Queensland has officially been crowned the country’s best holiday destination, taking home six major awards in Australian Traveller’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, more than any other state or territory.
Noosa has been voted Australia’s best town. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
The Sunshine State dominated across categories celebrating the country’s best travel experiences. The trophy haul was led by Noosa, which claimed Best Town to Visit thanks to its relaxed yet refined coastal lifestyle, world-class dining, and natural beauty that continues to charm travellers year after year.
Hamilton Island won two awards.
Further north, Hamilton Island made a double appearance – taking out both Best Island Escape and Best Resort Destination. With its postcard-perfect Whitsundays setting, luxury stays like qualia and The Sundays, and easy access to the Great Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island has become synonymous with the quintessential Aussie island getaway.
The Gold Coast is Australia’s playground for families.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast was voted Best Family Holiday Spot, recognised for its unbeatable mix of beaches, theme parks and entertainment for all ages. The family-friendly streak continued with Sea World Resort, which took home Best Family Accommodation, solidifying Queensland’s reputation as Australia’s playground for families.
Whitehaven Beach is Australia’s best beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Not to be outdone, Whitehaven Beach – the jewel of the Whitsundays – was crowned Best Beach. Its dazzling white silica sand and turquoise waters remain a bucket-list experience for domestic and international travellers alike.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
Victoria followed closely with four wins, all anchored by the powerhouse appeal of Melbourne/Naarm. The city took out Best City to Visit, Best Cultural or Arts Experience and Best Foodie Experience, while the Great Ocean Road secured Best Road Trip, proving that Victoria continues to punch well above its weight when it comes to urban culture and coastal adventure.
Mudgee in Central West NSW was named Best Country Escape. (Image: Destination NSW)
Melbourne/Naarm took out three major awards. (Image: Visit Victoria)
The Barossa Valley reaffirmed its world-class reputation as Best Wine Region. (Image: South Australia Tourism Commission)
The Ghan was voted best rail journey in Australia. (Image: Tourism Northern Territory/ Annie Nuyen)
Uluṟu is Australia's best outback experience. (Image: Tourism Australia)
Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef was named Best Glamping or Off-Grid Experience. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)
Tasmania/Lutruwita earned one well-deserved nod as Best Under-the-Radar Destination. (Image: Adam Gibson)
South Australia and the Northern Territory tied for three wins each. The Barossa Valley reaffirmed its world-class reputation as Best Wine Region, the Adelaide Fringe lit up the events calendar as Best Festival to Travel For, and The Ghan – shared between SA and the NT – was voted Best Rail Journey. The NT’s other two wins went to Uluṟu, which dominated with Best Outback Destination and Best First Nations Experience, underscoring its powerful cultural and natural significance.
And finally, Tasmania/Lutruwita earned one well-deserved nod as Best Under-the-Radar Destination, proving that smaller states can still make a big impact.
With thousands of votes cast nationwide, the results confirm what travellers already know: when it comes to dream holidays, Queensland reigns supreme.
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
Conjuring calm and active adventure in equal measure, Hamilton Island is a tropical tonic for body and mind.
Hamilton Island knows a thing or two about indulgence. There are long lunches to linger over, seafood towers to savour and poolside loungers designed for guilt-free idling. But for health-minded travellers wanting to feel energised inside and out, this sliver of the Whitsundays takes wellbeing just as seriously. Think yoga mats rolling out at dawn, kayaks skimming turquoise water, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and spa therapists working tropical magic. These Hamilton Island wellness experiences promise to restore, rebalance and leave you feeling brand new.
1. E-Mountain biking
Follow Hamilton Island’s mountian biking trails. (Credit: Harry Gruttner)
For travellers with an appetite for adrenaline, Hamilton Island’s new self-guided e-mountain biking experience is worth carving out a morning for. Start at HI Trails HQ, where you’ll be fitted with a full-suspension, pedal-assisted e-mountain bike and given a run-through of a nine-kilometre section of the island’s 25-kilometre trail network. The electric boost makes the ride more accessible (and the climbs more manageable), though an intermediate level of fitness is still recommended.
As a first-time mountain biker, I start off wobbly – taking my time to get used to switching gears and electric modes – and wonder if I’ve overestimated my coordination. But soon something clicks. Suddenly we’re zooming through pockets of eucalyptus and out onto ridgelines with sweeping views of electric blue waters, catching our breath at hidden bays with barely another soul in sight. More than 70 per cent of the island remains untouched, so witnessing these lesser-explored pockets feels like a blessing. It’s the kind of adventure that leaves you buzzing, accomplished and blissfully tired out.
2. HI Fitness Club
Stretch out with reformer pilates.
If mountain biking isn’t quite your speed, there are plenty of other ways to stay active on the island. One of the newest Hamilton Island wellness experiences, HI Fitness Club now has 24-hour access, offering a fully equipped modern gym, group classes spanning HIIT to yoga, plus two bubbling spas and a sauna waiting to loosen sore muscles.
I drop in for a Reformer Pilates class. Each of the four machines has its own mini screen with a wide selection of high-quality virtual classes, meaning I can select one that suits my level and mood that day. Beyond Pilates, the virtual library is like a choose-your-own adventure for fitness enthusiasts: dance, Body Pump, Body Combat and GRIT Cardio are among the options. Or perhaps challenge a family member or friend to a hit of tennis at one of the three courts.
3. Walking trails
Get the blood pumping on a morning run.
We set out early. By 6:45am, we’re halfway up Passage Peak, the highest point on Hamilton Island and widely considered its most impressive vantage point. From the Scenic Trail Entrance, the viewing platform takes around an hour to reach by foot, with moderate inclines that will get your heart pumping without feeling too punishing. The payoff at the top is immediate. Bush-clad Whitsundays islands scatter across the horizon in every direction, the sunrise brushing the scene with soft melon and gold tones. I take my time soaking up the 360° panorama, remembering how powerful an active start in nature can be for clearing the mind and energising the day ahead.
While Passage Peak is one of the most popular hikes on Hamilton Island, Flat Top Hill Lookout and the longer Southeast Head Trail are also excellent choices.
4. Spa wumurdaylin
Feel your worries melt away at Spa wumurdaylin.
In a tranquil treatment room at Spa wumurdaylin, the world disappears. The space is all brown stone tiles, bamboo racks and lush garden views, setting the tone for my Soul Temple treatment. My therapist, Kass, begins with a full-body, exfoliating orange buff sugar scrub that feels divine. Next comes the vertical Vichy shower and underwater massage to knead out muscle knots. The sound of cascading water is reminiscent of a tropical rainstorm, and stress becomes a distant memory.
It’s a prime example of the transportive power of the island’s spa, where guests can come to reset the mind and loosen tension in the body. The menu spans radiance facials to deep release rituals and mud wraps, all using products from pH-balanced skincare brand LaGaia Unedited. Concluding with herbal tea, I leave in a blissful daze.
5. Sunrise yoga
Start your day on the right foot.
Morning movement doesn’t get more surreal than sunrise yoga on The Sundays’ seaside terrace. As we roll out our mats, morning light spills across Catseye Beach below, turning the water into a sheet of molten gold. But the setting only does half the healing. I match my breath to the rhythm of the waves and feel my body gradually lengthen and wake as instructor Tyla Rae guides us through a slow, mindful flow.
Available exclusively to guests of The Sundays, this session captures the spirit of wellness on Hamilton Island – immersion in nature, slowing down by the sea, recalibrating both body and mind. To round out the experience, the perfect ocean cool-off awaits just steps away.
6. Getting out on the water
Try your hand at a host of watersports.
Speaking of ocean delights, Catseye Beach’s host of watersports delivers spades of fun and rejuvenation. Glide over the crystalline water in a kayak, test your sailing skills in a mini catamaran, spot schools of fish (and a turtle if you’re lucky) from a stand-up paddleboard, or slip into an underwater wonderland when you snorkel off the beach.
Out here, the water is so clear it feels like floating in glass, and the green silhouettes of the Whitsunday Islands rise on the horizon. Half an hour on the water here is all you need to reset your entire mood.
Guests staying at qualia, Beach Club, The Sundays, Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and Hamilton Island Holiday Homes have complimentary access to all these water activities, making it easy to dive right in.
7. Take a swing
Enjoy incredible views with a swing of golf.
For others, mindfulness comes from calm concentration – and golf fits the bill to a tee. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, Hamilton Island Golf Club is perched along the scenic ridges of Dent Island. It’s Australia’s only golf course on its own island, making it one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. The experience is suitable for golfers of all skill levels, with spectator bookings also available for those simply wishing to take in the views. Follow the game with a well-earned lunch at the Clubhouse restaurant.
