Australia’s Best Summer Destinations for Your Motorhome Adventure

Summer is just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about the glorious holiday season. Visit our recommended Australian summer destinations to make the most of this country’s prime weather and coastal activities!

Bay of Fires, Tasmania

Home to one of the world’s top ten beaches, Bay of Fires (palawa kani: larapuna) is a must-visit summer destination located on the east coast of Australia’s beautiful island state of Tasmania. Enjoy an unbeatable summer lifestyle and spend your days exploring the pristine white beaches and crystal clear waters of the East Coast. Visit the nearby coastal village of St Helens for delightful seafood experiences and participate in one of the many water activities on offer to you. If you’re looking to simply relax in the sun in a beautiful location, Bay of Fires is the answer for you.

Fun Fact: It was named by Captain Tobias Furneaux in 1773, after he saw the indigenous people lighting fires on the beaches as he sailed past.

Double Meaning: The Bay of Fires is famous for its orange lichen growing on the granite stones along the coast, but it’s actually not where its name is from.

Image: Bay of Fires, Larapuna, Tasmania

Hobart, Tasmania

The scenic capital of Tasmania truly comes alive over the summer months and is home to a number of exciting festivals and events. Visit over the New Year to experience the Taste of Tasmania Festival, where you can sample the state’s finest food and wine all in the one convenient wharf-side location. Reserve a table beside the water and watch as the yachts from the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race glide across the finish line. Hobart is known to be Australia’s second-oldest capital city and home to the world-renowned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

Fun Fact: Hobart is closer to Antarctica than to… Darwin! Yes, there are 3,800km up to Darwin against only 2,600km down to Antarctica.

Another One: The Queen of Denmark, Mary Donaldson, grew up in Hobart before meeting King Frederik of Denmark!

Hobart

Image: Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Alastair Bett

Coles Bay, Tasmania

Nestled at the gateway of Freycinet National Park is the holiday town of Coles Bay. Popular with the locals, this charming East Coast town offers plenty of water-based activities and is home to the mesmerising Hazards Mountain Range. Don’t miss Tasmania’s most iconic view at the Wineglass Bay Lookout or complete one of the awe-inspiring bush walks in Freycinet National Park. In the evening, visit the tavern to get amongst the backpacker crowd or simply get some freshly cooked fish and chips and enjoy them at the end of the local jetty overlooking the Hazards. What a view!

Fun Fact: Coles Bay was one of the first places worldwide to ban plastic shopping bags, for which the town earned an environmental excellence award.

Image: Wineglass Bay, The Hazards, Mt Amos, Tourism Tasmania & Peter Bellingham

Sorrento, Victoria

With a buzzing summer vibe and charming main street, Sorrento is the ultimate summer destination for those navigating the breathtaking Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Located just over an hour from Melbourne, Sorrento is easily accessible to all holiday-makers and their motorhomes. Enjoy fish and chips on the beach, followed by home-made gelati and watch bottlenose dolphins pass by or take a kayaking tour off the foreshore and admire historical limestone buildings. Don’t miss drinks in the Portsea Pub’s sunny beer garden.

Fun Fact: Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, Member of Parliament and later Premier of Victoria, built a holiday house on a land at Point King in the 1860s and decided to call it ‘Sorrento’ after the Italian coastal town.

Image: Sorrento, Victoria

Byron Bay, New South Wales

An oldie but a goody, Byron Bay is one of Australia’s ultimate summer destinations with outstanding surf beaches, cultured cafes, fantastic nightlife and award-winning caravan parks. Simply lap up the Australian summer life and wander from the beach to the café. Don’t miss a coastal walk to Byron Bay Lighthouse, where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views. Stay for a week, or a month – you will find no shortage of summer activities here!

Fun Fact: You won’t find any McDonald's in Byron Bay! Locals fought against it in the 1990s.

Another One: The very tip of Cape Byron is the Easternmost point of Mainland Australia!

Image: Cape Byron Light, Byron Bay

Airlie Beach, Queensland

This popular summer hub is ideal for anyone looking to get amongst a lively Australian summer atmosphere. Whether you are a backpacker looking for a great party destination or a foodie seeking fine food and elegance, Airlie Beach has something for everyone. This vibrant beachside oasis is the launching pad for exploring the stunning Whitsunday Islands and has a myriad of fantastic water-based activities on offer. Stay at the Big4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort to get amongst the action. If you’re looking to splurge, don’t miss a breathtaking helicopter adventure over iconic Heart Reef, a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Fun Fact: The Whitsundays count about 74 islands, but only 8 of them are inhabited with resorts.

Image: Whitsunday Islands, Charlene M

Noosa, Queensland

If it’s a heightened atmosphere you seek, then you will be pleasantly surprised in the bustling seaside town of Noosa. Hastings Street is the ultimate summer destination offering boutique cafes, fantastic shopping, and walking distance to the beach. Dine at some of Queensland’s finest restaurants, visit the farmers' markets or take a long coastal walk at Noosa Heads to encounter brilliant sunsets. Noosa is fully equipped to deal with all your Australian summer expectations.

Fun Fact: Noosa, “Noothera” in the local Kabi Kabi language, means “shady place” or “shadow”. Noosa is home to many trees and forests, which perfectly describe its origins.

Noosa

Image: Noosa, beach and forest

Brisbane, Queensland

Queensland’s subtropical capital is a great place to start your summer adventure in Australia. Simply relax with a picnic in the centrally located Botanic Gardens or get comfortable at Streets Beach, Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach. Enjoy some of the country’s finest coffee in the upmarket suburb of South Bank and take a ride on the Wheel of Observation for spectacular views.

Fun Fact: Ever tried the well-known Australian cake, the Lamington? It was created early 1900s for the then-Governor of Queensland, Lady Lamington. You need to taste it if you haven’t yet!

Image: Streets Beach, Brisbane

Port Douglas, Queensland

With tropical weather conditions, untouched beaches, and World Heritage Listed surrounds, Port Douglas will not disappoint. Take a stroll down picture-perfect Four Mile Beach or experience magical beach views at Island Point of Flagstaff Hill. Enjoy a tour of the nearby Great Barrier Reef, visit Daintree Cape Tribulation or simply make the most of the fine restaurants, health and beauty facilities and activities available to you in the heart of Port Douglas.

Fun Fact: Port Douglas is the unique meeting point of the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Forest, two World Heritage-listed wonders.

Image: Port Douglas, where the Reef meets the Rainforest

Margaret River, Western Australia

If you can deal with the intense heat of Western Australia, then don’t hesitate to pay a visit to the wine region of Margaret River. This charming town comes alive in the summer, offering plenty of events and entertainment at the wineries and down at the local tavern. Visit the beach for water-based fun and to escape the heat, and then explore one of the many wineries in the afternoon. The main street in Margaret River offers a range of fine food and wine opportunities, perfect for creating your own beach picnic.

Fun Fact: The Busselton Jetty is the longest (1.8km) timber jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. And, you can walk it or take a train to the end!