Regional Australia has a new look 

The beauty industry may have coined the term, but now regional Australia is getting its very own glow up 

They’re the regional destinations we all know and love, but in recent years they’ve started looking a bit different…     

As iconic Sydney restaurants establish a name for themselves in regional towns and world-class hotels pop up outside of the city centres, regional Aussie destinations are offering a whole new experience.  From Instagram-worthy restaurants like Adrian Richardson’s Maestro in Geelong and Merivale’s Totti’s in Lorne, to new hotel openings like QT Newcastle and Crystalbrook Kingsley, 2024 is set to be the year Aussies get to know the new regional Australia.   

“We know Aussies have always loved to travel regionally – whether that’s to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, catch up with friends and family or enjoy iconic Aussie experiences. But now, we’re seeing Aussies visit these destinations for entirely new reasons, as the face of regional Australia changes,” said Daniel Finch, Wotif Managing Director.  “Our research shows that almost a third (31%) of Aussies would travel to a destination to try a particular restaurant, and 30% agree Australian coastal towns are becoming more cosmopolitan. It’s an exciting shift for regional tourism operators as the demand for these destinations will only continue to grow. In fact, almost 2 in 5 (37%) Aussies say travelling to new and different regional towns has appealed over recent years.”