Australia has no shortage of extraordinary cities. But the country’s most memorable escapes are found beyond them in the misty valleys of the Yarra Ranges and the sun-baked red rock of Uluru. Here are Australia’s best regional escapes, state by state.
New South Wales
Bannisters Pavilion, Mollymook
A five-minute walk from Mollymook Beach, with a rooftop pool over the building’s edge, Bannisters Pavilion offers NSW South Coast charm with a boutique twist. Breakfast at The Rooftop Bar & Grill, cocktails as the afternoon light shifts, and a courtesy shuttle to sister property Bannisters by the Sea (where Rick Stein’s restaurant and the Spa by the Sea await) tempt you to stay longer than you planned.
Anchorage Hotel & Spa, Port Stephens
Just 2.5 hours north of Sydney, Anchorage delivers Hamptons-style polish overlooking one of Australia’s most beautiful marinas. The adults-only infinity pool, The Galley Kitchen’s seasonal farm-to-plate menu and the indulgent Spa Lucca add luxury to a setting that makes dolphin and whale watching an entirely ordinary part of the day.
Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay
Widely credited as Australia’s first glamping retreat, Paperbark Camp was bush glamping before the term existed. Safari-style tents, some with open-air baths, sit among paperbarks and eucalypts in Jervis Bay, with kayaks on the creek and kangaroos drifting past at dusk. Breakfast at The Gunyah, bush walks and the unhurried pace of one of Australia’s spectacular coastlines complete a stay that rivals all city breaks.
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley‘s largest resort, Rydges sits among the vines just two hours from Sydney with wine country views, the Ubika Day Spa, Hunter Valley Golf Club and a kids’ water park that makes it one of the region’s most family-friendly escapes. Wine tastings, and beer and cider from the onsite Lovedale Brewbar, give you a proper taste of the valley before you’ve even started exploring on your own.
Victoria
Peppers Moonah Links Resort, Mornington Peninsula
A golfer’s and gourmand’s retreat, Peppers Moonah Links sits at the entry to two 18-hole championship courses on the Mornington Peninsula, with every room and suite offering a private balcony overlooking the fairways or bush. Peninsula Hot Springs is moments away, the Pebbles Restaurant showcases Victoria’s seasonal best (duck fat chips, stuffed king mushrooms, olive oil cake parfaits).
The Mitchelton Hotel, Nagambie
Ninety minutes from Melbourne in the Goulburn Valley, Mitchelton is one of regional Victoria’s most celebrated hotel escapes, set among acres of vineyards and bushland. The cellar door and The Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art are steps from your room, there’s a 20-metre, Hecker Guthrie-designed infinity pool and The Muse Restaurant delivers modern farmhouse cuisine.
Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges
An hour from Melbourne, Cleveland Estate is a boutique vineyard escape in the Macedon Ranges with manicured gardens, an 1887 homestead and the Carriage House Restaurant serving modern farmhouse food against views of the ranges. Discover the region’s only underground cellar door amid more than 100 acres of vineyards.
Peppers Marysville
Near the misty foothills of the Cathedral Ranges, Peppers Marysville is a beautifully relaxed base for the Yarra Ranges and High Country. An outdoor heated pool, onsite wellness spa, sauna and tennis court keep things comfortable between excursions to the acclaimed wineries and alpine national parks.
Queensland
Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore
Beachfront apartments, Coral Sea and tropical garden views, the award-winning NuNu restaurant and the L.M. Spa: Alamanda Palm Cove covers every base for a Tropical North Queensland escape. With the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest within easy reach, it’s one of the best-placed properties in the region.
Daintree Ecolodge
At a unique juncture where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites meet (the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest), Daintree Ecolodge tucks treehouse-style Bayans into the ancient canopy of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest. Meals at Julaymba Restaurant draw on organic regional produce, and the natural waterhole is perfect for cooling off before relaxing with treatments at Daintree Wellness Spa.
Toogunna Plains Farmstay, Quilpie
Deep in Outback Queensland‘s Channel Country, Toogunna Plains spreads across 130,000 acres of open outback with just 18 huts and cabins, a communal fire pit and a Bush Kitchen. Looking out to open plains and deep red sand, this property showcases the true spirit of remote Australia.
Rangelands Outback Camp, Winton
Perched atop a dramatic mesa, Rangelands is as exclusive as it is extraordinary. This adults-only, off-grid stay is 10 kilometres north of Winton – a landscape 95 million years in the making. An onsite chef serves gourmet dinners with a hand-selected wine list, with small-group 4WD tours and scenic flights available.
Western Australia
Sal Salis, Cape Range National Park
Limited to just 32 guests at any one time, Sal Salis sits 50 metres from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef. Safari-style tents, snorkelling off the reef, kayaking and gorge walks through Cape Range National Park: this is true barefoot luxury that’s hard to find anywhere in the world.
Pullman Bunker Bay, Margaret River
With direct access to the secluded sands of Bunker Bay, this award-winning resort makes a compelling case for staying put. The heated infinity pool, the Vie Spa, two tennis courts and the Other Side of the Moon Restaurant (with its organic, vineyard-paired menu) deliver without you needing to leave the grounds. Margaret River’s cellar doors, chef-hatted restaurants and coastal walks are in easy reach.
The Sebel Busselton
The Sebel Busselton sits steps from the shores of Geographe Bay and historic Busselton Jetty. The self-contained apartments are built for families and couples alike, and between two pools, a fitness centre, squash and tennis courts and bike hire, there’s plenty to keep everyone occupied.
Discovery Resorts – Rottnest Island
A glamping resort nestled near the famous Pinky Beach, Discovery Resorts puts you in a safari-style eco-tent on one of Australia’s most beloved island destinations. The island’s 63 beaches, wandering quokkas, coral reefs and local alfresco dining at Pinky’s make for a stay that’s hard to rush.
South Australia
Monarto Safari Resort
An hour from Adelaide, Monarto Safari Resort sits alongside one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest open-range zoos, where giraffes roam the horizon. Rooms and luxury tents are designed to keep you in that world: private balconies overlook the park or the waterhole, and there’s a full-service spa, outdoor pool, and a restaurant serving breakfast as the morning light settles over the plains.
Novotel Barossa Valley Resort
South Australia’s world-renowned Barossa Valley is a haven for wine connoisseurs, gourmands and nature lovers alike. Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, with its outdoor pool, day spa and Cellar Kitchen serving Barossa produce, is the ideal base, surrounded by sweeping golf courses and more than 100 cellar doors – including Jacob’s Creek and St Hugo.
CABN X Kangaroo Island
Off-grid sophistication can be found on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island at CABN X. Each meticulously designed eco-cabin has a private sauna, outdoor bathtub, indoor gas fireplace and a deck that frames the wilderness beautifully.
Sequoia Lodge, Mount Lofty
Retreat from the world atop Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills, where panoramic valley views, three-hatted fine dining and natural hot springs make for memorable adults-only luxury. Dip in the panoramic infinity pool, take a guided nature walk or partake in sunrise yoga. For wine lovers, this is the gateway to McLaren Vale, the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa.
Tasmania
Cape Wickham Golf Links – King Island
Cape Wickham Golf Links sits on the King Island coastline of an award-winning championship links course, which is consistently ranked among the best courses on the planet by the likes of Golf Digest. Between days of unlimited golf, take in panoramic ocean views from the private deck of your cosy room.
Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain
On the edge of Tasmania‘s Cradle Mountain / Lake St. Clair National Park UNESCO World Heritage wilderness, Discovery Resorts places you steps from some of the country’s most dramatic scenery. Stay in a mountain cabin with heated floors, a gas fireplace and a freestanding bathtub with views to match.
Iron Creek Bay Estate, Sorell
30 minutes from Hobart, Iron Creek Bay Estate is a working vineyard and orchard with sweeping rural views and a cast of resident alpacas, sheep and visiting sea eagles to keep you company. The restaurant ORANI draws on produce grown onsite, and the unhurried pace of Tasmania does the rest.
Northern Territory
Longitude 131°, Beckons
Perched on the rust-red dunes of the Northern Territory, Longitude 131° is one of Australia’s most extraordinary stays; a five-star glamping retreat with front-row views of Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Each of the 16 tents is a sanctuary of space and style in the heart of the Red Centre, with a contemporary Australian menu, using the finest nationwide produce and local bush ingredients, served under the stars (note the resort is closed for renovations between 25 January and 19 April 2027).
Australian Capital Territory
Jamala Wildlife Lodge
Located in Canberra’s National Zoo & Aquarium, Jamala Wildlife Lodge gives a safari experience right here in Australia. Get up close and personal with giraffes, meerkats, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, tree kangaroos, tigers and learn about the lodge’s conservation work. When you’re not admiring the animals from your tree house, lodge, or bungalow, dine in an African themed restaurant serving fine wines and seasonal meals like tomahawk steak.
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Feature image: Source: Shutterstock / Asura senpai
