Nestled among sand dunes and hidden between towering gums, these are some of the top glamping experiences across Australia.
Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef WA
Set upon outback dunes overlooking one of Australia’s most well-preserved coral reefs, this remote eco-luxe retreat offers guests a truly surreal experience. An outstanding oasis where the outback meets the reef, Sal Salis is one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia. With 15 wilderness tents, plus a special hut for honeymooners, the ethos here is to ensure only a minimal footprint. From April to July you can take a swim with local whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef. And from August to October you can jump in beside migrating humpback whales.
Swell Lodge, Christmas Island
Christmas Island’s first luxury eco-accommodation, Swell Lodge, opened in June 2018. The lodge is the first ecologically sustainable accommodation to be approved inside an Australian national park. Perfect for those seeking privacy, two glass-fronted chalets are nestled on the island’s rugged west coast (eight are planned). Strikingly remote and set within wild country overlooking the open Indian Ocean, the island is known as ‘Australia’s Galapagos’. Guests can snorkel and dive amongst a kaleidoscope of marine life – plus be indulged by the private chef and explore a diversity of cultures.
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Great Barrier Reef Qld
Situated at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay that provides a sanctuary for more than 1200 species of marine life. The island’s eco resort has recently added secluded glamping tents alongside its comfortable rooms. The aim is to engage and educate guests with minimal impact. With such an abundance of manta rays, turtles, sea birds and tropical fish, there’s plenty of opportunity for natural encounters. Guests are encouraged to join in the efforts towards conservation and sustainable living.
Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay NSW
With safari-style tents inspired by the owners’ time in South Africa, Paperbark Camp combines luxury with sustainable camping. Surrounded by towering gums, the 12 deluxe canvas tents boast all manner of five-star luxuries, while also allowing you to entirely switch off from the outside world – meaning no power points or TV. The intimate site is a beautiful wedding and event venue. The licensed restaurant serves gourmet breakfasts and dinners, and offers takeaway picnic hampers. It’s the perfect lunch to accompany your day exploring Jervis Bay.
Longitude 131°, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park NT
A glamping experience of a lifetime, Longitude 131° has been sustainably designed to preserve the natural landscape. Atop acacia-coloured sand dunes, 16 tented pavilions overlook Australia’s most recognisable natural landmark: Uluru. When you’re not dining under the desert stars or peering out from your lodge at Uluru basking in the sunset, you can choose to venture out for a helicopter ride to see the Red Centre from the air, hike the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta, or learn about the local Anangu people, who are the traditional custodians of this ancient land.
Wandering Souls Australia, Kangaroo Island SA
This bespoke glamping experience provides pop-up five-metre bell tents right across Kangaroo Island. Individual tents make for a romantic getaway. Or your own tent city could provide the rustic accommodation for your next exciting event or a wedding. Each tent emanates its own theme and provides all your required essentials, right down to a powerpack for your devices. All that’s required is to book your tent, pick your location and arrive. Wandering Souls can even help organise transportation to your site.
Glamp Sandridge, Boat Harbour Tas
This gorgeous campsite and wedding venue is all about the location: at the centre of a 500-acre wilderness reserve in rugged north-west Tasmania, overlooking the distant Bass Strait. When it comes to the eight-tent eco village, Sandridge Estate really throws in the good stuff. Meaning everything from wine and cheese to fairy lights and log fires, as well as, of course, Tassie’s extraordinary star-studded skies and abundant native wildlife. Book your wedding here and guests need only walk a short distance from the reception for a memorable night beneath the stars.
Cosy Tents, Daylesford Vic
Deep in Victoria’s spa country, Cosy Tents provides all the creature comforts you could want, in a low-key environment. This means everything from goose down quilts and a woodfired heater to a continental-style breakfast basket and Bose Bluetooth speakers. A stay here is like checking into a luxury hotel, although you are under the stars, with a firepit at your door. In the surrounding region, you can book into a day spa to continue the pampering experience. Or perhaps explore award-winning local restaurants and a plethora of great wineries.
Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park WA
Set among one of Western Australia’s largest and most awe-inspiring national parks, the low-impact glamping lodges of Karijini Eco Retreat are designed to cause no harm to the surrounding natural environment. The spacious solar-powered eco tents come complete with a king-size bed, quality linen and their own ensuite bathroom. The region is home to gorges, rock formations and cascading waterfalls, which have been virtually untouched for more than two billion years. There’s plenty of opportunities for hiking, abseiling, rock climbing, swimming and scenic local drives.
For more glamping experiences around the country, check out the top 10 eco tours and sustainable accommodation.
