Just a few sandy footsteps from the water and a mere 25-minute flight from Adelaide, One Kangaroo Island showcases the best that South Australia has to offer. The retreat can host up to 10 guests but book the whole space and it transforms into the ultimate secluded escape. Soak in the outdoor bathtub and take in panoramic views of the beach (keep an eye out for dolphins), enjoy a wine tasting and light lunch at the nearby False Cape Wines cellar door and embark on a snorkelling adventure.

If you’re after a calming getaway, Sydney’s northern beaches, where the aptly named Lilypad floats just off Palm Beach, has your name on it. Your romantic escape starts with a serene sail to the one-bedroom solar-powered guesthouse. Once there, grab a bottle of Veuve Clicquot from the well-stocked wine cellar before kicking back on the deck and soaking up the view. Lunch and dinner are included and prepared by off-site chefs, while breakfast is supplied by local favourite, The Boathouse Palm Beach. The two-storey villa is equipped with an infrared sauna, open fireplace, a self-drive boat and paddleboards – and for pure indulgence, you can also add an on-site couples massage, too.

Sun, sand and sea combine to intoxicating effect at this premium eco-resort, set in a three-hectare private cove on the Whitsundays’ Long Island. Catering to a maximum of 20 guests and entirely solar-powered, Elysian Retreat tempts loved-up couples with tailor-made experiences that extend from the dining room and Jala, the Ayurveda-influenced spa, to the surrounding Great Barrier Reef. There’s also a magnesium mineral pool, daily yoga and meditation classes and glass-bottomed kayaks for turtle spotting on the reef.

How many ways can you see Australia’s mighty rock? At the ultra-luxe Longitude 131°, you can watch Uluru’s changing colours from the bed in your safari-style “tent” (with a bathroom and every amenity you can imagine), from your deck as you prepare to sleep in a swag, in the plunge pool or from Dune House, the main lodge. For a view of a different kind, indulge in a four-course dinner (with matching wines) under the stars at Longitude’s Table 131°, where executive chef Marama Hohepa uses local bush ingredients, seasonal produce and traditional First Nations cooking techniques to create modern Australian fare.

At eighty stories above the ground, the Ritz-Carlton Melbourne is Australia’s tallest hotel, delivering panoramic views over the Dandenong Ranges and city skyline from almost every room. The entire 64th floor is dedicated to wellness, with a marble-lined infinity-edged pool, hydrotherapy baths, steam rooms and a bevy of treatments including hot stone massages, custom facials and rose-infused aromatic baths. Crowning the hotel on level 80 is Atria, a modern Australian fine diner with ceiling-to-floor windows that peer over the the CBD, where executive chef Mark Best plates up Wild Black lip abalone, dry-aged cod with kumquat and grilled wagyu sirloin. From here, you’re a 15 minute drive from the National Gallery of Victoria, the glossy boutiques on Collins Street and some of the city’s best eateries on Flinders Lane.

This is the outback done right. Welcoming just 28 guests across four pavilions on a 28,000-hectare property, Mount Mulligan Lodge appeals to those seeking both indulgent luxury and off-grid isolation. Explore your surroundings in your own all-terrain vehicle, hike the southern face of Mount Mulligan itself or fish for fat barramundi in the weir. Atherton Tablelands produce is the star in the kitchen, which serves à la carte breakfasts, chef-prepared picnic lunches and dégustation dinners.

Dive into the wild at Jackson Ranch at Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast, where five cosy cabins overlook the pristine Lake Willinga and are surrounded by 15 hectares of untouched bush. Spend your morning exploring the grounds or swimming at nearby Bawley Beach before taking a 30-minute drive north to Mollymook and dining on local seafood at Rick Stein at Bannisters. Try the Oysters Charentaise, which marries freshly shucked oysters with spicy sausages and begs to be paired with a crisp riesling.

Whether you opt for a signature suite or a spacious pavilion at Saffire Freycinet, striking views of the pink-hued Hazards Mountains are guaranteed from every window. Nestled on the Freycinet Peninsula, this chic retreat is the ideal gateway for experiencing the best of Tasmania’s east coast. Pluck and shuck oysters straight from the water, encounter the iconic Tassie devil and dive into the picture-perfect Wineglass Bay.

This elegant Bellarine Peninsula property on the shore of Lake Connewarre was inspired by the grandes maisons of France’s Loire Valley. The guests-only restaurant offers a five-course dégustation experience that reimagines French classics using peninsula produce all matched with local and French wines. Fine-tune your serve on the grass tennis court, wander the manicured parterre gardens or relax under a cabana by the infinity pool. There’s also a sauna, billiards room, cigar lounge, private jetty and even a helipad if the hour’s drive from Melbourne doesn’t appeal.

Perched above the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills, the adults-only Sequoia Lodge is a decadent escape just a 20-minute drive from Adelaide. Rejuvenate your body in an artesian spring-fed hot pool before discovering the nearby wineries. Don’t miss dining at the hatted Hardy’s Verandah restaurant, where you’ll feast on a seasonal menu using locally sourced produce, such as 17 hour braised lamb shoulder with pumpkin puree.

Magnesium spa baths, an Amalfi-style pool and a contemporary Australian restaurant – The Continental Sorrento has it all. A two-hour drive south of Melbourne, on the Mornington Peninsula, this grande dame was given a $120-million revamp in 2022. Indulge in a detoxifying body wrap at the Aurora Spa & Bathhouse before visiting the hotel’s signature restaurant, Audrey’s, where award-winning chef Scott Pickett’s 13-course seafood-centric dégustation includes a spanner crab crumpet and barbecued abalone topped with bonito flakes.

The ​​limestone ridges of the Cape Range National Park, on the western side of Exmouth, form a dramatic backdrop to the 16 luxurious safari tents that make up Sal Salis. With front-row seats to the coral Ningaloo Reef, each secluded tent is positioned to give guests their own private slice of heaven (and beach) during their stay. Time your visit to go swimming with whale sharks (April to July) or humpback whales (June to November) or simply lounge in the hammock and watch the sunset.

One of just five luxurious villas on a 38-hectare property in the Hunter Valley, Villa Stella is an idyllic escape from the bustle of the city. Wake up to the sight of kangaroos bounding outside your window then take the eight-minute drive south to Millbrook Estate to start your tasting adventure through the region’s wine country. Finish up at Margan Wines for a farm-to-table lunch that could include charcoal-kissed swordfish with roasted macadamias and confit artichoke. For dinner, enlist the assistance of a private chef who’ll prepare you and your loved one a special seven-course degustation in your villa, before soaking away your worries in the spa. A two-metre wide skylight over the bed will have you fighting to keep your eyes open at night as the blanket of stars glimmers above.

With its hourglass profile, 1000-square-metre network of pools and 311 rooms and suites, Crystalbrook Riley is a landmark addition to Cairns. Snack on shucked oysters and clink cocktails while drinking in the 270-degree views at rooftop bar Rocco. Pale wood, natural linen and cane impart a coastal vibe in the guest lounge and all rooms have touch-controlled blackout blinds in case last night drifted into the wee hours. Book one of the Panoramic Sea rooms for floor-to-ceiling water views.

An hour-and-a-half south of Hobart, Satellite Island is a remote haven that you’ll have entirely to yourself. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and native birds as you approach the top of the island, where you’ll be greeted by 360-degree views of Bruny Island, the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Mt Hartz National Park. You’ll also have access to three different accommodation options – a boathouse on the water, a well-appointed bell tent and a cosy summer house – so you can discover a new side of the island each night.

Wake to the chirp of crested bellbirds when you stay in one of the homestead-style tents at Kings Canyon Resort and tacke the six-kilometre Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which takes in the pillars and outcrops of the Lost City and the Garden of Eden waterhole – sacred to the region’s traditional owners, the Martutjarra Luritja people. A five-course dégustation of upscale tucker tempts with tastes including Territory barra with roasted beets and a dill and roquette creme fraiche. Book a heli-tour of Kings Canyon, Carmichaels Crag and George Gill Range for bubble-window views of this geological wonderland.

Sitting by the glimmering Mossman River and ensconced in the ancient Daintree Rainforest, Silky Oaks is a different kind of Queensland getaway. There are 40 treehouse-style suites and an ultra-luxe two-bedroom pavilion on offer and each residence comes with its own private deck and hammock. Some even feature an outdoor bathtub – ideal for unwinding and soaking up the sounds of the wild. If you can tear yourself away from your room, explore the splendour of the oldest rainforest in the world on foot or go for a swim in a freshwater billabong.

At only 45 minutes from Melbourne and one-and-a-half hours from Launceston by plane, King Island is one of Tasmania’s most surprising destinations. The isle’s jewel is the off-grid Kittawa Lodge which comprises two self-contained one-bedroom residences embedded into the coastal dunes, guaranteeing utmost privacy. There are no televisions or entertainment devices in the lodges, just the ocean and undulating hills right outside the window. Breakfast, picnic hampers and lunch are supplied, while dinner can be a hands-on affair: locally sourced provisions (think Southern Rock Lobster or aged scotch fillet) and a recipe card will materialise in the full-service kitchen, so you can whip up your own impressive meal together with a glass of Tasmanian sparkling wine in hand.

Fresh from a multi-million-dollar renovation, The Louise in the Barossa Valley’s Marananga takes the idea of a wine weekend to a whole new level. Start the day with breakfast in Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park, where you’ll get up close with local kangaroos. Then be ready to tour the region’s best wineries on a bespoke tour. Finish up with dinner at the lodge’s signature three-hatted Appellation restaurant, where modern Australian dishes utilise produce plucked from the on-site garden and throughout the region – book for sunset to turn up the romance.

A two-and-a-half-hour drive from Hobart and within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area lies pristine Lake St Clair and one of Australia’s most enchanting retreats: Pumphouse Point. Here you’ll wake up surrounded by winding trails through giant myrtle forests. Don’t forget to bring a picnic hamper stocked with goodies including cheese and Swine from your room’s larder with you and keep your eyes peeled for sightings of the elusive Pumphouse platypus, wombats and even Tasmanian devils along the way. Pumphouse Point’s 18 rooms are spread across two buildings, with six at the on-shore Shorehouse (home to the property’s dining room where breakfast and dinner are served) and 12 at The Pumphouse which floats on the water. 

Following on from the success of Bannisters in Mollymook, Rick Stein’s northern NSW eat-and-stay venture occupies a refurbished late-’60s motel at Soldiers Point. The 80-room waterside retreat includes four suites with separate living areas and a penthouse with an enormous terrace that affords millionaire views of Salamander Bay. Rick Stein restaurant serves up oysters harvested from just a kilometre away and rock lobster from neighbouring Nelson Bay; the casual Terrace Bar and The Tavern complete the food offering. Book a couple’s room in the day spa, doze by the infinity pool, swim with bottlenose dolphins or charter a yacht for a sunset cruise.

Situated on the Esplanade, Quay Perth looks out over the waterfront precinct of Elizabeth Quay. The 80 rooms are sleek and minimalist, decorated in a neutral palette of blond wood and pale-grey slate with black accents. Best for couples are the Elizabeth Quay Luxury Studios on the upper levels, with window-seat views of the Quay and Swan River. Rooftop HQ Bar + Kitchen goes mod on traditional Chinese cuisine in an industrial-chic setting that mixes exposed brick with reclaimed wood and tan-leather seating. Glide down the Swan on a gondola cruise, which departs only a short walk from the hotel.

In a 1909 heritage-listed building in the centre of Ballarat, this handsomely renovated hotel manages to be both ultra-smart and serene. There are 23 rooms, suites and apartments offering a contemporary take on traditional country hospitality. Graphic textiles and wooden antiques entice the eye in a palette of blues, browns, pinks and greens set against white walls and plantation shutters. The hotel’s eatery, Lola, is named after saucy Irish dancer Lola Montez, who performed her scandalous Spider Dance in Ballarat to great acclaim in 1856, with hearty dishes around local heroes such as Western Plains pork and Goldfields cheese.

On a hill overlooking the juncture of the Tumut River and Nimbo Creek – equidistant from Tumut and Gundagai – this property comprises six weatherboard cottages, each with a river-view ensuite bathroom and rear terrace, as well as four rooms with ensuites in the main lodge. The in-house restaurant’s farm-to-table ethos, under the eye of the Three Blue Ducks team, makes much of Riverina and Snowy Valley produce. Follow the river on foot, borrow a bike and map the wider landscape or go horseriding in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains.

A mere 120 metres from the surf beach in Ocean Grove, which sits between Barwon Heads and Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula, this boutique hotel’s 15 rooms include five suites with king-sized beds, spa baths and walk-in showers and two penthouses with large spa baths and balconies that look out to sea. Linger over an all-day breakfast at up-the-road The Driftwood Café, play a round of golf at 13th Beach Golf Links, sample the topnotch shiraz and sauvignon blanc at nearby winery Oakdene or book a culinary adventure at Napona, two streets away. Post-dinner, stroll back to the Chalet and unwind in the heated pool.

This Palm Beach guesthouse impresses with seven light-filled ensuite rooms upstairs and a restaurant bedecked with palms, coral and seashell mirrors, all housed in a 1923 heritage-listed building that looks out to Pittwater. Unwind with complimentary champagne in the guest lounge or garden terrace then head downstairs to the restaurant for coastal staples such as kingfish ceviche or the extremely good beer-battered flathead with extra-thick chips. The property is airy and appealing, punctuated with pops of colour from the tropical prints adorning cushions and pendant lampshades. Afterwards, a walk along the beach is virtually compulsory.

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