Australia

From jaw-dropping outback retreats to island escapes, get all swept up in each other’s irresistibleness at one of our top picks for best romantic holidays around Australia. 

​If your go-to food hit list is dwindling as you've eaten through your home city, Brisbane's pumping restaurant scene's got you covered.

Thanks to Visit Brisbane, we’ve found some unique wonderful adventures in this thriving city you can have with your lover so you can get planning, pronto.

Ardo is Townsville’s first luxury hotel and since opening in December 2023, has garnered national attention as it redefines North Queensland’s tourism landscape.

Pristine immaculate coastline, endless lingering sunshine and bountiful local produce—Townsville has become a marvel of North Queensland for good reason, with a string of decadent new openings around the charming town awaiting exploration.

We want to help you live the dream in WA, so we asked the passionate locals who call it home to share all their must-visit experiences across this stunning state. Dive into our guides to the best places to play, eat and stay, steeped with local knowledge and all the tools you need to plan the trip of a lifetime.

What can we say, we love a good birthday, not least when there are stunning discounts on flights up for grabs, so happy 14th birthday Jetstar!

Nestled in the beating heart of Surfers Paradise, we’ve found the perfect place for the ultimate fun day out. Think: epic games, live sport and a total foodie nirvana. So where can you find this awesome spot? Perched on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Cavill Mall, boasting a 100-metre frontage opposite the world-famous Surfers Paradise Beach, is Paradise Centre. Home to over 90 stores, an alfresco dining precinct and a buzzing entertainment hub, gather your crew and make tracks here stat.

Think fewer crowds on the beaches, crisp, clear sunny days and loads of awesome adventures to be had.

To celebrate, we’ve collated the 10 Aussie Airbnbs that are on Kiwi’s wish lists—to inspire you when you’re planning your trans-Tasman trip.

Oh, Sydney, you gorgeous gal, you. From the glittering sublimity of the Sydney Harbour to the new or iconic dining spots that blow our taste buds away, we’re constantly flummoxed by the sheer beauty of this city—but whether you’re a first-timer or a frequent visitor, it can be hard to squeeze in all the amazing spots and activities that make Sydney so epic.

If you hadn’t previously considered this nature lover’s paradise as a destination for a soul-enriching Aussie holiday, here are four good reasons to convince you to book the trip to Tasmania.

The fine-dining scene is fantastic but Tasmania’s real point of difference—and appeal—is the short distance between paddock/trawler and plate, and the chance to meet the passionate distillers, winemakers, chefs, fishermen, providores and fromagers who call this community-minded, culinary haven home.

Whether you’re after a slow, healing holiday or exhilarating adrenaline experiences — or perhaps a mixture of the two — Tasmania has you covered. With nearly half of its landmass protected as national park and World Heritage wilderness, this easily accessible Australian island state offers a rare balance of heart-thumping adventure and heartwarming relaxation.  

From hiking the Cradle Mountain Overland Track to cycling Tasmania’s East Coast, this is your chance to slow down and see this island state from a new perspective. You’ll feel the crunch of wilderness beneath your feet, breathe in the crisp sea air, and hike to misty mountaintops in what is a true bucket list-worthy experience. 

With a thriving arts scene, fascinating wildlife, pristine wilderness and mouth-watering foodie experiences, Tasmania is the perfect destination for a memorable and rejuvenating overseas getaway for every type of traveller.

It’s something that’s usually reserved for the rich and famous, but now, you too can achieve baller status by renting out an entire floor of a luxe hotel and throwing the most epic party. That’s right, the cool kids at QT want you to send off the rollercoaster that is 2020 in total style by launching Floor’d—a one-of-a-kind wild night in that allows you to book the whole floor at one QT’s 10 swanky digs located around Australia and New Zealand.

QT Hotels & Resorts know we don't want to leave our pets behind on holidays—so they're letting you bring them with you. 

If you, like us, have been waiting all lockdown for news of when overseas travel restrictions would lift, you’re going to want to hear this. According to reports, international travel to Australia and the Pacific, aka the New Zealand/Australia travel bubble, is likely to reopen before Christmas.

​If you’re starting to get itchy feet at the distinct lack of travel plans in your foreseeable future, we feel you. Our work year is usually planned out with countdowns to upcoming holidays. But with that off the cards, for the sake of everyone’s health and wellbeing, we’re starting to get creative with the way we travel. That’s right, we’re going virtual. And because Australia is packed with beautiful places, we reckon it’s time you discovered more of it.

COVID-19 is quite literally taking over the world and if you’re one of the hundreds of thousands who had planned to travel in the next little while, you’re most likely re-thinking or are being forced to postpone your trip. 

Seeing as forest bathing is our new favourite wellness activity, we thought we better find a way to incorporate it into our travel plans for 2020. From tropical rainforests to 1000 year old trees, here are 10 of the world’s most incredible forests that are ready for you to bask in their glory.

If you’ve ever found yourself in Bali during school holidays or hoiking your suitcase up 100-year-old staircases in Europe during a heatwave, you’ve probably learned that choosing where to travel is just as important as deciding when to go.

From the Summer Olympic Games to cultural extravaganzas and hot hotel openings, there are dozens of reasons to plan a holiday for 2020. Here are the cities and countries to add to your travel itinerary in the New Year. 

We all know that eating like a local is key to a good holiday, but why limit yourself to a single restaurant at each meal when you can taste everything under the sun if you get your timing right. Whether you want something tried and true like pizza and chocolate or you’re after something a little wilder, there’s a food festival somewhere in the world for you. 

​Sometimes it’s nice to give up the gas guzzler for a big city holiday, but if you’re the kind who likes to explore beyond the beaten path, there’s no better way to do it than with your own set of wheels. From one day spins to month-long hauls, it’s time to fire up the playlist because these are the best road trips in the world.

Melbourne is a city like no other, the perfect balance of fast-paced bustle and artsy hidden gems with an out-of-this-world food scene and beautiful history all make for the perfect excuse for a quick trip across the ditch.

If a regular hotel just wasn’t cutting it for you anymore, we’ve got your next getaway sorted. Launching this summer, Reefsuites will give you a front row seat to the amazing underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef. 

Hand in your annual leave now, a dreamy food festival is hitting the Sunshine Coast and it’s the perfect excuse for your next luxury escape.

While there’s no shortage of things to do locally, nothing beats getting out of a town for the weekend. And as we’re all about living our best life, we know that not a single second can be spared when on an adventure. 

Dust off your brooms and whip out your wands, Harry Potter And The Cursed Child has officially opened in Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. And yes, you should believe the hype.

Fact: the best way to beat the back-to-work blues is with a holiday. Swap the nine-to-five grind for tropical Queensland, the ultimate chill-seeker’s getaway.

Twenty five words. That's how many words it takes to get yourself a once in a lifetime travel opportunity in a seriously unique competition currently running over at Microsoft Surface. Move over cheap flights to Bali—this series of ‘Anything But Ordinary’ experiences is going to have you packing your bag quick smart.

Grime institution Eskimo Dance has just announced they’ll be hitting our side of the globe and we are ready.

Museum of the Moon is making that trip to space seem a lot closer than you would think.

Go on, dip your toes in to the best hidden beaches across Australia.

It’s pretty much the largest-scale piece of awesomeness artist Nick Cave has ever done so we’re hella thrilled it’ll be open for business Down Under but to top it all of, there’s actually a heap more for you to see.

It’s already mid-year people. We know, we know—it feels like only yesterday we set our out of offices for the Christmas break and now it’s EOFY, and we’re officially ready for a holiday. Chances are you are too, so if you can relate to any of the below, we suggest booking a holiday, stat.

There’s no doubt Byron Bay is a haven for all things epic and, lucky for us, Urban Lister Hannah Freriechs is a local and willing to share her hacks to making the most out of your next visit:

As said by Michael Embry, “You don’t have to look far to find treasures, you discover them every time you visit a library." And here at The Urban List, we couldn’t agree more. The appreciation for libraries and all they do for us is so real. We thought it fitting to round up all the most beautiful libraries because not only are they awesome, they’re just nice to look at.

You’ve got to admit, they've got it pretty good across the ditch: great weather, stunning scenery, mile upon mile of pristine coastline and deserted, serene outback. It’s a traveller’s paradise. Naturally, we’ve got views for days—perfect for a spot of camping, no?

Australia might be best known as the land of diverse natural beauty and the most relaxed populace south of the equator, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to let loose in our spare time. 

The holidays have come to a grinding halt and it’s back to work for you. Ouch. Chances are you’re already dreaming of your next adventure. 

The new GoPro Fusion 360 Camera guarantees epic likes for your ‘gram.

Because a trip across the ditch might be exactly what you need. 

This is how you can nail a cheeky getaway—it’s important, okay.

Summer in Australia was made for travelling. With the amount of glorious beaches and urban foodie spots waiting to be discovered, there’s never been a better way to spend your Christmas holidays. But where do you even start?

When city life gets too hectic, you have to escape to somewhere where the energy is chill but, let’s be honest, there’s also still amazing food and shopping. Enter Byron Bay.

Now the only complaint we have with the Gold Coast scene is that we can barely keep up with all the new wine bars, cafes and stellar restaurants on offer.