Revealed: Top rural Australian getaways for a cosy autumn

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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Airbnb has revealed that Aussies are seeking peaceful escapes this autumn.

As autumn has finally settled in across Australia, travellers are getting ready for cosy Easter trips, red wine and autumnal leaves. And according to recent reporting by Airbnb, more of us are escaping to rural Australia this season. 

Airbnb has reported a 65 per cent increase in searches for rural travel in Australia, indicating a growing preference for peace and tranquillity. The data behind this trend compares internal Airbnb searches for autumn 2025 to the previous year, highlighting a shift towards regional, nature-focused travel. The trend is particularly prominent among solo travellers and those aged 60-90 years.

Looking for somewhere to escape this autumn? Airbnb has compiled a list of some of the most sought-after rural destinations based on search growth since last autumn.

From coastal escapes to country getaways, these destinations should be on your radar. 

Moogerah, Queensland

Airbnb autumn destinations
This off-grid cabin offers breathtaking views of the mountains. (Image: Courtesy of Airbnb Community)

There are many hidden gems to find in the Scenic Rim, including the idyllic Moogerah, which offers picturesque landscapes, outdoor activities, and natural beauty. 

The cooler weather is the perfect time to go hiking, so make a beeline for Moogerah Peaks National Park where you can undertake the Mee-Bor-Rum Circuit and the Mount Edwards Summit Trail.

Base yourself at a cottage stay with breathtaking mountain views or an off-grid cabin to reconnect you with nature.

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

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Huskisson, New South Wales

Huskisson. Airbnb autumn destinations-3
Spend relaxing days kayaking through clear waters.

Jervis Bay is no secret to those who live in NSW, but this picturesque haven on the south coast boasts beauty in spades that cannot be ignored. In autumn, Huskisson, nestled along the shores of Jervis Bay, experiences mild weather and refreshing sea breezes.

Spend relaxing days snorkelling through clear waters, enjoying white sand beaches, and watching whales migrating along the “humpback highway" before retreating to your own beachfront apartment with modern coastal interiors. 

Tanunda, South Australia

Penfolds. Airbnb autumn destinations
Tanunda puts you in easy access to iconic wineries like Penfolds. (Image: Nick Rains)

For many of us, autumn and drinking wine are synonymous, so a trip to a wine region like the Barossa Valley is the perfect getaway. Tanunda sits in the heart of the region, making it ideal for exploring the many wineries, including the iconic Penfolds or the unmissable Torbreck Vintners, and dining gems like Maggie Beer’s Farm.

For families or those travelling in large groups, position yourself overlooking the vines at the Barossa 1900 Vineyard Retreat , or for more intimate stays, get cosy in the Halletts Valley Hideaway .

Devonport, Tasmania

Airbnb autumn destinations
Enjoy a serene stay at the Forth River Cottage. (Image: Courtesy of Airbnb Community)

While most of us think of heading to Hobart, Devonport should be on your radar after being named the Top Tourism Town for 2024. This quaint port city in North West Tasmania offers a mix of coastal beauty, rich history and a laid-back atmosphere.

Visitors can discover the town’s maritime history at the Bass Strait Maritime Centre, embark on outdoor adventures in the nearby Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, or take a cold plunge at Coles Beach.

Stay a 10-minute drive from the city centre at the ultra-cosy Forth River Cottage Bed and Breakfast , where you’ll be treated to calming river and green pasture views. 

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Ballarat, Victoria

Ballarat, Bishops Palace. Airbnb autumn destinations
The grand Bishops Palace is nestled in the heart of Ballarat. (Image: Courtesy of Airbnb Community)

A vibrant gold rush heritage, eclectic art, and a burgeoning dining scene make Ballarat a wonderful destination to visit, especially when the autumn leaves are on display. Just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne, you’ll find plenty to explore, from admiring the changing leaves at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens to a 90-minute walking tour with Ballarat Heritage Tours .

For dinner, underbar , an award-winning eatery where chef Derek Boath crafts a seasonal tasting menu showcasing the best local produce, is not to be missed.

And where to rest your head or unwind during the day? Opt for a grand stay at the Heritage-listed Gothic mansion Bishop’s Palace , or retreat into a charming artist’s cottage . 

Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and a self-proclaimed cheese and Chablis connoisseur. In her role, she creates and manages online content that remains relevant and valuable over time. With a background in publishing and e-commerce in both interior design and travel, Rachael is dedicated to curating engaging content that informs and inspires. She began her career at Belle magazine, then went on to become Senior Content Producer at Homes to Love focusing on Australian House & Garden and Belle, followed by Editor at Bed Threads. Her work has also appeared in Qantas Travel Insider. When she's not writing, editing, or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list are Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and Lord Howe Island.
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Victoria’s surprising new outdoor adventure hotspot

    Craig Tansley Craig Tansley
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    A town charmingly paused in time has become a hot mountain biking destination. 

    There’s a forest reserve full of eucalyptus and pines surrounding town – when you combine all the greenery with a main street of grand old buildings still standing from the Victorian Gold Rush, Creswick looks more period movie set than a 21st-century town.  

    old gold bank Victoria
    Grand buildings from the Victorian gold rush. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    This entire region of Victoria – the Central Goldfields – is as pretty-as-a-picture, but there’s something extra-special about Creswick. I used to live 30 minutes north; I’d drive in some evenings to cruise its main street at dusk, and pretend I was travelling back in time. 

    It was sleepy back then, but that’s changed. Where I used to walk through its forest, now I’m hurtling down the state’s best new mountain bike trails. There’s a 60-kilometre network of mountain bike trails – dubbed Djuwang Baring – which make Creswick the state’s hottest new mountain biking destination.  

    Meet Victoria’s new mountain biking capital 

    Creswick bike trail
    This historic town has become a mountain biking hotspot.

    Victoria has a habit of turning quiet country towns into mountain biking hotspots. I was there in the mid-2000s when the tiny Otways village of Forrest embarked on an ambitious plan to save itself (after the death of its timber cutting industry) courtesy of some of the world’s best mountain bike trails. A screaming success it proved to be, and soon mountain bike trails began popping up all over Victoria. 

    I’m no expert, so I like that a lot of Creswick’s trails are as scenic as they are challenging. I prefer intermediate trails, such as Down Martuk, with its flowing berms and a view round every corner. Everyone from outright beginners to experts can be happy here. There’s trails that take me down technical rock sections with plenty of bumps. But there’s enough on offer to appeal to day-trippers, as much as hard-core mountain-bikers. 

    I love that the trails empty onto that grand old main street. There’s bars still standing from the Gold Rush of the 1850s I can refuel at. Like the award-winning Farmers Arms, not to be confused with the pub sharing its name in Daylesford. It’s stood since 1857. And The American Creswick built two years later, or Odessa Wine Bar, part of Leaver’s Hotel in an 1856-built former gold exchange bank.  

    The Woodlands
    The Woodlands is set on a large bushland property. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

    Creswick is also full of great cafes and restaurants, many of them set in the same old buildings that have stood for 170 years. So whether you’re here for the rush of the trails or the calm of town life, Creswick provides. 

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Staying there 

    1970s log cabin
    Inside the Woodlands, a chic 1970s log cabin. (Image: Vanessa Smith Photography)

    RACV Goldfields Resort is a contemporary stay with a restaurant, swimming pool and golf course. The Woodlands in nearby Lal Lal comprises a chic log cabin set on a 16-hectare property abundant in native wildlife. 

    Eating there 

    Le Peche Gourmand
    Le Peche Gourmand makes for the perfect pitstop for carb and sugar-loading.

    The menu at Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel includes some Thai-inspired fare. Fuel up for your ride on baguettes and pastries from French patisserie Le Peche Gourmand . The Farmers Arms has been a much-loved local institution since 1857. 

    Playing there 

    Miss NorthcottsGarden
    Miss Northcotts Garden is a charming garden store with tea room. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Creswick State Forest has a variety of hiking trails, including a section of the 210-kilometre-long Goldfields Track. Miss Northcotts Garden is a quaint garden store with tea room.