10 dreamy summer holidays you can go on in winter

Switch falling mercury for idyllic warm weather with our favourite year-round sunny escapes.

Step away from the knitwear – summer isn’t done with you yet. While the chill has certainly set in across Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and South Australia, three adventure-charged states remain flooded with sunshine. From Queensland’s dazzling coastline and the Northern Territory’s notoriously rich tapestry to Western Australia’s ancient desert and countless capers in between, an endless summer rolls right through the thick of winter. Let’s look at the highlights to get those short shorts back in rotation.

1. Sunshine Coast, Qld

Kondalilla National Park walk — Stroll through Kondalilla National Park. (Image: Visit Sunshine Coast)

The name doesn’t lie. The Sunshine Coast boasts 300-odd rain-free days every year, and winter’s reprieve from summer’s humidity means comfortable exploration from the bush to the beach.

Tourist magnet Noosa is an easy choice, full of trendy boutiques and chic bars, but there’s also hinterland high jinks like national park walks to be had at Mapleton, Maleny and Montville. Meanwhile, acclaimed bush tucker cruises and water sports run rife most days in Mooloolaba, and Caloundra is a serious up-and-comer with great beachside eateries.

2. Broome, WA

Willie Cruises, Broome, camels on Cable Beach at sunset — Visit Cable Beach during golden hour. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Can you believe Broome maintains temps in the low 30s while the rest of us crank up our heaters? Winter brings dry season to the sand dune haven, which means little chance of rain and plenty of opportunity to look for dinosaur fossils by the shore.

If you’re a first timer, you’ve got to do Cable Beach, the star of Broome’s beautiful beach bounty and renowned for its technicolour sunsets over infinite soft waves – best gawked at on the back of a camel. There’s also the literal illumination of the Staircase to the Moon, a natural phenomenon that only occurs two or three days each month from March to October, meaning now is your only chance to catch it.

3. Darwin, NT

people at Mintil Beach sunset markets — Wander the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. (Image: Helen Orr/Tourism NT)

Another golden dry season opportunity lies in the otherwise sticky Darwin, a family-friendly action playground renowned for its laidback lifestyle and profound Indigenous roots. Stroll the Darwin Waterfront, in the heart of the city’s CBD, to dip your toes into the manmade, palm-fringed Wave Lagoon, before seizing the chance to wander the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, which only run from April to October.

Your other obligatory to-do while in town? Embarking on one of Darwin’s best-loved tours to take you to incredible traditional rock art, national parks littered with waterfalls, croc-infested waters and more.

4. The Daintree Rainforest, Qld

Mossman River — The Daintree Rainforest thrives in winter. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Believed to be more than 180 million years old, the Daintree Rainforest thrives in winter as the temperature drops and humidity dissipates. The world’s oldest living rainforest offers otherworldly adventure, just under a two-hour journey from Cairns if you’re road tripping.

There, you’ll take in the almighty Daintree River, where more of those snappy reptiles bask in the beauty of it all. Walking along the forest floor should sit high on your hit list, as should a visit to Cape Tribulation, where the Great Barrier Reef beckons and further nature trails routinely drop jaws.

5. Kununurra, WA

Kununurra's landscape — Kununurra’s landscape is characterised by its rugged features. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Haven’t tackled Western Australia’s astonishing outback yet? Kununurra is the perfect place to venture in while keeping a foot in village life. Additionally, the dry season provides easy drifting conditions for a tranquil cruise of Lake Argyle, which is so massive that it equates to 19 Sydney Harbours.

Kununurra accommodation goes from basic to luxe, while staggering waterfalls, dramatic colossal rock formations and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park are all within reach. The town itself rocks in winter when the Kununurra Markets come to life and a drive-in cinema enchants annually.

6. Katherine, NT

nitmiluk gorge — Nitmiluk Gorge is a stunning place to visit. (Image: Lachlan Gardiner/Tourism NT)

While Darwin’s potent buzz offers sure-fire winter rejuvenation, the Northern Territory’s Katherine is where to go to spread your wings. The undeniable star of the show is Nitmiluk Gorge, also known as Katherine Gorge, which provides 12 kilometres of staggering rocky cliffs synonymous with this corner of the country.

Don’t leave without stepping into the magical Katherine Hot Springs, one of the most luxurious natural spa baths in Australia, which stays utterly toasty at an average of 32 degrees during our coldest months.

7. Cassowary Coast, Qld

Located within great proximity to the Great Barrier Reef lies the Cassowary Coast, the closest mainland point to the reef itself. In winter, high temps linger in the mid-twenties, providing prime conditions to explore far-flung Mission Beach.

Crowd-free snorkelling and diving out to the reef from this heavenly patch of sand is the real winter drawcard, while a trip to Dunk Island (less than 10 kilometres from Mission Beach) will soon invite campers to soak up white sand paradise under a blanket of stars. Its new camping site, due to open in the second half of 2025, will even include glamping tents, an eatery and bar.

8. Kakadu National Park, NT

Kakadu National Park is Australia’s largest national park. (Image: Kakadu Tourism Cooinda Lodge/Tourism NT)

Keen to lose yourself in some of Mother Nature’s most extraordinary craftwork? Kakadu National Park, Australia’s largest national park and a dual-listed UNESCO World Heritage site due to its cultural and natural splendour, offers breathtaking mid-year exploration.

Featuring more than 5000 Indigenous rock art sites (which ranks as one of the highest concentrations on the globe), cascading waterfalls including Jim Jim Falls and Twin Fall Gorge, and epic 4WD terrain, the endlessly overwhelming spot offers a broad sweep of quintessentially Australian things to-do, reconnecting visitors with our spectacular land no matter how it sucks you in.

9. The Pilbara, WA

Pyramid Hill is a significant landmark in WA. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Speaking of our most significant Indigenous geology, the Pilbara in WA is also worthy of serious consideration over winter. The region’s famed wildflowers begin blooming in June, with more than 12,000 species creating hypnotic technicolour flushes, while traditional Aboriginal songlines invite visitors to trail rock art engravings and sacred Indigenous meeting places while taking in striking ancient landscapes.

Port Hedland, one of the Pilbara’s main towns, will also appeal to foodies as Ray’s contemporary dining provides awesome Palm Springs-inspired Instagram fodder.

10. Magnetic Island, Qld

While the Whitsundays’ powder-white beaches typically pull the masses, living the island life is also a breeze just off Townsville.

Catch a ferry from the mainland to discover Magnetic Island, a slice of heaven dotted with scenic national park walks, including Forts Walk which combines Second World War relics and water vistas, whale watching (only applicable during the winter months, so perfect timing), native wildlife encounters and top dining and entertainment, like the beloved Maggie Island Brewery.

Fancy a winter getaway that leans into the cold instead? Explore our list of getaways for every weekend in winter.

The charm of Mildura is hidden in plain sight along the Sturt Highway. The capital of Tropical North Victoria is in a league of its own.

From the moment you arrive in Mildura , the warm air and palm trees invite you to slow down. While most Australians might drive right past it, Mildura is full of surprises. Here you’ll spend one day witnessing over 50,000 years of First Nations history in a UNESCO-listed National Park, and the next dining in a hatted restaurant after wandering through 12,500 fireflies as the outback sunset bursts to life above. From roadside fruit stalls and family-run wineries to houseboats and galleries, it’s time to explore Mildura.

Feast Street, at the heart of Langtree Avenue in Mildura. — Taste, wander and be surprised in Mildura.

Taste Mildura’s produce

It makes sense to start your trip by addressing the most important question: where to eat. In the beating heart of Australia’s food bowl, sample the local produce directly from the source. And then, of course, experience it through the menu of a hatted chef. Or sandwiched between pillowy slices of Nonna’s ciabatta.

Rows of orchards and olive groves invite you to spend the day traipsing from farm to farm. Taste olives propagated from Calabrian trees brought over in the 40s, oranges picked right from the tree and squeezed into juice and spoons full of honey . Bring the holiday back to your kitchen by stocking your pantry at roadside produce stalls, or calling into the ‘silver shed ’ (Sunraysia’s gourmand Mecca).

Thanks to the warm, balmy air and fertile soils, the wineries dotted along these hills produce award-winning local wines. Like Chalmers , a family-run, innovative winery dedicated to making their wines as sustainable as possible. And picturesque Trentham Estate offers views of the snaking Murray River as you sample their vintages.

Venture beyond the gnarled shadows of olive groves and fragrant rows of blossoming fruit trees and you’ll find an otherworldly side to Mildura. With Discover Mildura as your guide, visit Murray River Salt’s Mars-like stacks. The naturally pink salt is formed from an ancient inland sea and evaporated entirely by the sun to create one of the region’s most iconic exports.

Start your day with just-squeezed sunshine.

Hatted dining & Italian history

Mildura is home to a proud community of Calabrians and Sicilians. This, paired with the exceptional local produce, means that you can find paninos on par with those in Italy. The Italian is a Paninoteca serving up made-to-order, hefty, authentic Sicilian paninos. Nonna Rosa’s pork meatballs, slowly cooked in tomato ragu and served in a crusty, fluffy roll topped with gratings of Grana Padano cheese and salsa verde, will call you back to Mildura for the rest of your days.

To find hatted dining in Mildura, simply follow the staircase down into the basement of the historic Mildura Grand Hotel to find Stefano’s . Following the muscle memory and instinct of his Italian roots, he delivers on the principle of ‘cucina povera’. That is, the Italian cooking ideology that turns simple, local ingredients into magic.

Things to do in Mildura include dining at the acclaimed Stefano’s, where simple local ingredients are transformed into Italian culinary magic beneath the historic Grand Hotel. — Bite into Mildura’s Italian heritage.

Discover a thriving culture scene

The city is alive with culture. Whether it’s painted on the town’s walls, told in ancient yarns, or waiting for you in a gallery.

The Mildura Arts Centre was Australia’s first regional art gallery. Behind the walls of Rio Vista Historic House, you’ll find a lineup of ever-changing exhibitions. The gallery’s wall space pays tribute to the art and songlines of local First Nations People, the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and more. Outside, on the gallery’s lawn, find 12 contemporary sculptures in the Sculpture Park.

Mildura’s streetscapes are a punch of colour. Swirling strokes of paint blend the winding artery of the Murray River, red dirt and local characters into a story you can see with your own eyes, thanks to the Mildura City Heart’s Mural Art Project . Pick up a copy of the Murals of Mildura guide from the Visitor Information Centre.

Follow the border of NSW and Victoria on a map and you’ll see it hugs the curves of a tiny island on the Murray. That’s Lock Island, where, as the sun and moon trade places, the island comes alive as darkness falls. The island is dotted with 12,500 firefly lights that lead you on a meandering path through the outback sunset. The installation is known as Trail of Lights and was created by the same visionary who dreamt up Field of Light at Uluṟu, Bruce Munro.

Things to do in Mildura include exploring its rich cultural scene. From vibrant street art and ancient stories to exhibitions at the Mildura Arts Centre, Australia’s first regional gallery. — Find culture around every corner.

Wonder at ancient landscapes

The landscapes of Mildura feel almost transcendental. The skyline bursts to life with reds, pinks, and deep, sparkly night skies.

The nature will leave you in awe. See hues of pink water changing with the weather at Pink Lakes inside Victoria’s largest national park, Murray Sunset National Oark. Cast a line into Ouyen Lake. Watch the sunset against 70-metre tall red cliffs that reflect the setting sun. Or get the heart racing and sandboard down the Perry Sandhills dunes, formed 40,000 years ago at the end of an ice age.

Just don’t leave without following the twists and turns of the Murray. Stroll or ride along the Shared River Front Path, or jump onboard a boat for a scenic ride.

Your itinerary will be incomplete without a visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park . Head out with an Indigenous ranger to witness ancient campsites and footprints, before standing in awe of ancient civilisation near the discovery site of Mungo Man—Australia’s oldest human skeleton at 42,000 years old.

Mungo National Park at night is a vast, silent landscape where ancient dunes glow under moonlight and stars blanket the sky in breathtaking clarity. — Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisation.

Meet your home away from home

On equal par with planning your meals and adventures, is finding the perfect place to relax at the end of each day.

Sleep inside a Palm Springs postcard at Kar-Rama . A sleek boutique hotel complete with a butterfly shaped, sun-soaked pool. Here you’re staying right in the heart of Mildura but you’ll feel worlds away. Or if you really wish to connect with nature, a night glamping under the stars at Outback Almonds will have you spellbound.

When in Mildura it’s only right to stay on one of the Murray River’s iconic houseboats . Wake up each day to the calm waters of the Murray lapping outside your window. Enjoy days full of river swims, fishing and exploring. All boats are solar-powered and can be self-skippered or moored along the river.

A solar-powered houseboat on the Murray River in Mildura. — Stay and play on the Murray in a solar houseboat.

Start planning the perfect getaway at mildura.com .