The freezing Queensland town named Australia's top tourism spot for 2026
It breaks every Sunshine State stereotype with log fires, wine and frost.
A town with unusually crisp winters in one of Australia's warmest and lushest states has been named the country's top tourism town for 2026.
Stanthorpe in Queensland, which breaks every Queensland stereotype, has won Top Tourism Town at the 2026 Australia's Top Tourism Town Awards, which celebrates regional towns and tour guides.
Stanthorpe sits roughly 800 metres above sea level in the Granite Belt region.
You won't find Queensland's typical tropical heat on a visit to Stanthorpe, but rather granite peaks, orchards, crisp winter nights by open log fires and four distinct seasons.
Queensland's coolest destination takes gold
Stanthorpe is known as Queensland's coolest climate because of its high elevation. It regularly records the coldest temperatures in the state, and can even drop below freezing.
The town even has a giant Big Thermometer in local parkland to celebrate the region's unusual temperature.
The town is also known as a wine growing region, with more than 40 cellar doors, making unusual varieties like tempranillo and verdhelo.
The region is Queensland's main apple grower, and also yields berries and stone fruit.
A visit to Stanthorpe wouldn't be complete without checking out the local farm gates and cheese makers, alongside craft breweries.
If you want to enjoy the granite landscape, visit nearby Girraween National Park where you can photograph precariously balanced granite boulders and stone monoliths while enjoying the walking tracks.
Erin McLeod, CEO of the Australian Tourism Industry Council, which runs the awards, said Stanthorpe brings together "outstanding visitor experiences with a strong sense of local character and a community that understands what it takes to create an exceptional visitor experience".
The NSW town of Kiama won silver in the Top Tourism Town category while Victoria's Echuca won bronze.
Small towns and top tour guides recognised
Another Queensland town, Airlie Beach, received gold in the Small Tourism Town category.
The vibrant coastal hub between Brisbane and Cairns is a gateway to the outer Great Barrier Reef, and visitors can enjoy charter boat tours and sailing excursions.
Airlie Beach combines tropical party town energy with spectacular landscapes including nearby rainforest hinterland.
Gulgong in NSW won silver and Portarlington in Victoria won gold in the Small Tourism Town category.
The awards - held at Parliament House in Canberra on September 15 - also crowned Portsea in Victoria as Australia's best Tiny Tourism Town.
The coastal enclave, on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, is known for its scuba diving, paddleboarding and rock cliffs.
Andrea Allen, a local councillor in the region, said Portsea boasts a distinctive mix of natural beauty, history and village charm.
"Portsea offers so much more than people expect, from Point Nepean National Park and the Quarantine Station to coastal walks, bay and ocean beaches, local hospitality and hidden gems throughout the village," cr Allen said in August when Portsea won at the Victoria Top Tourism Town Awards.
Toogoolawah in Queensland won silver and Port Arthur in Tasmania won bronze in the Tiny Tourism Town catgegory.
Laura Stone from Sydney by Kayak in NSW was named Australia's Top Tour Guide for 2026.
Tour guides Jools De Loryn from Go West Tours Victoria won silver and Angie Ouyang from National Museum of Australia in Canberra won bronze.
The awards celebrate regional Australian towns and tour guides delivering authentic and outstanding visitor experiences.
Sarah is Explore's Digital News Editor. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!. My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don’t plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what’s within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
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