1. Beechworth, Vic
This gold rush-gilt beauty in Victoria’s northeast is set in picturesque bushlands that beckon hikers, amblers and mountain bikers – visit in autumn for stunning foliage. There’s a lot of history to absorb here, from bushranger tales told at the jail that once held Ned Kelly to tours of the Mayday Hills asylum that will make the hairs on your neck stand to attention, and the architectural legacy of the 1850s gold rush. Exercising your curiosity in such things will stoke a mighty appetite, which you can sate at hatted Provenance restaurant.
2. Iluka, NSW
With Yamba fixing to snatch the NSW holiday crown from more northerly Byron, its long-time devotees with a preference for quiet, uncrowded beachside towns are in the market for a new escape. Enter Iluka. Outstretched towards and almost touching Yamba across the Clarence River, this beauty is so sleepy it’s almost nodding off. Days are spent on, under or in the water, in boats chaperoned by pods of dolphins and kayaks that slip through peaceful waters or on the breakwall with rod in hand. There’s no fancy accommodation here; it’s tents, cabins or unpretentious cottages.
3. Jugiong, NSW
The overall Hilltops region of NSW flies under the radar, but that its gateway village, Jugiong, is not more visited is confounding. A rural enclave on the Murrumbidgee River, this agrarian beauty is perfect for a mini-break from Canberra or Sydney or breaking a roadtrip between Melbourne and Sydney. Stop by or bed down at the tenderly renovated Sir George Hotel, browse homewares and fashion at the impeccably edited Curators Collective, and stock up on goodies at The Long Track Pantry.
4. Nagambie, Vic
A 90-minute drive from Melbourne, Nagambie has a perplexingly low profile despite its alluring waterways. Lake Nagambie and the Goulbourn River offer sailing and waterskiing, as well as more passive birdwatching and fishing. There are a handful of wineries, such as Tahbilk, which dates back to 1860, Box Grove and Mitchelton with its hotel and hip day spa. Lakeside Nagambie Brewery and Distillery is bound to snatch hours from your day.
5. Mataranka, NT
Plunge into natural, otherworldly pools at the Northern Territory township south of Katherine. Realise your wild swimming goals in the sandy-bottomed thermal pools such as Bitter Springs (pictured) that beckon with their clarity. Add a trip to the Never Never Museum to learn about the Mangarayi and Yangman people who are the traditional custodians of the country, and take in the area’s wartime history.