What is your favourite country town in each state.

NSW Parks , Dubbo
VICTORY Everywhere and Anywhere
SA Port Lincoln Mount Gambier
QLD Anywhere along the coast below Hervey Bay
WA ??
NT ??

NSW - too many - Dunnedoo, Parkes, Nundle, Moonan Brook, Nabiac - all have interesting scenery and 'character'
VIC - none really
QLD - Isisford - nice people, nice atmosphere, nice camp site on the banks of the Barcoo - Birdsville for obvious reasons
NT - none really stand out except Alice Springs
WA - Kalbarri - nice relaxed atmosphere - great sea-food, Kunnanurra - gateway to the Kimberly
SA - Hawker - gateway to the Flinders - Coober Pedy - always stopping there on the verge of another great trip

QLD - Helensvale...now this is really really small but has the iconic Lions Den and is just a 20 minute drive into Cooktown.
NSW - Stretch of coast that includes Lake Conjola, Ulladulla and Burrill Lake - so good I retired to this beautiful part of the world.
VIC - Yarrawonga.....love camping on the Murray just 8km to the west at Forges Bend.
TAS - yet to explore but really like the look of St Helens
WA - Kalbari - calm, quiet, great places to visit nearby and also good fishing.
NT - I like Alice Springs and the many national parks surrounding the city.
SA - Smoky Bay - this has got to be one of the best kept secrets in Australia. Excellent caravan park, great beaches, great fishing and the best oysters you've ever tasted. Can get a bit windy at time though.

WA-Esperance (Lucky Bay), Freo (Vibrant and beautiful).
NT-Alice Springs, Glen Helen (Real Australia and outback experience).
NSW-Silverton,Lake Cargelligo (Outback and the unusual)
SA-Beachport, Coober Pedy (Peaceful sea and again real Aussie outback)
Qld-Aramac,Mt Isa (The people and a man's town)
Vic-Rainbow, Mildura (The people and outback fringe with the Murray)


Peter

Umm, this is harder than it seems and I realise my "favourites" are based on memories rather than anything specific and I'm focussed more on places than towns sorry, which probably isn't what you wanted but all I can think of right now without spending too long.

WA - Yallingup (amazing coastal views & access to wineries, walks, & caves) & Broome (memories of camping/fishing/crabbing on northern beaches there @ Barred Creek, James Price Point etc ...oh and where we got married)
QLD - Birdsville (memories of being a local for a short stint & living in the old Padres, great people who taught me so much humility and I named my first child after the publican's daughter who made an impression on me she may not even be aware of), &
NSW - Woolgoolga (fantastic diving & nice locals), Foster/Tuncurry (simply because its so stunning) but so many other gorgeous coastal places and a lifetime exploring here, so hard to pick just 2.
VIC - Woods Point (quaint, rustic charm on edge of serious 4WDing country), & Port Campbell (the beauty of the Apostles)
ACT - ? Lake Burley Griffen (for many years of happy sailing memories)
NT - Berry Springs (used to swim here in the early 90's when I lived in Darwin), Watarrka (Kings Canyon) just sooo impressive
SA - Streaky Bay (for the loo with a view), & Poeppel's Corner!
TAS - has to be Montezuma's Falls (spectacular rainforest)
Freycinent NP (views, hikes, colours, wow).

WA Albany and Kalgoorlie NSW Broken Hill Wagga wagga Adelaide SA and ceduna

QLD - Agnes water / 1770 & Sunny Coast hinterland (Montville etc)
WA - Kalgoorlie & Exmouth
NSW - Northern parts around Lake Ainsworth and Byron
VIC - King Island

I like most country towns. In trying to pick a favourite in each state I couldn't possibly pick a standout. There are towns that I have had a long association with, like Burra in SA, because it is the gateway to so many memorable trips. But I also love Peterborough, Orroroo, and many others that are unaffected, friendly, and remind me of great times. Its the same for every state, but the further I get from Sydney and the Eastern coastal strip the more I like the town. I think visiting country towns is one of the highlights of my Australian road trips. The ones I don't like are those that have sold out to tourism, or destroyed their original architecture.

Bob

Anywhere there is an old town. So much history and untold stories when you get to talk to the older local generation. We have spent hours in some and still never had enough time. Sadly, too many are dying from all sorts of external forces. Cheers,Bob.

VIC Beechworth and Maldon
NSW Tumut and Yamba
TAS Ross and Port Arthur
QLD Bowen and Maleny
SA Streaky Bay and Mt Gambier
NT Alice and Jabiru
WA Margaret River and Kalbarri

Qld - Kilkiven and Mt. Morgan
NSW - Thredbow and Byron Bay
Vic - Yarra Glen and Orbost
SA - Glenelg
WA - Laverton and Broome
NT - Alice Springs and Batchelor
Never been to Tas.

Favourite country towns and destinations I like:

WA....Denmark and Hyden
SA....Coffin Bay and Laura
Vic...Port Fairy and Myrtleford
Tas...Deloraine and Richmond
NSW...Tenterfield and Coonabarabran
Qld...Cooktown and Charter Towers
NT...Borroloola (like the name) and Mataranka

etc etc etc

Loxton in SA alsoSmokey bay
Ballina in NSW Safire in Qld
Mataranka in NT Bachelor also in the NT
In Victoria Mildura
In WA Kununurra And Derby
the Stewart highway is one of the best roads in Australia

NSW Adaminaby
WA.Marble Bar
SA Clare
TAS Strahan
QLD nil
VIC Corryong
NT Daly Waters

Qld-Noccundra- Weipa

Vic- Bairnsdale (born there) Omeo

Nsw- Hay- Tumut

SA- Mungeranie-Renmark

WA- Useless Loop(live here) -Gasgoyne junction

NT- Pine creek(used to live there) Dundee Beach (should live there)

cheers, sparra

Vic - Mildura , Im Biased
NSW - Tibooburra - Great Pubs with massive history
Qld - Coolum Beach - Seaside village, used to have superb golf course until Clive Palmer wrecked it
Tas - Bicheno - Crayfish burgers and Best sausages from little butcher
SA - Streaky Bay - Best Seafood right on your doorstep
WA - Havent been there yet
NT - Daly Waters & Border Store (Kakadu) - Uniquely Australian.

It's taken me 2 days of indecisiveness to reluctantly come down to just 2...
Qld: Agnes Water/1770 and Hughenden
NSW: Hastings Point (just south of Kingscliff) and Myall Lakes
Vic: Mansfield in the east, and anywhere along the Great Ocean Rd
SA: Kangaroo Island and Victor Harbour
WA: Denmark and Denham
NT: the ever-changing Darwin(oops-not really a country town, huh?), and Uluru
TAS: I'll get there "one day"!

It's funny though, when you make a list like that...reminiscing makes you wonder how much they've changed since you last saw them (anything up to 20 years ago).

WA:Albany (but any where between Walpole to Esperance is great)
Tas: Coles Bay
SA: Streaky Bay

My favourite spots are:

QLD = Mission Beach and Emu Park.
NSW = Hastings Point.

Thanks Heaps Fella's.

There be a lot of places I would never have gone to take a look at. So now there all marked on me google Maps so I can plan a visit to them when I'm out that way.

Funny how some towns I wouldn't rate a mention also didn't get a mention from you guy's either.

Cheers

NSW - Glen Innes & Guyra, 2 towns that always justify why you brought that jacket along for the trip. Megalong Valley.

Qld - Winton, Childers, Birdsville and Ravenshoe

NT - Timber Creek & Adelaide River

WA - Kununurra

SA - Mungerannie, Salt Lakes area near Woomera.

Vic - Mansfield, but only been there once.

Tas - Haven't crossed the Strait yet.