Earlier this week, the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) announced the awards for best regional towns for tourism. These awards celebrate the towns that provide the best visitor experiences, and 25 finalists were competing for the top spots. The Victorian Top Tourism Towns for 2025 are: Warrnambool, Mount Beauty and Trentham. These three winners will go on to compete for the title of Australia’s Top Tourism Town in their respective categories.
Victorian Top Tourism Towns for 2025
Warrnambool was named as the Victorian Top Tourism Town, which looks at places with a population of over 5,000 people. Meanwhile, Mount Beauty won the gold for Top Small Tourism Town, with a population between 1,500 and 5,000. Finally, Trentham took home the award for Top Tiny Tourism Town.
“A theme we have seen this year is that many of the winners are located further out of Melbourne, with destinations showcasing why visitors should travel to enjoy the delights that the winning Top Tourism Towns have to offer,” said Acting VTIC Chief Executive Chris Porter. “The winners are a reflection of the quality visitor experiences that can be found in all parts of the state, with visitors more likely to stay for at least one night, rather than just the day, due to their fantastic offering.”
Top Tourism Town (population over 5,000)
Warrnambool was celebrated as a vibrant and thrilling coastal city. The largest town along the Great Ocean Road, this seaside destination is about three hours away from Melbourne, and is a popular site for whale watching in winter. Go for a walk through the streets in search of colourful murals, learn all about its history at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and indulge in a blissful soak at Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs.
Meanwhile, Ballarat took home the silver, and Echuca won the bronze.
Top Small Tourism Town (population between 1,500 and 5,000)
Mount Beauty won the top spot thanks to the myriad of adventure possibilities, such as hiking, mountain biking and horse riding, as well as skiing and snowboarding during the colder months. Located four hours away from Melbourne, this picturesque spot at the foot of Mount Bogong also has craft breweries, eateries and a wine bar if you’re looking to take it easy.
Port Fairy won the silver award, and Portarlington received bronze.
Top Tiny Tourism Town (population under 1,500)
Just over an hour away from Melbourne, between Daylesford and Macedon, you’ll find the charming town of Trentham. This charming destination features plenty of excellent venues for foodies, such as RedBeard Bakery, which has a 120-year-old scotch oven, and Du Fermier, which offers seasonal French farmhouse dishes from renowned chef Annie Smithers. For natural wonders, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the spectacular Trentham Falls.
Halls Gap took home the silver award, and Whitfield received the bronze.
To see the full list of winners and finalists, click here.