Australia’s top 10 towns for 2025 revealed

Emily MurphyBy Emily Murphy
hero media
From sun-drenched beaches to heritage gems, these winners highlight Australia’s must-visit towns for the year ahead.

Each year, Wotif gathers intel from travel-savvy Aussies to spotlight trending towns on the rise. The 2025 winners have been revealed, with a NSW coastal destination taking the top spot and dethroning Bendigo, which reigned in 2024, while Albury held the crown in 2023. If you’re looking for your next adventure, start here.

1. Port Stephens, NSW

Windy sunset from Winda Woppa Reserve, overlooking Wind Woppa Lagoon and views to Mt Tomaree, Stephens Peak and Shoal Bay.
Port Stephens is Australia’s top town for 2025. (Image: Getty Images/lovleah)

Deservedly taking out the top spot, Port Stephens is famous for dolphin and whale watching, pristine beaches, towering sand dunes and its relaxed coastal lifestyle. Whether you’re tackling the Tomaree Head Summit Walk or dining on fresh seafood in Nelson Bay, there’s something for everyone in this dreamy destination. With not one, but three NSW towns on the list this year, Destination NSW Acting CEO Karen Jones says this recognition reinforces NSW’s position as a must-visit destination: “With three NSW towns – Port Stephens, Kingscliff, and Yamba – securing spots in Wotif’s top 10, more than any other state, it highlights the unrivalled diversity of experiences across regional NSW. From Kingscliff’s boutique coastal charm to Yamba’s laidback surf culture, our state offers a unique blend of experiences that resonate with visitors year after year."

2. Cairns, Qld

Golden hour over the ferris wheel, treetops, lagoon and hilly backdrop of the esplanade at Cairns - Coral Sea, Cairns; Far North Queensland, Australia
Cairns is a tropical playground packed with adventure. (Image: Getty Images/Jina Ihm)

A gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, Cairns is a tropical playground packed with adventure. Whether you’re snorkelling among vibrant marine life, chasing waterfalls in the Atherton Tablelands or exploring the nearby Palm Cove, there’s no shortage of experiences to tick off your bucket list. Plus, with its thriving food scene and vibrant markets, Cairns is the heart of Tropical North Queensland.

3. Mandurah, WA

Santi Ikto by Thomas Dambo Giants of Mandurah
The Giants of Mandurah are a huge drawcard.

Just an hour south of Perth in south west WA, Mandurah is a dream location for boating, fishing and wildlife spotting. From exploring its Venetian-style canals to hopping on a dolphin cruise, Mandurah is all about getting out on the water. It’s also home to the renowned Giants of Mandurah, where visitors can see five striking large-scale art pieces by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo.

4. Denmark, WA

Elephant Rocks in Denmark WA
Visit Elephant Rocks in Denmark. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

If you’re after breathtaking coastal scenery, boutique wineries and lush national parks, Denmark should be high on your list. This charming town is known for Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool, where turquoise waters meet dramatic rock formations. The region’s cool-climate wines and farm-fresh produce add to its appeal, making it a top pick for foodies and nature lovers alike.

5. Beechworth, Vic

Beechworth building in Victoria
Beechworth is one of Victoria’s most charming towns.

Steeped in gold rush history, Beechworth is one of Victoria’s most charming towns, filled with well-preserved heritage buildings and boutique shopping. But it’s not all about history – the town’s vibrant food scene, including the legendary Beechworth Bakery, is just as enticing.

6. Port Campbell, Vic

Ocean Rock Formation And Cliffs On Beach Against Sky In Great Ocean Road Australia
The Twelve Apostles are a sight to behold. (Image: Getty Images/EyeEm Mobile GmbH)

Home to the Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell is an essential stop along the Great Ocean Road. This small coastal town offers jaw-dropping views, rugged cliffs and iconic natural landmarks like the Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch. It’s also a great base for exploring the surrounding national parks and scenic lookouts.

7. Murray Bridge, SA

Monarto Safari Park
Monarto Safari Park is breathing life into Murray Bridge.

Sitting along the mighty Murray River, this South Australian town is all about waterfront relaxation and outdoor adventure. Home to the newly announced Monarto Safari Park, opening in May, Murray Bridge is about to be the 2025 destination.

8. Kingscliff, NSW

Kingscliff beach
Kingscliff is in NSW’s Tweed region.

Nestled on NSW’s Tweed Coast, Kingscliff is a laid-back beach town with an impressive food and wellness scene. The town is known for its white sandy beaches, top-notch surf breaks and fresh local produce – including the famous Tropical Fruit World.

9. Yamba, NSW

Horizontal high angle landscape photo of popular travel destination, Main Beach, Yamba, with people swimming, breaking waves, Pandanus palm trees, coastal scrub forest and Norfolk Pine trees growing on the grass areas above the beach.
Yamba is the go-to place to be in summer. (Image: Getty Images/lynnebeclu)

Yamba is a seaside escape known for its stunning beaches, coastal vibes and incredible seafood. It’s the kind of place where one visit turns into many.

10. Mackay, Qld

Aerial drone image at sunrise over Cape Hillsborough with blue water and green rainforest and nice morning warm sunlight
Base yourself in Mackay as you visit Cape Hillsborough. (Image: Getty Images/Sell Online Marketing)

Mackay is an underrated Queensland gem. It’s the perfect base for exploring the Whitsundays and Eungella National Park (home to wild platypuses). If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path Queensland adventure, Mackay delivers.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
See all articles
hero of gift guide
Australia

A Christmas gift guide for the travellers in your life

Get a head start on your Christmas shopping this year with our curated selection of memorable gifts.

Read more
A woman sits with her dog at her campsite by a campfire at Misty Mountain in NSW
Australia

The best-rated spots for a scenic hiking and camping trip in one

AllTrails and HipCamp teamed up to reveal the top 10 ‘tent-to-trail’ list; the best hiking and camping spots to visit in one holiday for plenty of opportunities to reconnect with nature.

Read more
Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf in Elf
Australia

The ultimate 2025 Christmas movie watchlist

The holiday season is here, and what better way to get into the festive spirit than with a solid movie marathon?  

Read more
An Aurora Australis display at night along the coastline
Australia

The aurora australis could light up Australian skies tonight

A major solar storm could bring one of the best aurora australis chances of the year.

Read more

This luxe trawler tour is redefining Victoria’s seafood experience

    Chloe CannBy Chloe Cann
    Continue
    Victoria’s ‘mussel capital’ is the source of exceptional shellfish used by top chefs far and wide. Step aboard a beautifully refurbished trawler to see how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    A curtain is slowly winched from the placid, teal waters just off Portarlington , like a floating garland beside our boat. The ropes heave with blue mussels, the star attraction of our tour. But as we reach to pluck our own, it’s quickly clear they’re not alone; a mass of weird and wonderful creatures has colonised the ropes, turning them into a living tapestry. ‘Fairy’ oysters, jelly-like sea squirts, and tiny, wriggling skeleton shrimp all inhabit this underwater ecosystem.

    We prize our bivalve bounty from the ropes, and minutes later the mussels arrive split on a platter. The plump orange morsels are served raw, ready to be spritzed with wedges of lemon and a lick of chilli as we gaze out over the bay. They’re briny, tender and faintly sweet. “This wasn’t originally part of the tour,” explains Connie Trathen, who doubles as the boat’s cook, deckhand and guide. “But a chef [who came onboard] wanted to taste the mussels raw first, and it’s now become one of the key features.”

    A humble trawler turned Hamptons-style dreamboat

    inspecting bivalve bounty from the ropes
    Inspecting the bounty. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    It’s a crisp, calm winter’s day, and the sun is pouring down upon Valerie, a restored Huon pine workhorse that was first launched in January 1980. In a previous life she trawled the turbulent Bass Strait. These days she takes jaunts into Port Phillip Bay under the helm of Lance Wiffen, a fourth-generation Bellarine farmer, and the owner of Portarlington Mussel Tours . While Lance has been involved in the fishing industry for 30-plus years, the company’s tour boat only debuted in 2023.

    holding Portarlington mussels
    See how these plump and juicy bivalves are sustainably cultivated.

    It took more than three years to transform the former shark trawler into a dreamy, Hamptons-esque vessel, with little expense spared. Think muted green suede banquettes, white-washed walls, Breton-striped bench cushions, hardwood tables, bouquets of homegrown dahlias, and woollen blankets sourced from Waverley Mills, Australia’s oldest working textile mill. It’s intimate, too, welcoming 12 guests at most. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about the experience – just warm, down-to-earth Aussie hospitality.

    As we cruise out, we crack open a bottle of local bubbles and nibble on the most beautifully curated cheese platter, adorned with seashells and grey saltbush picked from the water’s edge that very morning. Australasian gannets soar overhead, and I’m told it’s not uncommon for guests to spot the odd seal, pod of dolphins, or even the occasional little penguin.

    The sustainable secret behind Victoria’s best mussels

    blue mussels off Portarlington
    Blue mussels sourced just off Portarlington.

    Connie and Lance both extol the virtues of mussels. They’re delicious. A lean source of protein and packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, and zinc. They’re cooked in a flash (Connie steams our fresh harvest with cider and onion jam). And they’re also widely regarded as one of the most sustainable foods in the world.

    Portarlington mussels with lemon and chilli
    Mussels served with lemon and chilli.

    “Aquaculture is [often] seen as destructive, so a lot of our guests are really surprised about how environmentally friendly and sustainable our industry is,” Lance says. “[Our mussels] would filter 1.4 billion litres of water a day,” he adds, explaining how mussels remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. “And through biomineralisation, we lock carbon into mussel shells.”

    a hand holding a Portarlington mussel
    Mussels are a sustainable food.

    Despite their glowing list of accolades, these molluscs have long been seen as the oysters’ poorer cousins. “It was a really slow start,” explains Lance, who says that in the early days of his career, “you could not sell mussels in Victoria”.

    But word has slowly caught on. Chefs as globally acclaimed as Attica’s Ben Shewry and even René Redzepi of Noma, Denmark, have travelled to these very waters just to try the shellfish at the source, sharing only the highest praise, and using Lance’s mussels in their restaurants.

    guests sampling Portarlington mussels onboard
    Sampling the goods onboard. (Image: Visit Victoria/Hannyn Shiggins)

    According to Lance there’s one obvious reason why the cool depths of Portarlington outshine other locations for mussel farming. “The water quality is second to none,” he says, noting how other regions are frequently rocked by harvest closures due to poor water quality. “We grow, without a doubt, some of the best shellfish in the world.” And with Lance’s bold claims backed up by some of the industry’s greatest names, perhaps it won’t be much longer until more Aussies uncover the appeal of Portarlington’s mussels.