There are no spaghetti junctions in Mudgee. Nor are there traffic lights in the town centre. But the number of top-notch places to eat is off the charts. Mudgee vies for the title of most beautiful town in Australia for its location on the banks of the Cudgegong River. Have a glamping getaway at Evamor Valley. Or stay at Shed by Zin so you can stroll to lunch at the newly reimagined zin food + wine house at Lowe Family Wine Co.

Bowral is considered one of NSW’s most beautiful towns. And it’s romanticised for everything from its charming main street, dotted with cafes and boutiques, to its idyllic surrounds. Enjoy a respite from your big-city life pinballing between Ngunungula, the Ben Quilty-owned gallery, the Bradman Museum and Harry’s on Green Lane. Stay at the bougie Berida Hotel, where you’ll find Bistro Sociale.

The tiny town of Gundaroo is a beautifully preserved 19th century village just half an hour north of Canberra in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. Stretch your legs along the Gundaroo Heritage Walk which is lined with 19th century slab huts, wattle and daub buildings and pretty, colonial cottages. Go-to gourmet experiences in Gundaroo include lunch at Grazing and pizza at Cork Street Café in the old police stables.

Oh, my Montville. This quaint Queensland village is known for its mix of galleries, cafes and boho boutiques where you can shop for everything from art and craft to cuckoo clocks from the TikTok-worthy Clock Shop. Expect a kind of Euro Alps aesthetic in the hinterland town, which remains a draw for tree-changers. Stay at Lovestone Cottages or Spicers Clovelly Estate, famed for its destination diner, Long Apron.

Breathe in the fresh air in Central Tilba, one of the many gems on NSW’s Far South Coast. The town and its neighbouring village Tilba Tilba both have National Heritage Listings and are backdropped by Gulaga, formerly Mt Dromedary, a mountain sacred to the Yuin people. The Dromedary Hotel in Central Tilba is a destination for proper pub grub. You can also pick up artisan cheeses from Tilba Dairy and old-fashioned lollies from Tilba Sweet Spot. Book a cosy stay at Historic Henkley Farm (circa 1870) or Tilba Lake House.

Yungaburra is one of the gems of the Atherton Tableland. While a lot of visitors to Tropical North Queensland head for coastal towns such as Port Douglas, Yungaburra is also a quintessential Queensland winter getaway. Jungle hems the horizon around the village, which is near to attractions such as the Curtain Fig Tree and Lake Eacham. Stroll along the charming streets before hitting the 1901 Yungaburra Hotel for lunch. Time your visit to coincide with the farmers’ market, on the fourth Saturday of the month.

Uki is best known as a jumping-off point for outdoor adventures in The Tweed. But the tiny town is dotted with dinky eateries that make it worthy of its ‘beautiful Australian town’ tag, too. For coffee, head to Bastion Lane Espresso in the 1909 heritage-listed Uki Post Office, reimagined as a roastery, cafe and gallery. The town has also risen through the regional town ranks thanks to Uki Pies, which has one of the best pies in NSW. Base yourself at Hillside Carool, one of the best farm stays in the country, during Savour the Tweed.

Olinda is postcard-worthy from every angle. The Dandenong Ranges dominate the background and the picturesque gardens and pretty cottages make for a vivid townscape. Olinda was once the home of Australian master painter Arthur Streeton and exploring the town’s surroundings is like stepping into one of his impressionist landscape paintings. Head to Olinda Tea House for a darling Devonshire tea and Citrine Bistro & Bar for classic country fare. Stay at the Lochiel Luxury Accommodation.

The Georgian village of Richmond is set amid the rolling green hills of Tasmania’s Coal River Valley, a renowned cool-climate region in Tasmania. This contender for best regional town in Tasmania for eating and drinking is surrounded by award-winning wineries such as Pooley Wines and Puddleduck Vineyard. Add Coal River Farm, Frogmore Creek Restaurant and Larder & Vin to your epicurean itinerary. You will feel like you’re a continent away with a stay at Mill House Cottage.

Live out your Gourmet Farmer fantasies in Ross, one of Tassie’s lesser-known heritage towns. The rural idyll was established on the Macquarie River as a garrison in 1821. But the only thing under lock and key these days should be the recipe for the vanilla slice served at the Ross Village Bakery which is billed as the ‘world’s best’. Sweet treats aside; it’s worth visiting for its charming sandstone buildings and convict-built bridge, the third oldest in Australia. Pick up a handknitted beanie from the Tasmanian Wool Centre and stay overnight at the Ol’ Sunday School.

The D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon River run like ribbons through the Cygnet countryside. The town established in the 1830s is known both as a centre for fruit growing and hub for creative types. Swan around Cygnet’s main street in search of sustenance, which you will find at the Red Velvet Lounge café or Cygnet Old Bank, which is also a B&B. The Apple Isle remains grounded in the production of cider, with Pagan Cider one of the boutique producers highlighted on the Huon Valley Wine & Cider Trail. Schedule a return visit in January for the Cygnet Folk Festival.

Murray Bridge recently ranked No. 7 on Wotif’s annual Aussie Town of the Year awards. Less than an hour from Adelaide, Murray Bridge is named after the iconic bridge that was the first to span the mighty Murray. The tiny township also has a big history which you can uncover at The Round House, one of the key stops on the Discovery Trail. Head to Willow Point Wines to enjoy cheese platters paired with top estate drops.

Is there a town in Australia that speaks more to its heritage than Handhorf? The fairytale village founded in 1839 in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia is the oldest surviving Germanic settlement in the country. Cue the schlager soundtrack and head for the hills to stock up on everything from hotdogs to pretzels, mustards, wine and more all made by hand in the contemporary artisan village. Feel a sense of place at the Hahndorf Old Mill Hotel.

Four seasons, 1000 reasons. It sounds like the title of a country music hit. In fact, it’s the tagline used to promote the tree-lined SA village of Stirling. Be it leaf-peeping in autumn or stopping to smell the flowers in spring, the village founded in 1854 deserves its billing as one of the most beautiful towns in Australia. The town’s hip main strip is worth a stroll to find artisan chocolates at Red Cacao or pub grub at The Stirling Hotel. Sign up for a master class at Sticky Rice Cooking School.

Make a beeline for Bridgetown while road-tripping around WA. The dinky little town in WA’s Southwest is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Australia for everything from its towering karri trees to its wildflowers and jarrah woodlands. Schedule a return visit to the village on the banks of the Blackwood River for its annual Winter Festival, dubbed Fridgetown. Meet some of life’s characters at the Freemason’s Hotel.