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These much-loved Australian regions, from the majestic Kimberley to hatted eateries in NSW’s Orange and the family-friendly beaches of the Bellarine Peninsula, contain the best that life has to offer.
This feature is part of Traveller’s overall “100 all-time greatest Australian destinations” list featuring our favourite homegrown cities and towns, natural attractions, regions, and art and heritage sites.
Top pick: The Kimberley, WA
Vast, unforgiving and beguiling, the Kimberley is one of Australia’s last true wildernesses – a collage of burnt-orange cliffs, forested plateaus, unblemished beaches and turquoise seas that contains some of Australia’s best Indigenous rock art. Whether you explore its intricate coastline on an expedition cruise, take a scenic flight over the dramatic Bungle Bungle Range or tackle the epic 660-kilometre Gibb River Road, you’ll be plunging into an epic landscape of unrivalled majesty. See westernaustralia.com
Barossa Valley, SA
The Barossa Valley is not like other wine regions. Where else can you visit family-run wineries now being helmed by the sixth generation, sample 100-year-old tawny straight from the barrel, eat at some of the best restaurants in the state and be embraced in a warm community vibe? For every heavy-hitting winery such as Penfolds, Seppeltsfield and Hentley Farm there are plenty of notable newcomers including Mirus Wines, David Franz and Tscharke Wines. See barossa.com
Tamar Valley, Tas
The sparkling Tamar River meanders through Launceston and then northwards into some of Australia’s best wine country, an area lined with rolling, vineyard-strewn hills and riverside eateries. On the eastern side, there’s world-class sparkling wine being made by the likes of House of Arras and Clover Hill, while on the western bank there’s classic pinot noir and chardonnay at Stoney Rise and Utzinger. Call into one of the classy restaurants in waterside villages or Launceston itself, and you can’t fail to be pleased. See discovertasmania.com.au
Orange region, NSW
It’s hard to go past a Victorian country town if you’re chasing a good meal: the likes of Kyneton, Daylesford and Beechworth are amazing foodie destinations. In NSW, however, if there’s one rural charmer that’s both region and city, that can hold its own with those Victorian strongholds, it’s Orange. Not only is this a place of historic homes and country allure, but Orange has multiple high-quality restaurants – Hey Rosey, Printhie Dining, Lucetta, the Union Bank – as well as a swag of underrated wineries. See visitnsw.com
Huon Valley, Tas
The emerald folds and curves of the fertile Huon Valley, with the jagged peaks of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area rising in the distance, make the Huon Valley feel fantastically remote despite being less than an hour from Hobart. Apple orchards and cideries abound but allow time to visit other producers – saying hello to the cows at Fat Pig Farm, sampling raw honey varietals at The Honey Pot and cooking up Pugliano dishes at The Farmhouse Kitchen. See huonvalleytas.com
Wimmera Mallee, Vic
Victoria’s agricultural heartland is full of secrets if you care to look. Three hours north-west of Melbourne, the outback starts here, complete with pink salt lakes that resemble inland seas fringed by forests of red gums. Take a road trip along the lake trail, stopping at some of Australia’s largest salt lakes, and picturesque freshwater lakes, nestled between quirky, art-loving towns and the Silo Art Trail. See visitvictoria.com
Oberon region, NSW
Thanks to its elevated position at 1113 metres above sea level atop NSW’s Central Tablelands, everything is cooler in the Oberon region. Summers are fresh; winters often snow-smothered, with the nearby Jenolan Caves a magical maze of chilly limestone caverns. Among other highlights are Mayfield Garden, a stunning 65-hectare estate of cool-climate gardens (don’t miss the hidden grotto) and Essington Park, which offers creative workshops and cooking classes with luxury accommodation in renovated shearers’ quarters. See visitoberon.com
Bruny Island, Tas
If you’re an oyster-lover who hasn’t experienced Bruny Island’s briny beauties, you’re in for a delicious surprise. From the car ferry, point your wheels towards Get Shucked and order a platter of plump Pacifics. Foodies can also tick off the island’s trio of honesty bread fridges, honey, cheese and beer outlets, the raspberry farm and a winery – then work off the indulgence with a strenuous hike or two. See discovertasmania.com.au
Bellarine Peninsula, Vic
Bypassed by the Great Ocean Road, Bellarine’s status as “the other peninsula”, is flipped on its head as Diver Dan’s Boat Shed – sorry, At The Heads restaurant – reopens for the best waterfront tables since TV’s Seachange romanced us in 1998. Add the glow-up of stalwart Esplanade Hotel Queenscliff (pouring coldies since 1879), a breakfast of Ket Baker’s sourdough croissants and new giant drop waterslides at the watery kid magnet Adventure Park and you’ll have all the reasons to head west. See visitgeelongbellarine.com.au
Margaret River, WA
Margaret River, both a region and a town, is almost unfairly beautiful, with its windswept beaches, old-growth karri forests and rugged farmlands covered in grape vines. The town would make the list purely for its natural beauty. But then there’s much more to Margs: some of the world’s best surfing, long-distance hiking on the Cape to Cape track, one of Australia’s premier wine regions, world-class craft breweries and a host of high-quality restaurants you wouldn’t expect to find in a small country town. What a place. See westernaustralia.com
Bellinger Valley, NSW
This fertile and creative hinterland, also known as Promised Land and about 30 minutes south of coastal Coffs Harbour, is dotted with swimming holes, excellent bushwalks in the Dorrigo National Park and the crystalline Never Never River. Surely the best martini in NSW awaits at the end of the day, in the riverside town of Bellingen at Bruno’s restaurant. See visitnsw.com
Contributors: Andrew Bain, Anthony Dennis, Ben Groundwater, Kerry van der Jagt, Brian Johnston, Ute Junker, Nina Karnikowski, Katrina Lobley, Catherine Marshall, Rob McFarland, Justin Meneguzzi, Tim Richards, Craig Tansley and Sue Williams.
Traveller has 10 copies of Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Australia Travel List coffee table book, all about the best Australian travel experiences and valued at $39.99, to give away to our readers. Send us your picks of the greatest Australian destinations not included on Traveller’s “100 all-time greatest Australian destinations” list. We’ll publish the most interesting and inspiring responses at a future date.
