If you could wake up anywhere in Australia tomorrow, where would it be? Kangaroo Island? Uluru? The Gold Coast? We’re pretty spoilt for choice with spectacular holiday spots in Australia – whether you're flying from east to west, road-tripping from north to south, or cruising to a remote island paradise.
We asked our editors here at Time Out to pick the number one spot they hope to travel to in Australia in 2025 – and this list has seriously got us daydreaming of our next escape.
Ningaloo Reef, WA
I didn’t have any luck finding Nemo in 2024, so I’m giving myself a bigger target to look out for this year. Enter: the whale shark – the world’s biggest fish that can grow up to 18 metres in length. Having a face-to-fin encounter with these gentle giants in Western Australia’s heritage-listed Ningaloo Marine Park is at the top of my bucket list, paired with a stay in the dreamy-looking coastal town of Exmouth (where the tours depart).
Melissa Woodley, Travel & News Editor
Noosa, QLD
Apologies for not bringing you some secret gem or an off-the-beaten-track destination, but if I’m being totally real, all I want to do in 2025 is have a relaxing beach getaway – and Noosa looks like the perfect place for that. Yeah, it’s a bit bougie, but if there’s ever a time I’m going to pay top dollar to sip a fruity cocktail by the water, it’s on holiday. And away from the shopping and dining scene, there are incredible natural wonders to discover, including coastal walking trails, secluded swimming holes and lush Everglades best explored via kayak. Give me five or so days to bliss out there and I’ll be happy.
Leah Glynn, Melbourne Editor
Cradle Mountain, TAS
From Mount Kilimanjaro to Machu Picchu, Mount Tongariro to our very own Kozi, I’ve been lucky enough to lace up and summit some of the world’s most beautiful (and yes, tiring) peaks. As well as the majestic landscapes, memories and feeling of accomplishment, hiking is when I feel most alive. Armed with my best friend, a ton of snacks and gusto, I’ve now got my eyes set firmly on the Overland Track in Tassie, a 65-km, six-day trek beginning at Cradle Mountain and finishing at Lake St Clair. February, we’re looking at you.
Avril Treasure, Sydney Food & Drink Editor
Byron Bay, NSW
When I tell people that I’ve never been to Byron Bay, I usually get a reaction mixed between shock and disgust. How could I have taken a trip to this must-visit coastal spot? I’ve decided it’s time that I fix this and finally go. I’m overdue for a beach holiday, and with this town hosting not only stunning coastal spots, but top-notch food and wellness venues, it just makes perfect sense to visit for the relaxing getaway I’m craving.
Liv Condous, Melbourne Lifestyle Writer
The Kimberley, WA
It’s wild to think that flying from Sydney to the Kimberley region in WA’s far north takes longer than hopping across the ditch to New Zealand. But I’ve heard it’s well worth the trek. I’d love to explore the 20-million-year-old sandstone structures, swim in hidden caves and feel the rapids of Horizontal Falls (which Sir David Attenborough described as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world”).
Melissa Woodley, Travel & News Editor
Lord Howe Island, NSW
A friend once described cycling to the Lord Howe Island airport on the last day of his trip and begging the aircraft crew to book him onto a later flight. That anecdote – along with pictures of the crystal-clear water surrounding this beautiful unspoiled island – was enough to secure it a spot at the top of my travel hit list. I want to spend days barefoot cycling from beach to beach, snorkelling around the reef (the southernmost coral reef in the world), and hearing nothing from the outside world before watching the sun drop into the ocean.
Winnie Stubbs, Sydney Lifestyle Writer
Cairns, QLD
I’ve never been to tropical Far North Queensland, so I’d love to see Cairns. I want to have a fresh seafood lunch aboard the Prawn Star trawler, spend a day swimming and lounging at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon with a good book (it pleases me that there are no crocs lurking in there), boat on the river through ancient rainforests, learn more about bush foods on the Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks conducted by local Indigenous guides, and pop my skydiving cherry with a jump over the Great Barrier Reef. Kuranda looks like a cool mountainside village to explore with its bustling markets, and I’d also love to visit beachfront restaurant Nu Nu for a serene dinner amongst the coconut palms.
Lauren Dinse, Melbourne Food & Drink Writer
Hobart, TAS
In 2024, I got my first taste of Tassie. I was lucky enough to go hiking around Cradle Mountain, and also check out nearby Launceston. Now I’ve got a taste, I want to go back, and I’m keen to hit up the more artsy end of the island, including exploring MONA, of course.
Alice Ellis, Editor In Chief
Palm Cove, QLD
I’m dreaming of a sneaky long weekend in Palm Cove in Tropical North Queensland. It’s a world away from my local Melbourne weather, but the flight is only a few hours. Goodbye four seasons in one day, hello paradise! I can imagine walking barefoot under the coconut palms and 500-year-old melaleuca trees, from a dip in the ocean to a soak in one of the village’s many day spas. Absolute bliss.
Ashleigh Hastings, Melbourne Arts & Culture Editor