Owned by the same family that has farmed this patch of coastal paradise for five generations, The Cove is an expansive stay just a 75-minute drive from Launceston. All stays include access to the massive shared kitchen and living spaces, the daily sunset bonfire overlooking the ocean and all of the walking trails and farm tours that snake around the 141-hectare property. Borrow complimentary torches and goggles to take an evening stroll to see the resident Little Penguin colony or settle in for a round of pool in the games room.

From $205 per night.

People travel from the other side of the world to experience the beauty of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. At this modern motel-style stay in Airey’s Inlet, you’re right across the road from it. The base rack rate is reasonable enough to consider adding some extras on top: Indie Spa, the on-site day spa with rasul (steam room) and ice shower, can bring bliss into the equation for a small additional fee. Upgrade your package to include breakfast or simply take the one-minute drive to coffee-spinning Onda Food House.

From $130 per night.

Seafront stays typically command incredible views (and a hefty price tag to match). At Samphire Rottnest, on WA’s idyllic Rottnest Island, you’ll have a front row seat to natural beauty – the property is right on the water’s edge of Thomson Bay – but at a reasonable nightly rate. Bookend days with a (complimentary) yoga class and a seaside bevvie from the poolside bar and you’ll have well and truly fallen in with the island’s relaxing rhythms.

From $249 per night

It’s easy to swoon over Blackheath’s 46-room Palm Springs-inspired motel. As well as being a three-minute drive (or quick ride on complimentary e-bikes) to Blackheath’s main strip, you’re also just a few minutes from one of the region's main events: The Grand Canyon Walking Track. Walk the 6.3 kilometre loop, then return to your lodgings for a complimentary sauna or hot tub session before dining on pork belly with black pudding crumb or seared scallops with pickled lemon at excellent on-site restaurant BLAQ. Continue the indulgence with croissants and fruit from the breakfast bar (included in your nightly fee, thank you very much).

From $240 per night.

Just four hours’ drive from Sydney at the end of a winding driveway sits Oaks Ranch, a 121-hectare property overlooking the South Coast’s lush Deua mountain ranges and Tomaga River. Embark on a mountain ride using the inhouse e-bikes or hit nine holes of golf (with free buggy hire) on the property’s course before enjoying kingfish crudo or confit duck with roasted beetroot at house restaurant Arlo. The perfect finish? Pouring a nightcap and nibbling on complimentary minibar snacks from the comfort of your personal patio.

From $257 per night.

Sequester yourself in the Yarra Valley in a fireplace-warmed cottage at Yering Gorge. You won’t need to open your wallet for the continental breakfast hamper, the welcome bottle of Yarra Valley wine or access to the Eastern Golf Club facilities. We recommend leaving your phone behind as you wander the region’s 12 kilometres of walking tracks, soak in the bathtub or watch kangaroos bounce across the lush grounds in front of your cabin.

From $339 per night.

This retreat on the edge of Tasmania’s sparkling Coles Bay isn’t just stationed in a beautiful part of the world — it’s a perk-packed hidden gem, too. Including breakfast, a fully stocked complimentary minibar, yoga mats and sumptuous robes and slippers, it’s heaven for those who want to truly switch off. For a fee, you can add anything from the daily itinerary of activities from kayaking tours to in-room massages, but there’s plenty to do in the surrounding national park that won’t cost you a cent. 

From $411 per night.

Get away to Australia’s exceptional Great Barrier Reef at this island retreat with all the trimmings, a two-hour ferry ride from Gladstone. You’re in the right place for relaxation here, with complimentary breakfast giving you one less thing to think about. Snorkel rental is also included in the stay as well as an extensive itinerary of nature activities (but bobbing in the beachfront pool isn’t a bad idea, either). Share crystal-clear water with turtles and fish before reclining on the island’s pristine white-sand beaches. 

From $418 per night.

Wake up to the sound of gently rolling waves at this family-friendly beach resort an hour south of Broome. Although the unspoiled coastline is the star attraction at Broome’s Eco Beach Resort, the abundant daily activities – many free of charge – threaten to steal its thunder, especially for guests with little ones in tow. Stack the schedule of your more energetic family members with everything from yoga to guided beach, coast and fishing tours or paddling adventures on supplied SUP boards and kayaks. Then, cook up dinner in the kitchenette or on the communal barbecues as wafts of sweetly-scented seabreeze drift across the coastal scrub.

From $240 per night.

Beechmont Estate, a neighbour to the World Heritage Lamington National Park 90-minutes’ drive from Brisbane, is the kind of place where ponies wander the grounds (and you can wander through the veggie garden). For all its bucolic charms, this property knows how to up the indulgence factor, too: breakfast at farm-to-table Paddock Restaurant is included in your booking rate, as is the use of e-bikes and yoga mats, the wood to feed your private potbelly fireplace and a donation to the Reef Keepers Fund. Some seasonal mid-week stays also include a bottle of sparkling wine and a lunch platter, which can be enjoyed on a picnic rug in the paddock or from your private patio deck.

From $419 per night.

Evening drinks are on the house at Ovolo Nishi, the art-filled boutique hotel right in the heart of Canberra (and a five-minute walk to the free National Film and Sound Archive of Australia). The cosy rooms – decorated with quirky, restored furniture – feature views either over the fern atrium or out to the sunny Canberran surrounds. But the action really happens downstairs at Monster Bar & Kitchen, where Negronis and snacks during ‘apero hour’ come free of charge. 

From $213 per night.

You’ll want for (practically) nothing at Southcamp, a lively, self-dubbed ‘village’ in Dunsborough, on the cusp of Margaret River. Cabins and apartments are playful in their approach to decor, each furnished with a record player and a private deck, but the property’s real beating heart is the brewhouse with its festoon-lit beer garden, where guests and locals alike relax on warm afternoons. There’s also a cafe, grocer, surfboard and bike hire shop on-site, as well as a sandpit for kiddies. 

From $203 per night.

Views as incredible as those afforded guests at Columba Pod on Kangaroo Island put this stay in special occasion territory. From up on your perch overlooking a slice of the island’s north coast, it feels as though this corner of the world is just for you. The perfect place to admire the uninterrupted panorama is from the deep-soaking stone bathtub stationed on your private deck or from your glorious bed wrapped in luxury linen. And, thanks to a well-equipped kitchenette, solar-powered air conditioning and pod-powered coffee machine, you’ll only feel delightfully remote.

From $529 per night