The best places to escape winter in Australia include everywhere from tropical islands to glitzy Gold Coast resorts. Here are the best places to go in Australia to escape winter.
Cairns, Tropical North Queensland
Why go? Wondering where the warmest place to holiday is in Australia? Cairns barely registers winter as a season. Temperatures in the city in Tropical North Queensland sit between 22°C and 26°C in winter when the humidity disappears and it’s safe to swim at the beaches. The Esplanade Lagoon fills with locals doing laps before work and backpackers doing absolutely nothing. This is peak season for trips out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Where to eat: Get very close to a crocodile in Cairns when it’s served in a salt and pepper crust at Gin Social. For lunch, head to Nu Nu and book dinner at Ignis where Italian chef Andrea Gennusa cooks with fire and passion. Take a walking tour of Rusty’s Market, check out Japan Pan Bakery for curry bread and Finn Finn for kow soy curry noodles. Crystalbrook Collection’s culinary offering is also about celebrating local flavours.
Where to drink: Rocco by Crystalbrook Riley is the highest rooftop bar in Cairns, with 270-degree views over the Coral Sea and a corker of a Champagne list. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks at Wolf Lane, The Fox or the Conservatory Bar. And head to the Pullman Cairns International for high tea. Hemingway’s Brewery Taphouse is a hub for beers and burgers at Trinity Beach, a Wotif Slow Down Towns for ’26.
Where to stay: Crystalbrook Riley on the Esplanade has a lagoon-style pool and is one of three Crystalbrook Collection hotels in Cairns. Shangri-La The Marina, Cairns, is best for cocktails by the heated pool. Pullman Cairns International and the Hilton Cairns are also well placed, within walking distance of a lot of the city’s best bars and restaurants. The Alivio Hotel is serving Ibiza with its Mediterranean-inspired pool and spa.
Average winter temperature in Cairns: 26°C.
tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au
Port Douglas, Tropical North Queensland
Why go? An hour up the coast from Cairns, the tropical oasis of Port Douglas trades that big-city buzz for more of a laidback village vibe. Winter days here hover around 26°C under clear blue skies and calm seas. It’s an ideal place to base yourself for a cruise out to Low Isles or a long walk down Four Mile Beach. Don’t miss the Sunday markets, which attracts a crowd of local creatives. Head north to Mossman Gorge and the Daintree to see World-Heritage rainforest.
Where to eat: Salsa Bar & Grill is a Wharf Street institution overlooking Dickson’s Inlet where the crocodile jambalaya is a joy. At Jungle Fowl, chef Ben Wallace delivers expertly balanced Southeast Asian flavours in dishes such as pork belly with sticky caramel, coriander and lime or local tiger prawns with holy basil and snake beans. Nautilus is another highly-rated restaurant for dinner and Terraces Restaurant the best for a seafood buffet.
Where to drink: Hemingway’s Brewery pours its own tropical ales and barrel-aged porters with a nautical view over Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina. Pull up in your superyacht at the Yachtie (Port Douglas Yacht Club) and wander down to the Courtie (Courthouse) to mix with a diverse crowd of bikers and backpackers. Daintree Bar at Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort is the pick for cocktails on the lagoon as the light turns golden.
Where to stay: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, which has a sprawling saltwater lagoon right on Four Mile Beach, or family-friendly Peppers Beach Club which is near to Four Mile Beach and just a short walk from town. Wear your going-out denim shorts to flaunt the fact you’ve escaped winter in the southern states of Australia. Time your visit to coincide with Taste Port Douglas, one of the best food and wine festivals in Australia.
Average winter temperature in Port Douglas: 26°C.
visitportdouglasdaintree.com
Dunk Island, Tropical North Queensland
Why go? Billionaire Annie Cannon-Brookes bought Dunk Island in 2022 to restore it to an eco-tourism destination. Dunk Island reopened for overnight stays in 2025 with beachfront eco tents and a bayside campground on Brammo Bay. Winter days sit around 25°C to 26°C and the rainforest trails are open again for hikes that are laced together within the Family Islands National Park.
Where to eat: The Dunk Island Restaurant on the Spit is genuinely the only option, open Wednesday to Sunday with a full cocktail bar and a la carte menu built around local produce. It’s a small island with one kitchen that happens to be a good one. Guests can choose from a dishes like loaded sweet tropi-tato (sweet potato and pinto beans) or shredded Bingil Bay brisket. There’s also a dedicated BBQ picnic area on the island fitted with four free electric barbecues.
Where to drink: Feel like a day trip? Jump on the ferry and pop back to Mission Beach for coffee at Bingil Bay Café and cocktails at The Elandra, which recently underwent a recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation. The Garage Bar & Brewhouse and Mission Beach Tavern are top spots for an icy cold beer and a bit of banter with some of the local characters. Wear your loudest Hawaiian shirt to fit right in.
Where to stay: Dunk Island offers two types of accommodations at The Spit: the Bayside Campsites where you can pitch your own tent and Beachfront Eco Tents for pre-set glamping. Prices at Beachfront Eco Tents or the Bayside Campground, both on Brammo Bay, start from about $60 a night for campsites. Extend your stay with a few nights at The Elandra.
Average winter temperature in Dunk Island: 26°C
dunkisland.com
Hamilton Island, the Whitsundays
Why go? While some visitors to the Whitsundays fly to the island in their private jets, the rest of us mere mortals are just happy to head to Hamilton Island for a low-key winter getaway. Leave the anti-frizz hair cream at home. Hamilton Island cools to a very pleasant 22°C to 23°C through July and August, the best months for sailing and spotting whales in the cerulean seas. Race Week in August turns the island into one long party scene, so book ahead.
Where to eat: Expect a place-led approach to dining at Pebble Beach at qualia, just a pebble’s skip away from the Coral Sea. Long Pavilion is also centred around peak-season, sustainable produce sourced from around Australia. The dining room has one of the best views of the Whitsundays. Catseye Pool Club at The Sundays, led by hospo heavyweights Josh and Julie Niland, is one of the best places to eat and drink on Hamilton Island.
Where to drink: The Marina Tavern is the most popular pub on Hamilton Island. Perch on the deck for burgers and parmis and then catch the shuttle to the top of One Tree Hill for sundowners with one of the best views over the Whitsundays. Coca Chu is also worth a stop for punchy Southeast Asian bites in a breezy beachfront setting. Catseye Pool Club is the new see-and-be-seen spot for cocktails and a decadent mango trifle. BYO kaftan.
Where to stay: The adults-only Beach Club is a popular place for baby-mooners having one last hurrah. The Sundays is also a top spot to feel smug about escaping the winter chill. Post a selfie in your sluggos by the Catseye Pool Club, which merges into the Coral Sea and frames the turquoise waters off Catseye Beach.
Average winter temperature in Hamilton Island: 23°C
Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Why go? Noosa keeps its cool in winter with days sitting smack-bang around 21°C with clear skies and noticeably thinner crowds along Hastings Street. It is a lovely time to walk the coastal track through Noosa National Park, spot koalas in the she oaks and finish with a coffee overlooking Main Beach.
Where to eat: We love Lucio’s Marina, next-gen venue to Sydney’s famed Paddington restaurant. Also terrific is the tiny hole-in-the-wall Humble on Duke and Sails for its seafood and expansive views. Bookend your winter escape from Sydney with lunch at Sum Young Guys and sister venue Peli’s Noosa in nearby Tewantin. Join the cool crowds at Alessandro Pavoni’s Cibaria Noosa and Season after a swim or surf.
Where to drink: Planning a holiday to Noosa? You must include Bar Capri at Elysium Noosa Resort on the itinerary for cocktails a few steps from Main Beach. Bar Rossi (sister venue to Mexican El Capitano Pizzeria & Bar and Doña Cucina Mexicana) is the new happening hub on the hip strip of Hastings St. Sabrosa is a dim sum funhouse and hidden bar, while Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club is, according to locals, one of the best spots in town for sunset drinks.
Where to stay: The bougie Elysium Noosa Resort right in the heart of Hastings Street. For families, Seahaven Noosa and Tingirana both offer gun-barrel views over Main Beach. Culgoa Point Beach Resort is a four-star option for families with absolute riverfront access. Bring your inflatable flamingos and flaunt the fact you’re holidaying in one of the warmest places in Australia over winter.
Gold Coast, Queensland
Why go? The Gold Coast holds a similarly gentle 21°C through winter, warm enough to justify a beachside brunch and cool enough for a round of drinks at a rooftop bar. Round out your visit with a stroll around Burleigh headland, a swim at Kirra and surf at D-Bah. Insta-envy guaranteed when you post shots soaking up the sunshine on the Gold Coast.
Where to eat: You will forget all about that Euro Summer FOMO when you arrive at Tropical Fruit World. Pick up more provisions at Tarte Beach House, which has some of the best pastries on the Gold Coast. Yamagen, tucked inside QT Gold Coast, is where chef Adam Lane, a Nobu and Tetsuya’s alumnus, presides in an easy-going izakaya setting. For dinner, book SHOTO in Burleigh Heads, a contemporary Japanese eatery from the team behind Etsu Izakaya.
Where to drink: Sueño Rooftop at Mermaid Beach is from the Rick Shores team and it’s a flex to take your date here at sunset for speciality margaritas on the terrace. Watch a Gold Coast sunset frame itself through the palm trees then head downstairs for dinner at Norté; two of the best places to eat and drink on the Gold Coast. The new Sueño Saturday Brunch, all fresh air and Latin flavours, is worth a morning visit if you have a hangover.
Where to stay: Mondrian Gold Coast, steps from Burleigh Beach, has three pools, a wellness spa and two restaurants of its own. For something closer to the Surfers Paradise strip, QT Gold Coast is an excellent alternative. Or, in a nod to nostalgia, stay at the retro-cool Pink Hotel in Coolangatta, which is all pops of pink, neon and kitsch. If your winter getaway includes a road-trip during the school holidays, you can join the dots between retro motels along the coast.
Average winter temperature on the Gold Coast: 21°C
The Tweed, New South Wales
Why go? Just south of the Gold Coast border, the Tweed offers the same 20°C winter warmth as the Sunshine State, being just over the border. The coastal towns of Kingscliff and Cabarita Beach stay relatively quiet through the cooler months and whale season from May to November means regular sightings from the headlands. The hinterland is also a hot ticket in the Tweed.
Where to eat: Paper Daisy at Halcyon House is one of the Tweed’s best restaurants with rooms and dining here will lift your spirits during a winter getaway. Down the coast in Pottsville, Pipit is also a big deal with chef Ben Devlin’s wood-fired seafood-led tasting menu earning him a spot on the global 2025 Best Chef List. Lolita’s Mexican Cantina and Potager are also paradise for food lovers.
Where to drink: Kingscliff Beach Hotel, a beachfront pub with a beer garden that has been the locals’ spot to watch the sun stain the sky at dusk. Want to tap into the Tweed lifestyle? Head to intimate Euro-leaning Bar Bruto for small bites and a few bevvies, Spice Den for fiery flavours and Farm & Co for elite paddock-to-plate fare. Husk Distillery also adds to the Tweed’s appeal as one of the best destinations for winter sun in Australia.
Where to stay: Halcyon House on Cabarita Beach, an eclectic, design led boutique hotel with a beachfront pool. For something further inland, Hillside Carool is regularly rated among the best farm stays in Australia, perched above the Tweed Valley with sweeping hinterland views in every direction. Return in October for the Savour The Tweed, one of the best food and drink festivals in Australia.
Average winter temperature on the Tweed Coast: 20°C
visitthetweed.com.au
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