#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.