More beautiful country towns you haven't visited yet
Get out of the city and fall in love with these country gems.
1. Beechworth, VIC
This historic town in Victoria’s high country had its moment in the sun during the 1850s when thousands flocked here for a gold rush. Many of the buildings constructed then still stand, including the Telegraph Station and the gaol that housed Ned Kelly. Fast forward to today and it’s making its mark as a foodie destination with celebrity chefs, hatted restaurants and cool climate wines.
2. Goolwa, SA
Sitting at the mouth of the Murray River and on the shores of Lake Alexandrina, Goolwa was Australia’s first inland port when it was built in the mid 1850s. Water is still an integral part of life here and the town is recognised as the country’s small boat capital. It’s a pretty sleepy little spot today, but there are still more than 30 places to eat and drink, lots of art galleries and gift shops, and the fascinating Coorong wetlands are just a short drive.
3. Leura, NSW
Leafy Leura is just two hours from Sydney, hidden away in the Blue Mountains. It’s an elegant, refined country getaway, and the streets are lined with stylish boutiques and antique shops appealing to the daytripper crowd. The town is known for its beautiful gardens, including the exquisite Everglades House, and the wilderness of the Blue Mountains National Park is just on the doorstep.
4. Kalgoorlie, WA
Another gold rush town, Kalgoorlie’s boom started in the late 1890s and was thought to be one of the richest gold deposits per square mile of anywhere on earth. It's still firmly a mining town and the gold capital of Australia, and visitors can take a tour of some huge mines in operation. It also gives visitors a rough and ready taste of the Australian outback and there are plenty of 19th century pubs for a cooling afternoon schooner.
5. Stanthorpe, QLD
Set in the heart of Queensland’s Granite Belt, Stanthorpe is part country comfort and part foodie haven. The unique microclimate and granite soil makes for fantastic fruit and vegetables, specialty wine and microbreweries, creating delicious blends for hungry visitors. The town itself is gorgeous with many historic 19th century buildings, and the altitude makes for pleasantly cool evenings. The town is even famous for the lowest temperature ever recorded in the Sunshine State, -14.6 degrees Celsius.
Have you ever been to any of these country towns? What’s your favourite country town? Let us know in the comments below.