From the watery delights of Byron Bay to the dusty charm of Broome, Australia has enough variety in its towns to suit every travel type. We’ve featured some of our favourite towns in our A to Z of Aussie towns (with A to M today, and N to Z on Friday), and you’ll find all of these towns and more in our flagship publication, Explore Australia 2012.
Adventure Bay, Tasmania: Adventure Bay is the main town on the stunning Bruny Island. This island is far away from the rest of the world, and is a surprising foodie destination. People from the mainland and beyond come to enjoy the incredible cheeses on offer at Bruny Island Cheese Co. and the island’s seafood. Of course, there are plenty of other activities to entice visitors, including camping and bushwalking.
Bourke, New South Wales: Bourke might not be as famous as the state’s other outback town starting with ‘B’, Broken Hill, but is often seen as the gateway to the ‘real outback’. It’s on the Darling River in north-west New South Wales, and is close by to Gundabooka National Park.
Coober Pedy, South Australia: Coober Pedy is so well known it almost doesn’t need an introduction. The residents of this mining town in outback South Australia famously live in houses built underground to escape the extreme weather. Tour some old mines, like the Umoon Underground Mine and Museum, and drive out to the surreal Moon Plain and the Breakaways.
Dwellingup, Western Australia: This small town in Western Australia was almost completely destroyed by a lightning bushfire in 1961, but was rebuilt as a forest management centre. Set in the midst of a pristine jarrah forest, you can also visit the town from the nearby Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail.Echuca, Victoria: This charming town is on the banks of the Murray River on the border with New South Wales. It’s a laidback town that’s popular with families. Hang out by the riverbank and watch the houseboats and paddlesteamers cruise by, or cross over the historic iron bridge into Moama in New South Wales.
Forster–Tuncurry, New South Wales: This seaside town north of Sydney has beautiful beaches, excellent fishing and access to some of our favourite national parks. Forster is connected to its sister town of Tuncurry by a bridge over Wallis Lake. Climb to the lookout on Cape Hawke for panoramic views over the stunning coast and surrounding national parks.
Gympie, Queensland: On the banks of the Mary River on the Sunshine Coast, Gympie is a major heritage town. Gold was discovered in the area in 1867, and the town was settled in the boom. These days, it’s more famous for its natural beauty and proximity to Amamoor state forest, which is home to over 120 native animal species.
Halls Gap, Victoria: People flock to Halls Gap for its access to the stunning Grampians National Park. The town itself is charming, with its selection of cafes and galleries, and makes a nice break from all the bushwalking and activities you’re sure to undertake in the park itself.
Ipswich, Queensland: Established in 1827 as a convict settlement, there’s nothing of the penal colony about Queensland’s oldest provincial town anymore. You’re more likely to find people trying to get into the town to explore the historic buildings. 40 kilometres west of Brisbane, it’s now part of the city’s outer sprawl.
Jabiru, Northern Territory: Jabiru, in the famous Kakadu National Park, is the major centre for the park. Jabiru’s other claim to fame is the Gagudji Crocodile Holiday Inn, which looks like a crocodile from the air – much safer than finding yourself up close to the deadly animals in Kakadu.
Kununurra, Western Australia: The most surprising thing about Kununurra is the amount of water around the town – it might not be what you expect from a town situated in the east Kimberley. Among the many lakes in the region, you’ll find Lake Argyle, which is the largest freshwater lake in the country. Kick up your boots at the Ord Valley Muster in May, or head to the nearby Mirima National Park.
Lakes Entrance, Victoria: Lakes Entrance is a lovely holiday town at the end of the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. The town is an angler’s paradise, with plenty of fishing opportunities – but there’s enough to keep other visitors happy too, from the gourmet food options in town to cultural and heritage sites, like Nyerimilang Heritage Park.
Marree, South Australia: This tiny outback town is probably most famous as the start of the Birdsville Track. It’s also the start of another famous 4WD adventure, the Oodnadatta Track. For people who aren’t avid four-wheel drivers, Marree is a gateway to Lake Eyre – see it while it’s still in flood.
Stay tuned for N to Z of our alphabetical Aussie towns on Friday.
Image credit: Bourke, Destination NSW; Echuca, Tourism Victoria; Holiday Inn, Jabiru, Tourism Northern Territory
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