Surprise winner of Australia’s ‘best town’ revealed

Forget Noosa or Byron Bay — the winner of Australia’s best town has been revealed, and the top gong isn’t where you’d expect.

Forget the sunset shores of Byron Bay, or the boutique shopping strip that runs through Bowral — because the best town in Australia has been handed out to the mining hub of Bendigo.

The small Victorian town, home to plenty of paddock-to-plate cafes, vintage trams and the famous regional Art Gallery, has been praised by visitors for its cultural experiences and lively food and beverage scene.

Bendigo has been named the best town to visit in Australia in 2024.

Each and every year, online accommodation platform Wotif releases the top spots to visit across the country, with experts tipping Bendigo as the best spot to book in 2024.

This year’s top 10 list featured a number of regional towns over coastal escapes, with Bendigo powering past Broken Hill, Katherine and Bathurst for the top gong.

The awards, which are in their seventh year, narrow down destinations based on the platform’s data index of accommodation affordability, quality and traveller feedback.

In its seventh year, Bendigo has been named the best town in Australia by online booking platform Wotif.

Beautiful Broken Hill came in as the second spot to visit in 2024.

Wotif travel expert Sarah King said trends this year indicate a demand for “inland educational experiences”, meaning the top 10 towns in this year’s awards feature a diverse mix of regional towns not typically included in “best of” listings.

“Aussie travellers are driven by a curiosity to experience the world around them and it’s fantastic to see that pursuit of discovery leading many to find culture close to home,” Ms King said in a statement.

“As one in five Aussies are planning a trip during the upcoming Easter long weekend and 56 per cent plan on taking advantage of school holidays for local getaways, these awards provide the ultimate inspiration for those planning their travels for the year ahead.”

2024 Wotif Aussie Town of the Year Award winners:

1. Bendigo, VIC

2. Broken Hill, NSW

3. Stanthorpe, QLD

4. Katherine, NT

5. Bathurst, NSW

6. Tanunda, SA

7. Griffith, NSW

8. Stanley, TAS

9. Exmouth, WA

10. Coober Pedy, SA

The announcement of best town comes just days after Tourism Australia announced the best beaches across the country.

Squeaky Beach, surrounded by the rugged wilderness of Wilsons Promontory National Park, was last week named as the nation’s best for 2024.

Squeaky Beach – Wilsons Promontory National Park Supplied by: Visit Victoria/ Mark Watson

Located just three hours drive from Melbourne, “Squeaky” is known for the “acoustic delight” of compressed quartz and silica sand underfoot, crashing waves and clear waters, and for being enclosed by impressive granite boulders.

It is the first time a Victorian beach has been crowned as Australia’s best beach.