ADVERTISEMENT
What is glamping? If you like the idea of communing with nature but aren’t so keen on the airbed and long drop aspects of camping, then glamping (‘glamorous camping’) is for you.
We’ve compiled a list of 10 unforgettable glamping spots – some just outside town, some a long way from anything, others so secluded their actual location is a secret. No matter where they are, they all have one thing in common: accommodation that marries the best aspects of a luxury hotel room with close proximity to Australia’s beautiful natural landscapes.
Imagine sipping your morning coffee or relaxing in an outdoor bath while you watch the sun slowly rise over Merimbula beach, the steady drumbeat of waves on the rocks below helping your worries melt away. It’s all possible from your clifftop safari tent at the NRMA’s Merimbula resort, which not only offers spectacular views (look out for whales!) but is also roomy enough for four and includes air-con, a kitchenette, bathroom and outdoor barbecue – all from just $224 a night.
Glamping on Phillip Island offers the perfect blend of nature and luxury. Wake up in a beachfront tent to ocean views at NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park, or unwind in a safari-style pod surrounded by native bushland. With plush bedding, stylish interiors and easy access to coastal adventures, it’s camping without compromise on an island getaway that’s ideal for couples, families, or anyone craving comfort in the wild.
Safari tent at Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Resort.
Fancy waking up with songbirds as your alarm and rustling trees lulling you back to sleep? Paperbark Camp at Jervis Bay gets you right in amongst it without the need to drive in a single tent peg. From $595 a night, you can escape the rat race and hunker down in comfortable safari-style tents with wraparound
decks and full insect screens, then enjoy sundowners at the camp’s Gunyah Restaurant.
Glamping among the trees at Paperbark Camp in Jervis Bay.
A little over an hour outside Adelaide, Victor Harbor is on the southern side of the scenic Fleurieu Peninsula and combines profound coastal beauty, an endless list of activities to enjoy (such as exploring nearby Granite Island), and encounters with whales and penguins. The NRMA’s Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park offers glamping tents with stunning views and creature comforts including a barbecue, electric fireplace and a private verandah.
Waterfront tents at Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park.
Does an award exist for ‘the best view from a glamping tent’? If so, Longitude 131 would surely take home the silverware. Nestled into the ochre sand of the Aussie outback, your architecturally designed glamping tent isn’t only bristling with mod cons and luxurious comforts, it allows you to view one of the world’s most unique sights from your bed: the towering and breathtaking Uluru. It’s from $4500 a night, with a two-night minimum.
Uluru in the distance at Longitude 131.
Take your camping to the next level with a ‘glamtainer’ stay. Mere minutes from the waters of Umina Beach on NSW’s Central Coast, these converted shipping containers within NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort offer more quirk and luxury than a standard cabin. Available from only $238, and sleeping up to four, they’re the perfect glamping option for couples or small families.
Sal Salis is situated on the spectacular shoreline of Ningaloo Reef, the World Heritage-listed site in Western Australia. Delicately positioned between the sand dunes, there are 16 sites that take in the surrounding outback, reef and ranges. Each offers an ensuite, eco-friendly toilet, hot shower and bed, plus views of the Indian Ocean and spectacular Milky Way. Prices start at $895, with hosts on hand for snorkelling, kayak expeditions or swimming with whale sharks.
Luxury tents on the beach at Sal Salis.
Set on a 1000-acre farm halfway between Mudgee and Lithgow, Bubbletent is the brainchild of entrepreneur Sonny Vrebac, and one of its many curios is that its exact location is a closely guarded secret. The goal is to ensure the privacy of your stay. There are currently five ‘bubbles’ placed carefully around the property. Each setup maximises your view of the valley and, of course, the stars. They are incredibly well equipped with a fully stocked kitchen, pizza oven, enclosed toilet, proper shower, fire pit and wood-fired outdoor bath.
A Bubbletent overlooking the Capertee Valley.
The hardest part about snorkelling the Whitsunday reefs is having to leave. The Reefsleep experience lets you enjoy the colourful majesty of the Great Barrier Reef and then stay on a custom-built pontoon with a glamping-style ‘reefbed’. Every luxury imaginable is on hand, including free drinks, a professional chef who prepares a sumptuous menu, and all-important espresso coffees. It’s a two-day stay with departures from Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island or Daydream Island.
Sunrise on the Reefsleep pontoon.
There’s an ancient quality and calmness to the plunging landscape around Sierra Escape that sets it apart. While it feels as if you’re the only person around for miles, it doesn’t feel completely disconnected from society. The tent itself is more like a luxury hotel suite that’s been relocated onto the side of a mountain. A crackling woodfire, one indoor and one outdoor bath, a king-sized bed (complete with electric blanket), and a kitchenette number among the amenities, plus there’s a communal infinity pool.
Stargazing outside the Sierra Escape glamtainer.
