Narooma, Australia

Surrounded on three sides by beautiful beaches, inlets and coastal lakes, NAROOMA is perfect for watery pursuits, and lies at the heart of an area famous for its succulent freshwater oysters. The town is rather spread out along the Princes Highway – first Wagonga then Campbell Street as it runs through the centre – with a marina down to the west and beaches to the east. First impressions are best from the pretty, 350m-long Mill Bay Boardwalk, which skirts the northern shore of Wagonga Inlet. Southern right and humpback whales migrate past the bay from September to early November; there's also a decent chance of seeing seals from the lookout at the end of Bar Rocks Road, particularly in spring.

If you're in town over the long weekend at the start of October, don't miss the annual Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival (www.bluesfestival.tv).