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2025 Readers’ Choice Awards: Editors’ Choice

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
Winner: The Kimberley, WA

Why we love the Kimberley…

If there’s one region that tops the scoreboard or wish list of every Australian Traveller team member, it’s the Kimberley. It was while co-founder Quentin Long was flying over Broome/Rubibi, after all, that the idea for the magazine first took flight. For print editor Imogen Eveson, a trip to Kununurra for the Ord Valley Muster first sealed the deal, while senior writer Elizabeth Whitehead has just returned from a soul-stirring stay at El Questro. From driving its dusty roads, discovering living culture, diving into secret waterholes cradled by red rock and endless blue sky or soaring over incredible geological formations such as the Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park, the Kimberley feels quintessentially Australian – and yet, somehow, still remains a hidden gem. 

Perched above the Chamberlain River and framed by burnt-orange cliffs, The Homestead at El Questro invites you to an experience like no other. Unwind with sundowners beneath a sky full of stars and wake to the serene sounds of the Kimberley.

Hot tips for visiting the Kimberley…

Explore the Kimberley coast on a luxury small-ship expedition with the likes of Silversea, Ponant or True North for access to remote locations within this wild frontier. 

Runners-up:

  • The thrill of Race Week at Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, Qld – Katie Carlin, head of content
  • The Cocos Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean are like a living postcard – Emily Murphy, email and social editor
  • Arnhem Land is wild Australia, filled with natural beauty and ancient culture – Kassia Byrnes, native content editor
  • A weekend getaway at Osborn House, the perfect blend of luxury, heritage and small-town charm in NSW’s Southern Highlands – Taylah Darnell, writer/producer
  • The Arkaba Walk in South Australia’s outback as a way of reconnecting with nature – Megan Arkinstall, sub editor
  • Cycling the Pedal to Produce trail in Victoria’s High Country – Carla Grossetti, sub editor

For all the winners and runners-up, visit our 2025 Readers’ Choice hub.

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Australian Traveller

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The Gold Rush town that’s become Victoria’s best country escape for foodies

    Jocelyn Pride Jocelyn Pride
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    The well-preserved Gold Rush town where an idyllic country vibe meets the best of city living.

    Cafe culture

    ‘Slow down’ is the mantra of Tortoise Espresso , and it’s apt for anyone visiting town. This local coffee hangout was the brainchild of Lloyd Meadows, who at 16 started it as a hole in the wall of an old pub. Five years on, it graces a fine shopfront with a menu of around 60 different coffees. Other one-off centrally located daytime cafes, such as Saffs, Togs, Saint Florian and Lazy Bones, are tucked into historic buildings and serve creative menus featuring local produce. A personal favourite is Origini, where chef Luca Sartori brings a taste of northern Italy to his rustic restaurant. For the best banh mi outside Vietnam head to Super Hero, and the pastries at Johnny Baker are legendary.

    the Saint Florian Cafe, Castlemaine
    Saint Florian is one of many businesses tucked away in a historic building. (Image: Griffin Simm)

    On the town’s fringe you’ll find some treasured cafes: Blackbird. Grist, Doveton Corner Store, and the cosy Aitken’s Corner. The Mill precinct also brings another dimension to Castlemaine. Located directly opposite the beautiful Botanical Gardens, this once-derelict woollen mill is a hive of creativity and collaboration. Retaining an industrial feel, it is home to a myriad of 44 unique businesses, galleries and studios that stretch over the three-hectare site.

    Brilliant brews, bars and food

    diners at The Mill, Castlemaine
    The Mill is home to many local businesses. (Image: Visit Victoria/Michelle Jarni)

    The Mill is also home to one of Castlemaine’s bespoke breweries, Shedshaker Brewing Company and Taproom. Within the sensitively restored walls of the oldest part of the building (circa 1875), small-batch, handcrafted beer features alongside fine wholesome food and live music.

    A more recent newcomer to the brewing scene is Love Shack . Starting small as a laneway pop-up in 2021, visionaries Conna Mallett and Harry Cox were armed with a Melbourne beer culture pedigree, which helped them create a great new ‘pub’ that feels as though it’s been there since the 1850s. Other atmospheric bars and restaurants are dotted around town – Grafting Cellars for local wines by the pour; buzzy Mostyn Street Cellars; Table Records plays vinyl on weekends; and the quirky Maurocco bar is not to be missed.

    food and drinks at Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro, Castlemaine
    The nostalgic Love Shack Public Bar & Bistro serves comfort food. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    For food you’ll write home about, the hatted Bar Midland serves exquisite dishes from Victorian-only produce. The freshly renovated Wild is located in the original firestation, Voor Ouker specialises in Indonesian/Dutch fusion, and the Railway Hotel oozes English pub charm.

    the Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
    Theatre Royal is the longest continually operating theatre on the mainland. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

    Much-loved Teatro Regio, found in the magnificent Theatre Royal , is the go-to for pizzas with a twist. As mainland Australia’s longest continually running theatre, this grand dame is also one of more than a dozen performance spaces that add to a rich and diverse entertainment and festival scene.

    pizza at Theatre Royal
    Dine before a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria)

    Quirky country stays

    Quirky, authentic and perfectly located, the Midland Hotel is a private hotel that dates back to 1879. Each of the nine rooms at the Northern Arts Hotel is different and named in honour of an Australian artist. Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation also has a range of properties to suit all types of travellers.