Australia

Planning the perfect romantic escape can be tough when life is hectic. So Urban List has done the hard work for you, searching high and low to bring you 24 of the best romantic getaways in Victoria. 

Where heart-thumping adventure meets slow, sun-drenched relaxation, Lake Macquarie is the under-the-radar coastal destination that strikes the perfect balance. 

When life’s going at full pelt, the sweetest escapes are the ones that turn everything down a notch. These slow-down towns turn rest, stillness and a wander to the local bowlo the whole itinerary.

We’ve uncovered a luxurious lineup of local road trips that feel like a slice of Italy, the Alps and beyond.

 With a stacked calendar of festivals and events lighting up regional Victoria this winter, the season’s never looked so good.

Spring is here, and it has us itching for a sneaky getaway before peak season.

Victoria is introducing a new move this summer that will give your Myki (and your wallet) a well-deserved break.

Our editor reckons these 10 restaurants, from casual to fine dining are the best restaurants in Melbourne as of October, 2025. How many have you been to?

The vibes in Noosa are immaculate and the dishes are bucket list-worthy.

With spring in the air, there’s no better time to rediscover the beauty of our own backyard.

As a little reminder to all Melburnians, Victoria’s High Country is (back) open for business, and to let everyone know Tourism North-East, alongside a slew of local businesses are offering up a Bougie High Country Getaway for four lucky people.

No, it's not just you—eBikes are everywhere right now.

Melbourne is getting a little taste of Tasmania, with the city’s very-own Sauna Boat set to open this weekend.

We’re pretty lucky in Victoria, we definitely have some of Australia’s best country pubs. Big, grand old dames, or ramshackle, quirky little numbers with plenty of nooks and crannies. Victoria’s Best Country pubs are tough to nail down. Is it the vibe, is it solid gigs, where does food fit into the equation? What about a bangin’ wine list, because that certainly exists too.

Looking for a spot to stay in Victoria and spend time in the tub? Check out Urban List's pick of the best Airbnbs with outdoor spas and baths for 2025.

We’ve hand-picked some of the best Daylesford accommodation options for 2025, including all the epic Airbnbs.

Every route is a scenic route when road tripping through Tasmania, so there’s a lot to get excited about. So pack your bags and embark on the adventure of a lifetime with these 10 stunning road trips to take in Tasmania.

We Aussies are a pretty healthy bunch, so it's no wonder we host some of the best fitness events in the world—these are the best fun runs, marathons, triathlons, obstacle courses and ocean swims in Australia coming up in 2025. 

If you’re chasing the van life but want to skip the epic endurance test, the half lap might be your new ultimate travel hack.

Off the back of their performance at HoMie's new Tiny Desk-inspired Store Sessions, Bad//Dreems chat to music writer Ben Madden about playing stripped-back music, writing a new record and finding rapport with a certain ilk of Aussie male.

With a forecast of crisp sunny days and good times on the agenda, there’s endless places to play and stay in this literal slice of paradise.

This spring, Harvest Rock will make its much-anticipated return to Rymill & King Rodney Parks / Murlawirrapurka & Ityamai-Itpina, and the two-day music, food and wine festival has just unleashed a monster lineup that’ll have you booking annual leave before you get to the end of this article. 

Astro-tourism is the latest travel craze. From dark-sky parks to luxury bubble retreats, explore family-friendly stargazing spots across Australia. 

Dig out the CamelBak you bought in 2001, invest in some super tough band aids, and drop your adventure pin on any of Australia's best hikes and walks. 

You don't have to be a sailing fanatic to head to Hamilton Island Race Week. 

Explore the best Hamilton Island accommodation options, from luxury resorts to family-friendly stays and secluded villas. Whether you're after a romantic escape, family holiday, or relaxing retreat, our guide will help you find the perfect Hamilton Island resort for your dream getaway.

Get ready to ditch your summer holiday plans, Tomorrowland spin-0ff CORE is officially coming to Melbourne. 

When he's off the field, Darcy Moore's finding his next favourite plate, place and pour across Australia. 

After quietly closing at the end of 2024, the Yackandandah Hotel—affectionately known as ‘The Bottom Pub’—has reopened, helmed by a top-tier Melbourne chef.

​Explore our curated selection of Melbourne’s top luxury hotels in the CBD and beyond, each promising an unforgettable stay filled with elegance and indulgence. Pop on the provided gown and slippers, assess the pillow menu in great detail, and get booking at the best luxury hotels Melbourne has to offer in 2025:

If you like your weekend getaways served up with a long lunch and a sip of three of wine you'll want to lock in this Kangaroo Valley event. 

Sydney night owls and thrill-seekers get ready. This is one party you won't want to miss.

Discover how a $500 junk sale purchase became a seriously unique South Australian tiny house stay.

Through a combination of cost-cutting techniques and selective use of annual leave, you can increase the number of holidays you go on in your lifetime without sending your miscellaneous bills through the roof.

The celebration of art, light, music, and cutting-edge technology has returned for its fifth edition, with more kaleidoscopic installations, late-night gigs set to trippy projections, and a new program of dining events. 

The saying ‘good things come in small packages’ certainly rings true when it comes to tiny houses in Australia. Chic, sustainable and nestled in some stunning locations, this is the travel trend you need to get amongst. 

Whether it's Dolly Parton hitting the Comedy Theatre stage bootstraps and rhinestones in tow, or the awaited return of Lightscape’s epic winter trail, Melbourne’s serving up another weekend of top-tier happenings. 

This experience-led social living hotel offers oh-so-much more than a place to lay your travel-weary head.

Get ready to relax and unwind as this bougie spa institution, originally hailing from the Gold Coast, swings open its steamy doors to its first Melbourne outpost in South Yarra. 

Consider this your Melbourne bucket list that covers both tourist attractions and local haunts. There are endless things to do, see, eat and drink but sometimes it's difficult to know where to start. Like all good city guides, we’ve divided our hit list into a compass-like fashion to help you navigate your way around Melbourne’s best activities. So this is your chance to discover something new in your suburb or dare to venture into an unfamiliar area.

Mighty MIFF (Melbourne International Film Festival) is back from Thursday 7 August to Sunday 24 August. We’ve deciphered the "First Glance" program into bite-sized pieces so you know what to watch without the hard work. 

Flights from $49 one way sound tempting? Here’s all the intel you need about the Virgin Australia sale.

Whether you're looking for a beachside vacation in Southeast Asia or you want to see what delights Australia has to offer, here's how you can experience a luxury vacation without breaking the bank..

On the hunt for the best cafe in Melbourne? It's a tough one, simply due to the sheer volume of options. The standard the city has set has been replicated all over the world, and it's no surprise as the quality of our coffee is world-class and our brunch is unbeatable.

Parking up with two-car fulls worth of mates for a holiday is a whole heap of fun, but finding quality lodging for six plus people can be difficult. So to make sure you don’t have to sacrifice on your stay, we’ve found these spots that are perfect for large groups.

In the black of winter, Dark Mofo returns with a vengeance to cast its red glow across Hobart. For the uninitiated, Dark Mofo is Mona’s midwinter flourish, a festival of music, performance, visual arts and flavour. 

From breathtaking islands and sugar white sand beaches to sun-baked landscapes and jaw-dropping natural wonders, Australia is a land of unique and diverse beauty. 

For family holidays, staycations with the gals, romantic weekends and solo travels in 2025, Urban List has rounded up the best Airbnbs with fireplaces in Victoria.

Ah, Melbourne. The city of a million suburbs, each with its own distinctive personality. Everyone should treat themselves to a little staycation once in a while, to rediscover this city we adore so much. Start packing your overnight bag and take a look at some of the best Airbnbs in Melbourne for 2025.

We all love a holiday, but so do our pets. So next time you book a Victorian getaway, why not save yourself the hassle of a sitter and find somewhere that’ll welcome the two of you at a pet-friendly accommodation, say a dog-friendly hotel?

From a worker’s cottage with floor to ceiling windows to a mega manor with a huge, private pool, check out these luxury Airbnbs in Victoria.

If there’s one person who knows how to make the most of a weekend in Sydney, it’s the powerhouse NRLW player, sharp-witted commentator, and podcast co-host Millie Elliott. 

From rainforests to art deco terrace homes, treat yourself to a retreat among picturesque surroundings this Easter. 

Want an unfettered farmstay experience? Bluestone Ridge is the real deal, this 800 acre cattle farm is tucked away in Victoria's High Country and is the serene escape you're after.

Here's your ultimate Eat, Play, Stay guide to the Barossa Valley with Andy Allen.

Keen for a luxe vacay that feels a million miles away from the mainland? Visit this remote Tasmanian lodge.

Winter just got cheesier. From 15 May to 22 June 2025, Fed Square transforms into a snow-dusted French alpine village for Fondue Chalet—the city’s most indulgent winter pop-up from the team behind Melbourne’s cult-favourite Raclette Igloo.

This destination diner in the Southern Grampians is the very essence of local, Victorian dining. And it doesn't hurt that the surrounds are stunning.

Tucked away on Tasmania's picturesque East Coast is Devil's Corner winery. This is the kind of place you drive past wistfully, wondering if you have time to stop in. We're telling you, you need to make the time.

As the action revs up on the track, we'll show you how to ace the off-track scene

Broome is calling your name. 

There’s a reason Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula is on everyone’s bucket list: from its stunning grounds to unique architectural design, moody black colour palette or funky bar and restaurant, the hotel is the very definition of a luxury stay.

We’re calling it a touchdown. Further cementing Melbourne as Australia’s sporting capital, next year we’re going to be able to catch live NFL games. Yep, American football—the National Football League—a la Travis Kelce is coming to us live.

Now a cornerstone of Australian surf culture, Nev’s story is one of passion, craftsmanship and an unrelenting connection to the waves.  

If you're looking for a Sydney hotel with unique personal touches, a cool bar, and thoughtfully designed interiors—you've come to the right place. 

Ever wanted to live out your very own White Lotus experience but without the murder mystery? Three Hummock Island, a private island off the Tassie coast might be just the spot to do it—best of all you can rent it for pittance. 

From Fairhaven, Jan Juc, Port Campbell and beyond, the Great Ocean Road is a true destination for Victorians and travellers alike, and along it is dotted with a full gamut of stellar accommodation options. 

The High Country means something different to every Victorian. Maybe it’s fond memories camping at Sheepyard Flat over Christmas as a kid, or skiing at Hotham when the powder is heaving. Best of all, there's something for everyone so we've put together a solid travel guide and three-day itinerary for your next country escape.

To be honest, we’re always looking for an excuse for a staycay in one of the best hotels in Melbourne. Birthday? Book a suite. Nephew walked for the first time? I’m already calling the Sofitel. Found $10 on the ground? Let’s party. Of course, there are a few ways you can go with Melbourne/Naarm hotels, from the boutique to the bodacious. Get ready to raid the minibar and steal some bathrobes (kidding) at the best hotels in Melbourne for 2024.

Kookaburras cackle as the clouds slowly drift down Mount Buffalo while we sit, swish a local bottle of saperavi and watch dusk fall on an enchanting spring evening in the High Country. We're at The Buckland Studios, a romantic kid-free getaway with stunning views of Mount Buffalo.

Avoid the tourist traps and follow this ultimate itinerary for a day in the Dandenong Ranges.

Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses, has landed at the Gallery Of Modern Art (GOMA) and it’s jaw-droppingly good, so there’s never been a better time to book a sneaky getaway to our northern neighbour. 

We've all experienced the inundation of Instagram content from Melburnians at Totti's when visiting Sydney, the table filled with plates of antipasti with negronis and spritz scattered throughout and of course, that show-stopping wood-fired flatbread front and center. 

This year's Sony Alpha Awards just landed, so we’ve sussed out some truly incredible places across Australia and New Zealand—to inspire you to pick up your camera and snag the winning shot. 

We’re looking to level up our holidays and train travel is absolutely at the top of our list.

Van, trailer and bus conversions might be among the more peculiar tiny home stays, but the Yarra Valley Tram Stay may just claim the title of the most unique stay in Victoria. Situated within the scenic surroundings of the two-acre historic property, the 1935 W-Class Old Melbourne Tram, named Doris, finds its home in the idyllic Yarra Valley. 

See Sydney in a brand new light this year with our guide to the best spots to eat, stay, and play on your Vivid adventure.

If you’ve been looking for a unique stay in Victoria, we think we’ve found the one—or two, to be exact. They’re called Bubble Retreats, hidden in the rolling hills of Wilson’s Prom in Gippsland.

In the small town of Moama just on the outside of the Victorian border sits a stretch of the Murray river that holds a long and special history. 

Pack the car, grab a mate and head for the open road.

After attracting 1.3 million attendees in 2023, Illuminate Adelaide, a quintessential tradition in Adelaide’s cultural calendar returns for another year. Spanning three weekends from July 4 to 21, the festival sprawls the CBD, taking over heritage buildings and institutions with a blend of art, light music and technology. 

We all deserve to soar into the sunset as often as our jobs and lives allow, so this year, there’s a new plan of attack: staggered spending. 

Walk down any street in Melbourne and you’ll likely stumble upon a food joint that’ll quickly find itself in your heavy rotation so how do you narrow down?

You're welcome.

Prime wheel estate.

Situated past the windy bends of the Great Ocean Road is Lorne, a tree-clad enclave and coastal town characterised by its thriving surf culture, shopping prospects, multicultural culinary scene and parks that edge onto the white-sand beach. With its easy access to the Otways and close proximity to the adored Erskine Falls, Lorne attracts a throng of Great Ocean Road locals as well as Melbourne city dwellers.

We teamed up with our mates at Webjet and Zip to uncover some of 2024’s coolest travel destinations that will make all your mates jealous.

We’ve done the digging and found a bunch of truly epic travel packages from the legends at Webjet for $1000*—flights included!

Lorne, situated beyond the winding bends of the Great Ocean Road, is a coastal haven enveloped with the dense bush of the Otways and skirted by the pristine ocean. It's celebrated for its vibrant surf culture, diverse dining options, and idyllic natural landscapes that seamlessly blend with the pristine white-sand beach.

What makes the perfect road trip? While a cracking playlist, premium snacks, excellent company and comfy pants are essential, the most important element of your roadie is not the destination, but the adventure that happens along the way. Most importantly—the places and faces you encounter on your journey. And while it’s easy to map out the k’s you’re going to cover, those special ‘pinch me’ moments that happen at each of your pitstops can be a little harder to plan—unless you’re reading this guide, then don’t worry because we’ve got you covered.