In a world where you can brush your teeth with designer toothpaste, it was only a matter of time before we took the great outdoors and made them glamorous.
Incorporating all that is beautiful about the wilderness, and dropping all that is awful about pitching your own tent, glamping is your answer to getting in touch with nature without the need for roughing it.
A portmanteau of glamour and camping (in case that wasn’t obvious enough), glamping in Australia allows you to experience the elements entirely envogue. Because, if we’re entirely honest, hammering down tent pegs and building campfires aren’t things we’d all describe as “rocking good times”.
So if you’ve been itching to explore our great southern plains, but can’t quite envisage yourself pumping up an inflatable mattress while watching the sun set and slowly losing your mind, do not despair. We’ve found five of the best glamping experiences down under, all you have to do is check in.
At Nightfall, your camping experience comes prepackaged and architecturally designed. Nestled in an untouched pocket of Queensland’s ancient Lamington National Park, this rainforest getaway is your ticket to total tranquility. Limited to only six travellers at a time, Nightfall hosts its guests in hand-built, architecturally-inspired safari tents, where glampers can indulge in massages by the creek, unwind in the camp’s lounge, and embark on self-directed or guided journeys through the picturesque surrounds.
And for those who can’t handle the thought of consuming only foods dehydrated, cling-wrapped or canned, Nightfall provides sumptuous fire-cooked cuisine.
One of the finest examples of ecotourism and luxury camping in Australia, Paperbark Camp is located by the pristine clear waters of Jervis Bay. Dappled thoughtfully amongst soaring eucalypts, the camp’s twelve canvas safari-style tents offer guests total privacy, built high above the ground and tickled by the breeze. Fully-furnished and solar-powered, the tents boast wrap around decking and open-air en suites—because who wouldn’t want to birdwatch as they shower?
Additional luxuries include a selection of massage and beauty treatments, available by appointment. Complete with its own fully-licensed restaurant, Paperbark is a luxe playground for the outdoor enthusiast.
Because nothing says going camping like staying on the edge of a Coastal Lagoon. Nestled in a small pocket of privately owned land, surrounded by a National Park, Tanja is a bonafide Wilderness Camp. Onsite, four unique safari tents have been built by local craftsmen, using local timbers for all decking, buildings, and beds.
Positioned to enjoy the best of the views, each luxe-tent provides a lounge, a writing desk, and its own en suite bathroom, as well as a fully-equipped kitchen—because no one should have to boil water over fire just to make a cup of tea. Activities at Tanja include bushwalking amid spotted gums and towering cycads, kayaking on the Lagoon, and general nature watching.
If you can’t quite let go of your love for all things five-star and luxury, then Cosy Tents might be for you. Tucked away in the hills of the Hepburn, Cosy Tents allows you to get in touch with your inner explorer, while keeping you close to the finer things in life. From the comfort of your own fully-furnished, European canvas tent, you can enjoy the sensation of falling asleep beneath the stars in a Queen sized bed, tangled up in luxury bed linen.
Minutes away from Daylesford Village, the centre of Victoria’s spa country, Cosy Tents provides on-site cooking facilities, steaming hot showers, and an impressive fire pit. And for those in the mood for a little spoiling, Cosy Tents offers a continental style breakfast box delivered directly to your tent door. An added touch of room service; glamping style.
If waking to the sight of Uluru resting at the bottom of your bed is something that piques your interest, Longitude 131 is the glamping site for you. Located at the gateway to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, the camp literally overlooks the famous Ayers Rock. It doesn’t get more Australian than that. At Longitude 131, guests stay in elevated luxury tents, lofty structures designed to complement their pristine surroundings. By night, visitors can dream sweet dreams in king-sized beds cloaked in organic linen. By day, an impressive touring program has been designed exclusively for all guests, aimed at guiding you down roads less travelled by.
Those after something especially fancy can choose from an array of bespoke experiences, from romantic private dinners to camel train adventures. Because who doesn’t have ‘riding through the desert on a humped mammal’ on their bucket list?
