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Australia is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on Earth – but when you picture our prettiest spots, golden beaches and rugged red outback usually come to mind. Take a closer look at our cities and country towns, however, and you’ll find streetscapes that look like a real-life postcard. From purple-draped jacaranda canopies to historic sandstone precincts and ocean-facing boulevards, here are ten of the most beautiful streets in Australia you need to wander at least once.
1. Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf, SA
It’s hard not to fall in love with Hahndorf – an 1839 heritage-listed village in the Adelaide Hills reminiscent of a German postcard. Wander along the leafy main strip to uncover local artisans selling everything from traditional cuckoo clocks and candlesticks to sweets, cheeses and craft beers. The best time to visit is in autumn, when giant, 150-year-old English elms blanket the street in red and gold.
2. Tasman Drive, Gerringong, NSW
Just two hours from Sydney, this South Coast residential road is a social media sensation – and for good reason. As you roll down the hill, you’re greeted with sweeping views of emerald-green pastures dropping straight off dramatic sea cliffs into the Pacific Ocean.
3. High Street, Oatlands, TAS
The main street of Oatlands – a tiny Tassie town with Australia’s highest concentration of historic sandstone buildings – feels like the set of a historic film. In fact, it’s the largest intact Georgian streetscape in the country. While you’re exploring, make sure to visit the nearby Callington Mill Distillery, where you’ll find the iconic Lincolnshire Tower windmill.
4. McDougall Street, Sydney, NSW
Located right on the fringes of Sydney Harbour, this lower North Shore street is the ultimate spring destination as its vibrant jacarandas spring to life. When they reach full bloom in October and November, the trees reach out for their neighbours, creating a flowering arch and a fairytale scene on the street below.
5. Ford Street, Beechworth, VIC
Step back in time to the 1850s along Ford Street, one of Australia’s most charming 19th-century gold rush streetscapes. You’ll be charmed by the road’s gold-era granite and brick buildings, including the iconic Beechworth Honey Shop, the historic Christ Church and the vintage street lamps.
6. Hamden Road, Battery Point, TAS
Back in the 1800s, Battery Point – Hobart’s oldest suburb – was a mish-mash of colonial worker cottages and grant merchants’ mansions. Amazingly, many of these heritage buildings still stand along Hamden Road, which is now also home to some of the city’s best cafés, artisan bakeries and art shops. A visit to Jackman & McRoss for a classic Tasmanian scallop pie is an absolute must.
7. Main Street, Montville, QLD
Home to around 1,000 friendly locals, this Sunshine Coast Hinterland town was once named the most welcoming place in Australia. Montville’s Main Street is exactly what you’d picture when you think of an old-world European village – a charming mix of galleries, craft shops, antique stores and cosy cafés (some offering sweeping hinterland views stretching out to the Pacific Ocean).
8. Grant Crescent in Griffith, ACT
Come autumn, this curved crescent in Canberra’s inner south transforms into a cathedral-like canopy of massive, heritage-listed American elms. Wandering beneath the trees as fiery gold and crimson leaves crunch beneath your feet is pure nostalgic magic.
9. Queen Street, Berry, NSW
Lined with beautifully preserved 19th-century storefronts, historic timber verandas and leafy deciduous trees, Berry’s main drag offers textbook country-town charm. Better yet, Queen Street is packed with cute cafes, boutique homeware shops, and relaxed pubs to explore at your own pace.
10. Avon Terrace, York, WA
The enchanting, heritage-listed main street of Western Australia’s oldest inland town feels like stepping back in time. Stroll down the wide boulevard of Avon Terrace to admire beautifully preserved 19th-century Victorian and Edwardian architecture, including the opulent York Town Hall and historic Castle Hotel.