Queensland has officially been crowned the country’s best holiday destination, taking home six major awards in Australian Traveller’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, more than any other state or territory.
Noosa has been voted Australia’s best town. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
The Sunshine State dominated across categories celebrating the country’s best travel experiences. The trophy haul was led by Noosa, which claimed Best Town to Visit thanks to its relaxed yet refined coastal lifestyle, world-class dining, and natural beauty that continues to charm travellers year after year.
Hamilton Island won two awards.
Further north, Hamilton Island made a double appearance – taking out both Best Island Escape and Best Resort Destination. With its postcard-perfect Whitsundays setting, luxury stays like qualia and The Sundays, and easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island has become synonymous with the quintessential Aussie island getaway.
The Gold Coast is Australia’s playground for families.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast was voted Best Family Holiday Spot, recognised for its unbeatable mix of beaches, theme parks and entertainment for all ages. The family-friendly streak continued with Sea World Resort, which took home Best Family Accommodation, solidifying Queensland’s reputation as Australia’s playground for families.
Whitehaven Beach is Australia’s best beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Not to be outdone, Whitehaven Beach – the jewel of the Whitsundays – was crowned Best Beach. Its dazzling white silica sand and turquoise waters remain a bucket-list experience for domestic and international travellers alike.
Victoria followed closely with four wins, all anchored by the powerhouse appeal of Melbourne/Naarm. The city took out Best City to Visit, Best Cultural or Arts Experience and Best Foodie Experience, while the Great Ocean Road secured Best Road Trip, proving that Victoria continues to punch well above its weight when it comes to urban culture and coastal adventure.
Mudgee in Central West NSW was named Best Country Escape. (Image: Destination NSW)
Melbourne/Naarm took out three major awards. (Image: Visit Victoria)
The Barossa Valley reaffirmed its world-class reputation as Best Wine Region. (Image: South Australia Tourism Commission)
The Ghan was voted best rail journey in Australia. (Image: Tourism Northern Territory/ Annie Nuyen)
Uluṟu is Australia's best outback experience. (Image: Tourism Australia)
Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef was named Best Glamping or Off-Grid Experience. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Tasmania/Lutruwita earned one well-deserved nod as Best Under-the-Radar Destination. (Image: Adam Gibson)
South Australia and the Northern Territory tied for three wins each. The Barossa Valley reaffirmed its world-class reputation as Best Wine Region, the Adelaide Fringe lit up the events calendar as Best Festival to Travel For, and The Ghan – shared between SA and the NT – was voted Best Rail Journey. The NT’s other two wins went to Uluṟu, which dominated with Best Outback Destination and Best First Nations Experience, underscoring its powerful cultural and natural significance.
And finally, Tasmania/Lutruwita earned one well-deserved nod as Best Under-the-Radar Destination, proving that smaller states can still make a big impact.
With thousands of votes cast nationwide, the results confirm what travellers already know: when it comes to dream holidays, Queensland reigns supreme.
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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.
Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.
While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.
Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.
Getting there
Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)
You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.
Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.
Best accommodation in Clermont
Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)
All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.
Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.
One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.
Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.
The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.
See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)
For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.
Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.
Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.
Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont
Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.
Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.
Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.
For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.
Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.
