11 May 2026
New South Wales top state for tourism towns
Byron Bay, Bowral and 22 other towns across NSW have been included in the prestigious list of the best towns to travel to in Australia by best-selling domestic travel brand Australian Traveller.
It comes as no surprise that Byron Bay topped the NSW list – the Northern Rivers coastal town remains a perennial favourite for its natural beauty, laid-back coastal lifestyle and unique character. It also claimed the No. 1 spot in the Wellness category – and while you can still head to Byron to get your chakras realigned, Byron today offers retreat-seekers all that and more.
Bowral is a longtime favourite country getaway for Sydneysiders. But did you know you can now sleep in Donald Bradman’s childhood home or sip wine in a new French bistro? Time to revisit.
Challenging Byron’s position as NSW’s premier beach town, Yamba also ranks highly for its blend of nostalgic seaside holiday vibes, beautiful natural scenery and a smattering of great places to stay and
eat.
While the list is a celebration for the entire state and regional Australia, it will reignite some interregional rivalry. Central West wine and foodie town Orange (No. 33) won bragging rights over fierce
Central West rivals Mudgee (No. 46) and Bathurst (No. 98).
Australian Traveller Print Editor and panellist Imogen Eveson says, “From its unrivalled coastline to its country, hinterland and outback, NSW is such a diverse state that it’s little wonder it claimed the most
hits on our list of 100 Best Towns in Australian to Travel to.”
“For more than 20 years, Australian Traveller has championed regional travel – encouraging Australians to explore the wealth of amazing places you can find in your own backyard. This list is no
exception and comes at a time when destinations around NSW are doing it tough. We hope to support those towns by encouraging travellers – where they can – to get out there and keep exploring. And with 24 to choose from, you're bound to be able to find a town to visit that's closer to home.”
The 24 NSW towns on the list of the 100 Best Towns in Australia to travel and their position in the 100 were:
3 Byron Bay
5 Bowral
14 Yamba
16 Bellingen
23 Broken Hill
28 Thredbo
33 Orange
38 Lightning Ridge
45 Leura
46 Mudgee
59 Murwillumbah
63 Griffith
68 South West Rocks
73 Terrigal
76 Kiama
82 Berry
83 Merimbula
84 Nelson Bay
88 Woolgoolga
89 Armidale
93 Broke
98 Bathurst
99 Goulburn
100 Ballina
About the 100 Best Towns in Australia to Travel to
The 100 Aussie Best Towns were selected by aggregating the votes of a panel of 15 well known Australians and tourism industry experts. The towns are ranked 1-100 and then organised into 10
categories.
The 10 categories and number one town in each of the categories is as follows:
1. Emerging Towns
Top Emerging Town – Bicheno, Tas (Ranked 1/100)
2. Adventure & Nature Towns
Top Adventure & Nature Town – Port Douglas, Qld (Ranked 2/100)
3. Wellness Towns
Top Wellness Town – Byron Bay, NSW (Ranked 3/100)
4. Festival & Events
Top Festival & Events Town – Port Fairy, Vic (Ranked 4/100)
5. Country Towns
Top Country Town – Bowral, NSW (Ranked 5/100)
6. Outback Towns
Top Outback Town – Broome, WA (Ranked 6/100)
7. Food & Wine Towns
Top Food & Wine Towns – Willunga, SA (Ranked 7/100)
8. Beach Towns
Top Beach Town – Eagle Bay, WA (Ranked 8/100)
9. History & Heritage Towns
Top History & Heritage Town – Stanley, Tas (Ranked 17/100)
10. Arts & Culture
Top Arts & Culture Town – Townsville, Qld (Ranked 31/100)
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Maya Levinson
Marketing Executive
0451 020 324
mlevinson@australiantraveller.com