From historic homesteads and beachfront glamping to indulgent private islands, these are our favourite luxury hideaways across Australia.
When we think of travel Downunder, we tend to think of either vibrant cities or the beach, and for sure, Australia has both. However, across this sunburnt land, nestled into some of the planet’s most remarkable landscapes, are a handful of indulgent and inspiring retreats, from the mighty Daintree Rainforest to the coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef, the verdant wine belts of South Australia and the mist-wreathed mountains of Tasmania. Each captures the essence of its surroundings, as well as the authentic you’re-all-welcome hospitality that makes Australia such an endearing destination.
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Longitude 131°
Located near Australian icon Uluru, Longitude 131° (above) is a classic outback escape consisting of 16 luxury tented suites and the Dune Pavilion, Australia’s only accommodation to offer views of both World Heritage-listed Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Dotted throughout the red-rust landscape, the tented suites boast direct vistas of the sacred rock.
When you’re ready to get out of bed, there’s plenty to keep you busy, including an Uluru sunset complete with private pop up bar; a chance to explore artist Bruce Munro’s Field of Light installation, 50,000 bud-light stems that bloom with light each evening; and hikes through the Walpa Gorge, Kantju Gorge, Valley of the Winds, or around the Kata Tjuta. Private dining experiences under a canopy of stars are the best way to delve into the Australian foodscape, which ranges from Cape Grim from Tasmania to barramundi from Humpty Doo.
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The camp also recently launched a series of Artist in Residence events to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the ceramics studio at Ernabella Arts Centre in South Australia’s Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, an organisation the property has a decade-long association with.
Bamurru Plains
In the far north of Australia, an hour’s drive outside Darwin, Bamurru Plains has proven a popular spot for experiential travellers looking to get close to some of the country’s famous, and often ferocious creatures, including water buffalo, wild brumbie horses, magpie geese and of course, salt water crocodiles.
The luxury wildlife lodge, which offers a Crocodile Dundee meets the Four Seasons travel experience, is located on the cusp of one of the region’s largest flood plains, which it has exclusive access to, and is best encountered aboard the lodge’s fleet of air boats, which skim across the flooded landscape, allowing an up-close and personal Aussie experience.
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Accommodation is in chic stilted cottages with air-conditioning, elegant bathrooms, and innovative fabric-wrapped ‘viewing galleries’ (look out for the recently launched Jabiru Retreat, two private safari bungalows, linked via a walkway to a central private plunge pool and deck area) while the chef serves contemporary takes on local ‘bush tucker’.
Lizard Island
One of Australia’s best kept secrets (it’s also the country’s farthest flung island resort), the Great Barrier Reef’s Lizard Island remains one of Downunder’s top island hideaways. Measuring in at 1,000 hectares and wreathed by some of the best coral on the Great Barrier, Lizard Island boasts 24 powder white sand beaches and only a clutch of luxury rooms and suites.
Interiors by Aussie architect Pike Withers draw the ocean into Lizard’s iconic Lodge Bar, the Osprey’s Restaurant with its daily changing menu of innovative seafood dishes, the Anchor Bay Suites, and the luxurious Sunset Point Villas, which feature spacious sun-kissed verandas, Bose sound systems and spacious bathrooms.
Guests looking to splurge can opt for the three level, three-bedroom House, which boasts broad balconies, outdoor baths, a private swimming pool, an adjoining yoga deck, and expansive views from the rooftop.
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If you can drag yourself from your sun deck, be sure to hit some of the island’s spectacular dive sites (the resort often hosts citizen scientist reef surveys), including the 100-year old giant clam garden and world-famous Cod Hole, or try your hand at deep sea fishing – black marlin is in season from September – December. Leave time for a tipple; the resort recently teamed up with Wolf Lane Distillery, Cairns’ very first gin distillery, for a unique spirit experience.
Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef
Located on a deserted strip of Western Australian beach, Sal Salis is an exclusive safari camp hidden in the white sand dunes of the Cape Range National Park. Boasting 16 off-grid, luxury safari tents, nestled just steps from some of the world’s greatest coastal reefs, guests share this ultimate beach camp with red kangaroo and Butcherbirds while the surrounding seas are popular with humpback whales and whale sharks.
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Each tent comes with 500-count cotton linen, a pillow menu, an en suite bathroom and of course, stunning sea views. A main camp building acts as dining room, where guests share stunning sunsets and drinks made with locally-produced spirits from Old Youngs, made with Australian sugarcane and Swan Valley grapes or West Winds Gin, which sources ingredients directly from growers and Traditional Custodians of the land, including native bush tomatoes, Davidson plums, and lemon myrtle, before sitting down to stellar Australian cuisine with a hint of bush tucker influence.
Saffire Freycinet
A jewel on Tasmania’s rugged east coast, this modern luxury lodge overlooks the Hazard Mountains and pristine waters of Great Oyster Bay, showcasing some of Tasmania’s most beautiful landscapes. The property features just 20 luxury contemporary suites, each of which boasts stunning views, 1,000-thread count linens, customised mini bars, flatscreen TVs and furniture by Charles & Ray Eames and Herman Miller.
Guests at Saffire Freycinet can enjoy the best of local produce, including Tasmanian salmon, rock lobster and King Island cheese, in the Palate restaurant, indulge in exclusive spa treatments created by celebrity facialist Marionne De Candia, delve into the untouched wilderness that wreaths the lodge, or while away the afternoon in the bath tub, complete with views to postcard perfect Wineglass Bay.
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A range of activities are included in the lodge’s tariff, including visits to a Freycinet oyster farm, walks around Wineglass Bay, trips to local wineries, bird watching and kayaking through Pelican Bay, dry fly fishing at one of Tasmania’s great wilderness properties, Currawong Lakes, and even cooking classes with the lodge’s culinary team. The property also recently launched a new complimentary tour of Waubs Harbour Distillery, a former oyster hatchery turned single malt producer set on the edge of the ocean at Bicheno.
Arkaba Station
Nestled among the peaks and undulating hills of the Flinders Ranges, home to some of Australia’s most spectacular Outback scenery, is Arkaba Station, which dates from 1851. Just ten guests, accommodated in a five-room fully-restored homestead, share this remote 24,000-hectare private wildlife conservancy, which is dedicated to the conservation of Australia’s unique wildlife and birds. Arkaba offers the quintessential Aussie outback scene: craggy sandstone bluffs and dry creek beds lined with River Red gum trees, endless open spaces accessible by a stable of horses, classic home cooking and a cast of characters there to host, entertain and teach.
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Book ahead for the Coachman’s Cottage, which is separated from the main house and comes complete with 500-thread count linen, air conditioning and a spacious ensuite, and wake to views across the Elder Range and the sing song of flocks of galahs, before spending a day exploring the outback by 4×4, horseback, or mountain bike, spying red and grey kangaroos, rock wallabies and emus along the way. Finish the evening with storytelling over a gourmet meal, a swim in the infinity edge pool or a digestif in the library.
Active types can even tackle the Arkaba Walk, an all-inclusive 45km four day hike (the season begins in March) through the stunning Outback landscape.
El Questro Homestead
A seasonal retreat nestled within the Kimberley’s vast and ancient landscape and hidden among burnt-orange cliffs and lush, green lawns, El Questro Homestead boasts just ten suites wreathed by frangipani trees and the still, tranquil Chamberlain River. While the accommodation here is luxurious, stays at the Homestead are punctuated by complimentary excursions across the over 283,000-hectare property (approximately 165,000 of which were recently returned to Traditional Owners nearly 120 years after El Questro was established as a cattle station), which includes rugged ranges, towering gorges, and crystal clear waters.
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Excursions include guided hikes, a dip in the Zebedee Thermal Springs, bird watching tours, four-wheel-drive adventures, nature and history tours, and cruises on the river. You’ll return to the Homestead for lunches served at communal tables, and private dinners under the stars, with menus packed with the abundance of the Ord River Valley.
Lake House
Situated on the shores of picturesque Lake Daylesford in the heart of Victoria’s spa country (it’s home to the largest concentration of natural mineral springs in Australia and the most holistic therapists) just 90 minutes from Melbourne, the Lake House is a village-like cluster of cream buildings nestled among 2.4 verdant hectares. A foodie and wellness destination created by founder Alla Wolf-Tasker AM, Lake House boasts a handful of sublime residential-styled suites and studios (you’ll love the Atrium Villa with its home-away-from-home vibe), tea service in the tennis pavilion, and evening libations in the Argyle Library Bar.
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However, the property is best known for its acclaimed restaurant, which holds two Chef Hats from the national Good Food Guide and which pairs modern, seasonal food, laced with ingredients from the property’s own Dairy Flat Farm, with the best drops from Australia’s wine belts (the cellar boasts 13,000 bottles). You can also stay closer to the source at Dairy Flat Farm & Lodge, which accommodates 12 guests across six private King Suites.
Spicers Peak Lodge
Located just two hours southwest of Brisbane, at the heart of the spectacular Scenic Rim, Spicers Peak Lodge is Queensland’s highest mountain lodge and offers breathtaking vistas from its ten luxurious rooms and two Private Lodges. Located at the peak of the ridge, on 3,200-hectares, the award-winning Lodge encompasses the spirit of Queensland’s rural landscape but with a contemporary edge.
Rooms are elegant and blend with their natural surroundings thanks to the extensive use of stone, timber and glass. Modern technology, including Bose Bluetooth speakers, LED TVs and wireless broadband prevail but for those looking to escape the rat race, this all-inclusive retreat offers a wide range of activities, including rainforest walks, mountain biking and wine tasting at the boutique wineries of the nearby Granite Belt region.
You can even trek across this ancient landscape on multi-day excursions, arriving at the Lodge in time for hot showers and one of executive chef Karl Reyes’ acclaimed degustation dinners in the Peak Restaurant, which recently featured in the Australian Good Food Guide 2023 Chef Hat Awards.
Arajilla
Nestled on remote Lord Howe, a carefully-controlled Unesco-listed isle 600km northeast of Sydney, Arajilla is a luxury lodge like no other. Under siege by towering peaks, calm turquoise lagoons and some of the southernmost coral reefs in the world, Arajilla’s one and two bedroom suites (we love the two-bedroom Blue Peter Beach House) are hidden under a dense canopy of Giant Banyan trees and Kentia Palms.
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The number of visitors to this tiny island are strictly limited (and there are only 350 residents), so you can spend days cycling down deserted bush tracks, feeding the ultra-friendly fish at Ned’s Beach, or climbing Mount Lidgbird, between gourmet meals served in Arajilla’s main restaurant. The lodge is especially popular with honeymooners, artists and bird watchers, with daily tariffs inclusive of meals and pre-dinner drinks.
Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley
Located in the heart of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, on the outskirts of Sydney, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley is a luxurious retreat three hours by car or 45 minutes by helicopter from Sydney’s international airport. Situated within its own private nature conservation reserve, 40 free standing luxury suites, each of which come with their own private terrace and swimming pool, are centred around a beautifully restored homestead, which acts as the social hub for the entire estate.
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The main building is also home to the Country Kitchen, where the culinary team serves up light snacks throughout the day, and the Wolgan Dining Room, where five-course dinners showcase the likes of Ormiston freerange pork, Mandagery Creek Venison and Oberon line trout, plus delicious local cheeses.
When it’s time to explore, Wolgan’s team of field guides lead guests into the depths of the Blue Mountains, from horse riding through the sandstone escarpments to nature walks along ancient Aboriginal trails and mountain biking through forests of eucalyptus. There are safaris by luxury 4×4 and even historical tours that examine the lives of Aboriginal and colonial settlers.
The Louise
An idyllic luxury South Australian vineyard retreat, home to award-winning restaurant Appellation, The Louise, a member of Baillie Lodges, is situated on a gentle hill surrounded by hundreds of acres of vines, in the worldrenowned Barossa Valley. Fresh from a multi-million dollar makeover, just 15 luxuriously appointed suites, each with their own terrace, boast a soft contemporary feel, with inspired design and artworks a focus throughout the property (the Marananga Suite features a private courtyard, open fire and double shower).
Famed for its understated, informed service and intimate ambience, Appellation boasts an extensive wine list and a menu that leverages off the Barossa’s exceptional produce – be sure to start dinner with a hyper-local gin & tonic, mixed with Seppeltsfield Road Distillery gin made with lavender, and Varci’s pink peppercorn tonic. When you’re not dining, explore the region’s 100 wineries and 70 cellar doors for private tastings and winemaker introductions, visit the acclaimed Barossa Farmers’ Market, or soar above the landscape by hot air balloon.
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