The world might feel a little chaotic right now, but the good news? You don’t have to go far to escape it.
Australia isn’t just a world-class destination, drawing 8.3 million international visitors last year*, it’s packed with places that deliver serious international flavour without the long-haul flight.
So, if you’re craving global vibes a little closer to home, here are some Aussie destinations that we think more than hold their own.
Brisbane is a clean, vibrant riverside city that we think gives Singapore vibes.
The climate is warm year-round, the dining has really moved up a notch in the last few years and the rooftop and riverside bars along Queen’s Wharf, Southbank and beyond all give a Marina Bay vibe. True, there’s no Sentosa Island, but there is Moreton Island with its own day trip adventures.
People always compare Melbourne to Europe, and we agree, but for us it’s specifically Vienna. The culture, the coffee and the grungy edge, match perfectly to the refined arts and theatre scene. It’s true, nothing compares to a Viennese Coffee House, but Degraves street certainly holds its own. We love to visit Melbourne in June to get our dose of European winter.
Fremantle, a short train ride from Perth, we think is the best of the west. Port city character, entrenched live music culture and a plethora of small bars of the sophisticated and dive variety give us a New Orleans feel.
Hobart (and Tassie) with rugged beauty, dramatic landscapes and stone buildings are a touch of Scotland. Not to mention the variety of whiskey distilleries to build your whole itinerary around. If you’ve ever been trout fishing in Scotland, we think Tassie fly fishing gives them a run for their money.
We can’t leave Adelaide out. Could it be the Paris of the south? If only for it’s proximity to world class wine regions like the Barossa, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley we think it is. Barossa or Bordeaux? Imagine the wine you could buy from the flight savings.
Whether you agree with our comparisons or not, the one thing that undisputable is that Australia has a lot of world class experiences and destination on offer.
Oh and all of the above can be accessed from Newcastle Airport (just saying).
*Tourism Research Australia IVS Data.
For more lifestyle stories:
- Hunter still ‘home’ for global country star
- Celebrate mum this Mother’s Day in Newcastle
- The ultimate Newcastle Gig Guide
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