9 Under-the-Radar Summer Destinations in Australia

Make the most of the warmer months by dipping into these under-the-radar summer destinations minus the crowds.

Find a treasure trove of coastal towns to explore around Australia, from Yeppoon to Tasmania, across the country and back again.

1. Yeppoon, Qld

This Capricorn Coast uncut gem is now being polished yearly since intrepid holiday hunters have discovered the glimmer at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.

Yeppoon is the gateway to Great Keppel Island and 27 other outcrops, but also offers plenty of its own attractions, from the foreshore’s free zero-depth Keppel Kraken water park, lagoon pool and kids’ play areas to whale watching, fishing, four-wheel-driving and excursions beyond to snorkel and spot dolphins and turtles. While it skews towards families, that’s not the only feather in its cap. Couples and mates will enjoy the boho stylings at Yeppoon Surfside Motel .

a scenic view of Yeppoon on the cusp of Queensland’s Capricorn Coast — Yeppoon is on the cusp of Queensland’s Capricorn Coast. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/ Vince Vali Tutti)

Where is it? About eight hours north of Brisbane, or fly into Rockhampton Airport, which is 40 minutes from the coast.

What’s it all about? Tropical sun, family fun and island skipping.

Don’t miss: With loads of incredible produce in the surrounding region, you’ll eat well at the Yeppoon Community Market every Saturday.

Hot tip: Take a tour 40 minutes inland to slip into the underworld limestone labyrinth that is the Capricorn Caves.

2. Tropical North Queensland

Lush, wild, tropical, vibrant and tinged with a hint of Australia-specific cautions, Tropical North Queensland begins along the Cassowary Coast and winds upwards to Cape York, beaded with dazzling baubles of palm-fringed beach towns, emerald rainforests, dreamy castaway islands, and, of course, the kaleidoscopic beauty of the Great Barrier Reef.

a palm-fringed beach in Tropical North Queensland — Soak up the sun in the palm-fringed Tropical North Queensland.

From the well-seasoned, upmarket Port Douglas to the bustle of Cairns, the ancient Daintree and Cape Tribulation, out to the Atherton Tablelands and across to further-flung Torres Strait, this part of the country is ancient, extraordinary and utterly captivating.

an aerial view of Low Isles, Port Douglas — Experience the highs of Low Isles. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where is it? Beginning in Mission Beach, about 20 hours north of Brisbane, and travelling all the way up to Cape York.

What’s it all about? The Great Barrier Reef, which follows the coast to the tip.

Don’t miss: The Daintree Rainforest – 135 million years in the making – deserves your undivided awe.

Hot tip: Low Isles, 15 kilometres off Port Douglas, is the perfect lagoon reef for novice snorkellers to get a fin in.

3. Tasmania

No, not your typical summer destination, but Tassie can raise the mercury in the warmer months, despite its low-lying geography. As an island, you’re never too far from the sea, should it get hot. If things stay mild, though, Tassie makes for a great place to give the heat the slip.

top view of waves crashing on the rocks in Tasmania — Get lost in the remote coastlines of Tasmania. (Image: Matty Eaton)

Tassie offers plenty for summertime dalliances, from hikes at Cradle Mountain or Flinders Island to cruises around Wineglass Bay , kayaking down the Franklin River and general pottering in historic Hobart. And you don’t have to drive far around the Apple Isle before you encounter something utterly adorable.

a wombat in the wild in Tasmania — See wombats in the wild in Tasmania. (Image: Josh Withers)

Where is it? Tasmania lies about 250 kilometres across the Bass Strait. You can fly to our most southerly state from every capital city.

What’s it all about? Storybook hamlets and remarkably pristine beauty.

Don’t miss: A dip in the clear, southerly waters – there’s just something enlivening about them.

Hot tip: Check into Hobart’s stunning MACq 01 Hotel to pull the thread of the city’s convict past in luxe surrounds. Or, make a beeline for the beachfront of Coles Bay to bed down in Still at Freycinet, a Nordic-inspired wellness stay.

4. Great Southern, WA

While the Margaret River region snatches the holiday headlines, the coastline and townships a little further south are equally magnetic. The Great Southern is slightly more untamed, more exposed and gobsmackingly dramatic.

the Native Dog Cabin in Bremer Bay, WA — Bunker down in Native Dog Cabin in Bremer Bay, WA. (Image: Kirsten Sivyer)

With enormous granite boulders scattered across the landscape, this is a playground for those who appreciate precarious positions, such as at The Gap and Natural Bridge at Albany and the Granite Skywalk at Porongurup National Park.

Oversized boulders loll in aquamarine waters at Elephant Rocks in Denmark. And you’ll find one of the country’s longest (and most wonderful) treetop walks in the Valley of the Giants near Walpole.

Find giant boulders in Greens Pool, William Bay National Park in Denmark, WA. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Where is it? This region at the beginning of the Great Australian Bight, south-west of Western Australia, borders the Margaret River Region.

What’s it all about? Big rocks, big trees and big vistas.

Don’t miss: The Kodja Place and Kojonup Visitor Centre to learn about the Noongar Indigenous Creation story.

Hot tip: Grab five friends and bed down in the architecturally and geographically spectacular Native Dog Cabin at Point Henry Peninsula.

5. Bellarine Peninsula, Vic

Poking into Port Phillip Bay on one side and overlooking the ocean on the other, this appendage off Geelong offers ample spots to take in the fresh sea air.

empty shores at Port Phillip Bay — The briny bivalves are found in the cool depths of Port Phillip Bay.

From Portarlington and Queenscliff to Drysdale and Barwon Heads, the area has long enticed sweltering Melburnians with incredible produce and reviving ocean-infused air.

a mussel dish recipe in Portarlington, knownas the Mussel Capital of Victoria — Visit Portarlington, known as the Mussel Capital of Victoria. (Image: Matty Eaton)

Where is it? Just 20 minutes outside of Geelong and a one-and-a-half-hour drive around Port Phillip from Melbourne (or skip across the water by ferry).

What’s it all about? Beaches, wineries and seaside villages.

Don’t miss: Book into the elegant Lon Spa for some Zen time.

Hot tip: Join a mussel farm tour with Portarlington Mussel Tours if you love briny bivalves.

6. Gippsland, Vic

This vast area stretches from the east Gippsland Lakes to central Gippsland and the southerly Wilsons Promontory, encompassing everything from coastal loveliness to maritime hamlets and alpine regions.

Explore the Croajingolong National Park-enclosed town of Mallacoota; the Snowy River town of Orbost; remote Dargo in the foothills of the Dargo High Plains; and beloved Phillip Island – all within this one diverse wedge of Australia.

a flock of pelicans at the township of Mallacoota in Victoria — Mooch around the township of Mallacoota in Victoria. (Image: Gavin Hansford/Destination Gippsland)

Where is it? Gippsland occupies Victoria’s eastern corner and is about two hours from the state’s capital.

What’s it all about? From beach to mountain, you’ll encounter history, heritage and the best country pubs.

Don’t miss: The Great Southern Rail Trail is for those who like to bike.

Hot tip: Take in the beauty of the Alpine High Country with a drive along the Great Alpine Road.

7. Darwin and the Top End, NT

Typically, Darwin and the Top End are flooded with visitors during winter, when its balmy climate lures shivering southerners. In summer though, it’s moodily monsoonal, wet and wonderfully compelling. So don’t let a little rain deter your wandering spirit, because downpours and humidity lend this tropical landscape an ethereal beauty.

street art in Darwin — Street art as social commentary in Darwin. (Image: Tourism NT)

The iridescence is dialled up on vegetation, cascades thunder into life and birds teem. Take a scenic flight over Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park to be awed by such spectacles. Sunsets and storms glimpsed from Darwinian haunts will also fill your visual compendium. As will plenty of bushwalks, art trails, wildlife encounters and luxe accommodation options.

an aerial view of the Twin Falls in NT’s Kakadu — Take a joy ride over Twin Falls in NT’s Kakadu.

Where is it? The Northern Territory capital sits at the pinnacle of the state gazing towards the Timor Sea. It’s an easy flight from most cities.

What’s it all about? The drama of the tropical wet season makes for a summer you’ll never forget.

Don’t miss: While some roads will be closed in national parks, Wangi and Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park are open year-round.

Hot tip: It might be wet season, but it’s not always raining. When it’s hot, head to Darwin’s waterfront precinct.

8. South Australia

Emus strutting on powdery white sands, shimmering shallows of impossible clarity, lounging sea lions and remote beauty. Residents of South Australia have long known their state boasts some of the country’s most arresting coastlines.

seals sleeping at Seal Bay Conservation Park, Kangaroo Island — Meet the locals at KI’s Seal Bay Conservation Park. (Image: Tourism Alliance)

But now the rest of the country is cluing in. With three peninsulas extending into the ocean – Fleurieu, Eyre and Yorke – there are kilometres upon kilometres of white-sand beaches to unravel.

an aerial view of Gull Bay in Fleurieu Peninsula, SA — Flock to Gull Bay in SA’s Fleurieu Peninsula. (Image: Mason Kirby & Sarah Parker)

Where is it? The Fleurieu Peninsula region is 90 minutes from Adelaide; Yorke is two and a half hours; and Eyre is more than six hours away by car.

What’s it all about? Peninsulas, peninsulas and more peninsulas!

Don’t miss: Get your pulse quickening on a shark cage dive.

Hot tip: Kangaroo Island is a must-visit destination at least once in a lifetime.

9. Macleay Valley Coast, NSW

While many residents of NSW may be familiar with South West Rocks, the region is largely lesser known compared to other north coast holiday spots. That’s exactly why the Macleay Valley Coast is so appealing. There’s a mellowness here that facilitates complete disengagement from everyday life.

surfing in Crescent Head, NSW — NSW’s Crescent Head is imbued with summer holiday vibes. (Image: Woody Gooch)

Grassy Head, Crescent Head, Hat Head, Trial Bay and Korogoro Creek are all bush-bound, pristine and dotted with campgrounds for off-grid escapes.

the interior of Crescent Head’s Sea Sea Hotel — Settle in Stylish Sea Sea, Crescent Head.

Where is it? Just four-and-a-half hours from Sydney, this is an easy summer break when time is short.

What’s it all about? Surf beaches and barefoot boho vibes.

Don’t miss: Climb to the top of Mt Yarrahapinni for views of the whole Macleay Valley and coast.

Hot tip: Crescent Head’s Sea Sea Hotel is a hip reboot of a tired seaside resort.

The country’s rawest places offer some of its most transformative, restorative experiences.

Australia offers sublime opportunities to disappear into the ancient, untouched wilderness, worlds away from modern stress. Wild Bush Luxury offers a collection of experiences that are a portal into the continent’s wildest, most undiscovered landscapes, from wide floodplains to vast savannas, where the only distractions are birdsong, frog calls, curious wallabies and the daily drama of sunset. With a focus on conservation and Indigenous knowledge, these all-inclusive experiences allow guests to slow down and quiet their minds for intimate encounters with the natural world.

1. Bamurru Plains

safari tent at Bamurru Plains wild bush luxury — Let nature take front row.

In the remote Top End, just outside Kakadu National Park on the fringes of the spectacular Mary River floodplains, you’ll find Bamurru Plains , a peerless Australian safari camp. After a quick air transfer from Darwin to the camp’s private airstrip, you’ll be whisked away via 4WD to a vivid natural wonderland of shimmering floodplains, red earth, herds of peacefully grazing water buffalo and 236 bird species (Bamurru means magpie goose to the Gagadju people).

Accommodations consist of 10 mesh-walled bungalows and two luxe stilted retreats where guests enjoy panoramic, up-close views that invite them into their rightful place in the landscape (and binoculars to see it even better). Being an off-grid experience designed to help guests disconnect, the only distractions are birdsongs, frog calls, curious wallabies, the occasional crocodile sighting and the daily drama of the spectacular golden sunset.

It’s a place where nature’s vastness rises to the level of the spiritual, and Bamurru’s understated, stylish, largely solar-powered lodgings are designed to minimise human impact and let nature take front row. Guests relax in comfort with plush linens, an open bar, communal tables that allow for spontaneous connections and curated dining experiences from the in-house chef using local ingredients and bush-inspired cooking methods.

Bamurru Plains airboat tour — Zoom across the floodplains. (Image: Adam Gibson)

It’s a restorative backdrop for days spent zooming across the mist-covered floodplains in an airboat, birding with expert guides, taking an open-sided safari drive or river cruise through croc country. Spend time at the Hide, a treehouse-like platform that’s perfect for wildlife spotting.

In fact, nature is so powerful here that Bamurru Plains closes entirely during the peak monsoon season (October to April), when the floodplains reclaim the land and life teems unseen beneath the water. Yet Wild Bush Luxury’s ethos continues year-round through its other experiences around Australia – each designed to immerse travellers in a distinct Australian wilderness at its most alive and untouched.

2. Maria Island Walk

woman on a headland of Maria Island Walk — Maria Island Walk offers sweeping coastal scenes.

Off Tasmania’s rugged east coast, the iconic Maria Island Walk is an intimate four-day journey through one of the country’s most hauntingly beautiful and unpopulated national parks, encompassing pristine beaches, convict-era ruins, and wildlife sightings galore. Accessible only by a small ferry, Maria Island feels like a place reclaimed by nature, which is exactly what it is: a penal settlement later used for farms and industry that finally became a national park in 1972.

These days, the island is known as ‘Tasmania’s Noah’s Ark’ and its only human inhabitants are park rangers. It’s a place where wombats amble through grassy meadows, wallabies graze beside empty beaches, dolphins splash in clear water just offshore and Tasmanian devils – successfully reintroduced in 2012 after near-extinction on the mainland – roam free and healthy.

Each day unfolds in an unhurried rhythm: trails through coastal eucalyptus forests or along white-sand bays, plateaus with sweeping ocean views, quiet coves perfect for swimming. Midway through the journey, you’ll explore Darlington, a remarkably preserved 19th-century convict settlement whose ruins tell stories of human ambition at the edge of the known world.

At night, sleep beneath a canopy of stars in eco-wilderness camps – after relaxing with Tasmanian wine and locally-sourced meals, and swapping stories with your fellow trekkers by candlelight.

3. Arkaba

two people standing next to a 4wd in Arkaba — Explore Arkaba on foot or on four wheels.

For a bush immersion with more of an outback flavour, Arkaba offers a completely different type of experience. A former sheep station and historic homestead in South Australia’s striking Flinders Ranges that has been reimagined as a 63,000-acre private wildlife conservancy. It’s now patrolled mainly by kangaroos and emus.

Small-scale tourism (the homestead has just five ensuite guestrooms) helps support rewilding projects, and guests become an essential part of the conservation journey. Days begin with sunrise hikes through ancient sandstone ridges or guided drives into the ranges to spot yellow-footed rock-wallabies. And end with sundowners on a private ridgetop watching the Elder Range glow vibrant shades of gold, crimson and violet as the air cools and time stands still.

Here, you can join conservation activities like tracking native species or learning about Arkaba’s pioneering feral-animal eradication projects, then unwind with chef-prepared dinners served alfresco on the veranda of the homestead, which is both rustic and refined. The highlight? Following Arkaba Walk, a thriving outback wilderness where emus wander and fields of wildflowers grow.

It’s an unforgettable immersion in Australia’s vast inland beauty, a place where the land’s deep and complicated history – and astounding resilience – leave their quiet imprint long after you return home. In a world where genuine awe is rare, Wild Bush Luxury offers a return to what matters most in the untamed beauty of Australia’s wilderness.

Disconnect from the grind and reconnect with nature when you book with at wildbushluxury.com

9 under-the-radar summer destinations in Australia