7 Most Breathtaking Towns In Australia
Across the Australian Alps, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, the Shipwreck Coast, and the South Australian outback, seven towns deliver signature views tied to places you can reach in a single visit. Each stop keeps the scenery close, with river valleys, mountain lookouts, rugged coastlines, and red desert horizons shaping the day from the moment you arrive.
Bright, Victoria, sets the tone along the Great Alpine Road, where the Ovens River runs through the foothills and quick drives lead into Mount Buffalo National Park for granite lookouts, waterfalls, and high country walks. Then the landscape flips in Coober Pedy, South Australia, where opal country meets a subterranean streetscape of dugouts, underground hotels, and carved rock churches cooled by the desert earth. From there, the route widens to include fishing ports, heritage streets, and cliff-edge coastal walks that keep the best views within easy reach of town.
Bright, Victoria
The riverside town along one of Australia's most scenic drives shines bright through bedazzling fall foliage and tree-lined streets with scenic views in the foothills of the Australian Alps. Bright's stretch of the Great Alpine Road has tons of lodging options to spend a weekend in the stunning scenery, visit tranquil villages, and drive along Australia's highest sealed road. As a gold boom baby in the mid-1800s, home to thousands of fortune seekers, remnants of their shanties dot the riverside trails.
Loved for its collection of eateries, boutique stores, and markets, travelers can browse for authentic crafts, local brews, and wines, all within close proximity to Victoria's alpine ski resorts. Mountain views beckon restless adventurers to explore Mount Buffalo National Park with picturesque trails and rock climbs, plus the nearby Ladies Bath Falls. From bushwalks to hiking, swimming, and paragliding, Mount Bogong, Victoria's highest mountain, towers across the hills to the west with dramatic views.
Coober Pedy, South Australia
The evocative "Opal Capital of the World" in the remote reaches of the South Australian outback supplies most of the world's precious opals. Infamous for its subterranean lifestyle, the extreme desert heat forced residents to adapt, and the majority live, work, and sleep in "dugouts." These dwellings include homes, hotels, shops, cafes, and even art galleries, carved into hillsides, offering a naturally cool, stable environment. The lunar terrain backdropped movies like Red Planet and Mortal Kombat.
From the seasonal Opal Museum to three carved-rock churches, travelers can stay at the highly rated Lookout Cave Underground Motel. Alongside the spaceship model built for shooting "Pitch Black," Josephine's Gallery and the Kangaroo Orphanage are above ground, featuring Aboriginal art and orphaned baby kangaroos (joeys). It is best to explore the surreal landscape soon after dawn or at sunset, with its native species, birdlife, and reptiles, on what was sea 70+ million years ago.
Fremantle, Western Australia
Boasting rich maritime history, this Victorian port city seamlessly blends historic and hipster within just a 25-minute train ride from Perth's bustling shipping port. Historically Perth's sister city, the eclectic, creative coastal hub bares its past along the UNESCO-listed streets, with tour options to streamline your visit. The popular Convicts, Culture, and Street Art by Two Feet and a Heartbeat weaves colorful snippets of history and formative events into a two-hour guided walk through key sites.
Discover convict history at the listed Fremantle Prison, with rollicking tales of its Irish escapees, plus spooky torchlight and the tunnels tour. Built by convicts, the Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre is unmissable for its Australian Gothic architecture, displays, live music, a cafe, and a gift shop. From the walkable downtown to the working fishing port, you'll pass funky street art and al fresco cafés to savor a drink or dig into fish on a sunny deck and soak up all the coastal charm of Freo, as the locals call it.
Montville, Queensland
Perched on the Blackall Range, this charming, artistic village offers sweeping coastal scenery, a cooler mountain climate, and access to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, a 58 km stretch of panoramic views. Settled in 1887, European-inspired architecture frames Main Street with galleries, boutiques, and gift shops in a distinctly charming mix of Tudor, Irish, and Swiss-style cottages. As the "creative soul" of the region, you will find rare agility in handicrafts and sculptures by local artists.
From Montville Art Gallery to terraced cafes, travelers can browse gifts and antiques at the Clock Shop, sip on a java, or visit Flame Hill Vineyard for tastings. Unique lodgings in and around include rainforest cabins, luxury resorts, and hinterland cottages. Minutes west, Baroon Pocket Dam is a scenic spot for picnicking, fishing, and kayaking, while Kondalilla National Park features the dramatic 90-meter Kondalilla Falls, rugged trails, and swimming in natural rock pools of the rainforest.
Port Fairy, Victoria
Port Fairy, the final, westerly stop along the Great Ocean Road and Victoria's famed Shipwreck Coast, boasts the Port Fairy Folk Festival (March 6-9, 2026), one of Australia's largest. Lined with 19th-century cottages, every corner along the wide streets exudes history and picture-perfect charm, with a buzzing local art scene in a frame of Norfolk pines and old stone churches. Home to one of the busiest fishing ports in Victoria, you can stroll down and watch fishers unloading crayfish and abalone.
There are plenty of ways to slow down or get active outdoors, from Southcombe Beach to scenic lookout hikes or crossing on foot to Port Fairy Lighthouse on Griffiths Island. Tours depart from the wharf into the sea to explore the nearby waters on a guided fishing trip or a wilderness cruise. In addition to seals and dolphins, exotic animal encounters include wallabies, kangaroos, and emus, plus southern right whales that come to mate and calve off Port Fairy's coast during the winter months.
Richmond, Tasmania
Some 25 km northeast of Hobart, this bridge-filled town reflects an early, meticulously preserved Australian village with sandstone buildings and 19th-century heritage-listed landmarks like Australia's oldest Catholic church and gaol (jail). Starting at the pristine Old Richmond Courthouse (1825), built in the Regency architectural style, the gently meandering street layout enhances the old-world appeal. There are over 50 Georgian buildings, many of which offer esteemed accommodations to travelers.
Having attracted artists and craftspeople, their works decorate the town's many galleries and cafes, like the Peppercorn Gallery. It is just a quick stroll from the revered Richmond Bridge, Australia's oldest. The picturesque sandstone bridge over the Coal River was built by convict labor between 1823 and 1825. You can also visit the nearby Pooley Wines on the historic "Belmont" estate in a convict-built sandstone home from the 1830s, and when in doubt, the ocean coast is just a short drive south.
Torquay, Victoria
Torquay, Victoria's surfing and beach-worship capital, is the official start point of the Great Ocean Road and the birthplace of iconic brands. At Surf City Plaza, you can stock up on the latest gear and/or trends from the likes of Rip Curl and Quiksilver, or bang out a deal around the corner at Baines Court, featuring surf seconds outlets. There are endless ways to soak in the breathtaking coastline and dramatic cliffs beyond scenic drives. The long sandy shoreline is ideal for slow, relaxing strolls.
Splash in the placid waters of the protected, dog-friendly Front Beach, the surging waves of Jan Juc, a wilder neighboring beach, or travel west to see the world's best surfers tackle the big swells of Bells Beach, the venue for the Rip Curl Pro. Trails lead to panoramic lookouts, while the Sundial is a popular interactive mosaic landmark along the way to a clothing-optional beach. Consisting of over 120,000 glass tiles, it depicts local dreaming stories, moon phases, and coastal flora and fauna.
These seven signature spots in various parts of the country comprise a significant piece of the greater puzzle, with distinct, specialized charm, ranging from dramatic coastlines to the Australian Alps. You can ski in Bright when it's summer back home or bask on the beach in the dead of winter.
Torquay is the official start point of the Great Ocean Road, and Port Fairy is the final, westerly stop along Australia's most spectacular coastal drive. The two beach towns are about 4 hours apart if driving directly via the scenic 240+ km coastal highway, often broken over several days.
