Best Getaway winners – 2016 People’s Choice Awards

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The winners of the Best Getaways in Australian Traveller’s 2016 People’s Choice Awards 2016 are…

1. Best city for a short break: Melbourne

Why you love it… The ever-present battle between Sydney and Melbourne sees Victoria’s capital pip the harbour city at the post again this year. This urban oasis exudes cosmopolitan charm with a European vibe, charismatic laneways, enviable coffee, a host of cool rooftop bars and restaurants, an energetic cultural calendar… and unpredictable weather.

Our hot tip… Melbourne is the ultimate destination for culinary capers. A must-visit is restaurant and bar, Eau De Vie, which houses 700-plus spirits and boasts the perfect balance of class and grunge. And you can’t leave the city without seeing Hosier Lane, the ‘Holy land’ of street art.

If you love this, your next short break should be… Strathalbyn, SA. The dining in this quaint town echoes Melbourne in a more intimate and cosy way, with Smith Tapas Bar a local favourite.

You also rate… Sydney, NSW / Perth, WA / Brisbane, QLD / Adelaide, SA

2. Best family holiday spot: Gold Coast

Why you love it… The Gold Coast is almost a holiday no-brainer when kids are in tow. With a host of family-friendly accommodation, beautiful beaches, and more hyper-fun entertainment than you can poke a bored kid at, the Gold Coast is also embracing a new confidence and cool that will have you falling in love with it all over again.

Our hot tip… Away from boisterous Surfers Paradise, don’t miss the natural swimming oasis of Currumbin Rock Pool, Tamborine Mountain in the hinterland with its spectacular hikes and quaint village, and Tallebudgera Creek, which hides a secluded beach.

If you love this, your next family holiday should be… Perth, WA. With postcard-worthy beaches, Perth is a fun-in-the-sun family holiday spot. Kids will love Adventure World, while Shoalwater Islands Marine Park has a beautiful reef peppered with shipwrecks. ]

You also rate… Sunshine Coast, Qld / Byron Bay, NSW / Cairns, Qld / Port Douglas, Qld

3. Best beach? Whitehaven Beach, Qld

Why you love it… Whitehaven Beach is the stuff of daydreams. Located on the largest of the salt-kissed Whitsunday islands, this beach’s natural purity is otherworldly, with white silica sand that extends more than seven kilometres.

Our hot tip… Head to the lookout at Tongue Point for the most breathtaking views of Hill Inlet, where the ocean tide manipulates the sand and water into mesmerising patterns and colours.

If you love this, your next beach day should be… Turquoise Bay, WA. As part of Ningaloo Reef, Turquoise Bay boasts some of the best snorkelling in the country and, with its sugar-white sand and (as the name suggests) turquoise water, it’s a serious contender to rival the beauty of Whitehaven.

You also rate… Noosa, Qld / Bondi, NSW / Cable Beach, WA / Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay, NSW

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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4. Most desirable island escape: Hamilton Island

Why you love it… Amid its immaculate beaches and pristine atolls, Hamilton Island is the perfect base to discover the Great Barrier Reef and the stunning Whitsundays. But life on the island is what really sets it apart from others.

With accommodation to suit every budget, great dining spots from cheap and cheerful to world-class, and fun for kids including mini golf, bowling, go-karting and the like, it’s an all-round crowd pleaser.

Our hot tip… Take a voyage to the Hidden Cove, a beach that separates the Coral Sea from the lush backdrop of foliage – ahhh the serenity!

If you love this, your next island escape should be… Rottnest Island, WA. Just as with Hamilton Island, Rottnest Island has everything at your fingertips including accommodation from camping to boutique stays, a host of restaurants, a heap of fun for the kids (Segways, an aqua park, archery and so on), 63 beaches and 20 bays, and – the best bit – an adorable local quokka population.

You also rate… Hayman Island, QLD / Lord Howe Island, NSW / Kangaroo Island, SA / Fraser Island, QLD

5. Cosiest winter destination: Tasmania

Why you love it… No need to go into specifics, you felt that anywhere on the Apple Isle made for a cosy winter escape. Quaint towns, puffing swirls of smoke from chimneys, trails of whisky to discover, rolling hills and woodlands to wander, Tassie offers everything needed to do winter right.

Our hot tip… Hire a car and wind your way from Hobart up to the Huon Valley dotted with cider houses, wineries, orchards and sweet little towns.

If you love this, your next winter destination should be… Bowral, NSW. Bowral is home to old vineyards, antique merchants, eclectic dining destinations, boutique art galleries and the iconic Bradman Centre, where visitors can revel in the glory of this iconic Australian.

You also rate… Blue Mountains, NSW / Cradle Mountain, Tas / Thredbo, NSW / Dinner Plain, VIC

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6. Best regional escape: Barossa Valley

Why you love it… You could say the presence of more than 150 wineries explains the appeal of this region, but that would be a bit too simplistic. The Barossa is also loved for its beautiful produce, passionate people and rich Silesian and Prussian history.

Our hot tip… Be sure to head to the Barossa Farmers Market and fill your basket with mettwurst, fresh cream, preserves and breads. If you’re a kitchen novice and keen to try out a cooking class, try Casa Carboni.

If you like this, your next regional escape should be… Berrima, NSW. Dating back to 1830 this petite village in NSW’s Southern Highlands has an array of dining choices, but for something simple (and simply delicious), the Berrima cafes are known to cook up a mean pie.

You also rate… Hunter Valley, NSW / Orange, NSW / Daylesford, VIC / Blue Mountains, NSW

7. Best outback destination: Uluru

Why you love it… The 500-million-year-old sandstone monolith at the core of Australia’s rusty-red outback is a spectacle of immense proportions and with it comes stories swathed in the magic that is the aboriginal Dreamtime.
Our hot tip… Stargazing at Uluru – it really doesn’t get much better than that. Located far away from the light pollution of towns and cities, you can marvel under the vast southern sky decorated with the constellations.

If you love this, your next outback destination should be… Karijini National Park, WA. Presiding in Western Australia’s vibrant Pilbara region, Karijini National Park is a wild wonderland of plunging creeks, weaving gorges and brilliant rockscapes.

You also rate… Kimberley, WA / Alice Springs, NT / Kakadu, NT / Flinders Ranges, SA

With so many worthy finalists nominated by our very own AT readers, don’t miss out on finding out where all these amazing places are!

•Best Accommodation Finalists

•Best Experiences Finalists

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Exploding supernovas & gold fever: discover the past at this outback Qld town

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

    While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

    Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

    Getting there

    car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland
    Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

    You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

    Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

    Best accommodation in Clermont

    Theresa CreekDam in clermont
    Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

    Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

    To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn.

    Things to do in Clermont

    three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting
    Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

    One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters, Four Mile, Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings. To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting. They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

    Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum. Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

    The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

    Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland
    See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

    Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services. Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

    Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs. The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

    Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

    meal at Commercial Hotel
    Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

    Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

    Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

    For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

    Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

    Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.