Best Places to Stay in Australia by Travel Style

Australia is vast — about the same size as the contiguous United States — and the right base for your trip depends enormously on what you actually want to do. A beach holiday in Queensland has almost nothing in common with a wildlife safari in the Northern Territory or a city break in Melbourne.

For beach and reef, Queensland's Whitsundays and the Cairns region give you access to the Great Barrier Reef. For outdoor adventure and wildlife, the Northern Territory's Darwin and the Red Centre (Alice Springs, Uluru) offer experiences you cannot have anywhere else. For city culture and food, Melbourne consistently outperforms its reputation and is regularly ranked among the world's most liveable cities.

This guide matches different types of travellers to their ideal Australian base, with advice on accommodation, transport, and the best experiences available from each location.

We're building out our full destination guides. In the meantime, if you're planning a trip to Australia, start with your visa — we've got the full cost breakdown and document checklist ready.