7 Off-The-Grid Australia Towns To Visit In 2025
Australia, where the quirky Emu War once unfolded, is a Land Down Under with many underrated and off-the-grid small towns worth visiting in 2025. Across this continent and country with several unique biomes and habitats, you will find many out-of-the-way destinations, each brimming with history, culture, and breathtaking natural beauty. Whether you are wandering through Beechworth’s gold rush past or swimming near the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas, these towns promise unforgettable experiences and adventures in an off-grid setting in the many Australian states you will adore. This year, you can go cross-country and off-the-grid in the many Australian towns to visit in 2025.
Beechworth, Victoria
Nestled at the foothills of the Victorian Alps, Beechworth is a historic small town about 90 minutes east of Shepparton. Part of the Indigo Shire, this off-the-grid town once thrived during Australia’s Gold Rush, transforming from its humble beginnings as Mayday Hills in the 1800s into a bustling hub during the mid-1800s. The Chinese Burning Towers at Beechworth Cemetery endures as a poignant tribute to the miners who immigrated from China and helped shape the town during the Gold Rush.
At the Burke Museum, you will find rare artifacts and exhibits dedicated to explorer Robert O’Hara Burke. You can also explore the eerie Old Beechworth Gaol, a former prison in Beechworth. However, for those of you who would prefer the simple and leisurely pleasures of Australia’s wilderness, areas like the Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park encourage you to spot some of Australia’s famous denizens, such as kangaroos and koalas, amidst waterfalls in the rugged bushland.
Hahndorf, South Australia
Just a short 30-minute drive from the big city of Adelaide, Hahndorf is a veritable and vivacious slice of Germany in the heart of Australia. Founded in the 1830s by German Lutheran settlers fleeing religious persecution under the King of Prussia, Hahndorf’s inspiring German heritage lives on in its timber-framed architecture and its amazing artisanal offerings. The Hahndorf Academy houses the German Migration Museum, where you can learn more about the immigration history and narratives of individuals such as Pastor Kavel and George Fife Angas (the latter being a former director of a South Australian company) who contributed to the growth of Hahndorf.
Visitors to this off-the-grid small town just half an hour away from Adelaide ought to go through The Cedars, the former home and studio of celebrated landscape artist Sir Hans Heysen. On the other hand, those with an affinity for agriculture and horticulture can head over to the Hahndorf Lavender Estate to breathe in fields of vibrant purple and blooming lavender. Beerenberg Farm, likewise, tempts visitors with its fresh jams, sauces, and seasonal produce.
Daylesford, Victoria
Tucked at the base of Victoria’s Great Dividing Range or Macedon Ranges, Daylesford is a secluded and charming haven filled with natural springs, historic charm, and romantic getaways. Long revered by the Dja Dja Wurrung people who once resided in this part of Australia for thousands of years, the more modern version of Daylesford was founded when gold miners from Switzerland and Italy built a lasting and prosperous community to mine in the mountains. Since then, Daylesford has flourished thanks to its mineral-rich waters, which are now celebrated at spots like Lake Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.
The enchanting Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, perched atop an extinct volcano, features panoramic views and the art-filled Convent Gallery, housed in a 19th-century mansion. Similarly, the Daylesford Spa Country Railway provides newcomers with opportunities to explore the surrounding countryside.
Dorrigo, New South Wales
Tourists following the scenic Waterfall Way can reach the vibrant and vivacious town of Dorrigo, one of the best destinations you can enjoy in New South Wales’ Northern Tablelands. Dorrigo serves as a gateway to the stunning Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, with Dorrigo National Park offering unforgettable waterfalls and scenic trails, and routes.
Nearby, the Bellinger River National Park is one of many ancient woodlands where travelers can go sightseeing for Australia’s most elusive and unique wildlife. At the Historic Railway Bridge, you can admire a relic of ambitious but abandoned engineering dreams that attempted to go through the Northern Tablelands. Meanwhile, you can appreciate and celebrate local culture in town during the October Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival. There are many more splendors and wonders to behold and experience in the delightful town of Dorrigo.
Port Douglas, Queensland
Where the rainforest meets the reef, Port Douglas thrives as one of the premier resort destinations where tourists can go off the grid and explore the unmatched natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. To gain access to the world’s largest coral reef system, you can approach one of several programs and guides in Port Douglas that provide a variety of tours through the Great Barrier Reef, such as Reef Sprinter and Wavelength.
On land, the Daintree Rainforest, dating back 135 million years, shelters crocodiles, king ferns, elusive cassowaries, spotted-tailed quolls, and tree kangaroos. You should definitely time your vacation for the Port Douglas Carnivale, an annual celebration of food, culture, and entertainment, which occurs in May. Finally, for a truly relaxing escape into Australia’s seaside wonderland, luxurious lodgings like Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort or the Pullman Port Douglas Sea Temple Resort and Spa are ready to rejuvenate you after a long day of trekking and swimming.
Margaret River, Western Australia
About three hours south of Perth, Margaret River, an off-the-grid destination, is a stunning town beside the eponymous Margaret River. For over 50,000 years, the Wadandi people have called this region home, relying on Margaret River’s bountiful waters. Today, the town sharing the name with the river is famed for its world-class wineries, such as Cape Mentelle.
During whale season (May to November), tourists can catch glimpses of migrating humpback whales from coastal lookouts on the Margaret River or vis-à-vis a boat. On the other hand, from August to November, you will see Margaret River blossom with colorful vibrancy when dazzling wildflowers come in full bloom along the Wadandi Track. Meanwhile, the Cape to Cape Track connects the town with dramatic sea cliffs, limestone caves, and lighthouse vistas in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park for travelers to explore and spelunk.
Huskisson, New South Wales
Situated along the shimmering shores of Jervis Bay, the awesome, off-the-grid town of Huskisson has rightfully earned its acclaim as one of Australia’s top tourism towns. At the ruins of nearby Cape St. George Lighthouse, you will be astounded and mesmerized by panoramic coastal views and, during the whale migration seasons (June-July and September-November), the pods of gentle giants wading through the waters in Jervis Bay. More adventure awaits in every direction, especially in Booderee National Park to the south, where both pristine beaches and Aboriginal culture can be experienced in full. In contrast to the north, the Jervis Bay National Park invites hikers with lush bushland and coastal tracks. Further inland, you can find many marsupials grazing in Jerrawangala National Park and Parma Creek Nature Reserve.
Final Thoughts
Once a distant penal colony of the British Empire, Australia has since developed into one of the world's most captivating travel destinations, with several off-the-grid Australian towns to visit in 2025 due to their culture, natural habitats, and festivities. Whether you are in the mood for exploring the coral gardens near Port Douglas, hiking through Dorrigo’s rainforests, or soaking up the coastal charm of Huskisson, 2025 is the perfect year to discover the mesmerizing mysteries, histories, and festivities in the wild and surprising outdoors of the Outback. For the sake of enjoyment and safety, be prepared for long adventures and out-of-the-way experiences in the many off-the-grid Australian towns to visit in 2025.
