mandurah sculptures by Thomas Dumbo — Discover the Giants of Mandurah sculptures. (Image: Duncan Wright)

8. High Country, Vic

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

A sprawling $5-million trail network has opened in Rutherglen on Yorta Yorta Country. The Rutherglen Loops connect 14 cellar doors around the world-class wine region, making Victoria’s High Country even more accessible for visitors. The four trails are like Venn diagrams with distinct loops that overlap everything from cellar doors and winery restaurants to the mighty Murray River and Lake Moodemere.

bicycles in Victoria High Country — Cycle Victoria’s High Country.

9. Mildura, Vic

Travelling with: Imogen Eveson

Mildura was rebranded last year as Tropical North Victoria in a wink-wink campaign that nods to the abundance of sunny days in this regional city on the Murray River. New boutique hotel Kar-Rama sprinkles more Palm Springs vibes, with its modern interpretation of mid-century design making it the ideal oasis to retreat to after days spent visiting wineries, cruising the Murray and venturing into nearby Mungo National Park. And now, Trail of Lights, the latest large-scale experiential installation by British-Australian artist Bruce Munro, is providing another shining example of reasons to visit.

Fireflies by Bruce Munro — Tropical North Victoria gets a glow-up. (Image: Serena Munro)

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8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

By Australian Traveller

06 Nov 2025

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

Hanging Rock Summit Walk — Take in views across the Macedon Ranges.

Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout — Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

3. Mount Alexander Traverse

Mount Alexander Traverse — Take in the serenity.

Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

4. Murmuring Walk

Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes — Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

5. La Gerche Forest Walk

La Gerche Forest Walk — Walk into history on the La Gerche Forest trail.

Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

6. Sailors Falls Loop

Sailors Falls Loop — See these spectacular falls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

Mount Franklin Summit Walk — Take in forests and waterfalls along the way to the top of Mount Franklin.

An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.