The 10 most underrated cities in Australia (according to an Aussie)

With fiery sunsets, milky low moons, red dirt (the Pindan) and azure waters, Broome offers some of the most seriously surreal sights across the country. While this tiny city – located at the tip of Western Australia, 2,400 kilometres north of Perth – is quite a trek from the East Coast, it’s definitely worth the journey. Just ask the 14,000 locals or the 30,000-odd visitors who head up during the Dry Season. You’ll find plenty of ways to entertain yourself on both land and water, while diving into Broome’s fascinating history as a pearling port and a melting pot of Japanese, Aboriginal and European cultures. Broome, broom, hit the road and don’t look back. 

Happily lodged in the ocean, about 240 kilometres from the mainland, it’s easy to see why Tasmania is often overlooked. Australia’s smallest and only island state is home to more than 800 hiking trails, 1,600 beautiful (and uncrowded) beaches, plus some of Australia’s best (and weirdest) art. Trust us, you don’t want to skip out on crossing the Bass Strait to explore the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, the UNESCO-listed village of Port Arthur, or the unspoilt landscapes of Bruny Island. Perhaps the very best part of Hobart is its food and drink scene. In the humble opinion of our Travel Editor and resident foodie, Melissa Woodley, Hobart’s culinary scene is right on par with those of Sydney and Melbourne. From tiny hole-in-the-wall bars with 20 seats to a whisky bar full of dinosaur fossils, Hobart’s best restaurants and bars celebrate the island’s fresh produce in all its glory. Get yourself there.

Get out of town and get yourself to Townsville, a tropical treasure on Queensland’s north-eastern coast. Don’t let the name fool you – Townsville is not a town. Wedged between Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands, this laidback city is often overlooked as a gateway to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. It’s also the perfect launchpad for adventures to Magnetic Island and Hinchinbrook Island – not that we’re saying you need to leave the city to have a hella good time. In Townsville, you can be among the first in Australia to catch the sunrise with a morning hike up Castle Hill, deep dive into the country’s largest underwater sculpture trail, and live the luxe life at Ardo, the city’s newest and first-ever luxury hotel.

There aren't many places in Australia where a city sits right on the shore of a beautiful surf beach, but Newcastle isn’t ordinary. This low-rise New South Wales city is a two-hour drive (or 2.5-hour train trip) north of Sydney. It started out as a coal-mining and port town, and then became a surfers’ haven, but it’s evolved into so much more – it’s now packed with hip cafés, world-class restaurants, live music venues and glorious coastal walks. Spend summer days at Nobbys Beach or swimming in the open-air Merewether Ocean Baths. Take a walk up to Nobbys Lighthouse, and then around to harbour precinct Honeysuckle. At sunset, we’d recommend having a cocktail up at the QT Hotel’s rooftop bar, before heading to one of the area’s best restaurants, Flotilla, which heroes beautiful local produce and wine. In Newcastle, you get the best of a relaxed beach escape and buzzing city break in one.

Gorgeous sunken gardens, secret underground caves and that famous blue crater lake: Mount Gambier is hiding a whole lot of natural geological wonders. Despite being South Australia’s largest regional city, this Limestone Coast gem doesn’t get much time in the spotlight – but it must just be the state’s best-kept secret. Mount Gambier sits halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne, making it an easy addition to any Limestone Coast or Great Ocean Road adventure. The city is named after the volcano it rests on, which erupted 5,000 years ago, and is packed with sights so surreal that you have to see them to believe them. We’ve narrowed down all the most mesmerising ones here.

There’s no need to follow the crowds to Bali or Greece, because Queensland’s got its very own piece of paradise – and by paradise, we’re talking about Hervey Bay. Dubbed the whale-watching capital of Australia, Hervey Bay offers endless adventures, both on land and at sea. Once you’ve ticked off a whale-watching cruise, make the most of your prime position on Queensland’s south coast to explore the World Heritage-listed K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), the largest sand island on Earth, which is just a swift 40-minute ferry ride away. Alternatively, take a short 40-minute flight to Lady Elliot Island, one of the only places on Earth where you can swim with manta rays and turtles in their natural habitat. You’re practically getting three holidays for the price of one!

There’s much more to Canberra beyond what you East Coasters remember from your year six school excursion. Sure, it’s the seat of Australia’s political power – with plenty of museums and monuments for those who are into that sort of thing – but there’s so much more to our nation’s capital. Over the last five years, Canberra has undergone a serious hospitality glow-up, with world-class wine bars, trendy restaurants and stylish boutique hotels opening in the rapidly developing cultural precincts of New Acton and Braddon. Hit up Intra PRVN for coffee and kimchi jaffles, pull into Capital Brewing Co for crisp beers and burgers by Brod, then shimmy on down to Such and Such for nostalgic snacks and seasonal share plates. Parents, leave your eye-rolling school kids at home.

If you ask anyone living in Australia what Coffs Harbour is famous for, chances are they’ll say the Big Banana. This giant yellow sculpture has been a classic pit stop for families travelling between Sydney and Brisbane since the ‘60s – but you’re bananas if you think that’s all the picturesque coastal city has to offer. You can take your wanderlusting feet for a walk to the charming Dutch village, The Clog Barn; spot kangaroos in the wild at Look At Me Now Headland; and feast on a showstopping seafood platter while whale spotting at Latitude 30. Trust us, Coffs is far more than just a pit stop en route to Byron Bay.

There’s a lot more to Busselton than meets the eye – and considering it’s home to the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll struggle to take it all in at once. Built in 1865, Busselton’s heritage-listed jetty extends 1.8 kilometres over the protected waters of Geographe Bay. You can take a 45-minute scenic round-trip ride aboard the solar-powered Busselton Jetty Train, dive into the secrets of the sea at the Marine Discovery Centre, and discover 300 different marine species in the Busselton Underwater Observatory – one of only six underwater observatories in the entire world. Beyond the jetty, you can follow the city’s vibrant Urban Art Trail, load up on local goodies at the award-winning Origins Market, and take a day trip to the delightful Margaret River Region. 

Victoria’s largest inland city may be best known for its gold rush history, but peer behind the heritage buildings and you’ll unearth plenty more riches. There is no denying Ballarat’s spectacular architecture and heritage-listed attractions remain a huge drawcard, but modern-day Ballarat is a destination that inspires and surprises visitors via its thriving arts community, burgeoning foodie scene and natural wonders. And you know what, you really can't beat the historical pageantry of Sovereign Hill. This outdoor museum recreates what Ballarat was like ten years after the discovery of gold in 1851. Pan for gold nuggets, dress up in old-school garb and definitely take home some raspberry drops – they're really good.