My 10 Favorite Places in Australia That Aren’t Sydney or Melbourne
Australia is so huge that most people spend their time visiting the main cities — Sydney and Melbourne. These cities are great, and I spent about 2 months living in each.
But there’s so much more to Australia.
I traveled around the country for 6 months, and I got to see many off-the-beaten-path locations. I primarily traveled in the states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia.
My partner and I visited small towns, national parks, wine regions, and famous surf destinations. We took a campervan around coastal Queensland, road-tripped around Tasmania, and even made it out to Australia’s far-flung west coast.
And my #1 favorite place? It may surprise you.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but these were some of my favorite places I went to. Most I’d never heard of before going to Australia, but I’d highly recommend visiting them.
#10: Coolangatta, QLD
The Gold Coast as a whole is one of the more well-known spots in Australia, but Coolangatta feels blissfully removed from it all.
Most tourists head north to Surfers Paradise, leaving “Coolie” for the locals, surfers, and beach bums. There’s not a ton of nightlife, but all we really wanted to do here anyway was take advantage of the warm water and perfect beaches.
We spent our time dining at great beachside restaurants and suntanning in little beach coves. I loved it and would definitely go back.
#9: Byron Bay, NSW
Byron Bay was a place I had looked forward to visiting for a while. I thought it would be my favorite place in all of Australia since I had heard so much about its laid-back 70s vibe and fantastic beaches.
At first, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. It’s touristy, and expensive, and has been taken over by açaí bowl chains, yoga studios, and swimsuit stores. It feels almost artificial now.
Still, after an initially scathing review, I ended up really liking Byon Bay. The beaches there are drop-dead gorgeous, with fantastic hiking trails and great surf. And the small town, while infested with yuppies on vacation, is filled with live music, nightlife, and great food. We also visited an excellent brewery — Stone & Wood. Overall, Byron Bay won me over in the end.
#8: Whitsunday Islands, QLD
I hadn’t heard of the Whitsundays before we got to Queensland, but everyone was talking about it as the place to go. Apparently, this small island chain an hour off the coast was home to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world — Whitehaven Beach.
And yeah, it was worth it.
We did a day tour to Whitsunday Island and it was jaw-droppingly beautiful. Like, couldn’t-believe-this-exists-in-real-life kind of beautiful. The water is perfectly warm and super clear. Also, there are coral reefs to snorkel at and tons of cool fish.
#7: Freycinet National Park, TAS
Honestly, I had no idea what to expect from Tasmania before I went. I definitely did not expect white sandy beaches and turquoise water.
But that’s what we found in Freycinet, a national park on Tasmania’s east coast. There are fantastic beachside camping spots here and endless hiking opportunities.
Better yet, it’s not crowded at all. Even at the famous Wineglass Bay lookout point, which is the postcard-perfect picture of Tasmania, there were only 10-15 people there with us.
#6: Noosa Heads, QLD
We only spent two days in Noosa and I immediately wished it was longer.
Noosa is a quaint small town with boutique shops and restaurants, plus tons of vacation homes perched on little canals.
We wandered around town a bit but spent most of our time exploring the gorgeous Noosa National Park. There are tons of easy coastal hiking trails that take you to different beaches, each with near-perfect surf breaks.
Noosa is also a wildlife hotspot, with many koalas and kangaroos. We even spent a night at the Noosa Everglades — the only Everglades system in the world outside of Florida!
#5: Blue Mountains National Park, NSW
The Blue Mountains are a few hours inland from Sydney. There are beautiful waterfalls, tree-covered mountains that stretch for miles, and ancient gorges and canyons.
It’s a great spot for hiking, rock climbing, spotting wildlife, or just admiring a different side of Australia: the non-beach part.
We stayed in the small town of Katoomba, which was wacky and wonderful in all the right ways. Plus, it was close to a ton of hiking trails and the main scenic lookouts we wanted to see.
#4: Margaret River, WA
Premier wine tasting AND beautiful beaches? Yes, please.
Margaret River on Australia’s seldom-visited western coast may be far, but it’s worth the trek. It even made Travel Lemming’s list of emerging destinations in 2022.
The beaches are plentiful and stunning, with barely any crowds. Wineries are hidden between rolling hills and eucalyptus forests, just 15 minutes away from the gorgeous coastline.
The wineries in Margaret River are producing some of the best wine in Australia (or so I’m told). I’m no expert, but everything I tasted was absolutely delicious. And the beach sunsets were the cherry on top of a perfect day.
#3: Bay of Fires, TAS
White sand beaches. Bright blue water. Fresh oysters. Free campsites. No crowds. This is the Bay of Fires, Tasmania.
Even though we only spent one day here, it was one of my favorite days ever. We ate oysters on the beach, went swimming in gentle waves, and climbed around bright orange-colored rocks.
The Bay of Fires is far away from any major cities, so there’s not much in the way of nightlife except for stargazing and sitting around a campfire. It’s incredibly beautiful.
#2: Grampians National Park, VIC
Similar to the Bay of Fires, my time in the Grampians also produced one of my favorite days of my Australian travels.
This national park, known as Gariwerd in the local aboriginal culture, is about 3 hours away from Melbourne. There’s so much to do — we took a guided rock climbing class, hiked around the forest, went swimming in rivers and waterfalls, and watched the sunset over the sprawling mountains.
It’s a very culturally significant place to the Djab Wurrung and the Jardwadjali people. I felt very lucky to be there.
#1: Bellingen, NSW
I would go back to Australia and live in Bellingen.
It’s a bohemian little town known for arts and music, and it’s surrounded by gorgeous rivers, waterfalls, forests, and national parks.
We were lucky enough to visit one of Bellingen’s monthly markets, which take place year-round. The community comes together to celebrate food, art, herbal medicine, political activism, and plenty of other causes, all to the tune of some great live musicians.
The town is lovely, but the real star is the natural surroundings. We drove around backroads with our windows down, taking in the picturesque countryside and finding different swimming holes to dip in. Afterwards, we went surfing at the beach only 20 minutes away.
Tips for Visiting Australia
Don’t forget about Tasmania.
Tasmania is disconnected from mainland Australia, so a lot of people skip it on their travels. My advice? Don’t.
Tasmania is one of the most beautiful states in Australia with so much to do. It’s especially great for people who appreciate natural beauty, wildlife, or camping.
It’s one of the best places in the world for an epic road trip. We road-tripped around for 5 days, and I wish we extended it to a few weeks instead of just a few days!
Rent a car or campervan.
Australia’s public transportation systems aren’t bad. It’s fairly easy to take trains around New South Wales and some parts of Victoria. But so many of Australia’s best destinations — and most of the destinations on this list — are only accessible by car.
We rented a free campervan for a road trip up coastal Queensland, which is how we were able to go to Coolangatta, Noosa Heads, and the Whitsunday Islands.
Plus, there are tons of free camping spots where you can park for the night. It’s the perfect way to get to know Australia.
Be careful around the wildlife, but don’t be scared.
When I told people I was going to Australia, so many people warned me about the wildlife. “Isn’t Australia home to some of the deadliest animals in the world?” Yes — but it’s also home to 26 million people who live there just fine.
There are animals to be cautious around, obviously. You should familiarize yourself with some best practices when visiting an area where wildlife is present.
For example, be careful in tall grass where snakes might be hiding, or avoid swimming in Crocodile Country. Always remember that wild animals are still that — wild.
Visit in the right seasons.
Australia is known for having great weather, but certain areas of the country are much more variable than others.
For example, Tasmania is lovely in summertime, while Queensland can be brutally hot and humid. Conversely, Tasmania sees snow in the winter, while New South Wales and Queensland stay sunny and 75. And always remember — it’s in the southern hemisphere, so seasons are reversed.
You’ll need to pack accordingly, depending on the season. See my guide on what to pack for Australia if you need help planning.
***
Australia is one of my favorite places I’ve ever traveled to. I think a huge reason is because I spent so long in the country.
I used Australia as my starting point for my one-year trip around the world. I traveled slowly, made a lot of friends, and tried to get off the beaten path as much as possible. As a result, I got to know different parts of the country instead of just the major cities.
My one major regret is that I didn’t make it into the Northern Territory, South Australia, or any part of the famous Outback. But this just gives me another reason to go back to this beautiful country. I’ll see you again someday, Australia.
I’d love to hear about your experiences in Australia. Have any hidden gem spots you’d like to return to? Let me know in a comment!
👉 Read Next: I traveled the world for a year with just two backpacks. This is what I packed.
More Latest PERSPECTIVES
