Local's guide to Australia
From dining out to winding down, residents in the know share the best bits of their towns
A local’s guide to Victoria’s Surf Coast: ‘Everyone has some relationship with the ocean’
The wild stretch from Torquay to Lorne blends long coastal walks and ocean plunges with quality food and culture that rivals nearby Melbourne, says author Gill Hutchison
A local’s guide to Fremantle: ‘It feels like everyone is living the good life’
At Perth’s historic port city, locals enjoy dog-friendly beaches by day and live music and high-end cuisine by night, says musician Abbe May
A local’s guide to Coffs Harbour: ‘The culture here is being outside’
There’s the muttonbirds and the supersized banana, but this NSW coastal destination is known for its friendly outdoor lifestyle – and a growing food and culture scene, says artist Sarah Lyttle
A local’s guide to Canberra: ‘There’s this new energy and exploration’
Australia’s capital is severely underrated, says podcaster and Capital Food Market consultant Anthony Huckstep. There’s a thriving arts and food scene, with the bush just a short drive away
A local’s guide to Sydney: ‘Nightlife is the best it’s ever been right now’
New (and revamped) venues are opening at a dizzying pace in Sydney. For the best food, clubs and beaches, you have to put in the work, says DJ Deepa Alam
A local’s guide to Perth: ‘It feels like the city is settling in a little bit’
By embracing Indigenous culture, walkability and an outdoor lifestyle, Perth is becoming more itself, says Cass Lynch, a researcher, writer and south coast Nyoongar woman
A local’s guide to Melbourne: ‘The best part is the element of surprise’
Victoria’s capital is rich in hidden galleries, bars and clubs, idiosyncratic buildings and exciting food, says architectural designer Nancy Beka
A local’s guide to Adelaide: ‘It can be a bit conservative, but also really exciting’
From botanic gardens to a pumping small-bar scene, there’s more to Adelaide than meets the eye, says artist Billie Justice Thomson
A local’s guide to the Gold Coast: ‘There’s a great grassroots art scene’
Forever an Australian go-to for simple, sunny holidays, this sandy stretch of beach suburbs has matured into a thrumming metropolis. Still, nature is never far away, says local artist Dion Parker
A local’s guide to Brisbane: ‘what do you want? Because it’s all here’
Brisbane may be a medium-sized city but thanks to a multicultural food, arts and nightlife scene, it’s also a world tour, says star chef Louis Tikaram
A local’s guide to Darwin: soul-stirring sunsets, enlivening art and multicultural markets
Proud Larrakia woman Nicole Brown – Darwin’s 2022 Citizen of the Year – shares her favourite places to eat, unwind and connect with her ancestors in the saltwater city
A local’s guide to Hobart: platypus spotting, spontaneous nights out and grassroots energy
Surrounded by green, arts and nightlife thrive in Hobart and there’s (finally) good coffee for the morning after, says film and theatre-maker Briony Kidd
