5 Top towns in Australia to visit in 2022 (Part B)

1

York, WA

Old York is inland Western Australia’s most historic town. Only 97km east of Perth and first settled by Europeans in the 1830s, this settlement on the Avon River is surrounded by quaint farmland and an Edwardian-style town hall, built in 1911, is a standout in the streetscape. There’s romance and whimsy aplenty, especially from July to October when wildflowers colour the Wheatbelt region.

2

Yeppoon, Qld

It’s the launch-point to Great Keppel Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef, but Yeppoon is more than a stepping stone. This Capricorn Coast escape is brilliant for family holidays with white-sand beaches for paddling, surfing, sailing and four-wheel driving. The Bali-esque public infinity pool Yeppoon Lagoon is not only free but replete with sun loungers, palm trees, tunes to set the vibe and panoramic views. For little splashers, the Keppel Kraken play area on the foreshore is perfect for cooling off.

3

1770 and Agnes Water, Qld

These twin hamlets at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef are separated by 6km, but they’re almost always mentioned in tandem, and it’s hard to decipher where one’s loveliness ends and the other’s begins. Come here to catch sunset from a kayak, explore secluded Chinamans Beach, tour 1770 in a hot-pink amphibious vehicle, and surf the east coast’s most northern surf beach at Agnes Water. Sandwiched between Fraser Island in the south and the Whitsundays in the north, the towns are soaked in sunshine most of the year and, bordered by national parks and the marine park of the GBR, wildlife and outdoor pursuits drive the agenda.

4

Stanthorpe, Qld

One doesn’t expect to find Australia’s highest vineyards in Queensland, but here they are in the Granite Belt township of Stanthorpe at the lofty elevation of 1000m above sea level. This surprising spot is just over three hours from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, making it ideal for weekend wanderers to visit wineries such as Golden Grove Estate, Ridgemill Estate and Pyramids Road (to name a few), which make medium-bodied wines from varieties such as shiraz, petit verdot and chardonnay. Take a tasting trail, visit orchards, and roam the elegant town. Stay at the Briar Rose Cottages or the luxe cabins at Ridgemill Estate.

5

Cygnet, Tas

Quaint comes to mind as you roll into this hamlet set between Tasmania’s Huon River and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. Like many small towns in Tasmania, Cygnet is a contender for a setting most like a Jane Austen novel. It’s orchard territory here in the heart of the Huon Valley, with cherries, berries and apple trees covering the hillsides. With such a growers’ community comes a vibrant farmers’ market, eateries and cafes, and cider cellar doors within easy reach. Matthew Evans’ Fat Pig Farm is also close by. Prepare to be enraptured.