Blow the budget on a luxury beachhouse

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Every family will have a different idea of luxury, but one thing is guaranteed – your dream holiday home is out there.

Whether it’s a separate kids’ retreat, an amazing infinity pool, a modernist haven in Tassie with floor-to-ceiling glass doors or a Balinese-inspired villa in Noosa, you’re bound to find a place with the perfect luxury extras you’ve always dreamed of.

So go on – why not go all-out this year?

 

Try there…

NSW: Ocean Muse, Port Stephens

This sprawling seaside abode in Port Stephens is flanked by national parkland, creating a luxurious enclave for a family or group to settle in and enjoy the infinity-edge lap pool, amazing views over the bushland out to the ocean, and many bells and whistles.

It’s well–equipped for kids and adults, with a billiards room, large decks, open–plan living and dining and a large garden that’s perfect for playing a spot of cricket after a day at the beach. There are three bedrooms, including one master ensuite set in its own pavilion and another with four single beds. From $800 per night (five nights-plus). 02 9331 2881.

VIC: Zealandia, Portsea

Handily positioned between Portsea Front Beach and Portsea Back Beach on the Mornington Peninsula, Zealandia is a testament to 50s modernist architecture and design. Beautifully furnished, it’s best for families with older children.

With three bedrooms, three living areas, outdoor entertaining areas and an inground pool, you’d be forgiven for never actually making it out the front door. From $500 per night (two night mid-week stay) to $6000 per week (summer peak, one week minimum). Sleeps six. 0418 121 779.

Fin more option with our guide to the best places to stay the Mornington Peninsula.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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TAS: Avalon Coastal Retreat, Swansea

If there’s a better view from a beach house, we’d like to hear about it. Perched atop a headland overlooking Oyster Bay on the east coast of Tasmania, this ‘modernist coastal dreaming home’ does everything in its power to embrace the stunning landscape, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, sensational outdoor dining areas, even a Huon pine bathtub from which to enjoy the views.

There are wonderful creature comforts inside, too: robes and slippers, coffee machine, heated floors, an open fire, gourmet kitchen and even a gourmet mini bar. With full beach kit at your disposal and direct access to a secluded beach, it’s kind of a no-brainer. From $900 per night (Sun-Thurs) or $1000 per night (Fri/Sat). Sleeps six. 1300 36 11 36.

SA: Kangaroo Island Villa, Kangaroo Island

Inspired by European villas, the light, airy and curvaceous Kangaroo Island Villa gives you plenty of choices. Enjoy an indulgent lie-in in your circular ‘tower’ bedroom, with its expansive ocean views – or rise early and nip down to the jetty and beach, only a minute away at .

Should you enjoy an outdoor jacuzzi under the stars before or after your barbecue on the deck? Go for ‘house only’ accommodation, or splash out on the ‘full service luxury’ option, where a private chef prepares all meals, snacks and beverages for you? Oh, the dilemmas.

It’s easy to handle all this tough decision making when you’re staying in a place this exceedingly lovely, though. From $590 per night for one room plus $25 for each additional room used (low season) or $950 per night (peak season) for accommodation only. Sleeps six; rollaway bed available for $25 extra. 02 9331 2881.

For more check out the best 8 places to stay on Kangaroo Island.

NT: Mandalay Luxury Stay, Darwin

This gorgeous, colonial-style stone residence on Darwin’s Esplanade carries echoes of the region’s history, from the influence of Colonial traders and Chinese settlers to indigenous art, and combines location with luxury living.

The bedrooms open out onto the grand verandah, with views overlooking Darwin harbour, plus a pool. From $445 per night for one bedroom or $645 per night for three bedrooms (low season) up to $995 per night for three bedrooms in peak season. Enquire about wet season specials. Sleeps six. 08 8942 3012.

For more option check out our guide to Darwin accommodation.

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QLD: Balinese Beach House, Noosa

Your own private beachside oasis lies just on the other side of the Balinese-style wooden doors to this unique property on Noosa’s North Sunshine Beach. All airy white spaces punctuated by lovely wooden beams, this conveniently located home is like its own mini–resort, with a saltwater pool, poolside cabana and loungers, daybed and breezy front balcony with beach views.

From $450 per night (low season) to $1000 per night (Christmas). Minimum stays apply. Sleeps six (extra charges apply for additional guests). 0421 887 520.

For more here is our guide to the best places to stay in Noosa.

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How to spend three romantic days on Hamilton Island

(Image: Sharyn Cairns)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
    Continue
    From barefoot beach walks to moonlit dinners, this three-day Hamilton Island itinerary will have lovebirds swooning.

    Few Aussie destinations do romance quite like Hamilton Island. Set in the dreamy Whitsunday Islands, this popular honeymoon destination combines luxury retreats, palm-fringed reefs and spectacular dining with the easy rhythm of tropical living. Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, anniversary or spontaneous couples’ weekend, here’s how to spend a loved-up three days on Hamilton Island.

    Day 1

    Morning

    A serene ocean-view room overlooking endless blue horizons.
    Let picturesque ocean views welcome you the moment you check in. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Nothing kills the holiday buzz faster than waiting at the baggage carousel. Luckily, our arrival couldn’t have been smoother. Staying at the boutique, adults-only Beach Club Hotel means VIP transfers are included, so the moment we land, a staff member greets us and whisks our bags straight from the baggage claim to our room. We don’t have to lift a finger.

    Occupying a prime piece of real estate on Catseye Beach, Beach Club is a peaceful retreat just steps from sugar-white sand and a turquoise lagoon. Within 10 minutes of stepping off the plane, we’ve arrived and are switched into holiday mode.

    We check into our room, immediately delighted by the sight of several wallabies grazing in the garden just in front of our private terrace. Beyond, picturesque ocean vistas stretch across the horizon. The room’s mini bar is stocked with bespoke sweet treats; the bathroom with premium Aesop amenities that add to the luxury.

    After we’ve checked out the resort’s beachside infinity pool – plotting the lounge chairs we’ll no doubt return to later – we head out to explore the island. Families glide by on hire bikes and chirping rainbow lorikeets dot the foliage. We decide to hike up to Passage Peak – one of the most scenic walks on Hamilton Island – which takes about 40 minutes one way and boasts panoramic Whitsundays views that will stick with you for long after you leave.

    Afternoon

    A romantic beachside lunch as champagne is served.
    Recharge with a laid-back lunch at Beach Club Restaurant. (Image: Nikki To)

    After working up an appetite, Beach Club Restaurant is the perfect place to snap up a light lunch. Think barramundi, nourish bowls, Wagyu beef burgers, brown butter toasties and Queensland chilli prawns. For those who don’t want to move from their prime perch on the beach or by the pool, there’s also the option to order bites via QR code from the resort’s lounge chairs.

    After our fill, we plunge into the hotel’s incredible infinity pool, its surface blending near seamlessly into the blues of Catseye Beach. Quiet and tucked away from the island’s hum, it feels illegal to do anything but relax here.

    Evening

    A curated flatlay of dishes from Catseye Pool Club.
    Celebrate your first evening over beautifully plated coral trout. (Image: Nikki To)

    There’s truly nothing more satisfying than a little R&R (rest & robe) time in your hotel room after spending the day in the sun. Fresh from a shower, we watch the ripe tangerine sun slowly dip below the palm-framed horizon from our plush terrace daybed. Two wallabies are still grazing on the grass. It’s a magical setting; I find it hard to believe I am only a few hours away from home.

    Come dinnertime, we zip over to nearby Catseye Pool Club, which is a short buggy ride from the hotel or a five-minute walk. A chic new haunt from Sydney-based pair Josh and Julie Niland, the restaurant is all about reconnecting over flavour-rich share plates using high-quality Aussie ingredients.

    We sit in a corner overlooking Catseye Beach – arguably the best seat in the house – with mini table lamps casting a soft glow about the contemporary indoor-outdoor setting. What comes next is pure delight; grilled prawns served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a Thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Then, elegantly plated coral trout served with kasundi and zucchini. We savour it all slowly, the conversation flowing easily between bites and sips while the moonlight transforms the ocean into molten silver.

    Day 2

    Morning

    An 18-hole golf course set against sweeping ocean views.
    Tee off side by side against a backdrop of sweeping ocean views. (Image: Andrea Francolini)

    A la carte breakfast is complimentary for guests of Beach Club, and we take full advantage of the fact. Barista-quality coffee and pressed juice – today it’s carrot, melon, orange and pineapple – arrive alongside pastries baked fresh this morning. For the larger meal, I treat myself to the buttermilk pancakes with praline butter.

    If you prefer an active start to the morning rather than lying in, you’ll find plenty of options. Perhaps tee off at the 18-hole golf course, where the views are as much of a drawcard as the sport itself. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, the course is integrated into the ridged landscape of Dent Island.

    Afternoon

    Artfully paired wines and bites from the Talk & Taste experience.
    Uncover new favourite wines together. (Image: Sharyn Cairns)

    For wine-curious couples, Beach Club’s new Talk & Taste experience is a must. Held several times a week for up to eight guests, it’s an intimate tasting of Aussie drops paired with curated bites – all guided by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher.

    We opt for the white wine and seafood option, enjoying pours from Eden Valley to Launceston while Courtenay shares her knowledge and passion for the intricacies of wine making.

    Later, we drive our golf buggy up to One Tree Hill. This is one of the most popular spots on the island for sunset, but we chose to come a little earlier so we have more space to ourselves. We enjoy afternoon wine and cheese, admiring the 360-degree views of the island and its impossibly blue waters.

    Evening

    The moody, atmospheric interiors of Bommie Deck.
    Dress up for a romantic evening at Bommie Restaurant. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Since we are, after all, on holiday, we continue the tipples at Bommie Deck. Suspended above Hamilton Island’s marina, this architectural monument is a fabulous place for a sunset spritz.

    Just a few steps inside is Bommie Restaurant, the contemporary Australian fine dining establishment headed by chef Ryan Locke. Of anywhere on the island, this is the place to frock up and celebrate a special occasion – especially if theatrical culinary experiences take your fancy. The tasting set menu is a whirlwind of native Australian flavours and creative plating – with highlights including the cured venison wrapped in wattle seed seasoning. For dessert, a clever take on white chocolate and lemonade ends the night on a high.

    Day 3

    Morning

    A couple gliding across calm waters on SUP boards together.
    Ease into the morning with a paddleboarding adventure. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Another low-key morning means another blissful breakfast at Beach Club. This time, it’s smashed avo toast topped with Persian fetta, dukkah and poached eggs – a deliciously fueling start to the day.

    The weather today is perfect for a paddle, so we walk straight from our room onto the sand of Catseye Beach to pick up some SUP boards. Guests of Beach Club receive complimentary non-motorised water sports equipment, spanning everything from mini catamarans to snorkel gear and kayaks. Finding our balance on the boards is a fun challenge at first, but before long, we’re gliding across the glassy water like naturals.

    Afternoon

    A helicopter soaring above the iconic Heart Reef.
    Add the ultimate highlight with a Heart Reef flight together. (Image: Hamilton Island)

    No couples’ retreat is complete without a touch of pampering. Located in the resort area, Spa Wumurdaylin offers everything from body wraps and facials to de-stress massages using natural Australian products. The Soul Temple treatment begins with a heavenly feeling sugar scrub, followed by a Vichy vertical shower and underwater massage. I leave in a daze.

    If you prefer adventure to relaxation, there is an abundance of day trips from Hamilton Island, from snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef to Whitsundays helicopter tours – all of which make for unforgettable experiences that will bring you and your partner closer.

    Evening

    A couple standing at qualia, gazing out over the endless ocean horizon.
    Close your journey over a beautiful dinner by the sea. (Image: Sharyn Cains)

    Enjoy an elevated evening at qualia’s tranquil Pebble Beach restaurant, where a private beach setting complements the thoughtful, seasonal menu. Or perhaps continue relaxing at Beach Club, feasting on roast lamb and seafood at the poolside restaurant or soaking in ocean views from your room with in-house room delivery. And don’t forget the champagne – a weekend of love, fun and restoration is worth toasting.

    Getting there

    Hamilton Island has its own airport called the Great Barrier Reef Airport, which makes it fuss-free to get to. Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar offer short, direct flights from most major Australian cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns. This means you’ll spend less time travelling and more time enjoying each other’s company.

    Visit hamitlonisland.com.au for more couples’ retreat ideas.