Our beautiful country has been tested with recent natural disasters and from the economic downturn due to COVID19, which is all the more reason to fall in love with Australia all over again in your travels.<br />
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By choosing to travel domestically you will supporting local businesses, the country&rsquo;s economy and you&rsquo;ll be rewarded with an incredible holiday. From volcanic craters to swimming with whales, Australia has so much to offer! &nbsp;<br />
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Here are our top 5 domestic trending destinations:<br />
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<strong>Cradle Mountain, Tasmania</strong> &ndash; this hot spot is jam packed with incredible walking trails from overnight treks to easy sightseeing strolls. The surrounding landscape is home to diverse wildlife including Tasmanian Devils, quolls, echidna, platypus, and a variety of bird species.<br />
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Those interested in overnight walks will be pleasantly surprised with the Overland Track. Australia&rsquo;s premier alpine walk spans 65 kilometres and boasts a wide range of sights from lakes and rainforests to mountains and waterfalls.<br />
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Thankfully for the less enthusiastic, Cradle Mountain has many other hiking and walking options including the challenging but rewarding summit trek as well as several casual and relaxing boardwalk strolls through the forest and walks around Dove Lake or Crater Lake.<br />
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Not to mention, <a href="https://www.hightide.com.au/properties/peppers-cradle-mountain-lodge.php">Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge</a> is ideally nestled at the bottom of the mountain offering 5 star accommodation, dining and views!<br />
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<strong>Winton, Queensland</strong> &ndash; for a truly outback Australian experience you cannot look past paying Winton a visit. The birthplace of QANTAS and the home of Banjo Patterson&rsquo;s Waltzing Matilda is bursting with history and Australian culture.<br />
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With a population under 1,000, you won&rsquo;t have to worry about hustle and bustle in this charming small town. The lines and waits won&rsquo;t be a problem at the Waltzing Matilda Centre which not only tells the story of Winton and Waltzing Matilda but also the Australian outback. &nbsp;<br />
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The region is also famous for dinosaur remains with the world&rsquo;s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils displayed in the Australian Age of Dinosaurs natural history museum!<br />
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<strong>Fun Fact:</strong> Winton is home to the remnants of a dinosaur stampede! Over 95 million years old, you can visit the 3,300 footprints immortalised in stone at the Lark Quarry Conservation Park. This national monument is the only recorded dinosaur stampede in the world and is a not to be missed stop!<br />
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<strong>Hervey Bay, Queensland</strong> &ndash; A sleepy seaside town, Hervey Bay is a peaceful and charming holiday spot with as much or as little to do as you&rsquo;d like.<br />
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You can visit the historical museum, Reef World aquarium, take a day tour to Lady Elliot Island or Fraser Island, or gain a deeper understanding of the unique geography and biodiversity of the region at the Fraser Coast Discovery Sphere.<br />
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Kids and the young at heart will love getting a pump of adrenalin at the go karting centre and enjoying the WetSide Water Education Park, a free oceanfront parkland full of water fountains and playgrounds.<br />
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One of the most incredible things you can do in Hervey Bay is swim with whales! There are tour companies that will take you out during migration season so you can jump in the ocean and enjoy the company alongside these majestic creatures.&nbsp;<br />
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Of course, your holiday to Hervey Bay can also be as peaceful as enjoying a massage, morning walks along the beach, your spacious accommodation, and laying next to the pool with good company! Our top pick is <a href="https://www.hightide.com.au/properties/mantra-hervey-bay.php">Mantra Hervey Bay</a> for affordable, modern and spacious marina front apartments.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Barossa Valley, South Australia</strong> &ndash; One of the most popular things to do in the Barossa Valley is to experience wine country, there are also heritage buildings to be explored, beautiful scenery as well as arts and culture.<br />
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Our top choices for vineyard visits include Jacobs Creek, The Willows Vineyard, Schild Estate, Chateau Tanunda, Yalumba, Two Hands Wines and Bethany Wines. Although there are many smaller estates that offer unique experiences with incredible flavours. The best part of the Barossa is there is so much to uncover and explore!<br />
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Top things to do with families include visiting the Lyndoch Lavender Farm to enjoy the scenic trails, taste the lavender infused gourmet treats and shop for unique gifts. The whispering wall is another favourite for families; built in the late 1800&rsquo;s the retaining wall of the Barossa Reservoir emits unique acoustic effects - a whisper on one side of the wall can be heard clearly on the other side over 100 metres away!<br />
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The Eden Valley Lookout is known as the garden of grapes and gums, and offers sprawling views of the undulating hillsides, hidden vineyards and quaint town beneath it, it is a beautiful place for a picnic.<br />
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<strong>Lorne, Victoria &ndash; </strong>this Victorian seaside town is a part of the Great Australian Bight and our absolute top thing to do while visiting is drive the Great Ocean Road. This stunning journey will take you through a myriad of incredible sights including the Twelve Apostles, Split Point Lighthouse (the home of the famous &#39;Round the Twist!&#39; TV show), The Great Ocean Road Chocolatery and Ice Creamery, Triplet Falls, and Gibson Steps, just to name a few of the highlights.<br />
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Lorne is also home to the Great Otway National Park covering 103,000 hectares of ancient rainforest, pristine beaches and dramatic coastline with plenty of walks to explore and uncover it all.<br />
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Be sure to try your hand at koala spotting at the Kennett River Koala Walk, visit the Bottle of Milk Caf&eacute; for a burger and stop at the memorial archway &ndash; the official starting point of the Great Ocean Road dedicated to the soldiers who built the road.<br />
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If we&rsquo;ve convinced you to explore Australia on your next trip, call us on 1300 769 765 or browse locations now. You can also read our article on <a href="https://www.hightide.com.au/blog/australias-8-best-kept-travel-secrets-uncovered.htm">Australia&#39;s 8 best kept travel secrets</a> for more inspiration.<br />
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