5 dreamy days in nature
Sit back, open a bottle of fine wine and breathe in the cool air. These glamping experiences promise country calm with all the comforts.
Lamington National Park, Qld
Nightfall
Accommodating just four couples at a time and fully catered with organic meals served around the camp fire every evening, Nightfall – located deep within the Scenic Rim wilderness – is luxury camping on another level. Your hosts are always on hand to help upgrade your experience with a massage in your safari tent, a private yoga class by a waterfall or a romantic dinner for two beside the creek. So you have nothing to think about except living in the moment. nightfall.com.au
Gippsland, Vic
The Inverloch Glamping Co
With evocative names such as Anderson’s Let (named for explorer Samuel Anderson), Salty Mutton and Honey & Coffee (commemorating a pair of beloved rescue brumbies), these three exquisite bell tents, set in landscaped bushland and featuring ensuite cabins, evoke a slower, simpler time. Anderson’s Let even has its own outdoor copper shower, while the other two share a king-sized hammock that’s perfect for stargazing. As well as the picturesque southern Victorian coastline, the charming rural towns of Meeniyan (the Alberobello pizza from Trulli Woodfire Pizzeria is out of this world) and Fish Creek are about 30 minutes drive away. theinverlochglampingco.com.au
McLaren Vale, SA
Tent on a Hill
Sip a glass of fine red and watch kangaroos grazing in the scrub as the sun sets over McLaren Vale’s rolling farmland, before retiring to your fully furnished bell tent complete with luxury linen and an ensuite toilet. The next morning, head to nearby Strathalbyn for a leisurely cycle around nearby wineries with Fleurieu Cycle Tours, book a long lunch at one of the region’s celebrated restaurants and repeat. tentonahill.com.au
Savour time with Penfolds Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz 2017
Cool evenings under the stars are best enjoyed with a blanket and a big, bold South Australian shiraz. The Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz offers exuberant aromatics and notes of sandalwood spices. A multi-region, multivineyard blend, it remains true to the Barossa Valley style.
Gretna, Tas Truffle Lodge
Filled with characterful touches, such as handmade wooden baths, vintage rugs and plush leather sofas, these expansive tented lodgings on the banks of the Derwent River, less than an hour from Hobart, are five-star indulgence with a bush soul. The tents are linked to a communal lodge area, via a lantern-lit boardwalk, where guests gather for meals, drinks or chats by the fire. trufflelodge.com
Margaret River, WA Mile End Glamping
Wake up to sweeping views over the valley on a private 58-hectare estate from the comfort of a plush king-sized bed. A 15-minute drive from Margaret River, Dunsborough and Busselton, these light-filled 65-square-metre domes accommodate two people and come with a bathroom and kitchen, along with air conditioning and remote-controlled gas fires. Everything from gourmet meals and massages to art classes can be organised in your dome – if you can tear yourself away from the two-person spa bath on your private outdoor deck. mileendglamping.com.au
Cabarita Beach, NSW The Hideaway
Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador named Cabarita, on NSW’s Far North Coast, the best beach of 2019. And a stay in one of The Hideaway’s brandnew cotton-canvas bell tents – adjacent to Cudgen Nature Reserve and the beach itself – is the most immersive way to experience it. Each tent is filled with luxe neutral furnishings and an ultra-comfortable bed, augmented by stylish communal areas inside repurposed shipping containers. The town’s restaurants, including the clever and creative Paper Daisy at Halcyon House, are a short stroll away. hideawaycabaritabeach.com.au