Pop art, folk festivals and grape crushing: Australian summer events worth travelling for

From contemporary art exhibitions to eccentric festivals, regional Australia has no shortage of big events over the summer of 2025-2026

The Guardian
Music, wine and waterfalls: a local’s guide to Beechworth

With its vibrant festival scene, gorgeous swimming spots and rugged mountain biking trails, the Victorian town has a lot to offer, says local writer Doug Wallen

The Guardian
Wombats, wallabies and whales: four days walking in Wilsons Promontory national park

It’s one of Victoria’s favourite national parks for good reason. Hiking the park’s south reveals stunning coastlines and complex history, topped off by a night in a lighthouse

The Guardian
‘You can’t just do a quick wee, you’ll be there for an hour’: Australian readers’ favourite highway pit stops

From natural springs and lookout points to country bakeries with the ‘best sausage roll of my life’, readers share where they rest and refresh on a long drive

The Guardian
A local’s guide to Victoria’s Surf Coast: ‘Everyone has some relationship with the ocean’

The wild stretch from Torquay to Lorne blends long coastal walks and ocean plunges with quality food and culture that rivals nearby Melbourne, says author Gill Hutchison

The Guardian