The best towns in Australia

Yamba in northern NSW named best town in Australia

A SLEEPY seaside hamlet in northern NSW has been named Best Town in Australia by a panel of tourism and travel experts.

Yamba, a township of 5,600 people whose sole industry is fishing and best known as the town closest to Angourie, one of Australia’s most famous surf breaks, beat some of Australia’s tourism “hot spots” to top the list of the best 100 towns.
According to the survey conducted by Australian Traveller magazine, Port Douglas, Broome, Byron Bay, Port Fairy and Margaret River were among the towns pipped by Yamba.
Australian Traveller editor Greg Barton said Yamba’s selection as top town, along with the second choice of Esperance, in southern Western Australia, was surprising.
He said they had qualified as outsiders but that both could be described as “coastal fishing gems”.
“Yamba … may be upset at being named the Best Town in Australia. Their idyllic secret is out and they may have to share,” Mr Barton said.
“The final list was surprising for me but on reflection it makes sense.
“These towns have stunning scenery, a unique story and the mystique of the understated and undiscovered - until now.
“They just don’t come with the crowds and circus that surround some of the more popular towns.”
Mr Barton said to choose the 100 best towns, the panellists were presented with a short list of 300 towns.
They were asked: “On a scale of one to 10, how likely are you to recommend a friend add one hour to their trip just to visit this town?”
The answers were then tabulated to compile the top 100.
“We think we have it pretty spot on,” Mr Barton said.
“I’m sure we’ll be inundated with alternatives and howls of injustice. Let the people decide.”
The top 10 towns, in order, are Yamba, NSW; Esperance, WA; Port Douglas, Queensland; Broome, WA; Port Fairy, Victoria; Beechworth, Victoria; Byron Bay, NSW; Apollo Bay, Victoria; Strahan, Tasmania, and Margaret River, WA.
In a state-by state breakdown of the listings, NSW had 29 towns in the top 100, Victoria 16, Queensland 16, South Australia 13, WA 13 and Tasmania seven.
The full list is:
1 Yamba NSW
2 Esperance WA
3 Port Douglas QLD
4 Broome WA
5 Port Fairy VIC
6 Beechworth VIC
7 Byron Bay NSW
8 Apollo Bay VIC
9 Strahan TAS
10 Margaret River WA
11 South West Rocks NSW
12 Bright VIC
13 Alice Springs NT
14 Lorne VIC
15 Mallacoota VIC
16 Hahndorf SA
17 Burnt Pine NSW
18 Mission Beach QLD
19 Daylesford VIC
20 Noosa QLD
21 Portsea VIC
22 Bowral NSW
23 Fremantle WA
24 Kangaroo Valley NSW
25 Broken Hill NSW
26 Nelson Bay NSW
27 Bellingen NSW
28 Leura NSW
29 Queenscliff VIC
30 Mudgee NSW
31 Mossman QLD
32 Jindabyne NSW
33 Katherine NT
34 Airlie Beach QLD
35 Echuca VIC
36 Angaston SA
37 Mataranka NT
38 Coffin Bay SA
39 Robe SA
40 Tilba Tilba NSW
41 Swansea TAS
42 Seal Rocks NSW
43 Pokolbin NSW
44 Cooktown QLD
45 Port Lincoln SA
46 Longreach QLD
47 Silverton NSW
48 Huskisson NSW
49 Streaky Bay SA
50 Penola SA
51 Jabiru NT
52 Stanley TAS
53 Lightning Ridge NSW
54 Merimbula NSW
55 Albany WA
56 Marysville VIC
57 Tamworth NSW
58 Clare SA
59 Birdsville QLD
60 Bermagui NSW
61 Richmond TAS
62 Coral Bay WA
63 Denmark WA
64 Atherton QLD
65 Picnic Bay QLD
66 Seventeen Seventy QLD
67 Mollymook NSW
68 Rutherglen VIC
69 Coober Pedy SA
70 Karumba QLD
71 Nguiu Settlement NT
72 Tamborine Mountain QLD
73 Mt Gambier SA
74 Kuranda QLD
75 Dorrigo NSW
76 Walhalla VIC
77 Mildura VIC
78 Berry NSW
79 Eumundi QLD
80 Exmouth WA
81 Dunkeld VIC
82 Parachilna SA
83 Sofala NSW
84 Tumut NSW
85 Ross TAS
86 Augusta WA
87 Kingscote SA
88 William Creek SA
89 Wisemans Ferry NSW
90 Halls Gap VIC
91 Hervey Bay QLD
92 Derby WA
93 Bridport TAS
94 Wollombi NSW
95 Evans Head NSW
96 Adelaide River NT
97 Nain WA
98 Kalgoorlie WA
99 Eagle Bay WA
100 Deloraine TAS

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