Australia's best regional town revealed
As the weather starts to warm up and people begin planning their summer getaways, more and more Australians are opting for a quaint country getaway instead of a jam-packed city break.
According to Tourism Research Australia (TRA), regional tourism numbers have increased overall in the 12 months leading up to March 2024, with many choosing to explore quieter corners of Australia.
As a result of this new travel trend, 9Travel released their results of the Aussie Travel Trends Index survey to find out which regional towns are the favourites of Australian travellers, with the top ten towns being crowned.
While NSW received the highest number of visitors to regional areas, according to the TRA data, it was in fact Daylesford in Victoria that was voted as Australia's favourite regional town.
Located in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range of Victoria, Daylesford is known for its natural mineral springs, Botanical Gardens and quaint city centre.
Daylesford and Cairns are the most popular regional towns to visit for around 1 in 4 respondents; followed closely by the Gold Coast, Launceston, Barossa, Bendigo, and Ballarat.
Nearly a quarter of respondents, (23 percent) named Cairns as their favourite regional town, Tasmania also received 20 percent of respondents sharing their love for the town of Launceston.
Check out the top 10 list of best Australian regional towns below.
1. Daylesford, VIC
2. Cairns, QLD
3. Gold Coast, QLD
4. Launceston, TAS
5. Barossa, SA
6. Bendigo, VIC
7. Ballarat, VIC
8. Orange, NSW
9. Berry, NSW
10. Mudgee, NSW
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