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Sunday, February 02, 2025

MMXXV / Australia's 10 most welcoming towns, according to travellers

Booking.com Reveals the World’s Most Welcoming Cities for 2025


 Maleny and Montville Not Matraville  / Australia's 10 most welcoming towns, according to travellers


A major travel website has revealed the most welcoming cities in Australia, based on thousands of reviews.

The Booking.com 2025 Traveller Review Awards collate the posted opinions of customers to find out where in Australia people can find the best hospitality and travel experiences.


Booking.com is a travel website that allows users to book accommodations. The Traveller Review Awards recognize the most welcoming cities in Australia based on traveler reviews. 
  • Montville, Queensland
  • Maleny, Queensland
  • Margaret River Town, Western Australia
  • Mudgee, New South Wales
  • Ocean Grove, Victoria
  • Bicheno, Tasmania
  • Port Lincoln, South Australia
  • Halls Gap, Victoria
  • Daylesford, Victoria
  • Orange, New South Wales

Maleny (pronounced muh-LAY-knee) is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. Maleny was a timber town until the early 1920s and then was a centre of dairy production and fruit growing. In the 2021 census, the locality of Maleny had a population of 3,959 people.




Maleny has once again secured top spot in the top 10  Most Welcoming Towns in Australia. 

Booking.com announced the recipients of its 10th annual Traveller Review Awards recently. 

Maleny won for the second year in a row while Montville was ranked number 9, proving Blackall Range charm still reigns supreme.

The awards draw on more than 232 million verified reviews from real travelers. 

Div 5 Cr Winston Johnston said it was no surprise Maleny and Montville were such welcoming towns. “Congratulations to our community and business owners who have worked tirelessly for many years to promote our area and to ensure that visitors enjoy a welcoming experience to the Blackall Range. This award is not easy to win and it is a credit to all concerned. It requires a lot of planning, training and strict attention to detail. Keep up this excellent work.”

Montville Chamber of Commerce President Shiralee Cooper said Montville’s accommodation venues have continued to provide outstanding service despite the continuing challenges of last minute cancellations and staffing because of the pandemic. 

“I am so proud to see how our local businesses have extended a warm welcome to guests in trying times,” she said. “The friendly face is an important part of the experience for visitors to our hinterland home.

“Our proximity to Brisbane, our epic green vistas and fresh air have enticed visitors to escape to the hills. Montville’s natural beauty, our vibrant arts and crafts scene, unique shops and cafe culture are all a part of the appealing mystique of Montville.

“One of our hosted accommodations, Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat took out the top gong for Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Most Romantic Hotel in the entire world last year. While another multi-awarded accommodation, The Falls Montville won third place in the Small Hotels in the world as rated by Tripadvisor guests. 

“If you read the reviews on any of the booking platforms you will understand why Montville and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland are such resilient destinations. Our tourism offerings are exceptional, as are the people who make it their business to warmly welcome guests.

“If you are seeking a refreshing break, now is the time to book before the onset of the Easter holiday crowds.”

2022 Most Welcoming Towns in Australia 

1. MALENY, Queensland

2. Mount Tamborine, Queensland

3. Halls Gap, Victoria

4. Denmark, Western Australia

5. Margaret River Town, Western Australia

6. Healesville, Victoria

7. Warrnambool, Victoria

8. Hervey Bay, Queensland

9. MONTVILLE, Queensland

10. Albany, Western Australia


Montville named Australia’s most welcoming city in 2025 Traveller’s Choice Awards

Booking.com announced the recipients of its 13th annual Traveller Review Awards on January 28, revealing South Australia as one of the ‘Top 10 Most Welcoming Regions on Earth’.

Based on over 360 million verified customer reviews, the awards honour travel partners who consistently deliver outstanding hospitality and service.

In 2025, a record-breaking 1.71 million partners were recognized, an 16% increase compared to the year prior.

The Traveller Review Awards has also unveiled the Top Ten Most Welcoming Cities in Australia, placing Montville and Maleny in the top spots

Some of the welcoming towns in Australia include: 
  • Margaret River, Western Australia
    A vineyard town 
  • Mudgee, New South Wales
    A country retreat in a growing wine region 
  • Ocean Grove, Victoria
    A beachside town on the Bellarine Peninsula 
  • Port Lincoln, South Australia
    A seaside town known for its seafood and historic fishing industry 
  • Bicheno, Tasmania
    A small beach resort town on the east coast of Tasmania 
  • Daylesford, Victoria
    A town known for its beautiful lake of the same name 
  • Halls Gap, Victoria
    A town in the Grampians surrounded by bushwalking tracks and mountain 


Bicheno named one of the most welcoming places in Australia by Booking.com

A cohesive community and ‘a world-class patisserie that’s bumped up everyone’s cholesterol level’ are some of the reasons why a Tassie town has been named one of the most welcoming places in Australia.
Simon McGuire

February 3, 2025 




PLACES WE GO. Bicheno, East Coast Tasmania. Bicheno From Whalers Lookout Picture: Supplied
    Bicheno has been named one of the most welcoming places in Australia.
    The East Coast town featured in a top 10 list compiled by Booking.com.
    Glamorgan-Spring Bay Acting Mayor and Bicheno resident Mike Symons said he was not surprised the town received the accolade.
    “It goes to show we’re obviously a friendly beachside town, and we enjoy people coming to visit us because that’s obviously the feedback they’re giving – so we must be doing something right.”
    Mr Symons said the town’s landscape was part of its appeal.
    “A point of difference is its natural beauty; the vista, the water, the rocks, and all those things go to making it a beautiful spot to be in.
    “But we’ve also got some good attractions, and we’ve got a range of accommodation.
    “We’ve got some very high-end accommodation, and then you’ve got your good old caravan parks that people just come and have a wonderful summer holiday at.”
    Regarding the town’s attractions, Mr Symons said there were lots of things bringing people to Bicheno.
    “You can go down the street and get any number of little, lovely coffee shops; we’ve got a world-class patisserie that’s bumped up everyone’s cholesterol level in Bicheno single-handedly.
    “We’ve got some really good, world-class people in Bicheno doing great things.”
    Perched atop the town's famous flame-coloured rocks, Cod Rock Point is perfect for an oceanfront stay at Bicheno, Tasmania
    Mr Symons said a welcoming town has a cohesive community.
    “The local people of Bicheno are really active in a community sense; there’s a surf club, we’ve got an RSL club, we’ve got a bowls club, a golf club – we’ve got lots of people active in the community.
    “We have a great Lions Club; we have a fantastic food and wine festival at the start of summer, and then we have a fantastic rock concert at the end of summer.
    “All of these events are run by local people, and that engenders pride into the community and makes everyone really proud of where they live.”
    Conversely, Mr Symons said there were also factors that could make a town unwelcoming, such as “facilities not up to scratch.”
    “That’s partly where the council comes in.
    Lobster Shack Bicheno
    “We’ve got a great council crew in Bicheno that keep all the facilities tidy.
    “If you haven’t got that going on and the place is looking untidy, it doesn’t become welcoming.”
    Mr Symons said the townsfolk’s attitude could also make a place unwelcoming.
    “Sometimes there are some places where perhaps people maybe don’t want the visitors and don’t understand what they bring to the economy, and perhaps they bemoan the fact some visitors got their park outside the supermarket.
    “I think Bicheno just accepts that, and we know it’s going to be busy at Christmas.
    “And local people just plan for that and we’re all aware of that, and we just enjoy it while it’s there.”
    Bicheno is around 185km northeast of Hobart and has a population of about 950.
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