Australia’s 2023 Town of the Year announced
What was once a pit stop on a longer journey, this busy town in regional NSW has become a top travel destination.
Straddling the mighty Murray River on the border of NSW lies a bustling regional township coming into its own as a trending travel hub; a welcomed side-effect of Australians opting for shorter and more frequent domestic trips.
According to research commissioned by travel booking website Wotif, Australian travellers are making the most of their long weekends, booking in three-day trips to domestic regional locations throughout the calendar year, with one town emerging as the perfect destination for such a sojourn.
Announced today, Albury in NSW has been crowned Wotif’s sixth “Aussie Town of the Year”, joining ranks with last year’s winner Launceston and topping New Norfolk in Tasmania and Bundaberg in Queensland.
Based on a criteria which takes into consideration accommodation affordability, quality and traveller satisfaction, the competition celebrates the best of Australia’s smaller locales so they can share the limelight with some of the nation’s busiest cities.
The Albury of today is a far cry from the border city known largely as a whistlestop on a longer journey, famous for briefly welcoming luminaries like authors Mark Twain and Agatha Christie and military generals Douglas MacArthur and John Monash at its grand railway station before they boarded another train. Now, thanks to the debut of luxury hotel and spa Circa 1928 in 2019 and other luxury hospitality offerings, visitors can explore a thriving boutique town.
From cafes and restaurants such as The River Deck Cafe and Guinea Street’s Norma Wine and Pasta to the Murray Art Museum and Botanic Gardens, there’s plenty to do.
Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said Australian travellers are committed to travelling locally in 2023, a trend which has remained dominant despite the return of international travel.
“While cost considerations are top of mind for everyone this year, it’s clear travellers are not deterred and instead are prioritising accessible, experience-rich getaways,” he said.
“We know 29 per cent of Aussies are open to travelling to new destinations this year to keep costs down, and we hope by spotlighting these deserving destinations, all of which are extremely accessible, the awards inspire Aussies to explore and connect with regional destinations beyond the typical tried and tested.”
The data collected on behalf of Wotif indicated that three-day stays are becoming popular for domestic holidays, with demand growing by more than 30 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021. It also found that 49 per cent of Australians plan to take short trips, with many wanting to remain within their state of residence.