Eight gorgeous Australian coastal towns where time - still - slows down

From Western Australia to the eastern seaboard, we have you covered.

Queensland-born Ken Connell moved to this seaside town on NSW's sparkling Sapphire Coast 33 years ago for a holiday - and never went back. The beaches, the bushwalking trails, the wildlife encounters and - most importantly - the locals were just too good to leave. He now runs a tour company called Eden Buses and introduces visitors to all those facets of this coastal paradise. Check into one of the lodgings at Snug Cove Villas with an open-plan kitchen, spacious living and dining areas, and - most importantly - views of Eden's stunning harbour in one direction and Aslings Beach in the other; then get exploring with Ken.

Don't follow the crowds to Coffs Harbour. Make a beeline for this sandy heaven about 35 minutes' drive south, instead, to discover beaches without footprints, estuaries with frolicking dolphins, rocky outcrops with views of migrating humpback whales and an 18-hole golf club located on an island in the middle of the river. Check out Ingenia Holidays White Albatross, where you can either pick a camping or caravan site, or book a cabin that sleeps up to six people.

There's no shortage of gorgeous waterside towns on the Great Ocean Road - from Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne on one end to Port Fairy on the other. So why bother with Wye River? Because it's tiny, but still punches above its weight, thanks to pristine beaches that don't attract big crowds but are still patrolled in summer, laid-back cafes and general stores where you can fuel up and stock up; and an unpretentious pub (Wye Beach Hotel) where you can soak up sweeping ocean views with your pooch - as long as it's "quiet" and "well-behaved".

If you've done the Great Ocean Road, take the Great Alpine Road instead, at the end of which - along the shores of the Gippsland Lakes - you'll find this sleepy town, with quaint eateries, galleries with local artworks, and plenty of history and birdlife. A two-bedroom luxury cabin, Lakeview Retreat Metung, offers easy access to some of the region's top attractions, from Metung Country Club to the hot springs nearby.

Victoria's Phillip Island is not the only place in Australia lucky enough to witness the daily spectacle of little penguins parading up the beaches after sunset. The glorious town of Bicheno on the Apple Isle's east coast - about two hours' drive east of Launceston - has a colony of these cute waddlers, too. The only difference is: there are hardly any crowds here; just locals who have managed to keep this seaside haven a tightly held secret. Until now. Go for the penguins, stay for refreshing beaches, water sports and scenic trails you can explore on two feet or two wheels.

If the 400-metre-long timber jetty on Port Noarlunga Beach - just 40 minutes south of Adelaide - doesn't knock your thongs off, its crystal-clear shallows protected by a reef surely will. Whether you swim, dive, snorkel or simply drift above the surface in a kayak, rare encounters with marine creatures are guaranteed. And when you've had your fill of the "water world", make a beeline for the McLaren Vale wine region, about 20 minutes south-east, for a taste of some of South Australia's best restaurants and wineries.

Located on Queensland's gorgeous Sunshine Coast, just south of K'gari (formerly Fraser Island), Rainbow Beach offers the best of both worlds - subtropical rainforest on one side and soft dunes descending into hypnotic blue waters on the other. Hike along the towering cliffs of the Great Sandy National Park, book an equine adventure right next to the crashing waves with Rainbow Beach Horse Rides, or - if you dare - go underwater to swim with grey nurse sharks with Wolf Rock Dive.

A trip to the creamy beaches, quiet coves and rather friendly dolphins of Denmark on the southern shores of Western Australia is just about to get easier for eastern seaboarders, thanks to the launch of direct flights between Sydney and Busselton Margaret River Airport this March. So waste no time and get organised: book one of the chalets at The Cove, set on 24 hectares of native forests, then hit the waters: Lights Beach and Elephant Cove are at the top of our list.

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