Here are 10 towns to take note of for your next weekend escape…
Each year, Wotif pulls together intel from travel-savvy Aussies to spotlight trending towns on the rise. 2024’s winners have been announced, revealing the places that should be on your radar when you’re planning your next weekend getaway. We’ve rounded up this year’s winners – and why each one is worth lingering in.
1. Bendigo, VIC
The vibe: A regional centre for arts, culture and food, set against a backdrop of heritage buildings and Gold Rush History.
The fourth-largest regional town in Australia takes the top spot. Topping the list is the town’s most recent accolade, alongside being named Australia’s first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2019.
Bendigo was revealed the top Australian town for 2024. (Image: City of Greater Bendigo)
The Gold Rush boomtown earned the prestigious UNESCO title due to the abundance of high-quality local growers, and the local culinary talent that artfully alchemise the ingredients to create Bendigo’s lively food scene.
Come aboard the Dja Dja Wurrnung Tram to discover Bendigo’s cultural heritage. (Image: City of Greater Bendigo)
Around the region, you’ll find no shortage of wineries, breweries and artisan producers that are sure to sate the foodie within you. At its heart, Bendigo is a creative city. Visitors can explore a rich arts culture spanning millennia, from the esteemed Djaa Djuwima First Nations Gallery to Bendigo Art Gallery, one of the oldest and largest regional art galleries in the country.
Bendigo is rich in gold-rush history and grand architecture.
2. Broken Hill, NSW
The vibe: An outback mining town full of unexpected bursts of colour.
Broken Hill is best known as the spiritual home of the iconic 1994 film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It’s only fitting, then, that the Silver City should nab second place in the same year as the film’s 30th anniversary.
Visit the Broken Hill Court House while you’re in town. (Image: Broken Hill City Council)
2024 is certainly the time to visit the outback mining town – attendees can experience the eleganza of the iconic film at Broken Heel festival, which celebrates Priscilla’s ‘dirty thirty’ with drag, divas and disco among the dusty desert landscapes.
Perched on top of a hill, the Broken Hill Living Desert Sculptures are created by a group of artists from around the world. (Image: Broken Hill City Council)
While you’re there, be sure to stop by Bell’s, Australia’s longest-running milk bar. If you’re an art aficionado, you’ll love the Broken Hill City Art Gallery, where you can witness works by leading Aboriginal artists.
The Broken Hill Silver City Mint & Art Centre is tucked within rust-coloured plains. (Image: Destination NSW)
3. Stanthorpe, QLD
The vibe: A nature lovers paradise that’s perfect for a winter wine escape.
Closing out the top three winners is the Sunshine State town of Stanthorpe. The town sits at the heart of the Granite Belt, a geological region characterised by its exceptional wineries, spectacular flowers and abundant apple orchards.
Pedal through the town’s vast orchards with Stanthorpe Bicycle Tours. (Image: Tourism Australia/ Southern Queensland Country Tourism)
Here, you’ll find over 50 cellar doors and a wealth of fresh produce. Experience bucolic bliss as you pick strawberries and apples in the warmer months, and hit the trails in winter to go wild truffle hunting. If you’re feeling legsy, there’s no shortage of hiking trails in the stunning Girraween National Park, located just a stone’s throw away.
Stumble upon majestic rock slabs along the Mt Norman trail. (Image: (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland; Southern Queensland Country Tourism)
4. Katherine, NT
The vibe: Dramatic waterfalls, otherworldly nature, and ample opportunity to engage with First Nations culture.
Katherine is in the country’s colourful top end, on the Traditional Lands of the Jawoyn, Dagoman and Wardaman People. The town is the gateway to Nitmiluk National Park, home to the famous Nitmiluk Gorge – a phenomenon of geology carved deep into ancient sandstone.
Katherine Gorge is carved from the ancient sandstone country.
It’s a must-see place for nature lovers and is ideal for chasing majestic waterfalls and cooling off with a refreshing dip during the dry months. The township of Katherine itself is bursting with galleries that showcase local Indigenous Art, such as Godinymayin Yijard Arts and Culture Centre. Come winter, 80 kilometres south of Katherine transforms into the site of Barunga Festival, one of the country’s biggest and brightest celebrations of Indigenous culture.
Capture stunning views of the iconic Katherine Gorge from Katherine Baruwei Lookout. (Image: Tourism NT)
5. Bathurst, NSW
The vibe: A heritage town steeped in history where you can take a step back in time.
Bathurst, the oldest colonial inland settlement in Australia makes an appearance at number five on the list. The town keeps its history alive with the Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail, an annual festival that pays homage to all the crafts that have helped shape the region.
Lush greenery is spread across the Bathurst Bridle Track. (Image: Manon the Moon Media)
From Aboriginal tool-making workshops to black smithery and saddlery, be transported back in time by local artisans. You can also visit some of the best-preserved gold rush villages year-round in the surroundings of Bathurst, and try your hand at gold panning, too.
The Bathurst Courthouse is a renowned Victorian building in New South Wales. (Image: Warren Lloyd)
6. Tanunda, SA
The vibe: A wine lovers paradise cosseted among quaint architecture.
The Barossa region in South Australia is famous for its rolling hills and world-class wineries. Tanunda sits in the heart of it, flush with pretty heritage buildings and cottages.
Tanunda is known for its vast vineyards. (Image: Nick Rains)
There are still strong ties to the town’s German history, alive today in an abundance of German bakeries and restaurants.
Take a trip above the stunning Barossa Valley on a scenic hot air balloon flight. (Image: Jiayuan Liang; Xplorer Studio)
7. Griffith, NSW
The vibe: Italian culture set among a classic Australian backdrop.
New South Wales squeezes into the top 10 a third time with the town of Griffith, located in the Riverina region. With the highest proportion of Italian ancestry in Australia, Griffith is a regional ‘Little Italy’.
Dine authentic Italian at the seven-day A Taste of Italy Griffith festival. (Image: Visit Griffith)
Visitors can get their foodie and culture fix at the seven-day A Taste of Italy Griffith festival which has an abundance of Italian-themed events, experiences and food.
Year-round, sample award-winning Italian restaurants and vineyards. The town truly comes alive in spring with Griffith Spring Fest, celebrating the citrus harvest and the cultures that make up the region.
Take in breathtaking views atop the Griffith Scenic Hill Lookout. (Image: Visit Griffith)
8. Stanley, TAS
The vibe: A coastal and quaint town with dramatic scenery.
The picturesque town of Stanley in Tasmania’s northwest is graced by the backdrop of Stanley Nut, an ancient volcano plug that offers breathtaking views from the summit (yes, you can hike up).
See spectacular views of Stanley on The Nut Chairlift. (Image: Lusy Productions)
Stanley’s quirky spirit is epitomised by the Ship Inn, a century-old building that tells the story of the region’s history through its luxurious suites and rooms. The town is also home to an adorable colony of Fairy penguins, and viewing platforms provide ample opportunity for spotting them.
Stanley lies on the north-west coast of Tasmania. (Image: Jason Charles Hill)
9. Exmouth, WA
The vibe: dreamy blue hues and an abundance of wildlife watching.
Exmouth on the dreamy West Coast is the gateway to the UNESCO Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, the largest fringing reef in the world.
Swim with whale sharks in Exmouth. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Here, the water is a shocking shade of blue and a mecca for marine life, with whale sharks, manta rays and turtles all making regular appearances. For divers, snorkellers and wildlife lovers, a trip here is a must.
The Turquoise Bay is laid with dreamy patches of white sand. (Image: Tourism Western Australia; @from.miles_.away @mattfrommilesaway)
10. Coober Pedy, SA
The vibe: Otherworldy lunar landscapes in a unique outback town.
Australia’s opal capital is a gem in its own right. Capping off the top 10 towns of 2024, Coober Pedy earns its place with its unique underground houses, an idiosyncrasy that earned the town its name (‘Coober Pedy’ comes from the Aboriginal term for ‘white man in a hole’).
Coober Pedy is famous for its drive-in theatre. (Image: Daniel Westergren)
Here, you can go fossicking for opals and catch a spectacular outback sunset.
Visit the early opal mines of Coober Pedy.
