Best Small Towns in Australia to Visit

Sydney and Melbourne often get top billing for travelers from North America planning their Australian vacations, Australia has myriad small towns that punch above their weight when it comes to tourist attractions, while also offering an opportunity to escape the city crowds and engage with local culture at a more relaxed pace.

Home to less than 15,000 locals apiece, here are 20 of the best towns in Australia to add to your itinerary, from cool coastal getaways to countryside retreats,

Best Towns in Australia: Coastal

Exmouth, Western Australia

Have you ever seen an emu cross the road? It's a common sight in the remote coastal town of Exmouth, a two-hour flight north of Perth, where the desert meets the sea. The gateway to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, this is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks from March to July. You can also hike and kayak in the dramatic red gorges of nearby Cape Range National Park, which is home to Sal Salis, a luxe, tented eco-camp.

Byron Bay, New South Wales

Australia's most easterly town has long been a magnet for surfers, spiritual seekers, celebs, foodies, and more recently, Netflix, which saw locals stage a "paddle out" to protest the reality show Byron Baes being filmed here. Add in Byron's first Aboriginal tours and the excellent plant-based restaurant No Bones and there are plenty of reasons to love it here, one of the prettiest towns in Australia. For a more low-key vibe, check out the nearby coastal towns of Brunswick Heads and Lennox Head.

Stanley, Tasmania

The fishing village of Stanley in Tasmania's remote northwest region is one of the island state's earliest settlements. Architecture-wise, this is one of the nicest towns in Australia; it's steeped in history, and its beautifully preserved 19th-century streetscape is one of the country's most charming, with some of its heritage cottages reborn as guesthouses and even a gourmet deli, Providore 24. The township is nestled at the base of a dramatic volcanic plug called The Nut. Hike or take the cable car to the top for 360-degree views of the rugged coastline.

Port Douglas, Queensland

Escape to the tropics in steamy Port Douglas, where luxe holiday resorts provide a launching pad for day trips to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. If you can peel yourself away from your lagoon pool, must-dos in the compact township include traipsing between artisan and fresh produce stalls at the colorful Sunday market, enjoying a modern Australian feast at Melaleuca, and dozing under the palms fringing gorgeous Four Mile Beach.

Narooma, New South Wales

Between its idyllic turquoise inlet, fresh local oysters, and proximity to wildlife- and culture-rich Montague Island Nature Reserve, Narooma is a laid-back town with plenty of visitor appeal. The Narooma Oyster Festival is the first weekend in May, but you can eat local shellfish anytime at The Oyster Farmers Daughter, right on Wagonga Inlet. This is also where you can kayak or take a relaxing cruise on the 118-year-old Wagonga Princess ferry. Book one of two restored 19th-century Montague Island lighthouse keeper's cottages for an intimate overnight.

Lorne, Victoria

Sandwiched between the sea and Great Otway National Park on Victoria's Great Ocean Road, the petite beach town of Lorne is adored as much for its magnificent stretch of beach and nearby waterfalls as for its culinary offerings, like thin-crust pies at Pizza Pizza, modern Indian dishes at Raas Leela, and organic farm/restaurant Brae, a 30-minute drive away in Birregurra. The view from the observation deck Teddys Lookout is stunning, a panorama of the Saint George River, mountain peaks, and tree-filled valleys.

Wurrumiyanga, Northern Territory

The largest hamlet on the Tiwi Islands, 50 miles north of Darwin, Wurrumiyanga is home to two of the region's most important art centers — both of which showcase this remote Indigenous community's colorful and unique artistic traditions. Visit on a day trip from Darwin with SeaLink Northern Territory, which includes visits to the Patakijiyali Museum and historic mission precinct. Or, book ahead to attend the annual Australian rules football Grand Final and Art Sale, in mid-March, when Tiwi Islanders converge on Wurrumiyanga to celebrate two of their key passions.

Best Towns in Australia: Country

Daylesford, Victoria

A scenic 90-minute drive northwest of Melbourne, the picturesque country town of Daylesford makes an indulgent escape with gourmet eateries, rejuvenating day spas, and boutique guesthouses. Harness the healing properties of the region's natural mineral springs with a luxe spa experience at Lake House, an elegant hotel on the shores of Lake Daylesford that's also home to a two-hatted (Australia's version of a Michelin star) restaurant. An unusually high concentration of local cafes and restaurants in Daylesford ensures you'll never go hungry, with several wineries also located within arm's reach.

Margaret River, Western Australia

One of Australia's most famous wine regions, Margaret River produces more than 25 percent of the nation's premium vinos. At its heart lies the region's eponymous town, one of the friendliest in Australia. The main drag is lined with artisan boutiques, galleries, street art, and cafes, and several charming guesthouses—such as Karri House—hidden in its backstreets. Make this your base for exploring nearby wineries and the famous beaches of the South West region beyond.

Bellingen, New South Wales

Hugging the banks of the Bellingen River on the Mid North Coast, boho Bellingen pairs small-town charm with easy access to the lush rain forests of Dorrigo National Park, a 30-minute drive west along the scenic Waterfall Way. The traditional home of the Gumbaynggirr people, the former logging town has a thriving arts scene, buzzing with markets, galleries, and boutiques packed with handmade and preloved fashion and gifts. Foodies won't be disappointed, either, thanks to an artisan bakery and a hip brewery among Bellingen's culinary draws.

Yungaburra, Queensland

In the refreshingly cool Atherton Tablelands, high above the sultry coastal city of Cairns, Yungaburra's streetscape has been largely unchanged since the turn of the 20th century, when it served as a pit stop for miners heading further west. The Yungaburra Hotel has been at the heart of the community since 1910, but this tiny town isn't just for history buffs. A few minutes' walk from the pub, Peterson Creek is one of the best places in Australia to spot the elusive platypus.

Angaston, South Australia

Located in the heart of the Barossa wine region, under a two-hour drive from Adelaide, Angaston is one of South Australia's oldest towns. From this scenic base, you can comfortably sip your way around the iconic wine region, known for its premium shiraz. Fill the rest of your time here with an unforgettable morning floating above the vineyards in a hot-air balloon, tasting unique Aboriginal cuisine, or with a cooking class at celebrity chef Maggie Beer's The Farm Eatery & Experience Centre.

Bright, Victoria

In Victoria's High Country, about a 3.5-hour drive northeast of Melbourne, the pretty alpine town of Bright is all about outdoor pursuits and scenic beauty. Visit between April and May to witness its mesmerizing Autumn Festival, when the trees lining Bright's streets explode into fiery hues. Come in the summer for hiking and biking, in the winter for skiing at nearby resorts, or at any time of year to discover cellar doors producing cool-climate wines and farm gates bursting with fresh produce.

Murwillumbah, New South Wales

Nestled in the wide, flat Tweed Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges and sugar cane plantations, "Murbah" is a spectacularly pretty place. The town is home to one of Australia's best regional galleries — the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — and its thriving arts scene also includes the excellent M-Arts Precinct. Cool cafes and restaurants are increasingly popping up in revived art deco buildings and Queenslander-style homesteads (Murbah lies just nine miles south of the Queensland border), offering even more reasons to visit.

Best Towns in Australia: Outback

Coober Pedy, South Australia

What began in 1916 as one of the world's largest opal mining operations has expanded into a subterranean community. More than half of Coober Pedy's roughly 2,500 residents live underground to escape the oppressive summer heat, which regularly tops 110°F. Visitors can also stay, eat, shop, and even pray 80 feet underground, where the temperature is a comfortable 75°F year-round. Above ground, visitors can go "noodling" for opals, visit an Aboriginal art gallery/kangaroo orphanage, or play a round of golf on a grassless course.

Birdsville, Queensland

Tiny Birdsville has just 110 residents — half that in the summer — and is famed for The Birdsville Hotel, with its classic Outback pub and 27 homey guest rooms. The town's annual horse races, held the first weekend of September, and the world's most remote country music festival, Big Red Bash in early July, draw in visitors. So too does nearby Munga-Thirri National Park, with scenic flights over its golden sand dunes and Lake Eyre bookable through the hotel.

Katherine, Northern Territory

Marking the point where the traditional lands of the Jawoyn, Dagoman, and Wardaman Aboriginal peoples converge, the remote town of Katherine has been an important meeting place for millennia. Today, most visitors make the three-hour drive south of Darwin to experience Nitmiluk National Park, where dramatic gorges carved from red sandstone reveal Aboriginal rock art and idyllic freshwater swimming holes. Other attractions include Aboriginal galleries and experiences, the Katherine Museum, the highly photogenic Katherine Hot Springs, and the Katherine Outback Experience show, to name a few.

Winton, Queensland

Quirky Winton has a rich history as the birthplace of Australia's national airline, Qantas, and "Waltzing Matilda," the folk song that doubles as the country's unofficial national anthem; visit the pint-size Waltzing Matilda Museum to learn more about its composer, Banjo Paterson. Dinosaur fanatics should make a beeline for the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, which holds the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils in the world. Just over an hour's drive away, you can also visit the Dinosaur Stampede National Monument, which inspired the stampede scene in Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park."

Kununurra, Western Australia

The gateway to the wilds of the East Kimberley region, Kununurra is synonymous with culture and adventure. Home to Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, one of Australia's premier Aboriginal art centers, this rough and ready town is also the jumping-off point for exploring national parks (including World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park and its beehive-shaped Bungle Bungle Range), river cruises, four-wheel drive adventures, and barramundi fishing galore. Local pubs teem with colorful characters, while atmospheric local stays include El Questro and Home Valley Station, where part of Baz Luhrmann's "Australia" was shot.

Yulara, Northern Territory

It may be more of a service village than a town, but tiny Yulara deserves a mention for its proximity to one of Australia's most iconic and revered natural wonders: Uluru. This is one of Australia's younger towns, established in 1976 to serve as a tourist hub for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It's home to just over 1,000 people — and approximately a quarter million visitors every year. The village is anchored by Ayers Rock Resort hub, which is actually six separate accommodations ranging from upscale hotel Sails in the Desert to the more affordable Ayers Rock Campground.