You will feel the welcome sign is out on the doorway to our region and it is not just our closest locations who are noticing. The little towns and hamlets are working together to showcase all there is on offer in one very diverse region for you to enjoy!
The welcome is tangible in the spirit and the natural layers of community from the first Giday in the street to the support of our accommodation ambassadors.
Booking.com have released their list of the most welcoming cities in Australia for 2025!
As the travel agency reveals their annual traveller review awards, they’ve crunched the numbers of over 360 million verified customer reviews to discover which towns deliver outstanding hospitality and service.
So, here’s Booking.com’s top ten most welcoming cities in Australia!
2025’s Most Welcoming Town In Australia
- 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
Booking.com revealed the Most Welcoming towns in Australia for 2022 and it was Maleny 1st with Montville in 9th, Maleny also took out the title in 2021.
Located high in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Maleny is renowned for its lush surrounds, scenic spots and it’s arts scene. It also boasts sensational food, produce, and the most charming places to stay.
Montville has the Artisan Village Walk and breathtaking views to the whole coastline of the Sunshine Coast. Discover the village green, unique architecture and waterwheel as you stroll the high street in search of exclusive treasures. An it is becoming known as the enchanted town that loves Christmas ads offered a wholesome celebration for everyone at the most magical time of the year.
You are also within 5 minutes of Baroon Pocket Dam, waterfalls and the rainforest hikes of the regions national parks. But also high on the list is the dining and cafe culture in Palmwoods and the charms of camping and donut challenges in Kenilworth, linking to the scenic drive onto the Eumundi Markets.
The Mapleton National park is a bushwalking and mountain biking paradise! As you travel the Blackall Range you have costal views to Mt Coolum on one side and nature on the other, to take in on your jaunt through the hills, with the Maleny to Montville and Mapleton road one of the most beautiful drives to experience.
We particularly love the shimmering silver of the ocean behind the cow paddocks and verdant green ridges as you leave Maleny to Flaxton driving north in the mornings. It feels like heaven is in reach just before you as you sweep around the bends.
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is the most loved destination in the world.
The incredible accolade was announced by the Tourism Sentiment Index, which tracked the sentiment of travellers online across a staggering 1.8 billion conversation and content pieces to determine how people felt about destinations around the world.
But there is something in the air, the people and the fabric of the Hinterland. They are real down to earth types, and you will notice that a lot of our tourism providers live and breathe the region, hence that love and connection to place shines through.
We can be a little fancy but not pretentious, elegant and charming – it would be way too unorthodox to be too Noosa even though we can be there in an hour to enjoy a little bistro and surf with the best of them and we are great neighbours.
We are certainly not Sydney but can be a little Melbourne for our arts, foodie cafes, boutique stores, coffee, cheese and brunch but with a little more bucolic countryside, relaxed vibes and sunshine. Think Country Style crossed with Vogue Living and Gardening Australia and you have a stylish location that you can slip right into undetected should you need to refresh the soul.
Add in 3 UNESCO Biosphere reserves nestled in nature just down the road, from the Sunshine Coast to Noosa and the Great Sandy Biosphere. Then you know there is really something special going on in this part of the world!
We are the closest Hinterland to ocean on the whole southeastern seaboard so it is actually an idyllic location to base oneself for real relaxation and a dash of adventure.
You can be at the beach at sunrise and on a mountain top gazing at sunset amongst the unique dreamtime peaks of the glasshouse mountains.
Let us welcome you to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland from a passionate bunch of volunteers and tourism operators who believe that together everything becomes more amazing and it is!
Welcome guide to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Discover Australia’s most welcoming towns 2025 , 2022 & 2021
The Ultimate Guide to the Hinterland
