By Genevieve Lauren 7 min read
One of the greatest joys of travelling inland in Australia is discovering its charming country towns, with their heritage architecture, truly farm-to-table food and classic country hospitality. The best country towns in Australia to visit include Bendigo,
Ballarat, Beechworth, Daylesford, Hahndorf, Rutherglen Ross & Montville, to name a few!
While Australia’s islands, beaches and beach towns tend to get the most fame and glory, the best Australian country towns deserve some appreciation. Below, I’ve rounded up the most charming country towns in Australia to help inspire your next road trip.
Table of Contents
- Beechworth
- Hahndorf
- Bendigo
- Richmond
- Daylesford
- Ballarat
- Dorrigo
- Tenterfield
- Warwick
- Bellingen
- Ross
- Montville
- Rutherglen
- Warburton
- Sassafras
Beechworth
Beechworth is one of Australia’s prettiest country towns. A 3-hour drive north of Melbourne, Beechworth is a must-visit spot when you’re in Victoria‘s beautiful High Country.
The former Gold Rush town has been carefully preserved, and attracts visitors for its heritage architecture, the flagship Beechworth Honey experience, local heroes Bridge Road Brewers and country hospitality, like at Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel.
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Read more: 3 Days in High Country Victoria
Hahndorf
Hahndorf is one of the most charming small towns in Australia, tucked away in the Adelaide Hills. Less than an hour’s drive from Adelaide, Hahndorf is a quaint village that was established by German immigrants and retains a distinctly German feel.
Stop for hearty German lunch in Hahndorf at one of the traditional pubs on the main street, during a day of visiting some of the best wineries in the Adelaide Hills.
Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills
Bendigo
The biggest and most beautiful country town in Australia’s Goldfields, Bendigo is a perfect weekend getaway from Melbourne. Bendigo is filled with pretty Victorian architecture, a handful of excellent restaurants and bars and the acclaimed Bendigo Art Gallery, which attracts many visitors from Melbourne year-round.
10 Best Things to Do in the Goldfields: Bendigo, Ballarat & Beyond
Bendigo
Richmond
Richmond is a charming country town in Tasmania, just 30 minutes’ drive from Hobart. Richmond is loved for it’s well-preserved Georgian architecture, which makes walking through the small town a little bit like stepping back in time.
The Richmond Bridge
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was built by convicts in 1820, making it the oldest bridge in Australia. Richmond is a lovely place to stop on a road trip around the Huon Valley from Hobart.
Daylesford
Daylesford is Victoria‘s most romantic spa town, which makes it a very popular weekend getaway from Melbourne.
Known for the Hepburn hot springs, the award-winning Lake House hotel, restaurant & spa and pretty Lake Daylesford, it’s easy to see why Daylesford is one of the most charming country towns in Australia.
The 10 Best Things to Do in Daylesford & Macedon Ranges
Ballarat
The second-largest town in the Victorian Goldfields, Ballarat has it’s fair share of historic Victorian architecture and Gold Rush history.
Step back in time at Sovereign Hill, an open air Gold Rush museum that has recreated Ballarat during the 19th century, or explore the surrounding Ballarat wine region.
Dorrigo
Halfway between Brisbane and Sydney, Dorrigo is a charming rural town in the heart of Waterfall Way, on the North Coast of NSW.
It’s a classic Australian country town, with a local pub and that “middle of nowhere” kind of feeling, despite being not too far from larger regional centres like Port Macquarie, Tamworth and Armidale. Dorrigo is a lovely place to stop if you’re doing a roadtrip through Waterfall Way in New South Wales.
Tenterfield
Historic Tenterfield was the birthplace of Australia’s Federation movement, which resulted in the states of Australia being united as one nation in 1901. Tenterfield is one of the most charming country towns in Country NSW, and is just over the border from Queensland.
Read more: Visiting Tenterfield, NSW
Warwick
Sitting pretty on the banks of the Condamine River, Warwick is a charming regional town in Southern Queensland Country. A two hour drive from Brisbane, Warwick is a great stop when road-tripping the Southern Downs & Granite Belt.
Warwick really comes to life in July, with the annual Jumpers & Jazz festival which sees more than 100 events over 10 days, including “yarn-bombing,” where crafty locals rug up the bare winter trees in hand-knitted jumpers.
Bellingen
Bellingen is a charming country town in North Coast NSW, halfway between Brisbane and Sydney. The bucolic, bohemian small town is tucked away in the Coffs Coast hinterland, in the heart of Waterfall Way. It feels a little bit like Bangalow, just inland from Byron Bay, but with fewer crowds.
Read more: Waterfall Way Road Trip Itinerary
Ross
Ross is a beautiful small town in Tasmania, less than an hour’s drive south of Launceston. It was the perfect stop between Frecyinet National Park and Launceston, with a beautiful historic main street.
The Ross Bakery is a must-visit, with a magnificent cabinet of classic Aussie bakery favourites, many I have not seen in years in the bigger cities, and truly the best meat pies you’ll find anywhere.
Coincidentally, the Man O Ross Hotel was built and owned by one of my ancestors, who was a stonemason and built lots of the buildings around town – I guess that explains the lovely sandstone public benches, which I imagine would not ordinarily have been made with such an expensive material.
Man O Ross Pub in Ross, Tasmania
Montville
Tucked away, up in the mountains and rainforest of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Montville is a charming country town with killer views. How often can you say that?
One of a string of lovely country towns in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Montville is best known for it’s quaint village with fudge shops, Poet’s Cafe, a German-style cuckoo clock shop and it’s proximity to Kondalilla National Park.
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Rutherglen
Rutherglen is easily one of the most charming country towns in Australia, with historic facades and heritage architecture lining Main Street, and an enviable location in the midst of one of Victoria’s loveliest wine regions, the Rutherglen wine region. Rutherglen is in High Country Victoria, which is ideal to visit as part of a 3 or 4 day trip from Melbourne, or as a stop on a road trip from Melbourne to Sydney. You could easily visit Beechworth, and potentially also Bright, on the same trip.
Warburton
Warburton is a gorgeous country town in the Yarra Ranges, in Victoria’s Yarra Valley. Warburton is less than 90 minutes from Melbourne, but feels a world away from the city. It’s the perfect weekend getaway from Melbourne, with a charming country town atmosphere along the high street. The best things to do in Warburton include enjoying the excellent country hospitality at the town’s restaurants, cafes, bakeries and country pubs, as well as taking in the natural beauty such as the Redwood Forest and Yarra Ranges National Park right on its doorstep.
David enjoying the view at the Alpine Hotel in Warburton
Sassafras
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is a quaint village and township tucked away amongst the towering trees of the Dandenong Ranges, just outside Melbourne. There’s not much more than a single street to explore, but it is so charming and a perfect stop as part of a trip to the Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges. I especially love Ripe Cafe, a gorgeous cafe that has a cosy fireplace, lovely covered deck and has leafy views. Miss Marple’s Tea Room is quaint, and firmly on the tour bus trail.
