GLAMPING IT UP

REVEL IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITHOUT HAVING TO ROUGH IT IN A TRADITIONAL CAMPGROUND SETTING.

American poet, humanist and nature lover Walt Whitman once wrote, “Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth”. True that, agreed the everyman, but must we really forgo life’s little luxuries in the process of rewilding?

Enter glamping, a portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping” that only made it into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016, but the concept has been around for centuries. In the 1500s it was not unheard of for royals to erect fountains flowing with wine outside their tents, and today the amenities of Australia’s top glamping sites are just as impressive. Happily, there’s an option for every flavour of traveller.

Luxe hotel rooms have their place but do little to set the scene of your wildest Mogambo fantasies. Take, for example, Nightfall camp in Queensland’s spectacular Scenic Rim where you can opt to make eyes on each other in tents complete with rotating fireplaces and twin bathtubs. The alternative is to take it outside for a couple’s massage alongside river rapids or during a private picnic – your call.

Prefer a side of gargantuan monolith with your romantic activities? Longitude 131 is just 19km away from Uluru so you can watch its ever-changing light show as you lie in your bed, or if you’ve chosen a Dune Pavilion, from your private plunge pool. All have fireplaces, killer views and an invitation to dine under a canopy of stars at famed onsite restaurant, Table 131.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with taking the more the merrier approach to your romantic stay. At Sal Salis, where Western Australia’s remote outback meets the turquoise waters of Ningaloo Reef, leaving your eco-luxe wilderness tent (each with handmade timber bed and ensuite) means sharing your patch of reef with more than 500 species of colourful fish, whale sharks and migrating whales. Meanwhile, in the rolling outskirts of New South Wales’ Mudgee, it’s about checking into adults-only Sierra Escape and taking your outdoor bathtub overlooking 113ha of lush green slopes dotted with kangaroos and deer. Book into Uralla, one of the three tents on the property, and make the most of the fireplace and firepit before arranging to have a romantic bush tucker meal cooked and served in your tent.

For those still unsure about the tarps and bush toilets element of teasing your mates around a campfire, behold: sites that cater for groups in stunning settings.

Practise decision-making en masse and book one of Happy Glamper’s roving tents. Located on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, you’ll need to select your style of tent and a site from their suggested list before the crew set the whole thing up for you, complete with magazines, mats, boardgames and more.

For those who’d prefer a Metallica-couldplay-here-and-our-neighbours-wouldn’thear-a-thing vibe, two options shine like beacons: the 2900ha cattle property that is outback Queensland’s Wallaroo, and Cobourg Coastal Camp – a wilderness experience in one of the most remote parts of the Northern Territory. For the former, expect eight luxury tents, a fully equipped kitchen and camp oven cooking around the fire pit. The latter serves up eight safari tents with decking as well as a large, undercover dining area and a range of tours around Kakadu and Arnhem Land. Of course, if you prefer your shameful campfire yarns to be enjoyed with a side of antique furniture and plush Turkish bathrobes, it’s got to be Wingtons Glamping. Set in the heart of Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, glampers have a choice of three large Prospector tents dressed with fine linen, fireplaces, Persian-style carpets and outdoor luxuries such as fire pits, barbecues and even teak dining suites.

FAMILY BONDING

Sleeping in the wilderness is made for little

people with big imaginations but a host of onsite activities makes the glamping experience that much sweeter. On Sydney Harbour’s Cockatoo Island, organised ghost tours, cafes and ball games around the communal kitchen and dining area are just as popular with families as the waterfront oneand two-bedroom deluxe tents (each one with raised beds).

Similarly, Discovery Rottnest on Western Australia’s Rottnest Island, is making the most of its location near some of the island’s top attractions such as mini golf and a water park. Add the new eco-retreat’s 83 tents (the Superior Family Tent has a king bed, bunk beds and a kitchenette), and kids can also run riot around the park’s beach club and restaurants.

Fancy palming babysitting duties off to the big cats of Victoria’s Werribee Open Range Zoo? Families can enjoy an immersive safari experience by waking up to the sound of lions before enjoying long days filled with wildlifeviewing experiences as well as a hosted dusk safari tour. Each luxury-equipped tent has a balcony that looks out over the property’s sweeping plains.

Of course, those who wish to use their glamping site as a base to take on a range of nature-bound experiences and educational tours, aren’t left in the cold either.

Hidden in the heart of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges National Park, Ilkara Safari Camp not only features family tents with a separate annexe for the kids, it also has cafes, restaurants and that all-important swimming pool.

SOLO STAYS

Have you been to paradise but never been to you? We’re paraphrasing Charlene’s ’70s classic, of course, but for those seeking solitude and a psalm-book setting, look no further than Tasmania’s Huon Bush Retreats. Located just off the Huon trail in a secluded environment teeming with wildlife and walking trails, amenities – including an outdoor bath – are shared among guests but teepees are made for reflection. Each one features a cosy woodfire heater, sofa bed and a covered deck.

Those who’ve often been accused of living in a bubble will have the last laugh when they check into Bubbletent, a series of three ‘bubbles’ overlooking New South Wales’ Capertree Valley.

The panoramic views are almost as impressive as the tents’ inclusions – one includes climate control, a hot tub, ensuite and a telescope for stargazing.