9 of the top luxury stays in Australia to escape to, according to The Australian Traveller.
“From all-new openings to historic stays and exclusive island hideaways, luxury in Australia means immersive experiences in extraordinary locations – with a few creature comforts to boot.”
#2 Pretty Beach House, NSW
On the surface, a beachside escape seems best reserved for the summer months, but Pretty Beach House manages to be an all-year-round retreat. The guesthouse, part of the exclusive Luxury Lodges of Australia portfolio, is tucked into the treetops of the Bouddi Peninsula on the NSW Central Coast. From the warm welcome on the deck to the casual chats we have with the chef as he prepares dinner, this highly personalised service sees owners Karina and Brian Barry succeed where others fail. Book a stay at The Retreat, a two-storey haven with a wraparound deck, an upstairs living area, two bathrooms, adjustable king-size bed with inbuilt massage, and plunge pool for the ultimate luxurious escape.
#4 Arkaba Homestead, SA ~ You’ll find historic Arkaba Homestead folded into the dusty-green bush on the verge of South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. The 1850s-era, five-guestroom homestead blends into the serenity of its rocky surrounds and offers a pause in luxury on the final night of the three-day Arkaba Walk into Wilpena Pound. But you needn’t do the full walk to stay at this all-inclusive former frontier estate that offers twice-daily safari experiences for all guests.
#5 Saffire Freycinet & On Board, TAS ~ Aspirations of explorative adventure come cocooned in luxury with a new collaboration between Tasmania’s Saffire Freycinet and On Board Expeditions cruises. The six-night Coast-to-Coast discovery for 12 guests sees would-be wanderers deposited by seaplane into the remote south-west corner of Tassie’s extraordinary wilderness. There, they board a luxury cruise for three nights, before being whisked back to the east coast to take in the heart-lifting beauty of The Hazards from Saffire Freycinet’s beautifully crafted comforts.
#6 The Lake House, Daylesford, VIC ~ A little over 40 years ago, the late Allan Wolf-Tasker was tasked to quite literally build his wife’s dream in Victoria’s Daylesford. The owner of the dream was celebrated chef Alla Wolf-Tasker and since the realisation of the pioneering Lake House, the luxury lodge has earned 76-plus chefs’ hats thanks to Wolf-Tasker’s beautifully seasonal and artistic fare. The rambling grounds meander to a gentle lake, the studios are an expression of modern country elegance and the spa is full of luxurious rituals and treatments.
#7 qualia, QLD ~ Encircled by the Great Barrier Reef on Hamilton Island, qualia is compelling enough, but the luxe Whitsundays resort that perfected the laid-back style of Australian hospitality also drops jaws with its elegant suites, curated dining and soft-mauve sunsets. And now there’s a persuasive reason to unpeel yourself from the sun lounger, with the resort’s Cultural Island Discovery experience to Ngaro Country. Join Robbie Congoo as he reveals Indigenous heritage through explorations of cave paintings, flora and fauna and storytelling.
#9 El Questro Homestead, WA – A landscape of high contrast, Western Australia’s Kimberley region pins high on the inspiration board. From rough-hewn cliffs and quartzite waters to remote stations of parched beauty, the otherworldly topography is thoroughly bewitching on a luxury stay at El Questro Homestead. Ensuring surfaces are thoroughly scratched on a two-hour tour with a Traditional Owner, who guides you through the deep reverence local Ngarinyin people have for Country.
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