Revealed: This coastal Qld town is one of the most welcoming on Earth

Australians pride themselves on being an easy-going bunch. But there are some places where the locals just welcome you with open arms.

It’s hard to be grumpy when the sun is shining and the soporific sound of waves can lull you into a snooze at any time of day – it’s why so many family holidays or solo getaways involve the beach. So it shouldn’t be a shock, then, that a coastal Queensland town has made Booking.com’s 14th annual Traveller Review Awards, coming in the top 10 Most Welcoming Towns/Cities list.

And the Most Welcoming Town is…

welcoming towns booking.com — It’s hard not to be friendly with views like this. (Credit: Mark Fitz)

Decided by more than 370 million verified reviews from travellers globally, the awards celebrate the partners who consistently deliver standout hospitality. Most Welcoming Places on Earth categories highlight destinations where the guest experience feels personal, authentic and genuine. And those millions of reviewers place Noosa Heads in the Top 10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth.

We’ll admit, it’s a little confusing, considering Noosa Heads is generally considered a town. But it has the big punch of a city and sits on the Top 10 list with the likes of Montepulciano in Italy and Takayama in Japan – so we know it deserves its place.

“Being named one of the World’s 10 Most Welcoming Towns is a proud moment for Noosa and a reflection of the values we hold as a community," said Tourism Noosa CEO, Sharon Raguse.

“Noosa has long been known for its openness, warmth and respect for visitors, and this recognition acknowledges the effort our industry makes to ensure every guest feels welcome, valued and connected to place. It’s a meaningful endorsement of a destination that leads with care, community and a genuine love of hosting people from around the world."

Alongside the Most Welcoming Cities on Earth list came the announcement of this year’s Most Welcoming Places in Australia. Margaret River Town in Western Australia made the top 10, as did Daylesford in Victoria and St Helens in Tasmania.

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What we love about Noosa Heads

What’s not to love about Noosa Heads? We’ve already ticked off the unbeatable hospitality of locals, and there are plenty more reasons. Hikers and nature lovers can explore the beauty of Noosa National Park, offering coastal trails, pristine beaches, and littoral rainforest, while kayakers will love the famous Noosa Everglades. Of course, if you prefer your beach days and nature immersions without the walk, there are plenty of places around town for you as well. Arrive between June and November, and you’ll likely spot the yearly migration of humpback whales as they make their way along the coast.

Those looking to unwind will find a range of bathhouses and spas that will have them forgetting they were ever stressed in the first place. While foodies can dine their way through the many restaurants and cafes that make the Noosa Heads food scene so memorable.

The full list of winners

Noosa Park Little Cove welcoming towns booking.com — Noosa Heads has been named one of the Most Welcoming Towns in the World. (Credit: Mark Fitz)

2026’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth:

Noosa Heads, Australia
Montepulciano, Italy
Magong, Taiwan
San Martín de los Andes, Argentina
Harrogate, United Kingdom
Fredericksburg, Texas, United States
Pirenópolis, Brazil
Swakopmund, Namibia
Takayama, Japan
Klaipeda, Lithuania

2026’s Most Welcoming Cities in Australia:

Noosa Heads, Queensland
Montville, Queensland
Margaret River Town, Western Australia
Port Campbell, Victoria
Maleny, Queensland
Port Lincoln, South Australia
Bicheno, Tasmania
Ocean Grove, Victoria
Daylesford, Victoria
St Helens, Tasmania

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim, ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas.

eel tank — The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Dumawul walkingtour — Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance. The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.

Kooyoora walking tour — Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Kingfisher Cruises

Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises. Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.

wawa biik

Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik.

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.

Healesville Sanctuary

Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm.

The Grampians

Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.

Revealed: This coastal Qld town is one of the most welcoming on Earth

Australians pride themselves on being an easy-going bunch. But there are some places where the locals just welcome you with open arms.

And the Most Welcoming Town is…

What we love about Noosa Heads

The full list of winners

2026’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth:

2026’s Most Welcoming Cities in Australia:

Royal Caribbean’s five-day sale has seven-night cruises from $1099

Outback Spirit are offering free return flights on 2027 tours

Trails from Halley’s Comet: when to see the Orionid meteor shower

This iconic Aussie landmark has been crowned one of the world’s top sunset spots

Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

Australians pride themselves on being an easy-going bunch. But there are some places where the locals just welcome you with open arms.

And the Most Welcoming Town is…

AI Prompt

What we love about Noosa Heads

The full list of winners

2026’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth:

2026’s Most Welcoming Cities in Australia:

Royal Caribbean’s five-day sale has seven-night cruises from $1099

Outback Spirit are offering free return flights on 2027 tours

Trails from Halley’s Comet: when to see the Orionid meteor shower

This iconic Aussie landmark has been crowned one of the world’s top sunset spots

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.