manf - The Local Rag

The Best Small Towns to Visit in Tasmania

Tassie might be Australia’s smallest state but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in beauty and experiences. The place is like a mini version of Australia with a thriving art scene, vibrant food culture, incredible wine regions and some of the nation’s best national parks. And then there’s the people.…

26 August 2024ByTobias Handke

Tasmania

Car Trouble, Island Treasure

To be completely honest I hadn’t planned to visit Maria Island. But after my car broke down in the tiny coastal Tasmanian town of Triabunna—which has no real drawcard other than being the jetting-off point for the ferry to Maria Island—I decided this must be the best way to kill time while I wait for…

26 August 2024ByEm Jensen

Queensland

The Best Small Towns to Visit in Queensland

Continuing our series focusing on the best small towns in Australia, we turn our attention to the Sunshine State. Home to the Great Barrier Reef, pristine coastlines and tropical rainforests, Queensland is a nature enthusiast's wet dream, offering the very best of Australia’s beautiful and varied landscapes in one accessible region. When it comes to…

19 August 2024ByTobias Handke

History South Australia

The Town That Saved South Australia From Bankruptcy

Head northeast out of Adelaide on the Thiele Highway towards the famed Barossa Valley region and you’ll find yourself passing through the unassuming town of Kapunda. Best known for being the site of one of South Australia’s most recognisable Big Things, the Big Miner, Kapunda is like any number of small country towns in the…

13 August 2024ByTobias Handke

Pubs Victoria

The Best Pub on the Mornington Peninsula Is Nowhere Near the Beach

In a region where pubs swing between gentrified bistros or pokie-ridden saloons, the Mornington Peninsula's options for a classic tavern are few and far between. However, if you travel up past the hills Arthurs Seat into Main Ridge you'll find The Pig & Whistle. Not related to the Queensland chain nor the outpost with a…

12 August 2024BySimon Cassar

Victoria

A Guide to Victoria’s Big Things

If you’re a born and bred Aussie, you know we have an unexplained obsession with Big Things. Having already covered the biggest and best Big Things you can visit in South Australia and Queensland, it’s time to discover what large monuments and statues Victoria has to offer. Whether it’s the Big Koala or the Big…

12 August 2024ByTobias Handke

New South Wales

An Outback Adventurer’s Guide to Tibooburra

In the very north-western corner of New South Wales, in an area aptly named Corner Country, is a place that seems to tick all the boxes of the classic, quintessentially Australian outback town—Tibooburra. Its tiny main drag features a ‘Corner Country’ store and servo, two pubs whose front beer gardens look out onto one another,…

5 August 2024ByEm Jensen

New South Wales

The Best Small Towns to Visit in New South Wales

We're is all about shining a light on the often overlooked and underappreciated country regions of our great nation, and after spotlighting some of the best small towns in South Australia and Victoria, it’s New South Wales time to shine. Similar to other eastern regions of the country, the ‘Premier State’ has everything from snow-topped…

1 August 2024ByTobias Handke

Events New South Wales

Newcastle Music Festival Returns with Diverse Program

For ten days, Newcastle will be home to top-notch Australian and international musical talent for the Newcastle Music Festival. Now in its seventh season—after two years’ hiatus in 2020 and 2021—the 2024 program will run from Thursday, 8 August to Friday, 23 August 2024. With 13 events across three locations, lovers of classical music, opera,…

1 August 2024ByRachel Fieldhouse

Food & Drink Victoria

How One Small Mornington Peninsula Farm Became the Hot Chip Destination of Victoria

In the suburb of Boneo on the Mornington Peninsula, a 140-acre stretch of farmland, nestled between Rye and Rosebud, is home to perhaps the best chips in Victoria. Hawkes Farm, a proud family-run farm and produce shop has been shelling out these golden batons for over six years. It first started with those in the…

28 July 2024BySimon Cassar

Food & Drink South Australia

Enjoy Cider and Pizza in the Stunning Adelaide Hills at Paracombe Premium Perry

As a fourth-generation pear farmer, it’s fair to say working the land is in Damien McArdle’s blood, but things didn’t quite start out that way for the owner of Paracombe Premium Perry. “I left school in year 11 so I could complete my trade as a diesel mechanic,” he tells me as we walk among…

25 July 2024ByTobias Handke

Pubs South Australia

The Best Pubs in Mount Gambier

Take a short detour off the famed Great Ocean Road and you’ll find yourself in the flourishing Mount Gambier, South Australia’s second-largest city that sits halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne. Smack bang in the middle of the Limestone Coast, Mount Gambier is frequented by those keen on discovering the spectacular natural landscapes the region is…

24 July 2024ByTobias Handke

Pubs South Australia

The Best Pubs in the Adelaide Hills

Most people visit the Adelaide Hills to sample the incredible vino the region has to offer. Shaw + Smith, Longview Vineyard, Golding Wines, Bird in Hand… I could go on, but you get the picture. Adelaide Hills equals good wine. But for those who prefer the amber nectar or the more relaxed vibe of a…

20 July 2024ByTobias Handke

Victoria

The Best Small Towns to Visit in Victoria

The state with the second-highest population in the country, Victoria covers around 227,600 square kilometres of diverse landscapes, from picturesque beaches and sweeping coastlines to flourishing rainforests and snow-capped mountains. Once referred to as the ‘Garden State’, there is much to explore when you leave the bustling capital of Melbourne, with many incredible experiences and…

17 July 2024ByTobias Handke

South Australia

The Best Small Towns to Visit in South Australia

South Australia is widely known for its churches, wine regions and serial killers, but it’s also a fantastic holiday destination thanks to the abundance of laidback country towns found throughout the state. Whether you’re looking for a beach retreat, a countryside getaway or just passing through and looking for a bite to eat, you’ll discover…