11 Best Australia Towns For A Weekend Trip
It’s easy to overlook how big a place Australia actually is. Sure, it might not look too daunting right underneath the sprawling Eurasian landmass on your world map, but did you know that Australia is roughly the same size as the continental United States? It’s true, and that means that you’ll never be short on options if you’re looking for a new corner of Australia to explore.
But it’s more than just Australia’s size that makes it such a rewarding place to explore. With that size comes enormous diversity of landscapes, climates, and cultures. You can just as easily spend your long weekend at a laid-back beach resort, a remote desert outpost, or an ecolodge in the tropical rainforest. Want to ski? You’ve got it. Wine-tasting? Easy. Swim with sharks, party with the backpacker crowd, or trek through the jungle? That works, too. These 11 Australian towns are perfect for a weekend trip, covering all of that ground and more.
Angaston
If you’re looking for a wine country retreat, your next free weekend ought to take you to the state of South Australia, and more specifically to the country town of Angaston. Located near Adelaide in Australia’s famed wine-producing Barossa Valley, Angaston is first and foremost a place to sip. Zoom in on a map of the town and you’ll find more wine-tasting venues than almost anything else, but it’s as historic as it is wine-drenched. Founded in 1851, it has rolling hills and fertile soil that have made it a beloved destination for nearly two centuries.
Angaston’s biggest draws are its wineries, and the Saltram and Yalumba wineries are its most famous — the latter is home to Australia’s oldest vineyard. Those who tire of wine tasting or visit with families can also enjoy cycling through the dreamy pastoral landscapes of the surrounding hills, or take the Angaston Heritage Walk to some of its most storied sites to get acquainted with the town’s history.
Brunswick Heads, New South Wales
Beach bums might tell you to make for the famed shores of Byron Bay for a weekend at the shore in New South Wales, but few know that an even better retreat lies just up the coast. Drive fifteen minutes north of Byron Bay (the city, not the geographic feature) and you’ll hit Brunswick Heads, a tiny seaside town where the Brunswick River meets the sea. Replete with diverse views and wooden bridges, sleepy Brunswick Heads eschews the commercialism you’ll find at beaches all along this stretch of coastline.
Thanks to the town’s sheltered location at the mouth of the river, Brunswick Heads beaches are fantastic for swimming, but it also boasts excellent surfing at Brunswick Heads Main Beach. You can also take advantage of your location in biodiverse Byron Bay to take a whale watching tour in the winter or a snorkeling tour in the summer. There’s even a spot for travelers who’d prefer something more offbeat: a nearby garden and tourist attraction called Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens claims that it holds the world’s largest collection of giant crystals.
Coober Pedy, South Australia
Like Angaston, Coober Pedy is located in the state of South Australia, but that’s about all the two have in common. Rather than fertile vineyards, Coober Pedy boasts the endless red vistas of the Outback — and one of the most unique tourist draws in Australia. There are two reasons Coober Pedy is like no other place on earth: firstly, no other location produces as many opals; and secondly, much of the town has migrated underground.
To learn about the former Coober Pedy specialty, the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum is a popular tourist attraction. But what really brings travelers to Coober Pedy is its subterranean world. Owing to its inhospitable climate, Coober Pedy opted to build much of its infrastructure underground, and you can marvel at this most unusual of city-planning strategies on a weekend visit. Stay in an underground hotel, visit the town’s underground churches, and check out the underground hideout of local celebrity “Crocodile Harry,” a Latvian big game hunter. Above-ground, the town boasts a golf course — but there’s no grass, and townspeople almost always play at night. And with a regional flight from Adelaide, all of that can be yours to explore. Pretty nifty, no?
Dorrigo, New South Wales
Most visitors to Dorrigo will likely pass through on the way to nearby Dorrigo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting some of the world’s oldest rainforest. Indeed, that natural significance is much of what makes Dorrigo special.
Located on New South Wales’ famous Waterfall Way, there are plenty of spectacular falls to admire in the hinterlands of Dorrigo — Dangar Falls is particularly famous. It makes an excellent stop on a road trip, or a base for road-based explorations of the beautiful Coff Coast. But if you’d like a little more context on what makes Dorrigo’s ecosystem remarkable, stop by the Dorrigo Rainforest Center. It’ll leave you much more prepared to enjoy the area’s ample hiking and birdwatching spots to the fullest.
Exmouth, Western Australia
If you’re one of the intrepid souls whose ears perked up when the introduction to this article mentioned swimming with sharks, you’ll want to pencil in a weekend in Exmouth. That’s because this remote stretch of coast in the state of Western Australia is most famous as the gateway to Ningaloo Marine Park, a famous hub for migrating populations of whale sharks.
Seeing the world’s largest fish, a gentle filter-feeding giant that’s notoriously hard to spot so close to land, is the highlight of any trip to Exmouth. But Ningaloo Reef boasts stellar snorkeling and diving even for those who don’t fancy a dip with a thirty-foot shark, especially at the famous “aquarium without glass” dive site of Exmouth Navy Pier. Nearby, the Jurabi Coastal Reserve is a sea turtle nesting site. Those who prefer their adventures to stay on terra firma have options, too. Also close by, the Cape Range National Park is the Australia of childhood dreams — red rock canyons, kangaroos, and all.
Thanks to its unparalleled number of significant natural attractions, Exmouth was named Western Australia’s Small Tourism Town of the Year three years running. It’s certainly not difficult to see why.
Falls Creek, Victoria
The entirety of Australia is often incorrectly characterized as a tropical destination — a fallacy that would make any Australian laugh themselves silly, but persists overseas. But one needs only to head to the Victoria ski town of Falls Creek to realize that Australia’s diverse landscapes really do span the entire spectrum of climate, topography, and appeal.
Those who head to Falls Creek are mostly coming to ski, taking advantage of the beautiful Falls Creek Alpine Resort to get their powder fix. Both beginners and seasoned skiers and snowboarders will find a run to their liking at this well-planned ski resort. It’s what you’d expect from a town adjacent to Alpine National Park, home to some of Australia’s most stunning mountain scenery. But the Victorian High Plains also offer excellent mountain biking, fly fishing, and hiking in the summer months, and the famed All Saints Estate winery is a year-round draw for travelers.
Hahndorf, South Australia
Many travelers make the trek out to South Australia for the region’s famous wines, but Hahndorf has something starkly different to offer. If you can’t swing a plane ticket to Munich this Oktoberfest, the German-founded town of Hahndorf might be your best bet. Founded in 1839 by German immigrants fleeing religious persecution, the town looks just as German now as it did back then. And although the quaint European townscape is a primary draw for many visitors, you also won’t want to miss the Hahndorf Hill Winery, historic Hahndorf Inn, or the German Migration Museum. The Cedars, comprising the home and gardens of a local artist, is another favorite stop on a weekend in Hahndorf.
Katherine
The mention of the remote Northern Territory might conjure up images of inhospitable Outback terrain, but those stereotypes hide one of Australia’s most beautiful destinations: the Outback oasis of Katherine. Far from a wasteland, Katherine is adjacent to beautiful waterfalls, rivers and gorges in Nitmiluk National Park. Neither can its cultural beauty be overlooked. Only an hour south is lush Elsey National Park, which truly exemplifies the idea of “Outback meets tropics” that makes Katherine such a unique destination.
If you’re interested in Aboriginal cultures, there are few better towns to choose for your next weekend escape than Katherine. Top Didj Art Gallery, Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Art & Culture Center, and Mimi Aboriginal Arts and Crafts all offer excellent collections of Aboriginal artwork, much of it from this region, and performing arts programs are offered on occasion as well. If you happen to be in town at the right time, the Barunga Festival is a festive three-day celebration of Aboriginal arts and culture. And lest you forget that this is cattle country, the Katherine Outback Experiences offers an entertaining snapshot of the region’s cowboy culture.
Port Douglas, Queensland
For tropical adventure, you’ve got to head to northern Queensland, and there’s no better home base for exploring the tropical northern wilderness than Port Douglas. Sure, it’s solidly on the tourist trail — but when you’re bound for the Great Barrier Reef, does that really matter?
The reef is Port Douglas’ claim to fame, with many snorkeling and diving trips departing from its port. But it’s also the best jumping-off point for exploration in the Daintree Rainforest, a UNESCO-listed stretch of some of the oldest tropical rainforest on earth. If you only have a weekend, a trip on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, a cruise with Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures or a fishing excursion at the Daintree Saltwater Barramundi Farm will do nicely for a foray into the Daintree.
There’s more to see and do in Port Douglas in its surroundings than a weekend could ever allow. But really, what’s wrong with needing a return trip? This is the kind of town that encourages periodical visits — you’ll never see the same place twice.
Richmond, Tasmania
Australia’s southernmost state has a true gem in the colonial-era townscape of Richmond. Almost completely intact in its original form, Richmond’s main draw is its abundance of Georgian-style buildings, and with its green hills and pale stone facades, you would be forgiven for thinking you were in England’s Lake District instead of far-southern Australia. The town’s most photogenic spot by far is Richmond Bridge — Australia’s oldest, celebrating its 200th anniversary this year — but perhaps its most historic is Richmond Gaol, the oldest surviving jail in a country that began its life as one.
If the town’s history and charm aren’t enough to keep you busy, the area’s Zoodoo Zoo and Old Hobart Town, a model of the nearby city of Hobart as it looked in 1820, are more offbeat options. Richmond is also located in another of Australia’s best wine regions, so wineries like Puddleduck Vineyard are abundant in the area as well.
Yungaburra, Queensland
The North Queensland town of Yungaburra may only be an hour from the tropical rainforests of the Daintree, but it offers completely different views. That’s because it lies in the Atherton Tablelands, once a region of prolific volcanic activity, which is now characterized by its unusually diverse topography and ecosystems. It’s a great place to do a number of things: spot platypi (at the Yungaburra Platypus Viewing Area, and yes, the correct plural is platypi!), soak in the region’s history (walking the Historic Yungaburra Old Town Loop will take you past Queensland’s largest number of heritage-listed sites), swim in a volcanic crater (at Lake Eacham), and the list goes on.
The Atherton Tablelands region has an embarrassment of riches to offer travelers, from afternoon tea at Lake Barrine Teahouse in Crater Lakes National Park to road trips along the Waterfall Circuit to the area’s best-known waterfall, Millaa Millaa Falls. And Yungaburra isn’t only a great base for those further-afield adventures: this vibrant tropical town is worth a visit all on its own.
In our journey through Australia’s best weekend getaway towns, we’ve gone skiing, swum with sharks, wandered through historical townscapes, and even taken things underground. And these 11 towns are a mere sampler of the towns Australia has to offer. So, although all of these towns would be excellent choices for your next weekend trip, they might also be great inspiration for further exploration. All there is to do is keep exploring.
