6 Summer Hotspots in Australia To Visit Now

Aussies flock to these favourite summer spots to savour their bright, breezy delights and sun-drenched days. Here’s the scoop and some secrets too.

Summer is calling and we challenge you to try to resist the allure of these Aussie hotspots.

1. Sunshine Coast, Qld

Whether it’s summer or not, the Sunshine Coast is a perennial hotspot, a year-round escape that attracts southern dwellers with its seemingly endless sunny disposition. From Noosa to Mooloolaba and Caloundra, Gympie and Coolum Beach, the warm, Windex-coloured waters beckon families, surfers and van-life wanderers alike.

an aerial view of Sunshine Coast, Qld — The sun-drenched Sunshine Coast. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

North enough to be beautifully warm, yet south enough not to be beset by jellyfish and crocs, this Queensland stretch is the sweet spot.

guests ordering drinks in a brewery during Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours — Tour the ‘craft beer capital of Australia’. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where is it? An easy hour-and-a-half drive north of Brisbane.

What’s it all about? Sunshine, actually. The Sunshine Coast has about 300 days of sunshine per year, so the chances of barrelling into a rainy holiday are low.

Summer secrets: While the coast offers summer spoils, those volcanic-forged guardians, the Glass House Mountains , offer hikes, swimming holes and elevation where you can escape the heat.

Hot tip: As the self-proclaimed ‘craft beer capital of Australia’, there are, indeed, a near-excessive number of breweries at which to sink a cold one.

2. Gold Coast, Qld

A place like no other on the east coast, this elongated city stretch has often copped flack for showing its tackier side. From meter maids to schoolies and a penchant for overt enhancements, both cosmetic and architectural, the GC has historically modelled itself on an LA kind of style.

a girl heading to surf on the Gold Coast beach — Stay golden on the glittering Gold Coast

These days, though, it feels more low-key; with a vibe that embraces its bawdier side, while moving in a more understated direction. This is a fun, family-friendly and wildly entertaining place to go with long beaches, sky-high resorts and plenty to do from the sand to the hinterland.

waterfront dining at Rick Shores, Gold Coast — Soak up front-row sea views at Rick Shores, Burleigh Heads. (Image: Mathilde Bouby)

Where is it? Just one hour south of Brisbane, but with its own airport, it’s a brief and direct flight from most capital cities.

What’s it all about? The GC is a corridor of holiday vibes wedged between the ocean and national parks. As a destination, it ticks all the boxes from theme parks and beaches to nightlife, dining and arts.

Summer secrets: SoGo, or the southern Gold Coast, comprises the most up-and-coming suburbs, which includes Coolangatta and Currumbin.

Hot tip: Burleigh Heads is the undeniable culinary hotspot on the Gold Coast, from fine diners Labart Restaurant and Rick Shores to casual corner bakery Tarte and a string of cool wine bars.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

3. North Coast, NSW

Holiday-happy towns perched to watch the Pacific are clustered along NSW’s north coast. You can make your way up this stretch from Sydney to the Gold Coast over about nine ambitious hours.

But dipping in and out of places such as Port Macquarie, Seal Rocks, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Byron Bay and the Tweed turns the drive into a journey of lazy beach sessions, increasing subtropical landscapes and sun-drenched days.

a swimming spot in Yamba, North Coast, NSW — Make a splash in Yamba.

Where is it? The north coast extends from Newcastle, about two hours north of Sydney, all the way to Tweed Heads on the Queensland border.

What’s it all about? Vast beaches, bush-bound bays, sandy toes and salty skin.

Summer secrets: Yamba is a thrumming town come summer. But you can find a quieter enclave for a more bare-bones escape across the water at Iluka.

Hot tip: The hinterland towns of Bellingen, Bangalow, Burringbar and Murwillumbah are total charmers.

4. South Coast, NSW

An expansive ribbon of coast edged by crystalline waters that both gently lap soft-edged shores and pummel craggy cliffs, the South Coast is ripe for road-tripping.

an aerial view of Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay — Go barefoot on Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay. (Image: Destination NSW)

From city thrills in Wollongong to Kiama’s horizon-gazing town and the scattering of Shoalhaven’s exquisite coves – such as Jervis Bay, Lake Conjola and Vincentia – the south-east of NSW unfurls in one idyllic locale after the other.

a sunbed by the poolside at Motel Molly in Mollymook — Stay at Motel Molly in Mollymook.

Slurp briny oysters at shacks in Merimbula, ogle the animals at Mogo Wildlife Park and discover Eden’s killer whale trail.

opening an oyster on the Sapphire Coast, Captain Sponge's Magical Oyster Tours — Slurp oysters on the Sapphire Coast. (Image: Destination NSW)

Where is it? The South Coast essentially starts from Wollongong in the north, a 90-minute drive from Sydney, and from Wonboyn on the Sapphire Coast in the south, which is about six and a half hours from Melbourne.

What’s it all about? Sweeping cliffside coastlines, white sands and adorable towns that can feel wonderfully secluded and off-the-beaten-track.

Summer secrets: The Bermagui Blue Pool is the place to grab your Instagram money shot.

Hot tip: Try Bannisters by the Sea in Mollymook, a renowned restaurant with rooms. Or Motel Molly , which is a cool retro update on a classic surf motel.

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5. Great Ocean Road, Vic

Yes, it’s conceivable to drive the Great Ocean Road in a single day. But to do the theatrical beauty of this seascape and its connected townships any real justice, you must dedicate at least four days to see what can be discovered here.

driving along Great Ocean Road, Vic — Follow the Great Ocean Road. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Your route may cling to the coastline or zigzag between beach and bush, but you’ll most certainly stop at the 12 Apostles in Port Campbell National Park , take in the Split Point Lighthouse at Aireys Inlet and slip into Port Fairy for a pint at the Oak & Anchor . The rainforest-cloaked Otways is also a draw for its waterfalls, treetop walkways and wildlife wonders.

Reach for the Sky Pods in Cape Otway, Victoria. (Image: Tofu Studio)

Where is it? The Great Ocean Road begins in Torquay, which is a little over an hour south of Melbourne.

What’s it all about? It’s 243 kilometres of beautiful, drama-filled coastlines.

Summer secrets: Avoid the crowds at the 12 Apostles and delight in the natural limestone plinths at the lesser-known and smaller-scale Childers Cove.

Hot tip: For road trips sans kids, check into the eco-luxe Sky Pods , where you can wake to views over the incredible Cape Otway landscape in a glass-walled cabin.

6. Margaret River Region, WA

Shouldered by forested national parks and punctuated by cool, artful townships where surfers watch the waves from beachside cafes, the Margaret River Region is a laid-back destination that rightfully deserves top billing on summer holiday hit lists. United by those exquisitely clear waters are the townships of Margaret River, Busselton, Yallingup, Dunsborough, Augusta, Cowaramup and Gracetown.

8 Paddocks inthe Margaret River Wine Region — Stay in a luxury chalet at 8 Paddocks in the Margaret River Wine Region.

The region is a draw for diverse activities and attractions that range from surfing glassy waves to enjoying incredible produce and visiting world-renowned wineries. It’s also known for its magical Karri forests, enigmatic caves and some of the best hikes on the continent. While thrilling surf breaks roll into the wilder shorelines, there are also plenty of frolic-friendly spots, such as the protected, pool-like Meelup Beach.

a table-top view of food at The Goose in Busselton, WA — Cut loose at The Goose in Busselton, WA. (Image: Taj Kempe Photography)

Where is it? A smidge over three hours by car from Perth. Or fly into Busselton Margaret River Airport.

What’s it all about? Surfing, wining and dining and stunning beaches.

Summer secrets: After a fire demolished Busselton’s iconic restaurant The Goose in 2021, it has returned to the glimmering foreshore overlooking Geographe Bay.

Hot tip: 8 Paddocks is a new luxe cabin experience just outside of Cowaramup.

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

liquid gold barrels at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — 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. — 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.

farm animals atKyneton Ridge Estate — 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 vineyard at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — 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

pouring sauce onto a dish at Lake HouseDaylesford — 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 Midnight Starling restaurant in Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — 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

the accommodation at Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges — Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Soak up vineyard views from Cleveland Estate near Lancefield , embrace retro charm at Kyneton Springs Motel or indulge in lakeside luxury at the Lake House .

Eating there

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

wine tasting at PassingClouds Winery, Macedon Ranges — 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 .

the Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar signage — Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Playing there

a scenic river in Castlemaine — 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 — Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

6 summer hotspots in Australia to visit right now

Aussies flock to these favourite summer spots to savour their bright, breezy delights and sun-drenched days. Here’s the scoop and some secrets too.

1. Sunshine Coast, Qld

2. Gold Coast, Qld

3. North Coast, NSW

4. South Coast, NSW

5. Great Ocean Road, Vic

6. Margaret River Region, WA

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The Macedon Ranges is Victoria’s best-kept food and wine secret

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.

The rise of Macedon Ranges wine

Meet the new generation of local winemakers

Come for the wine, stay for the food