An idyllic spot that’s now slipped out from under the radar, Yamba is a breath of fresh air and boasts some of the state’s most beautiful beaches. Book yourself a stylish getaway at Yamba’s first boutique stay, The Surf Yamba, or have a peaceful slumber at swoon-worthy stay The Yamba Studio. Leisurely repasts await at the likes of Karrikin Yamba – a sophisticated yet relaxed neighbourhood eatery that centres its menu on local ingredients – flavourful Turkish restaurant Beachwood Café, popular purveyor of sweet treats and coffee gather cafe, and the iconic Pacific Hotel Yamba for an ale with a spectacular view. Take a dip in nearby Angourie’s Blue and Green pools, and head into neighbouring Yuragir National Park to take on its walking tracks and enjoy its sweeping ocean views. Come sundown, head to Drift Pizza Bar for natural wines and a slice of the good stuff, and Paradiso XO for vibrant cocktails and dumplings, followed by Chinese donuts filled with Cantonese custard.

The oldest wine region in Australia still has pull today. Wine lovers will be right at home in Pokolbin, at the heart of the Hunter Valley, and its cluster of must-visit cellar doors. Audrey Wilkinson has been crafting vintages at the feet of the Brokenback Range since the 1860s. Innovative cellar door Usher Tinkler Wines pairs drops with salumi inside an intimate renovated church; while Brokenwood Wines offers tastings of award-winning wines in its multi-million dollar cellar door. Not to be outdone, the region has plenty to lure foodies – from the elevated set-course menu at Muse Restaurant in Hungerford Hill Winery; to Frank Fawkner’s playful menu at moody little EXP; and harvest fresh, hyper-local fare at Margan Estate. Make a weekend of it at Tower Lodge, a luxury lodge channelling a Spanish hacienda.

A beach so beautiful it’s been named Australia’s best. A surf motel turned five-star stay. Reliable surf breaks and seasonal dining. Could Cabarita be the ideal beach town? This little community just shy of the Queensland border was first propelled onto our radars by Halcyon House, a pitch perfect transformation of a run-down beachfront hotel, complete with its own barefoot fine diner Paper Daisy and a popular day spa. Today ‘Caba’ is also home to a number of worthwhile eateries, such as No.35 Kitchen and Bar – an Italian bistro established by two Icebergs alum – as well as glamping retreat The Hideaway. And of course, there’s always the beach: an idyllic little arc of golden sand lapped by azure waters, hugged by pandanus palms and a grassy headland.

A thriving city with a beach town vibe, Newcastle offers the best of both worlds. The second-largest city in the state, Newcastle has embraced its post-industrial existence with a slew of restaurants, boutiques and swish places to lay your head. Take QT Newcastle – a design-savvy hotel with buzzy Jana Restaurant at ground level and a rooftop bar with horizon views; or the nearby Crystalbrook Kingsley, a striking transformation of a local council building dubbed ‘The Roundhouse’. Dining’s no slouch either, from chilled fine diner Flotilla to pasta lover haven Humbug. Add a lively small bar and distillery scene, slick cafes and big old beachside boozers – and no less than eight, expansive beaches within city limits – and you just might find yourself plotting a seachange.

Art Deco architecture, old-world charm and a burgeoning arts scene makes Murwillumbah (or Mur-Bah, among locals) a must-visit. In the heart of this enchanting town, the ever-growing M|Arts precinct has become an exhibition space for talented artists, an open-air market for artisans and their wares, home to lively bars and eateries (see the eye-catching Pink Bar) and a refurbished Art Deco cinema. Established by Melbourne hospitality expats and sisters Danni and Nikki Wilson, along with ex-MoVida head chef Ewen Crawford, Bistro Livi brings both big smoke style and community charm to M|Arts. There’s also a collection of boutique stores (check out the beautifully curated Knox & Co.) and resident artists who’ve set up camp in the precinct. Bistro and bar Tweed River House offers views of Wollumbin (Mt Warning). A 15-minute drive away in nearby Tumbulgum, Husk Farm Distillery is home to some of Australia’s only cane-to-bottle rums and Ink Gin (with shuttle buses transfers available if you’d like to ditch the car).

If it’s high time you took yourself a peaceful seaside getaway, indulge in a taste of boutique resort luxury and fine dining in Mollymook on the South Coast of New South Wales. Rick Stein’s Bannisters is an obvious choice for those with discerning tastes in both seafood dishes and accommodation, and the nearby Golf Club offers waterfront views and bistro-style lunches. It’s easy to while away an afternoon – or a few days, for that matter – at winery, restaurant and boutique stay Cupitt’s Estate in nearby Ulladulla, where multi-course set menus are served overlooking vineyards marching down the hill. You can also book a retro beach holiday at Motel Molly, a seaside stay with nostalgic charm and style to spare.

As the adage suggests, good things can come in small villages. Uki is a tiny town nestled under the watchful eye of Wollumbin (Mt Warning) and is hidden deep within the verdant Tweed hinterland. In a village so small, you mightn’t expect to find a coffee worth writing home about. And yet, inside the heritage-listed Uki Post Office lives Bastion Lane Espresso, a roastery and café – with beans roasted in the aptly named ‘The RoastOffice’. Uki’s Post (and Roast) Master Gary Wall also runs the actual Post Office and art gallery, Art Post Uki. Local artists’ works are curated by Susan Kinneally and exhibition opening nights draw in a crowd. Book a stay at Mavis’s Kitchen and Cabins, an eco-focussed bed and breakfast that boasts an organic, seasonal, and locally oriented restaurant in a grand Queenslander building, and is set over 25 acres. Mavis’s also offers picnic packages – perfect for those looking for sustenance (and reward) after hiking one of the region’s picturesque trails.

Invigorating dips in the Brunswick River, sunset drinks at one of the laidback local bars, walks to the beach, and nights at relaxed restaurants serving up some of the region’s best produce – this coastal pocket offers all the hallmarks of in idyllic holiday. For top-notch food try Cadeau Bar and Restaurant, for a guaranteed good time and flavoursome fare visit Mexican eatery La Casita, for hearty burgers head to Old Maids, swing by Birds of Paradise Rotisserie for next-level chook from the team behind sophisticated diner Fleet, and for caffeine hits and breakfast on the go it has to be Brunswick Bakery. Accommodation options have widened in recent years – from retro-fabulous The Sails Motel to adults-only stay The Brunswick, to the aesthetically stimulating Sunset Beach – Summer Breeze, a baby pink house by the beach.

Come for the bushwalks, stay for a burgeoning dining scene, a beloved brewery and one of the most thrilling (or terrifying, depending on your appetite for heights) rides around. The Blue Mountains is shrugging off a once-daggy reputation and emerging as one of the best weekends away near Sydney. Get your bearings at Scenic World in Katoomba, where the world’s steepest passenger railway and a cable car suspended 270m above the valley floor offer vertiginous views of the World Heritage-listed landscape. Calm the nerves afterwards at Mountain Culture Beer Co. brewery, with one of Australia’s most popular beers available fresh out of the tank. Grand old dames of dining such as The Wintergarden at the Hydro Majestic now have dynamic local companions such as Megalong Restaurant – a destination diner nurtured by LOT101 farm in the Megalong Valley – or Med-inspired wine bar Ates, and BLAQ in boutique hotel KYAH. Eco luxury awaits at the Chalets at Blackheath, striking cabins hidden in bushland.

Beyond the buzz of Byron, way up north where the water is warmer, lies a flourishing coastal town just south of Tweed Heads. Though Kingscliff’s pristine beach is a tempting spot to while away an entire weekend, its restaurants and cafes beckon sunseekers back into the streets. Taverna restaurant supplies a bounty of delicious Greek food with a side of sandy views, while Stone Studios offers a hit of caffeine alongside pottery wheels for those seeking creative pursuits on their travels. The Salt Mill brings the cult Currumbin cafe south of the border. Nearby, Tropical Fruit World provides farm tours and snacking staples to keep spirits high on the drive, and you can arrange a seaside rendezvous with Blue Ginger Picnics – the region’s go-to picnic professionals who source every item locally. For the ultimate in aesthetically pleasing stays, Hikari House serves up mid-century modernist vibes in a beachfront location, while Blue Water Motel is a playful entrant in the new wave of reborn retro hotels. And, while you’re in the region, take a short drive inland to Cudgen’s Farm & Co, where you can pick sunflowers and dine on plant-based, farm-fresh fare.

Mullum is not what she used to be. With Byron Bay bursting beyond capacity, this hinterland sanctuary has blossomed into a centre for good food and well-dressed accommodation. The demographic might have changed, but the sense of community has not. The Mullumbimby Farmers Markets are going stronger than ever, and its café scene is palmy. Punch and Daisy café purveys simple yet delicious repasts and coffee, and Yaman Mullumbimby brings the flavours of Yemin to the Northern Rivers, alongside many other enticing eateries. ‘Social bathing’ day spa The Banya brings a bit of Byron with its mineral pools and hot and cold therapies, while Beyond Byron E Bikes offers a cruisy way of exploring the lush area. The surrounding landscape is dappled in cabins and treehouse-style stays, including Secluded Magical Rainforest Retreat and Blackbird Luxury Accommodation. After a livelier night? Stay in town at The Middle Pub.

Once overshadowed by Sydney in the south and Newcastle in the north, the Central Coast has come of age. Tucked around a headland at the mouth of the Hawkesbury River, the pint-sized fishing village Patonga is one of the most isolated little communities in the region, and one of its most chilled. Beside kicking back in the waterfront beer garden at the Boathouse Hotel with a bowl of mussels or pizza, there isn’t too much more to do in Patonga other than paddle in the calm bay, bushwalk to nearby Pearl Beach or kayak up the creek into Brisbane Water National Park – and we wouldn’t have it any other way. If you’re after something a bit more chic than the caravan park, The Boathouse offers three airy apartments with private balconies overlooking the beach, or the white-washed Patonga Cottage, complete with four bedrooms and its own swimming pool. From Patonga pier, it’s a scenic 30-minute ferry across to Palm Beach – perhaps for a lunch at The Boathouse’s sister venue Barrenjoey House at the dock at the other end.

Go for the fresh, country air and stay for the coffee and Japanese food. This petite village just a fifteen-minute drive from Bangalow is a surprise package. Though tranquil and uncrowded, Federal puts visitors in the perfect spot to sample Moonshine Coffee Roastery and Café and Federal Doma Café – a Japanese café that is worth any lengthy road trip to find. Hide away at Samsara Farm Studio, just a five-minute drive from town, or Woollybutts, a luxe cottage with a pool, or Amileka – a luxe five-bedroom estate with a fire pit, 18m swimming pool and sprawling grounds.

From beaches and ocean baths to iconic kiosks and wine bars, the ’Gong is sounding out. Start your visit out right by taking the long way down the Grand Pacific Drive, across the snaking Sea Cliff Bridge. Perched on the cliff’s edge just beyond, the sprawling lawn at The Scarborough is the perfect stop-off for a cleansing ale before a dip in the pools at Austinmer Beach. Barefoot beachfront dining is the order of the day at Diggies, an institution on North Wollongong Beach that has since inspired three offshoots. Leading the charge in the local finer dining scene is Babyface Kitchen, a produce-driven bistro with a wine list that leans natural. Minimal-interference drops also feature heavily on the drinks menu at Night Parrot Bar, alongside classic cocktails and a menu inspired by Asian street food bites. The refurbed Hotel TOTTO hints at an evolution in local accommodation options, with its minimalist aesthetic and central location.

Scenic little Bowral is the perfect base for explorations of the Southern Highlands. Manicured gardens and stately country manors offer cottagecore charm in spades, just a 90 minute drive out of Sydney. The Euro vibes continue at elegant French-inspired Bistro Sociale inside Berida Hotel, best combined with a stay in one of the elegant guest rooms upstairs. At Eschalot in the nearby village of Berima, Matty Roberts and Cass Wallace plate up a seasonal menu sustained by the couple’s kitchen garden and local produce. Bowral’s main drag is lined with welcoming cafes such as The Press Shop and Salters at vintage haven Dirty Janes; while grand old pubs like local-favourite Burrawang Village Hotel dot the surrounding countryside. If you love a country bakery, Gumnut Patisserie is an essential. The region’s biggest culinary surprise awaits at Paste, a five-minute drive away in Mittagong, where chef Bee Satongun cooks up the heirloom Thai cuisine that earned her Bangkok restaurant a Michelin star.