Australia's ten biggest inland cities you should visit (or avoid)

What should really be largely empty Mallee country has been transformed by irrigation. The historic buildings on the Chaffey Trail tell how Mildura was transformed into an agricultural powerhouse. There's also plenty of picturesque wine tasting to do – the Trentham Estate on the bank of the Murray River is particular scenic. But Mildura is all about the surrounding national parks – see giant roos and pink lakes in the Murray Sunset National Park, and take a day trip to Mungo National Park to learn how the archaeological finds there completely changed the world's view of Indigenous history. See visitmildura.com.au

Wagga Wagga

Population: 56,675

Defence and higher education tend to lure people to Wagga, but the city also occupies a rather lovely spot on the Murrumbidgee River. The National Art Glass Gallery and the Museum of the Riverina should do you for cultural attractions, but there's also a perhaps unexpected chance for some beach time. Back in December 2019, Tourism Australia rated Wagga Beach as one of the best 101 beaches in the country. See visitwagga.com

Melton

Population: 72,177

An extremely strong contender for the title of largest city most Australians have never heard of, Melton sits between Melbourne and Ballarat on the Western Freeway. It's technically a city in its own right rather than part of the Melbourne sprawl. But it's only a matter of time before that sprawl catches Melton and subsumes it. There are slim pickings for tourists, the vast majority of whom will be just driving through. The Melton Botanic Garden and Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve are about as good as you'll get. See melton.vic.gov.au

Launceston

Population: 88,178

Tasmania's second city is an underrated all-rounder. The delightful Cataract Gorge is a 10 minute walk from the city centre – boat trips head along it should you so desire. But the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is lots of fun too, with plenty of interactivity, while the James Boag HQ ticks the brewery tour box and Design Tasmania shows off top drawer local woodworking. See northerntasmania.com.au

Albury-Wodonga

Population: 94,837

The biggest urban area on the Murray has a smattering of historic buildings to wander around, but the river is the star attraction. Kayaking tours drop you off up stream, then allow you to lazily float down towards Norieul Park. The Yindyamarra Sculpture Trail combines a nature walk with Indigenous Art. And the Bonegilla Migrant Experience offers a fascinating insight into how post-WWII immigration changed Australia. See visitalburywodonga.com

Bendigo

Population: 100,991

Once the powerhouse of the Victorian goldfields, Bendigo has settled into its role as a regional city with enough culture, dining and drinking to prevent it slipping into backwater status. The top attraction for visitors is the Central Deborah gold mine, where you can explore the gold rush past but, more importantly, head deep underground on a tour. See bendigoregion.com.au

Ballarat

Population: 107,652

The rival goldfields city has a decent collection of handsome old buildings in the centre, but that's not what you come to Ballarat for. One of the best tourist attractions in Australia can be found in the Golden Point suburb. Sovereign Hill is a massive recreated goldfield town, with mine tours, wheelwrights, candlemakers and uniformed soldiers firing 19th century guns. It's extensive and immersive.

Toowoomba

Population: 138,223

Queensland's largest inland city tends to fall resoundingly off the tourist radar, but the capital of the Darling Downs does a nice line in parks and gardens. The Japanese Garden tended by the University of Southern Queensland is delightful, and the Botanic Gardens in Queens Park aren't too shabby either. Otherwise, try the DownsSteam tourist railway and museum for steam train rides. See southernqueenslandcountry.com.au

Canberra

Population: 462,136

The ABS assessment of the national capital's population includes neighbouring Queanbeyan in New South Wales. It's by far Australia's largest inland city, though, and has by far the most to do of Australia's inland cities. Highlights include visiting the Australian Parliament building, observing the perennially moving Last Post ceremony at Australian War Memorial, taking a hot air balloon ride across Walter Burley-Griffin's planned city. See visitcanberra.com.au

Disclosure: David Whitley has been a guest of Tourism Australia and the state tourism authorities.

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