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Written by Georgia Pearce
Australia‘s winter escapes offer something you won’t find in Europe or Japan: vast, quiet landscapes with no crowds. The southern states cool enough to justify a fireplace from June, but rarely enough to close a trailhead – making them ideal for people who want the atmosphere of winter without the inconvenience of it. Think misty mountains, countryside estates, a local pinot noir and a wool sweater rather than a parka. Most of these properties sit within two to three hours of a capital city, which means the cosiest winter escapes in Australia are also some of the most achievable – a long weekend is all it takes.
Winter escapes in Victoria
The Yarra Valley, Daylesford and the Mornington Peninsula all make a strong case for staying close to home in winter – misty mornings, cellar doors that lean into the cold, and spa towns purpose-built for doing very little, very well.
Jackalope
An hour from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, Jackalope is the kind of place that earns its reputation before you’ve unpacked. The jet-black building sits in sharp contrast to the surrounding vines of LL Vineyard, and the interior follows suit – moody, design-forward and anchored by two hatted restaurants: Doot Doot Doot for tasting menus beneath a 10,000-globe chandelier, and Rare Hare for something more relaxed at the cellar door. Winter is genuinely the right time to visit; the peninsula empties out, the pinot noir is at its most persuasive and the infrared sauna starts to make real sense.
RACV Cape Schanck Resort
At the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula, where the land runs out into Bass Strait, RACV Cape Schanck sits above one of Victoria’s most dramatic stretches of coastline. The resort is at its most compelling in winter: the walking trails to Cape Schanck Lighthouse are empty, the hatted restaurant Cape is firing on locally sourced produce, and the One Spa and heated indoor pool make a persuasive argument for not leaving the property at all. Peninsula Hot Springs is 15 minutes up the road for those who need one more reason to stay.
Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley
Victoria’s Yarra Valley is made for a cosy winter escape, with its crackling fireplaces, hearty red wines, comforting food and misty landscapes. For boutique luxury amid the vines, check in and chill out at Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley, which was recently elevated with a $7 million revamp. Good food at Restaurant 1309, good wine at the cellar door and blissful spa treatments: what better way to escape winter’s chill?
Winter escapes in New South Wales
NSW winters split cleanly between two moods: the Blue Mountains, where fog settles into sandstone valleys and fireplaces are lit by mid-afternoon, and the Hunter Valley and Central Coast, where the vines are bare but the cellar doors are warmer for it.
Bells at Killcare Boutique Hotel, Restaurant & Spa
90 minutes north of Sydney on the national-park-covered Bouddi Peninsula, Bells at Killcare offers the kind of reset the city doesn’t. Villas sit tucked among mature trees, breakfast draws on the estate gardens, and the coastal walks of Bouddi National Park are directly accessible – with whale migration running through winter for those who time it right.
Parklands Country Gardens & Lodges
Set within 28 acres of manicured grounds in Blackheath, at the quieter, less-visited end of the Blue Mountains, Parklands is the kind of retreat that rewards the extra hour’s drive from Sydney. Garden Suites and Lakeside Canopy rooms sit among century-old grounds overlooking a private lake, with the Grose Valley and Govetts Leap lookout a short walk from the front gate. Winter here means mist in the valley, empty trails and the Day Spa making a strong case for staying put entirely.
Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery
Imagine rolling mountains cloaked in morning mist, where native gum trees shimmer with a mystical blue glow under the first light of dawn. Amid the beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed region, you’ll find an idyllic winter escape at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains by MGallery. Rug up in your thickest wool socks and step outside your chalet-style room to revel in crisp morning air and the blessed bushwalking terrain of Jamison Valley.
Watch as the landscape transforms from ancient rock formations to cascading waterfalls. Then, return for a hearty meal and a haven warmed by a glowing fire as you step into the Embers Grill Restaurant – or another of the resort’s five exceptional eateries – before ending the night sipping a robust single malt at Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern.
Chateau Elan at The Vintage
Didn’t make it for the European summer? Find your slice of Tuscany in the Hunter Valley at Chateau Elan at The Vintage. Set within its own 100 acres, the property is surrounded by rolling greenery and leafy vineyards. With a restaurant serving flame-grilled and smoked favourites, a Greg Norman-designed 18-hole golf course and a spa onsite, complete with two outdoor mineral spa pools, you won’t need to go far, but the call of the 150 cellar doors in the vicinity may lure you.
Winter escapes in Tasmania
Tasmania is at its most compelling in winter – snow on Cradle Mountain, empty beaches along the east coast, and an accommodation scene that leans fully into the season with open fires, local whisky and very little reason to venture outside.
Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain
For those wanting Cradle Mountain on the doorstep without the premium lodge pricing, Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain sits just a few minutes’ walk from the national park visitor centre, with self-contained cabins, gas log heating and wombats regularly wandering past at dusk. It’s a straightforward base for serious walkers; the Overland Track begins nearby, and the mountain looks different every time the cloud shifts. Hellyers Restaurant and Wilderness Lounge is the place to decompress afterwards, with a fireplace and Tasmanian drinks for when the weather closes in.
The Picker’s Hut
Cuddle up in seclusion while gazing across the vineyard-strewn hills of southern Tasmania’s Jordan Valley in The Picker’s Hut private cabin. Here, Australia’s winter months are best spent with a glass of red wine in hand as the silence of a sleeping countryside lulls the busy mind. As the sun settles behind a rugged mountain landscape, you can cosy up around the expansive deck’s half-cask fire pit to watch as the Merino sheep frolic in the brisk air. When you’re done, retreat indoors for a hearty meal, hot off the barbecue.
Freycinet Lodge
Keep warm in the embrace of nature at Freycinet Lodge, the ultimate off-grid gem on the east coast of Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park. Tucked away in the bush between the mountains and the waters of Great Oyster Bay, this homely lodge promises crackling fireplaces, serene bushland views and some of the finest seafood in Tasmania.
Keep warm with an in-room massage and local wine and food tastings, or rug up and venture into the great outdoors. The beauty of Wineglass Bay is well worth braving the cold for, as is a local oyster farming experience, where you can shuck fresh oysters riverside.
Pumphouse Point
Suspended 250 metres out over glacial Lake St Clair in a converted 1940s hydro-electric pumphouse, Pumphouse Point is one of Australia’s most singular winter stays. A recent $2.25 million expansion added new luxury Retreats with fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling lake views, while the all-inclusive experience draws on Tasmanian whisky, local produce and generously stocked in-room larders designed for long, unhurried evenings. When snow settles across the surrounding Central Highlands and mist hangs over the water, there’s very little reason to leave.
Winter escapes in Western Australia
Western Australia’s South West doesn’t do winter the way the eastern states do. Snow and heavy frosts are rare, but the karri forests around Pemberton deepen into rich greens, the cellar doors grow quieter, and the region settles into a slower, more intimate version of itself.
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, Margaret River Region
Tucked into 35 acres of native gardens alongside the white sands of Bunker Bay, three hours south of Perth, Pullman Bunker Bay Resort makes the case for visiting Margaret River after the summer crowds have gone. Winter brings quieter cellar doors and calmer roads through wine country, while back at the resort, Vie Spa and the heated infinity pool make cool-weather stays especially appealing. Dinner at Other Side of the Moon, where native Australian ingredients appear alongside Margaret River produce and wines, is a reason to go in itself.
Ampersand Estates
Three hours south of Perth in the karri forests of Pemberton, Ampersand Estates makes most sense in winter – crowds thin, the forests deepen and the estate’s luxury residences feel genuinely removed. The Terroir Tasting Experience connects what’s growing in the ground to what ends up in your glass, before a Michelin-trained chef cooks a four-course degustation over an open fire under the stars. Hard to follow.
Winter escapes in South Australia
South Australia makes winter genuinely easy. Adelaide Hills vineyard stays are 15 minutes from the CBD, Kangaroo Island empties of day-trippers, and the Murray River retreats offer the kind of stillness that’s hard to find in any other season.
CABN X Kangaroo Island
For those seeking uninterrupted privacy with a special someone, there’s nothing more secluded than a destination accessible only by boat. Situated at Cape Saint Albans on the easternmost point of Kangaroo Island, the luxurious CABN X Kangaroo Island promises idyllic days.
Thoughtfully designed spaces look out over wilderness and crashing waves – ideal for adventurous couples who find romance in snuggling under blankets after a day of hiking, exploring historic lighthouses or strolling to their private beach at Antechamber Bay. Rise to the sounds of native birds as you tuck into your locally sourced breakfast, and, come nighttime, enjoy the sea breeze on your deck as you soak in your outdoor bathtub or warm up by the indoor fireplace.
Mount Lofty House
Seeking toasty tipples as you bask in lush vineyard views? Let the sparks fly at Mount Lofty House, only 15 minutes from Adelaide CBD. With its spectacular gardens, a three-chef-hatted restaurant and an elegant spa, Mount Lofty House is a lodge steeped in proper old-school glamour. Built in 1852, this grand estate’s peaceful grounds are a delight to explore – stumble upon a firepit to toast marshmallows, sip mulled wine in the library or visit Hardy’s Bar for a classic cocktail.
When it comes to dining, reserve a table at the exquisite Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant. Crackling fireplaces, leather chairs and views of the Piccadilly Valley set the proceedings for a delicious degustation dinner that showcases the best local produce and wine. If you get itchy feet, the wineries of Adelaide Hills are a short drive away.
The Frames
Slip into the picture-perfect surroundings of South Australia’s Murray River at the ultimate winter escape for romantics. At The Frames adults-only retreat, you’ll discover pure bliss, with views overlooking a magical sunset each evening as it dips below the horizon of the river. Spend your afternoons hopping between the exquisite wineries and distilleries of the region, then return to warm yourself against the frosty breeze in the luxury of the Pastiche Retreat’s private infrared sauna, or listen to the sound of nature as you take a dip in the outdoor heated pool of the Collage Retreat.
Feature image: Jackalope. Source: supplied.
