See it or Flee it - the good the bad and the butt ugly Australian destinations

Ever decided to be adventurous when choosing a holiday destination, only to end up in a dingy town where the unwelcoming locals want you to leave as much as you do? Or accidentally found the prettiest town, but had no time to explore. The new independent domestic travel magazine, Australian Traveller, has listed the top 10 prettiest spots and 10 ugliest blots (excluding capitals) in Australia.

Big-wig Surfers Paradise made it onto Australian Travellers top ten list, but not in the way they were hoping for. As did Zeehan and Queenstown of Tassie, scoring number one and two spots as the ugliest towns in Oz. “Surely it (Queenstown) is a shoo-in for most butt-ugly town in Oz, with those denuded, claustrophobic hills that ring the town, the cracked footbaths and shop owners who treat paying customers like trespassers,” writes Suzi Petkovski, who is brutally honest and takes a refreshingly real approach to Australian travel.

Tasmania also scored goodies with Stanley and Ross making it to the top ten of great Australian towns. When it comes to picturesque towns, Tasmania punches well above its weight and could fill out a top ten on its own.

Australian Traveller gives top score to Fremantle, WA. “Almost 20 years since her makeover for the America’s cup, the Old Girl has never looked better.” Margaret River was ranked the third best Australian town, with its forest canopy, string of refined wineries, posh nosh and fabled surf that exudes good living. Byron Bay scraped in at number ten on the must stop-over list. Well, does any other Australian town attract such an intriguing, motley mix of celebrities, surfers, backpackers, alternative life stylers and yuppie refugees?

All top scorers featured a few things in common: a beautiful natural setting, harmonious and well-preserved architecture, good grub, a weekend’s worth of stuff to see and do and (less vitally) a location within staggering distance of a winery.

The launch issue out nationally 25 May in your local news agent!

www.australiantraveller.com