To travel Australia’s outback via its intimate and historic luxury stations is to delve into an ancient landscape filled with stories and natural marvels. Whether you’re cruising the coastline of Western Australia, searching for crocodiles in the Top End, or hiking the sunburnt landscapes of the deep south, Australia’s luxury outback lodges and stations offer intrepid travellers the best of both worlds – authentic, welcoming hospitality and some of the most remarkable landscapes you’ve ever seen.
A far cry from your usual resort vacation, each station is a passion project come to life, a place that embraces its remarkable location, the heritage, the wildlife and the bounty it provides.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a cowboy, if you’ve ever wanted to round up your loved ones and delve into the rust red rock landscapes of Australia, or if you simply need to switch off, change pace and commune with nature instead of your inbox, this curated guide to the coveted and best remote Australian Outback luxury accommodation will deliver a travel experience you’ll never forget.
El Questro Homestead – Best For Remote Luxury
Nestled on Gibb River Road in the Eastern Kimberley, El Questro Homestead is one of Australia’s most famous outback stations and one that’s been welcoming tourists since the 1990s. The property’s location on Gibb River Road, an off-roading route between the port town of Wyndham and Derby in the Western Kimberley that’s popular with adventurous travellers, has ensured its place as a tourism icon in Australia and at over 400,000 hectares (that’s twice the size of Greater London), the sprawling property has a little something for everyone.
While you have a couple of options, including The Station, home to caravan sites, private camp sites and a popular restaurant; and Emma Gorge Resort’s tented suites, we’d suggest you stay at the Homestead, a luxurious retreat perched high above the waters of the Chamberlain River. This Luxury Lodges of Australia member features just 10 suites, all with stunning outback views and plenty of creature comforts. You’ll also have access to the historic homestead with its shaded verandah, elegant living room, cliffside swimming pool and world-class dining.
There’s also plenty to keep you occupied during your time at El Questro, including helicopter flights to the Bungle Bungles and Mitchell Falls, cruises on the Chamberlain River in search of the station’s saltwater crocodiles, and dips in the pool at the top of Emma Gorge or the tranquil Zebedee Thermal Springs.
You can also sip champagne and greet the sunset on elegant evening excursions (certainly a highlight for me), and learn more about the station’s endemic flora and fauna on guided hikes. I would definitely recommend delving into the culture of the land’s Traditional Owners with the insightful Injiid Marlabu Calls Us cultural introduction, hosted by Nelson, Mary and their daughter Chanel, members of the Ngarinyin people.
El Questro can be reached by road from Kununurra in 90 minutes, or you can take a light plane directly to El Questro’s own landing strip.
Why It Stands Out From Other Luxury Stations
Once a working cattle station, El Questro has converted entirely to tourism, so expect plenty of activities throughout the dry season. Its proximity to Kununurra and the comfort of the Homestead also make El Questro a luxurious option for those exploring the Outback in style.
Bullo River Station – Best For Authentic Outback Encounters
A working cattle station that combines rustic but luxurious accommodations with an authentic outback experience, Bullo River Station, also a member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, is set on a spectacular Northern Territories property framed by the Bullo and Victoria rivers, a 40-minute plane or three-and-a-half-hour drive from Kununurra.
What makes Bullo River unique is that while it’s still a working cattle ranch, a large proportion of the station has been designated a conservation zone by its owners, in a ground-breaking partnership with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), which means that its endemic forests and vital waterways are being revitalised and returned to their natural state.
Bullo River offers an authentic outback cattle station experience, from its historic homestead, which was built from locally quarried stone, to its 12 guest suites, which are currently being renovated in preparation for the 2027 season (like many stations in the outback, Bullo River is seasonal, and operates between the annual wet seasons, when seasonal floods cut the property off from the world beyond.
The station’s guest accommodation, housed in a separate wing, is comfortable and features outdoor seating areas and access to the large swimming pool. The historic homestead will also be given a new lease on life as part of the ongoing renovation.
Much like El Questro, the experience at Bullo River is more about getting out on the land than enjoying creature comforts back at the homestead (although it’s definitely a luxurious bush experience). The station’s rangers guide guests on an array of experiences that range from shadowing the property’s ‘ringers’ or novice cattlemen as they muster stock; monitoring endemic wildlife with scientists and volunteers from the AWC, cruising the Bullo River in search for barramundi (and crocodiles), and exploring the station’s escarpments, gorges, riverbeds and protected billabongs in search for wallabies, water buffalo, dingos and more than 200 bird species.
For me, one of the most special experiences was the Ringers’ Dinner, an alfresco feast served under an ancient riverside baobab tree in the company of the station’s young staff.
Bullo River is best suited for couples and families with older children, mainly due to its remote location and intimacy. Save yourself the drama of the long drive and fly into the station’s own landing strip and be sure to bring everything you need, as the nearest stop is over three hours’ drive away!
Why It Stands Out From Other Luxury Stations
Unlike El Questro, Bullo River Station has retained more of its charismatic cattle ranch persona. Its isolation and the natural beauty of its setting also make it an unforgettable outback experience.
Bamurru Plains – Best For Spectacular Wildlife Encounters
Another of my favourite outback stations (and my first) is Bamurru Plains, a spectacular retreat located a three-hour drive from Darwin (or a 40-minute flight) into the depths of the Northern Territories. One of the most luxurious stations in the outback, this unique wildlife camp-style retreat marries its stunning surroundings – seemingly endless floodplains, eucalyptus forests and red rock formations – with contemporary hospitality, a host of insightful activities, and elegant accommodations.
Located near the borders of the acclaimed Kakadu National Park and perched on the cusp of the 2,687 sq km Adelaide and Mary River flood belt, Bamurru Plains, at over 30,000 hectares, offers the ultimate in wild bush luxury and is the perfect place to escape to when the traffic jams, supermarket queues and deadlines of city living become a bit much. These renowned floodplains are home to a myriad of wildlife, including wandering whistling ducks, pied herons, little curlews, and sharp-tailed sandpipers and more than 800,000 squawking, gossiping magpie geese.
Although the landscapes outside are wild, accommodation at Bamurru Plains is hardly roughing it. In keeping with its ‘wild bush luxury’ philosophy, each of Bamurru’s 10 luxurious safari-style cabins feature comfy beds, air conditioning and outdoor showers, and are perched above the verge of the flood plain, close enough to the main lodge to call for help when your Sauvignon runs low, but far enough not to interfere with your environmental voyeurism. Newer additions include the two larger private retreats, the Kingfisher Suite and Jabiru Retreat, the latter featuring two bungalows connected by a private plunge pool.
There’s no television, no CD player and no internet, but you’ll love slipping between 100 percent cotton sheets at night, and waking each morning to high-pressure showers and the raucous cacophony from the blue-winged kookaburras.
I, like many guests, like to start each morning with a cup of Joe in the “viewing gallery”, a little sun room located off each cabin’s living room that’s made from a unique ‘one-way’ fabric that allows some great early morning wildlife spotting.
The landscape of the floodplains come to life on guided excursions that range from boat cruises on the Sampan River, 4×4 excursions in search of ‘bush tucker’, the traditional ingredients used by the Traditional Owners, and, my favourite, exhilarating airboat adventures in search of the station’s 236 wildlife species, which include a stunning array of birds as well as wild boar, dingos, wallaroos, antilopine, agile wallabies, lumbering water buffalo and lurking estuarine crocodiles (the vast property is home to the largest population of crocodiles on the planet).
You can also take to the sky on helicopter safaris that offer lucky souls a bird’s eye view of flocks of magpie geese and corellas, graceful egrets and even massive saltwater crocodiles basking on the river banks.
Perfect for families with older children and couples, Bamurru Plains is a luxurious outback adventure where no two days are ever the same.
Why It Stands Out From Other Luxury Stations
Positioned as one of the more luxurious and intimate retreats in the outback, Bamurru Plains really comes to life at the end of the wet season, thanks to the crucial role the floodplains play in this unforgettable ecosystem. Consequently, it books up quickly.
Longitude 131° – Best For Culture & Heritage in the Red Centre
Probably the most easily recognised of Australia’s outback retreats, Longitude 131° is nestled among red dunes that surround iconic Uluru, a site listed by UNESCO for its natural and cultural significance.
Its 16 sail-like tented pavilions offer a luxurious way to explore this harsh but beautiful landscape, while a series of fascinating activities sheds light on the history and heritage of Australia’s Red Centre as well as offer insight into the 60,000-year-old culture of the Anangu people, the land’s Traditional Owners, with whom the property works closely.
Named after its precise location (something that makes sense when you see how remote it is), the camp’s elegant and contemporary pavilions each feature Indigenous artworks, custom furnishings, floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies and luxurious king-size beds (the best place from which to greet the sunrise over Uluru). For a little extra luxury, opt for the indulgent Dune Pavilion, which offers views of both Uuru and Kata Tjuta, a group of large, domed rock formations that play an important role in the storytelling of the Anangu.
While the camp’s location 300 kilometres from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory is remote (it’s only 15 minutes from Ayers Rock Airport), it’s a landscape that’s filled with life, and guests can expect to encounter red kangaroos (especially first thing in the morning), perenties and thorny devils, dingos, wedge-tailed eagles, and echidnas on regular excursions that include guided hikes through the Valley of the WInds, outback cycling, aerial safaris and fascinating cultural and art-driven encounters with local communities (Longitude even has its own Indigenous artist in residence programme).
However, one unmissable experience has to be the lodge’s dining, which includes unforgettable four-course dinners under a canopy of stars, with menus combining bush tucker with the best produce from across Australia. Afterward, guests can explore the spectacular Field of Lights installation by British artist Bruce Munro, which includes 50,000 solar-powered, hand-crafted frosted glass spheres spread across an area the size of seven football fields.
Longitude 131°, a member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, is an eco-friendly, romantic, and adults-only retreat that will appeal to couples and friends travelling together and looking to include a spot of outback refinement to their Australia itinerary.
Why It Stands Out From Other Luxury Stations
Easily accessible and more contemporary in its approach to luxury, Longitude 131° offers an outback-lite experience that’s an easy addition to any itinerary to the outback of the far north of Australia.
Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef – Best For Wild Coastal Adventures
You probably wouldn’t associate the Australian outback with the beach. However, on a remote strip of pristine coastline in Western Australia, there’s a retreat quite unlike any other, one that combines the beauty of the desert with one of the most vibrant coral reef environments in the world.
Sal Salis is an exclusive safari camp, hidden in the white sand dunes of the Cape Range National Park, that’s home to just 16 off-grid, luxury safari tents. Nestled just steps from the largest fringing World Heritage-listed coral reef in the world, guests share this ultimate beach camp with red kangaroos and Butcherbirds while the surrounding seas are popular with humpback whales and whale sharks.
Luxurious despite its remote location, each tent at Sal Salis comes with 500-count cotton linen, a curated pillow menu, an en suite bathroom and of course, stunning sea views. The tents are linked to a main camp building that acts as a communal living and dining space, where guests can come together after a day of exploration to share stunning sunsets.
Evening cocktails is a highlight event of the day and includes drinks made with locally-produced spirits from boutique distillery Old Youngs, made with Australian sugarcane and Swan Valley grapes, or from Western Australia’s West Winds Gin, which sources ingredients directly from growers and Traditional Custodians of the land, including native bush tomatoes, Davidson plums, and lemon myrtle.
Each evening, guests sit down to stellar Australian cuisine with a hint of bush tucker influence.
During the day, you can lounge on the beach, hop into a hammock with a good book, or take to the warm seas to explore acclaimed Nigaloo Reef by kayak, paddle board, or on guided snorkelling adventures – keep an eye out for the reef’s 500 species of fish and 2500 species of coral. Seasonally, you’ll also be able to swim with migrating humpbacks and whale sharks, who converge on the vibrant reef to feed, with wetsuits, goggles, snorkels, and fins all provided.
The all-inclusive 100% solar-powered camp is located an hour’s drive from Exmouth, to which Australian airline Qantas flies daily from Perth. The property is well-suited for adventurous families and couples looking for coastal tranquility. It’s also a great stop for any road trip between Perth and Broome.
Why It Stands Out From Other Luxury Stations
Focused on the vibrant marine life of Nigaloo Reef, remote Sal Salis is a truly unique proposition and offers a very different take on the outback than the likes of Bullo River Station and El Questro.
Arkaba Station – Best For Historic Luxury in the Deep South
While we tend to think of the Australian outback as a northern Australian locale, it really encompasses the entire centre of the country, with the state of South Australia reaching from the stunning southern coastline and the winelands of the Barossa Valley deep into the outback, where the desert’s rocks meet the Flinders Ranges.
Nestled among the peaks and undulating hills of the Ranges, home to some of Australia’s most spectacular outback scenery, all-inclusive Arkaba Station is a historic property that actually dates from 1851. This sublime station caters to just ten travellers at a time, with guests accommodated in the beautifully restored homestead, home to four comfortable ensuite suites, and a separate Coachman’s Cottage (ideal for couples looking for a little more privacy) that’s located in a corner of the station’s garden.
Each room has its own character, with plenty of historic touchpoints that bring a sense of place, as well as 500-thread-count linens, air conditioning, views to the Elder Range, and access to a shaded verandah – it’s the perfect spot for an early morning coffee to the sound of pink galahs gossiping in the trees overhead.
Guests then have access to a 24,000-hectare private wildlife conservancy that has been dedicated to the conservation of Australia’s unique wildlife and birds and which makes the station a key starting point on the four-day 45 km Arkaba Walk into the Flinders Ranges. This is a mesmerising landscape of craggy sandstone bluffs and dry creek beds lined with River Red gum trees, and endless open spaces accessible by a stable of horses.
After exploring the Wilpena Pound and Ikara-Flindners Ranges National Park by horse, 4×4 or mountainbike in search of red and grey kangaroos, rock wallabies and emus, guests can return to the homestead for classic home cooking, prepared by a cast of characters there to host, entertain and teach, and laced with the best produce from across South Australia (including spectacular local wines).
Finish the evening with a spot of storytelling, a swim in the infinity edge pool, or a digestif in the library.
You can reach Arkaba Station in five hours by road from Adelaide (take the scenic route via the winelands of the Clare Valley) or fly up in 90 minutes. The property is ideally suited for road-tripping couples and families with children over 12 years of age.
Why It Stands Out From Other Luxury Stations
Offering a unique insight into historic South Australia and the Flinders Ranges, Arkaba Station is the quintessential homestead experience and one that’s heavy on beauty and a little lighter on wild wonders than its northern siblings.