Time to get in the car and discover these top Australian towns.
Australian travel website Wotif today has announced the results of their annual Australian Town of The Year and boy, have they gone bananas with the winner. New South Wales’s home of the Big Banana, Coff’s Harbour has taken the crown as the go-to Australian town of 2020.
The country’s top towns were based on the website’s pricing and demand index, with Coffs Harbour taking the prize from Port Fairy, Victoria who was awarded the honour in 2019. Queensland made up almost half the list with four towns – Mackay, Airlie Beach, Cairns and Maroochydore – doing the sun-kissed State proud.
Be inspired to holiday in your backyard with Wotif’s round-up of top Australian towns of 2020.
1. Coffs Harbour, NSW
There is more to Coffs Harbour than just bananas. This coastal town packs a punch with its idyllic beaches, lush rainforests and top attractions, making it a destination that caters to all. It’s loved by both sides of the border, located halfway between Sydney and Brisbane.
2. Mackay, Queensland
Queensland’s historic town Mackay is favourite with travelling Aussies for many reasons. It is a place where natural and cultural colours collide with subtropical rainforests, vast national parks and a thriving arts scene making Mackay the bright place to be. Being the augural winner of Wotif’s Aussie Town of the Year awards, this central Queensland town remains a must-visit.
3. Airlie Beach, QLD
It’s playtime on both land and sea with the azure waters of Airlie Beach being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Come night time, and its nightlife is just as vibrant.
4. Batemans Bay, NSW
Seafood fan? You are in luck! Think of Batemans Bay your oyster to a treasure trove of natural wonders along the New South Wales coast and also a place to spoil yourself with fresh local seafood.
5. Cairns, Queensland
A town for the nature lovers! Australia’s premier natural capital Cairns is the stepping stone to two world-heritage listed sites existing side by side together – the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
6. Port Fairy, Victoria
Seaside town Port Fairy is located on the doorstep of Victoria’s most famous and picturesque drive, Great Ocean Road.
7. Albany, Western Australia
Western Australia’s Albany is one that is steeped with history (the State’s oldest European settlement and its ANZAC ties) and heaped with adventure both on land and sea. Come and see the whales and stay for the wine!
8. Katoomba, New South Wales
At the heart of the Blue Mountains lies the historical town Katoomba. Be spoilt with its vast cultural heritage and even more so with its top-notch restaurant and bar scene.
9. Margaret River, Western Australia
The river runs red in Margaret River with this famous surf town a world-known producer of great wine. One could only expect to have a merry old time in this too-good-to-be-true stunning part of Australia’s south-west.
10. Maroochydore, Queensland
Hello funky town! Queensland’s Maroochydore is the cultural capital of the Sunshine Coast, home to quirky cafes, worldly cuisines and an eclectic live music scene.
See more: Australia travel
Featured image: Wotif.com
