Australia’s Best Places to Travel, Off the Beaten Track

Forget the standard Australian highlights. These are the destinations we recommend when you want to go somewhere the locals love, beyond the tourist traps. Each destination offers immersive, unique stays with off the beaten path settings that rarely make it into mainstream itineraries. Here's where, and how, to do Australia differently. 

Flinders Ranges, South Australia

South Australia’s Flinders Ranges are raw, ancient, and still largely under the radar. A vast outback of red-rock gorges, dry creek beds, and some of the oldest geology on Earth. This year there’s an added pull, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is flooding (a once in-a-lifetime event.) 

Inland rivers have spilled into the salt basin, transforming it into a rare inland sea teeming with migratory birds and desert life. A few hours south, the Flinders makes the perfect launchpad to witness the spectacle, and to take on one of Australia’s most impressive treks,  the Arkaba Walk. 

This five-day, small-group hike covers 63,000 acres of private conservancy, with nights spent in deluxe swags under the stars and a final night in a beautifully restored 1850s homestead. Expert field guides, open-air meals, and an active conservation mission set it apart.

Not up for five days on foot? Base yourself at Rawnsley Park Station for a flexible, self-guided stay, complete with a scenic flight over the breathtaking Wilpena Pound, and don’t miss a cold beer and camel burger at the iconic Prairie Hotel in Parachilna.

Derby, Tasmania

A town of 200 people, a floating sauna, and some of the best mountain biking in the Southern Hemisphere, Derby is proof that small places can punch well above their weight. Once a tin mining outpost, it’s now a fully equipped mountain biking hub with serious trail cred and a strong Nordic energy (you’ll get it once you hit the sauna).

Stay in sleek lakefront pods, purpose-built for post-ride recovery, minimalist, cosy, and just a few steps from the wood-fired floating sauna that’s become something of a cult destination. Spend your days riding the Blue Derby Trails, a world-class network of flowy descents, forest climbs, and purpose-built tracks for every level. Refuel at The Hub, Derby’s go-to spot for local eats and trail talk.

And if you're craving a total change of pace? Head east to the Bay of Fires to see turquoise water, and dramatic orange-lichen boulders feel like another planet. For a proper switch-off, book the Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, a multi-day guided walk along the coastline, staying in exclusive eco-accommodation and soaking in the kind of stillness that balances out the buzz of Derby’s trail scene.

Top End, Northern Territory

When people think of the Northern Territory, they usually picture Uluru, but the Top End is well worth it’s own trip. With its waterfalls, wetlands, and thick tropical bush, this region offers a completely different take on the outback. It’s greener. Louder. More alive. The skies feel endless, the wildlife is everywhere, and the connection to country runs deep. This is Aboriginal land, and the stories here aren’t in stone monuments, they’re in the living landscape.

It’s hot, wild, and a little unpredictable, but that’s the appeal. Croc-spotting, airboats, and heli-fishing for barramundi, over desert hikes and tour buses. And when the floodplains fill, the Top End transforms, waterbirds arrive in the thousands, lilies bloom across the wetlands, and sunrise over the billabongs is nothing short of magic. It’s one of the most uniquely Australian experiences you can have.

Base yourself at Bamurru Plains, a high-end safari lodge on the edge of Kakadu. Spot wallabies, horses, buffalo and 230+ bird species on open-top game drives. For quieter moments, there’s birdwatching from The Hide and sunset views from the pool.

Broome, Western Australia

Broome is a laidback town in Yawuru Country built on pearls. The influence of Japanese, Malay, Chinese, and Aboriginal cultures still shapes its streets and cuisine. Spend your first day exploring Chinatown, camel riding along Cable Beach, tasting beer at Matso’s.

Then it’s time to head north. Stay two nights at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, the oldest family-run pearl farm in Australia. Learn the craft of pearling from hatchery to harvest, and experience the local Bardi culture with a guided walk through tidal flats and a sunset oyster forage with fourth-generation pearler Terry Hunter. You’ll also have the chance to explore secret beaches, sea safaris, and tidal phenomena like Waterfall Reef.

Cap it all off with one of the most spectacular experiences in the region. A luxury overnight stay at Horizontal Falls. You’ll arrive by low-level seaplane, shoot through the surging tidal gorges by boat, and stay on a floating houseboat under the stars. With shark feeding, swimming, fishing, and full-service meals all included.

Palm Cove, Tropical North Queensland

Everyone’s heard of Cairns, but those in the know stay in Palm Cove. Just 20 minutes north, this lush, beachfront village offers a more serene take on Tropical North Queensland. The streets are fringed by palm trees and bursting with bougainvillea, it feels closer to Hawaii than Queensland. The pace is slower, the mood quieter, and the esplanade is lined with excellent eateries and low-rise stays that open straight onto the sand.

Base yourself at The Reef House, an adults-only retreat with candlelit dinners, vintage suites, and beachfront hammocks strung between paperbark trees. When you’re ready to explore, Cairns and Kuranda are an easy scenic drive away, and reef tours from Port Douglas avoid the heavy traffic of the main departure points. It’s a rare mix of seclusion and access, with just enough atmosphere to make staying put its own reward.

Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Melbourne may be Australia’s food capital, but if you want vineyard views with your dining, head to the Mornington Peninsula. A breezy 90-minute drive from Melbourne, you’ll find coastline, cool-climate wine, and mineral-rich hot springs. Spend a long weekend balancing one too many wine tastings with thermal spa visits, and sculpture trails. 

The Peninsula Hot Springs is one of Mornington’s best thermal springs, where 70+ bathing experiences include a cave pool, reflexology walk, and 360° hilltop soaks. For lunch, head to Pt. Leo Estate, to explore their world-class sculpture park. In the afternoon, trace the cliffs from Cape Schanck to Bushrangers Bay, swim in the rock pools at Sorrento Back Beach, or tee off at one of Mornington’s 15 golf courses.  

Stay at Jackalope Hotel, a low-slung, design-driven property set on a working vineyard, complete with a black infinity pool, moody interiors, and three hatted destination dining at Doot Doot Doot. Round out your trip with a stop at BoatShed Cheese in Dromana, small-batch, French-style, and as beautiful as it is delicious.

Murray River, South Australia 

The Murray River is perfect for slow travel fans. It might not get the attention of Australia’s more dramatic landscapes, but that’s exactly the point (because we love a little bit of quiet). Calm waters, ochre cliffs, and abundant birdlife. 

One of the best ways to experience it is the Murray River Walk, a fully hosted, small-group tour that blends guided hikes (8–12 km per day) with soft cruising on a private eco-houseboat. You’ll trace red gum forests and ancient cliffs by day, then return each night to spa baths, chef-prepared meals, and sunset on the deck. The 5-day tour departs from Adelaide and includes meals, transfers, expert guides, and interactive wine tastings.

While you're in the region, there’s plenty more to see and do at your own pace. Visit the Ngaut Ngaut Aboriginal Site, one of the river’s most culturally significant places, for a guided insight into rock carvings and spiritual connection to Country. Kayak near Mannum or Blanchetown, where the river is at its most peaceful. 

Drop into Twenty Third Street Distillery for a tasting of local gins and small-batch spirits, and take time to explore Murray Bridge, for riverfront cafés, local produce, and an afternoon well spent.

Kangaroo Island, SA

Kangaroo Island isn’t exactly a secret, but head to the quieter eastern edge and you’ll feel like you’ve got the place to yourself. This is where you’ll find CABN X at Cape St Alban,: a collection of off-grid cabins perched above the sea, wrapped in native bush. 

With glass walls, outdoor tubs, and access to a private beach, it’s the kind of place where you’ll watch kangaroos graze at dusk while the stars take over the sky. No Wi-Fi, no noise, no distractions, just space to properly switch off.

Spend your days snorkelling with dolphins, sandboarding at Little Sahara, or getting up close with sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park. Book lunch at The Enchanted Fig Tree, where you’ll dine inside the limbs of a 120-year-old fig.

Slow things down with a private yoga class or a guided koala walk and bushfire ecology tour, both available exclusively to CABN guests. And leave time for a couple of winery stops at Islander Estate or False Cape Wines, where the vibe is casual but the pours are excellent.

  Ready for your next Australian escape? Speak to one of our local travel specialists.