Dunsborough named in top 10 Aussie Towns of the Year by major travel website

The South West is home to one of the Top 10 getaway spots in the country according to a major travel site.

On Wednesday morning, Wotif released their Top 10 Aussie Town of the Year Award winners, with the popular seaside town Dunsborough coming in at eighth place.

The down south holiday location was the only West Australian destination to make the list, with the New South Wales town of Albury taking the top spot for the second year in a row.

New South Wales dominated the list with three locations, followed closely by Queensland and Victoria — each with two — with South Australia, Tasmania and WA rounding out the list.

Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said it’s great to see travellers exploring their own backyards.

“By all accounts, Aussies remain committed to travelling locally in 2023,” he said.

“While cost considerations are top of mind for everyone this year, it’s clear travellers are not deterred and instead are prioritising accessible, experience-rich getaways.

“We hope by spotlighting these deserving destinations, all of which are extremely accessible, the awards inspire Aussies to explore and connect with regional destinations beyond the typical tried and tested.”

Now in it’s sixth year, the Town of the Year Awards recognise trending towns across the nation for the year ahead, based on Wotif data that considers accommodation affordability, quality and overall traveller satisfaction.

The figures also demonstrate travellers are opting for three-day trips, typically over long weekends rather than going for a longer stay, with 44 per cent of people making the decision for financial reasons so as to cope with the rising costs of living.

The 2023 Top 10 Aussie Towns of the Year are:

1. Albury, NSW

2. Bundaberg, QLD

3. New Norfolk, TAS

4. Port Lincoln, SA

5. Ballarat, VIC

6. Merimbula, NSW

7. Toowoomba, QLD

8. Dunsborough, WA

9. Orange, NSW

10. Echuca, VIC