Baby it’s cold outside! Take advantage of the cooler weather with a gorgeous getaway guaranteed to warm your soul.
Words: Charmaine Yabsley
Into the woods
If you’re not a fan of camping, but still crave the great outdoors, glamping is the perfect getaway solution. Willow Wood Glamping Retreat is a 10-tent luxury eco stay on a 100-acre farming property in Ambergate, a quiet rural hinterland between Busselton and Margaret River in WA’s South West. Forget about blow-up beds and nylon sleeping bags, here you’ll relax in serious style. The luxurious and sizeable timber floored eco tents contain king or queen size beds, ensuite bathrooms, kitchenettes, living space and an outdoor deck, the perfect place to view the abundance of wildlife and kangaroos over the farm’s nature reserves. You can even feel ecologically secure about your stay: each tent is powered by solar panels and battery. If that’s not relaxing enough, book in for a treatment in the dedicated healing tent.
S’mores and stars
What do you call camping when you’re in the five-star environs of your hotel room? The new MACq 01 luxury Tassie S’mores experience, that’s what! It’s the perfect cosy getaway for those who prefer to experience the wonders of winters from their five-star suite. Guests staying in Premium Waterfront suites can experience the magic and solace of camping on their private deck overlooking the Hobart waterfront. Snuggle under a plush Tasmanian blanket beside a tabletop fire, while you sip from a thermos of Willie Smith mulled cider and roast a marshmallow from your Tassie S’mores kit. Don’t forget the pack your binoculars for some night sky gazing.
Reach for the sky
If you prefer to view your morning sunrise from the top of the coast’s tallest building, then look no further than your very own rooftop cabin overlooking our beautiful Gold Coast. Cabins are the ideal mixture of laid-back luxe; the six qtQT Cabins are sumptuously decorated with local delights – robes and bedding are from I Love Linen in Burleigh, delicious Drift candles from Currumbin – creating the perfect Zen environment. Relax on your private balcony set amongst a tropical green oasis, perfect for a solo trip or romantic stay for two. (You can even book all six cabins for the ideal girls’ getaway!) Leave real life behind, as guests are encouraged to unplug, rewind and just gaze at the mesmerising view or relax beside the pool after a spaQ treatment. Make your stay even more special by opting for a Curated Experience. Your concierge can organise an elegant and elevated al fresco dining experience on The Terrace, followed by star gazing and cocktails beside the firepit or a bespoke local adventure. The sky’s the limit.
Into the Wild
Escape to Binna Burra’s new Tiny Wild Houses and experience the breathtaking beauty of Woonoongoora in the Lamington National Park. Nestled on the summit of the majestic Bellbird clifftop, Binna Burra’s Tiny Wild Houses boast a full-sized glass wall providing stunning vistas of the Ships Stern Range. Each residence features a queen-sized bed, comfortable two-seater couch, outdoor teak dining table and chairs, fully equipped kitchenette and a separate bathroom. It’s the perfect place for the person you want to get away from it all with, as the houses are an adults-only experience.
A little bit of country
What could be better than staying in your very own wine barrel? The new Barrel View Luxury Cabins, located just outside of Ballendean, are the ideal adults-only escape for lovers of wine, country and romance. The three ‘barrels’ offer a 180-degree views over Girraween and Sundown National Park. Enjoy a glass or two of local wine on your private deck, while watching the sun go down on breathtaking country vista.
Walk your winter blues away
The cooler weather is the ideal time to explore our beautiful country, and the award-winning Maria Island Walk is arguably one of the most breathtaking. Take part in a fully guided three-night, four-day journey, exploring one of Tasmania’s most jaw-dropping destinations. A reward for your hard work lies in your final night’s accommodation, at Bernacchi House. It’s the perfect way to rest those weary limbs and revel in your achievements. The heritage home has been recently transformed into a sophisticated and comfortable space, while still maintaining its important historical significance dating back to 1880. It’s the perfect place to share your stories from your adventure.
Winter over the water
If ever there was a place to explore the quality of permanent camping in architectural form, it is on Minjerribah, North Stradbroke Island. A short ferry ride away from Brisbane, it is dotted with simple ‘weekenders’ or holiday houses built as boltholes for the nine-to-five crowd escaping the city. Just because you’re leaving the mainland behind, doesn’t mean you’re abandoning all style. The Baker Boys Beach House, designed to be shared by three families, is the epitome of beachside laidback luxury. Reminiscent of the beach shack vernacular, it’s suggestive of a bush camp tent, a black steel butterfly roof hovers above the deliberately simple box structure allowing light to permeate living spaces from high windows tucked just beneath it. Located on a very steep slope, the back of the house is anchored to the ground, where it is well connected to the adjoining bushland reserve, enjoyed from a sheltered sitting area featuring a firepit. Or chill out at the other end of the property, cantilevered to take full advantage of sweeping ocean views.
Find more inspiration in Love Shacks by Susan Redman ($59.99).
Be well this winter
While most people head to a health retreat as part of their New Year’s resolutions, winter is actually the perfect time to sculpt those summer bodies, or just get your healthy habits back on track. Just one hour’s drive from the Gold Coast lies La Rocher, a family owned and run Eco Retreat situated in the soft foothills of the UNESCO World Heritage Wollumbin caldera, close to the historical village of Uki. Rest your eyes on the impressively sized Wollumbin mountain (“Rocher” is French for “large rock”) while you perform yoga poses, or just while away the time on your private balcony. Each of the four private cabins are luxuriously outfitted, with a double-sided fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, and outdoor BBQ. Take a dip in the heated infinity pool or jacuzzi before enjoying a pre-ordered locally sourced platter (and yes, you can have cheese and wine!). Or book yourself a relaxing massage before returning to your deck chair on your balcony. It’s the ideal getaway for those looking for peace and tranquillity amongst nature.
