Off Tasmania’s windswept east coast, Maria Island is accessible by ferry from Triabunna, just over an hour’s drive from Hobart. In the history-steeped national park, that’s free of cars and shops, highlights include the Darlington Probation Station – a UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict site – and the 4.3-kilometre-return track to the swirling Painted Cliffs.

No trip to Coffin Bay, a 50-minute flight from Adelaide, is complete without tasting the region’s world-famous oysters. You can even pull on some waders and pluck them from the water yourself on a 90-minute Oyster Farm Tour. Or meet sea lions, dolphins and more on a three-day wildlife tour of the Eyre Peninsula with Australian Coastal Safaris.

Two hours from Perth and 10 minutes from beachside Busselton and its 1.8-kilometre jetty, Vasse village is a great pit stop en route to Margaret River. Stroll the leafy boulevards, take in the street art and don’t skip a long lunch at pioneering winery Vasse Felix, a 20-minute drive away.

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A 90-minute drive from Byron Bay and just across the river from Yamba, Iluka is best known for its nature reserve, which is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, and impressive fishing hauls. Walk the easy 2.6-kilometre Iluka Rainforest Track and grab locally caught lunch at one of the Clarence River Fishermen's Co-op retail outlets before strolling the Break Wall for epic views of the coastline.

An easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne, pretty Point Lonsdale boasts award-winning farm-gate producers (follow the Bellarine Taste Trail) and front-row access to diving, water sports and bird watching at Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park. Base yourself at Lon Retreat, a sandstone homestead with seven suites, a mineral pool, day spa and private access to the beach.

A good break for beginner surfers, Middleton Beach is also a picturesque spot to fish or simply splash about in the chilly waters of the Great Australian Bight. On the Fleurieu Peninsula, only an hour’s drive from Adelaide, stay in one of the 12 striped Beach Huts – there’s an on-site restaurant, shared dining area and lovely communal lawn just minutes from the sand.

Country charm meets a celebrated food culture in Berry, two hours’ drive from Sydney’s CBD. Check in at The Berry View, a 1970s-era motel that’s been upgraded for the modern traveller, explore the homewares shops on the main drag and dine at Queen St. Eatery, a chic French bistro. A stop at The Famous Berry Donut Van before heading home is non-negotiable.

One of Australia’s oldest wine regions, Rutherglen is three hours from Melbourne, just shy of the NSW border. Follow the Muscat Mile to sample the fortified vino the area is famous for, enjoy a picnic at All Saints Estate and sleep in a French Provincial tower at Mount Ophir Estate.

Picture-perfect beaches, friendly locals, laid-back vibes: this Tweed Coast town ticks all the boxes for a cruisy escape. A 35-minute drive north of Byron, it’s also home to an up-and-coming culinary scene – fine-diner Pipit serves seasonal set menus and Black Drop is a must-visit for coffee and a casual meal (the Urliup gourmet mushroom bruschetta with toasted macadamia and sesame is a popular choice).

Drive three hours’ north-west of Brisbane and you’ll find eucalypt forests, waterfalls and rugged peaks more than 1100 metres above sea level within the Bunya Mountains National Park. There are several kid-friendly camping areas or reserve a well-equipped holiday home via Bunya Mountains Accommodation Office.

Surfers love the swell at Hawks Nest, three hours’ drive north of Sydney or 45 minutes from Newcastle Airport, but there’s also Jimmys Beach on the bay side, a sheltered spot that’s ideal for families and kayaking or paddleboarding. Book an Airbnb or one of Myall River Camp’s safari-style glamping tents complete with a kitchen, private deck and modern ensuite.

Packed with beautifully preserved buildings dating back to the 1800s, Evandale is a must-visit for history buffs. Drive two hours north of Hobart to marvel at the late-Georgian and early-Victorian architecture (St Andrews Church and the Clarendon Arms hotel are standouts). If you’re nearby in February, don’t miss the charming National Penny Farthing Championship.

A beachside suburb of Perth, Scarborough is just 20 minutes from the city centre. Enjoy the photogenic stretch of white sand or take a dip in the geothermally heated pools overlooking the waves. You’ve got plenty of food options, too: pick up a danish at Harvest Boulangerie, fish tacos at Stone Jetty or sip a Scandi-inspired cocktail at Skol.

Billing itself as “the place where the outback meets the tropics”, Katherine is the gateway to Nitmiluk National Park. In town, explore the Aboriginal-owned and -operated Mimi Arts and Crafts Centre and snack on a legendary toastie from The Black Russian Caravan Bar before heading out on a spectacular sunset tour of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge.

Surrounded by 50-plus vineyards, this laid-back Granite Belt town is at the centre of the state’s emerging wine industry. Drive 2.5 hours south-west of Brisbane to taste European varieties like graciano and tempranillo with Granite Highland Maxi-Tours, craft beer at the Granite Belt Brewery and cheese at Jersey Girls Cafe.  

A two-hour flight from Perth, this coastal town serves as a jumping-off point for those who want to dive with whale sharks, humpback whales and turtles in the glimmering waters of Ningaloo Reef. Splash out on a stay at Sal Salis, a 16-tent eco-retreat nestled in the dunes of the Cape Range National Park, for the ultimate luxurious escape.

Surrounded by the Simpson and Tanami deserts, Alice Springs benefits from its otherworldly location – visitors make a beeline for the waterhole at Simpsons Gap. On clear nights, take in the region’s dark skies and dazzling display of stars from your balcony at DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs.

Port Lincoln isn’t known as the seafood capital of Australia for nothing; it’s an unbeatable spot for just-caught bluefin tuna and southern rock lobster. Make the seven-hour scenic road trip from Adelaide, drop your bags at Eyre Way – a Scandi-chic tiny house half an hour out of town – and head to The Line & Label for juicy Coffin Bay oysters.

For a dose of artsy charm, it’s tough to do better than Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, 90 minutes north of Brisbane. Complete with a gallery-packed main street, this is the ideal destination for antique shoppers and B&B fans. Make your home at Maleny Lodge, where the weatherboard cottage dates back to 1905 and is filled with vintage rocking chairs and clawfoot tubs.

Often dubbed “the new Byron Bay” (a 90-minute drive north), this sleepy town in Far North NSW has several world-class surf breaks. Prefer to flop and drop? Watch the waves roll in from the rooftop pool at The Surf, a boutique hotel with 12 pastel-hued rooms and suites.

In Swansea, eastern Tasmania’s otherworldly beauty is clear: sheltered beaches, coastal wilderness and the pink granite peaks of The Hazards range come together in a majestic combination. Freycinet National Park, about an hour away by car, has plenty to keep you busy. Cruise crescent-shaped Wineglass Bay, tackle scenic mountain tracks and recharge in your stone cottage at Piermont.

Just over an hour from Canberra in NSW’s Southern Tablelands, Braidwood’s wide, tree-lined streets and heritage-listed colonial buildings make for one very picturesque townscape. Black truffle season kicks off in June; join in the hunt at Durran Durra before retiring to your elegantly appointed guest house at Mona Farm.

Quaint and compact, Milawa is about a three-hour drive north-east of Melbourne and the gateway to the King Valley wine region. Check in at quietly luxurious Lancemore Milawa, then head out on a leisurely bike ride along the 10-kilometre Pedal to Produce route, stopping off at the Brown Brothers cellar door and Milawa Cheese Company.

Often viewed as the gateway to the rest of sunny Queensland, the coastal town of Maroochydore has plenty to offer in itself. Think golden beaches minus the crowds, cool Ocean Street cafés, all manner of watersports on the Maroochy River and new stays such as Loea, a motel-turned-Instagram-friendly oasis of whitewashed walls and wicker furniture. 

With its quiet atmosphere and natural bush setting, it’s hard to believe Kyneton is just an hour’s drive from Melbourne. The pretty town has a plethora of art galleries (Lauriston Press houses paintings, prints and ceramics) and artisanal eateries (the hatted Midnight Starling serves up French bistro-style fare), while its proximity to Hanging Rock makes it a prime bushwalking destination. Get a group of friends together and stay at The Old Rectory, which was built in 1850 and retains much of its original features.

It’s hard to miss Northam on the 90-minute drive north-east of Perth: part of the Public Solo Trail, you’ll pass a bright, 38-metre-high mural on your way into town. The area is also home to over 180 historical buildings, one of which has been transformed into the ultra-chic Farmers’ Home Hotel.

Tucked away in the Adelaide Hills (a 30-minute drive from the city centre), this tiny town (population: 397) is fast becoming a mecca for food lovers. Fourth Hill Providore serves up flaky pastries and Roman-style pizza in a light-filled barn, Udder Delights runs fetta-making classes and Stanley Bridge Tavern is all about fancy pub grub.

Just shy of Tasmania’s north-western tip, Stanley is a picture-perfect fishing village, all well-preserved cottages and rugged coastline. Climb The Nut (an ancient volcanic plug that juts into Bass Strait), take in the Regency-era architecture at Highfield Historic Site and cosy up in front of the fire at the gorgeously restored Ship Inn, once an 1800s sailor’s tavern.

Just an hour away from Melbourne by ferry, Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula makes for an easy gourmet getaway. Pick blueberries at Tuckerberry Hill Berry Farm, sip zesty pinot gris at Terindah Estate and order local mussels Provençale at the recently renovated Portarlington Grand Hotel before heading upstairs to your sea foam-green room overlooking shimmering Port Phillip Bay.

Nestled in the lush hinterland between Byron Bay and colourful Nimbin, this Northern Rivers town is mainly known for its huge country pub, The Eltham Hotel. Rooms have been recently upgraded with plush velvet armchairs and eclectic artwork but there are still plenty of classics on the menu (chips and gravy, eggplant parmigiana).