These are the Most Romantic Escapes in Australia
Turquoise reefs, remote retreats and private hideaways, these places will sweep you off your feet (the plus one is up to you).
Queensland
Mount Mulligan Lodge, Mount Mulligan
Opened: April 2019
This is the outback done right. Welcoming just 16 guests across four pavilions on
a 28,000-hectare property that’s also a working cattle station, Mount Mulligan Lodge appeals to those seeking both indulgent luxury and off-grid isolation.
It’s located 100 kilometres north-west of Cairns so take a 35-minute helicopter trip from the coast or travel three hours by 4WD (although the road sometimes closes during the wet season from January to March). Once there, explore your outback surroundings in your own all-terrain vehicle, tour the ghost town of Mount Mulligan – the site of Queensland’s worst mining disaster, in which 75 miners were killed in 1921 – hike the southern face of Mount Mulligan itself (an 18-kilometre-long massif of red sandstone and conglomerate rock) 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.
Elysian Retreat, Whitsundays
Opened: April 2019
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.
View the naturally formed proposal backdrop that
is Heart Reef (left) from
a helicopter before landing at Whitehaven Beach
for a picnic or hop on
classic yacht Lady Enid
at Airlie Beach and sail
to photogenic Hill Inlet – renowned for its multi-coloured tidal swirls. There’s a magnesium mineral pool, daily yoga and meditation classes and glass-bottomed kayaks for turtle spotting on the reef.
Riley, Cairns
Opened: November 2018
With its hourglass profile, 1000-square-metre network of pools
and 311 rooms and suites, Riley, Cairns’s newest full-service resort,
is a landmark addition to the waterfront Esplanade. Snack on
grilled calamari and clink cocktails while drinking in the 270-degree views at rooftop bar Rocco, before moving on to local mud crab
at Asian-inspired eatery Paper Crane. Or be virtuous and order
the salmon and avocado poke bowl at clean-eating Greenfields.
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 and you slept through early morning yoga on the pool deck. Book one of the Panoramic Sea rooms for floor-to-ceiling water views.
InterContinental Hayman Island resort, Whitsundays
Reopens: July 2019
After a significant renovation, this fabled private-island resort will offer guests a choice of 166 poolside and lagoon rooms and waterfront villas and suites spread over three wings. A new addition is the Beach House, which sleeps up to seven in three suites, each with a secluded pool. Snorkel or scuba among giant Maori wrasse fish and abundant coral at Blue Pearl Bay
on the north-western side of the island, search for
a sandy cove to call your own or explore the dramatic rainforest. Facilities include five restaurants and bars, two pools, a gym and a spa with steam, sauna and
13 treatment rooms (including one for couples). And
if things go well, you can always come back and get married in Hayman’s chapel.
Victoria
Ocean Grove Chalet, Ocean Grove
Opened: December 2018
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, home to the Victorian Open, sample the topnotch shiraz and sauvignon blanc at nearby winery Oakdene or book
a five-course culinary adventure with wine pairings at Napona, two streets away. Post-dinner, stroll back to the Chalet and unwind in the heated pool.
Campbell Point House, Leopold
Opened: October 2018
Inspired by the grandes maisons of France’s Loire Valley, this elegant Bellarine Peninsula property has accommodation for 30 guests in eight suites with king-sized beds and walk-in showers, on the shore of Lake Connewarre. The guests-only restaurant offers a nightly eight-course dégustation experience that reimagines French classics using peninsula produce and organic vegetables and herbs grown onsite, all matched with local and French wines. Fine-tune your serve on the grass tennis court, wander the manicured parterre gardens, relax under a cabana by the infinity pool or indulge in an hour-long restorative aromatherapy massage at Spa Blanc. 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. Yes, it’s the perfect place to pop the question – and there’s an engagement package just for that.
The Provincial Hotel, Ballarat
Opened: November 2018
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 – many of them individually styled – 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. Head chef Shaun Thomson goes easy on the arachnids, instead opting to build hearty dishes around local heroes such as Sher Wagyu and Tuki Farm lamb. An always-changing selection of work by female Australian artists is on display around the hotel and available to buy.
Northern Territory
Kings Canyon Resort, Petermann
Glamping opened: June 2019
Luxury camping is now available in Watarrka National Park, between Uluru and Alice Springs. Three of the six homestead-style tents at Kings Canyon Resort are perfect for couples, with air-con, king-sized bed, lounge and dining areas, an ensuite and a verandah. Wake to the chirp of crested bellbirds before tackling the six-kilometre Kings Canyon Rim Walk, which takes in the pillars and outcrops of the Lost City, the Garden of Eden waterhole – sacred to the region’s traditional owners, the Martutjarra Luritja people – and Priscilla’s Crack,
a spot made famous by the hit Australian movie Priscilla, Queen
of the Desert. A five-course dégustation of upscale tucker tempts with tastes including Territory barra with wild rosella flower, finger lime and wild ginger. Book a heli-tour of Kings Canyon, Carmichaels Crag and George Gill Range for bubble-window views of this geological wonderland.
NSW
Bannisters, Port Stephens
Opened: October 2018
Following on from the success
of Bannisters in Mollymook,
Rick Stein’s latest 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 brand-new day spa, doze
by the infinity pool, swim with bottlenose dolphins or charter
a yacht for a sunset cruise.
Nimbo Fork Lodge, Killimicat
Reopened: July 2018
On a hill overlooking the juncture of the Tumut River and Nimbo Creek – equidistant from Tumut and Gundagai – this property (pictured top) comprises six weatherboard cottages, each with a river-view ensuite bathroom and rear terrace, as well as six rooms with ensuites in the main lodge. The in-house restaurant’s farm-to-table ethos makes much of Riverina and Snowy Valley produce, the wine list includes top drops by regional faves Simão & Co. and Nick Spencer Wines and gourmet picnic baskets are available. Follow the river on foot, borrow a bike and map the wider landscape or go horseriding in the foothills of
the Snowy Mountains.
Spicers Guesthouse, Hunter Valley
Reopened: November 2018
Wander among the vines at this Hunter Valley stalwart, which recently reopened following a $30-million upgrade. Warm
and welcoming with a low-key luxe aesthetic, this property has 45 rooms
(plus a self-contained four-bedroom cottage) decorated in neutral tones, each featuring a king-sized bed and ensuite
with rainfall shower. Opt for the Avido (Italian for “greedy”) menu at in-house restaurant Éremo and let executive chef Cameron Matthews spoil you with an always-changing selection of modern Italian dishes, from saltimbocca to zabaglione. As you would expect from
a property smack dab in the middle of Australia’s oldest continuous wine region, there’s a wall of the valley’s finest drops
for you and your partner to work through while relaxing by the open fireplace in the guest lounge or bar.
Barrenjoey House, Palm Beach
Opened: February 2019
Palm Beach’s only guesthouse impresses with seven light-filled ensuite rooms upstairs and a restaurant at street level 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. A special occasion might even call for caviar and blinis (or be
bold and order the lobster flatbread with bechamel
and fresh herbs). 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 made famous
by Home and Away is virtually compulsory.
SEE ALSO: The Most Romantic Places to Pop the Question
Western Australia
Quay, Perth
Opened: May 2019
Situated on the Esplanade, Quay Perth looks out on the $2.6-billion 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.
All-day lobby café Community at Quay serves Margaret River Roasters coffee and baked goods from Maison St Honore. Glide down the Swan on a gondola cruise, which departs only a short
walk from the hotel.
South Australia
Mount Lofty House, Adelaide Hills
Reopened: February 2019
Stay on a 12-hectare estate in the Adelaide Hills with views over the verdant Piccadilly Valley. Built by pastoralist and barrister Arthur Hardy in 1852, the stately sandstone manor house is looking splendid after a
$6-million refurbishment. There are 32 guest rooms and suites, all with king-sized beds and most with outdoor areas and original work by local artist Stephen Trebilcock on the walls. (Four self-contained cottages are
also available.) Meanwhile, three-hatted restaurant Hardy’s Verandah continues to dazzle under the direction of head chef
Jin Choi, whose menu infuses the valley’s best produce with flavours from Asia. The original wine cellar has also been renovated and guests can enjoy a private tasting from among the 3500 bottles. Want more grapes? Treatments at Stables Day Spa include a facial using pure shiraz, grape seed and resveratrol (an antioxidant compound found in red grape skins) that will put the rosiness back in your cheeks.
