Australian Traveller November 2022 - January 2023

APPARENTLY, THERE ARE THOUSANDS of towns in Australia, so when we decided to put it out to our subscribers, industry partners and contributors to tell us their absolute favourites, to be collated into a Top 50 list, we ended up with a long list of contenders. Many are well known and well loved, but it was great to see towns that I had never heard of before make the cut. The winner of the number one position was clear (I’m not going to spoil the surprise on page 74), but every one of the 49 destinations that follow it are deserving of being in the mix (along with those that made it onto an honourable mentions list – sorry, there were just so many and we didn’t want anyone to…

THE 7 DREAMIEST AIRBNBS IN LAUNCESTON Whether you’d prefer to cosy up in a quaint cottage, base yourself in a sleek apartment or rest up in a nature retreat – Launceston has a fantastic range of Airbnbs to suit any style. 10 BRILLIANT CAFES IN MUDGEE FOR BRUNCHING The only guide you’ll ever need when it comes to Mudgee’s thriving cafe scene, these 10 spots are the ultimate brunching locations with coffee even a Melburnian would approve of. AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO YAMBA’S BEACHES This stunning town on the NSW North Coast is one of the hottest locations right now. Whether you’re an experienced surfer or more of a sunbather, this is everything you need to know about Yamba’s beaches. TOP THINGS TO DO IN DAYLESFORD AND SURROUNDS This bohemian town at the foothills of the Great…

Adapted from Tim Winton’s acclaimed novella, Blueback is a coming-of-age movie starring Mia Wasikowska that showcases the coastline of Western Australia’s Great Southern region at close range. At Winton’s suggestion, Bremer Bay was chosen as the location for the fictional coastal community of Longboat Bay. “I just fell in love with it immediately,” says director Robert Connolly. With the combination of the muscularity and beauty of the landscape: “the deep epic beaches and the scale of the ocean, but also these intimate and idyllic little bays.” Capturing one day still, turquoise waters and the next, epic storms with lightning bolts on the horizon and a massive swell, it’s a place of extremes, which makes sense when you consider its location at the bottom of the state, and beyond that, Antarctica,…

THE PORTER HOUSE HOTEL – MGALLERY, SYDNEY Sydney’s slickest new stay has opened within a 36-storey mixed-use tower in the reimagined Porter House precinct. The Porter House Hotel – MGallery began life as a tobacco factory and warehouse in the 1870s. While the exterior draws attention for its soaring abstract mural, Ripples & Droplets, the interiors of the new urban sanctuary pay homage to the building’s history with soft curves, arches and circles a recurring theme. The heritage-listed Porter House will include three different F&B venues: Henry’s Bread and Wine, Dixson & Sons and Spice Trader cocktail bar. porterhousehotel.com.au MOTEL MOLLY, MOLLYMOOK Good golly, Miss Molly. The former Surfbeach Motel in Mollymook , where the main draw is the surf and sunshine, has had a makeover. The retro-inspired hotel, reimagined by Richards Stanisich,…

READY TO RUMBLE You won’t need to consult a map to find Rumble, tucked away neatly at The Star Sydney. Start at the Michael Reid Art Bar and then stroll along until the aromas of garlic, ginger, chilli and coriander hit you. Chef Benjamin Tan’s menu sings of Southeast Asia and is a powerful collision between sweet, sour, spicy and salty. Expect tangy with a kick in dishes like the som tam prawn salad and moo palo (five-spiced, soy-braised pork neck) in this sophisticated space, with its pretty interiors designed by award-winning studio Etic. Recycled mahjong tiles adorn the bar, vintage ceramic plates and bamboo hats decorate the walls, and rattan screens divide the main dining area from the semi-private dining room at Rumble, a stone’s throw from the Lyric Theatre.…

THE BAY HOTEL, MORNINGTON PENINSULA, VIC Not all pubs are created equal. And this beach-side beauty pays its dues when it comes to honouring its history as the former Commonwealth Bank building in Main Street Mornington. The Bay Hotel was restored to its former glory by Liam Ganley, of the Ganley Group, and it’s been fashioned into the ultimate destination for a leisurely afternoon ale. Apart from the raft of local craft beers on tap, there’s the original vault for private dining experiences (access is via a secret hatch), and the Bandroom for regular gigs. thebayhotelmornington.com.au THE LIONS DEN HOTEL, QLD Don’t be shy with your Sharpie at the Lions Den Hotel in Rossville, where almost every single surface of the historic Tropical North Queensland pub has been scribbled on. The pub, cobbled…