Sydney, Melbourne and Perth tend to dominate the international property buyer’s imagination. But if the blare of the big city is not for you, you might find your feet in one of these small towns. Each offers a gentler pace of life, surrounded by nature, be that the coast, the rainforest or the desert. Discover two towns named after animals, the country’s counter-culture capital and a town that is literally built underground.
1. Penguin, Tasmania
Penguin, Tasmania.
Are you a penguin fan? You might have little penguin ornaments dotted around the house or felt particularly drawn to them on a trip to the zoo. As much of a penguin fan as you may think you are, the penguin is celebrated nowhere more than this small coastal town in Tasmania. The town was named after the fairy penguin by Robert C Gunn, a botanist. And as if being named after them was not enough, the town also erected a ten foot sculpture of a giant penguin, that they called…Big Penguin.
Aside from the penguins, who you can see doing the weekly shop at the supermarket and enjoying a coffee in their favourite café, Penguin is best known for its local market, which is held every Sunday. Here, you’ll find over 100 stalls offering crafts, fresh produce, wine and more.
Nearest major city: Devonport, a 20 minute drive.
Property price: the median property price is $520,000.
Best for: penguin & coastal fans.
2. Coober Pedy, South Australia
Fancy life underground?
Out of all the unique places to live, Coober Pedy probably takes the opal-encrusted crown. Here, you get to embrace your inner mole by living literally underground. Located in the heart of the dessert, the residents of Coober Pedy protect themselves from the scorch of the Australian heat by living in dugouts. And it’s not just homes: discover underground churches, pubs, shops and even a golf course. Furthermore, Coober Pedy is scenic too, but unusually so, with the Breakaways Reserve possessing a lunar-like appearance.
The town is also famously the capital of the country’s opal industry. There are mines to visit and the opportunity to grow your opal collection.
Nearest major city: Adelaide, a 9 hour drive away, though there are closer small towns, such as Glendambo, Marla and Cadney Park.
Property price: $110,000.
Best for: those that want to live somewhere truly unique & can hack the heat.
3. Nimbin, New South Wales
If you feel at home in Shoreditch, you’ll feel more than at home in Nimbin. But rather just a part of London, Nimbin has proudly fashioned itself as the counter-culture capital of Australia. The home of hippies, artists and poets, all lounging around its quirky choice of cafes and boutique shops, sipping almond lattes and creating masterpieces. Nimbin is known for its MardiGrass festival, a cannabis reform rally which began in 1993.
As well as the green herb, Nimbin has a thriving wellness industry and is the place to be for spiritual healing, massages, digging into fresh, local produce and picking up natural therapies. The surrounding area is epically beautiful too with national parks, rainforests and waterfalls making for inviting places to stretch your legs and picnic by. Plus, Nimbin has a terrific tourism industry, so there’s plenty to see and do. You don’t even need to purchase a property here – just get a luxury cabin or a tepee and park yourself on a mountain – but it does have an exciting array of homes for sale, if you’d prefer a sturdy roof over your head.
Nearest major city: the Gold Coast is a 1 hour and 40 minutes away. Brisbane is three hours.
Property price: $620,000.
Best for: chilly hippies looking to be warm hippies.
4. Kuranda, Queensland
Your new neighbour.
Kuranda is a truly spectacular place to live. It’s a village nestled within the world’s oldest rainforest. Here, the world’s most beautiful animals aren’t just the stuff old wildlife documentaries or glimpsed behind bars in a cage. Here, you can spy them on your daily walks. Birdworld is home to over 300 birds, the butterfly sanctuary is the biggest in the southern hemisphere and Kuranda is one of the few places that you can cuddle a koala. Plus, enjoy boat trips up the Barron River, a plethora of colourful village shops, an exciting art scene and even an amphitheatre. Have incredible date nights in al fresco restaurants with mountain views.
Nearest major city: Cairns is 30 minutes away.
Property price: $635,000.
Best for: rainforest lovers & those that reckon koalas are the best huggers.
5. Tilba, New South Wales
If you’d like to live somewhere boasting of old-world charm surrounded by rolling hills, Tilba in New South Wales could fit you like a glove. This small town became a listed National Heritage site in 1974 due to its carefully preserved 19th century architecture, with colourful shopfronts and timbre homes in abundance. You can indulge on milkshakes and feast on cheeses at its award-winning dairy. If you’re worried about the impact of the dairy on your waistline, you can climb the gorgeous Guluga. Tilba was featured on River Cottage Australia, a television programme (inspired by the British version) looking a regional food in the country.
Nearest major city: Canberra is a three hour drive away. The smaller cities of Wollongong and Batemans Bay are closer.
Property price: The average price for a home in the greater region of Wollongong is $690,000.
Best for: milkshake & cheese fiends.
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6. Port Fairy, Victoria
Port Fairy.
With a name alone to pique your interest, Port Fairy sits at the end of Victoria’s stunning Great Ocean Road. The town is lovely to look at with 50 buildings owned by the National Trust, historic walking trails and beautiful, white-washed and bluestone cottages. Every March, residents and tourists alike enjoy the buzz created by the Port Fairy Folk Festival, one of Australia’s largest music festivals.
But there’s plenty to keep you entertained outside of March too: it’s great for arts and crafts shops, the beaches are superb for swimming and snorkelling (particularly Pea Soup Beach), and the golf course is regularly ranked among Australia’s best. Plus, as one of the country’s most bustling ports, you can expect to feast on top-quality fish.
Nearest major city: Melbourne is three and a half hours away. Alternatively, the smaller city of Geelong is an hour less in the car.
Property price: $862,500.
Best for: folk music fans who love golfing & swimming.
7. Cowaramup, Western Australia
Similarly to Penguin in Tasmania, Cowaramup embraces its animal mascot with an indisputable pride. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Cowtown’ by locals, you’ll find many a life-size fibreglass cow enjoying the sunshine. There’s also the annual Deja Moo County Fair and Cow Rally. And it’s not all for show: farming is a way of life in Cowaramup. In addition to local cheeses, you can tuck into delicious wines and fudge. Beaches, caves and forests are all a short drive away too.
Nearest city: Busselton is 30 minutes away.
Property price: $930,000.
Best for: cheese, wine & fudge seekers.
8. Lightning Ridge, New South Wales
Lightning Ridge.
Famous for its unique black opal, Lighting Ridge is a mining town close to the Queensland border. As well as mining opportunities and a four-day opal festival in July, the town is famous for its two million year old Artesian Bore Baths, which are perfect for a warm dip. Plus, enjoy the quirky Bottle House Museum (made, you guessed it, entirely out of bottles), the Heritage Cottage Museum and Amigo’s Castle, which was built by an Italian resident.
Nearest city: Dubbo is almost four hours away.
Property price: Lightning Ridge is too small an area for an average property price, but to give you an idea of what you could pay, Dubbo homes are priced at a median of $557,750.
Best for: those looking for a spa-town feel.
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9. Yamba, New South Wales
Clarence River, Yamba.
Yamba is an up-and-coming coastal town offering a slightly crowded (and more affordable) vibe to Byron Bay. It’s ideal for leading a relaxed beach-based lifestyle of hitting the surf, perfecting your suntan and even dolphin spotting. Additionally, the surrounding Yuraygir National Park, the Clarence River and the rural hinterland are beautiful spots for stretching your legs. Yamba is famous for its prawns – they even hold a festival for them.
Nearest major city: Brisbane is a three hour drive.
Property price: $912,500.
Best for: Prawn snackers & proud surfers.
10. Echuca, Victoria
The historic port of Echuca.
Echuca oozes with old-fashioned charm. It sits along the marvellous Murray River, the longest river in Australia. This historic port is made for gently cruising on a paddle streamer, kayaking, swimming and skiing. Furthermore, it is home to quirky museums such as Twisted Science, the National Holden Motor Museum and the Great Aussie Beer Shed. Plus, the cuisine is much to savour with craft breweries, contemporary wineries, a gin distillery and an abundance of local produce.
Nearest major city: Melbourne is a two and a half hour drive away.
Property price: $600,000.
Best for: fans of old world charm & riverside walks.
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