Are these Australia’s ultimate glamp-sites?

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Love the outdoors, don’t care for camping but still need your luxury? Amp your next adventure with these Australian glamping holiday sites…

A deluxe view of Uluru: Longitude 131

Antique trinkets, earthly furnishings in 15 tented pavilions that raise the concept of ‘camping’ to another universe. The best bits about Longitude 131? – the view of Uluru, guided walks and a champagne-lined experience.

Plunge pool. Longitude 131, Uluru, Northern Territory
Longitude 131, Uluru. Photo courtesy of Tourism NT.

Urban zoo camping: Taronga’s Roar & Snore

Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo after dark: an intense in-tents experience. Roar & Snore’s luxury tents offer front-row harbour views and a lullaby of exotic animal noises to fall asleep to.

Experience 'Roar and Snore' at Taronga Zoo, Sydney.
Experience ‘Roar and Snore’ at Taronga Zoo, Sydney.

Outback glamping under the stars: Wilpena Pound

Deep within the Flinders Ranges most spectacular land formation this glampsite is closer to a hotel than a tent city with awe inspiring views from its timber decks. Wilpena Pound Resort is a grand place to base yourself for exploring all the outdoorsy options of this accessible-outback hub. All without banging a tent peg in anger.

Ikara Safari Tent Interior.

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Stylish sea views: Sal Salis

The place to base yourself for everything that Ningaloo and Shark Bay have to offer including, of course, those majestic whale sharks. Set on the dunes of remote Cape Range National Park, Sal Salis eco bush camp limits its intake to just 18 guests at any one time, with en-suite luxury and plenty of opportunity for exploring during the day.

Wetlands luxury: Wildman Luxury Lodge

Halfway between Darwin and Kakadu National Park, Wildman Wilderness Lodge is a great base to explore NT’s tropical wetlands. King-size beds, plump pillows, ceiling fans, en suites and its own infinity pool – you get the picture. Watch out for the resident croc, the five-metre ‘Big Arse’.

Under Sky at the Mountain, Vic

Under Sky is offering luxury camping within Mount Buffalo National Park. the site consists of 10 canvas bell tents and operates until 17 December. In addition to queen-size beds, plush interiors and daily housekeeping, the tents also come with gas cookers, pots and cutlery. There are bathrooms on site, and a communal area for guests to gather.

Bubble Tents, NSW

Located in the Capertee Valley in the NSW Central Tablelands (referred to by some as Australia’s Grand Canyon – it’s the widest canyon in the world), Bubble Tents’ glamping experience involves sleeping under the stars in one of three see-through igloos – Virgo, Cancer and Leo – with en suite toilet (thankfully not see-through), telescope and a generous deck area with fire pit.

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Glamping With Nature, Vic

Until 13 December, Glamping With Nature’s glampsite at Devil Cove in the Lake Eildon National Park, just two hours from Melbourne, offers couples’ and family tents complete with comfortable beds, all linens, towels and toiletries, a goodies basket of local produce and cooking utensils; there are shared bathrooms, barbecues and fire pits on site.

Into the Woods, VIC

The glamping concept from Into the Woods involves picking the luxury tent that suits (all are decorated in a cosy Scandi style) then choosing between campsites at Yackandandah Holiday Park and Discovery Parks Lake Hume, both in the Albury-Wodonga region. Or for something different, Into the Woods will bring glamping to you, setting up camp on your property.

Sanctuary at Sirromet, Qld

Located just 30 minutes from Brisbane at Mount Cotton, Sanctuary at Sirromet is a glampsite of 18 tents set up among the vines of this family-owned winery. In addition to luxe appointments – king-size bed, en suite, air-conditioning, locally sourced breakfast hamper – there’s TV-free solitude, stunning landscapes, lots of wildlife and a well-stocked cellar door just five minutes’ walk away.

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7 of the best hotel pools to plan a holiday around

(Credit: Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences)

    Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
    Whether you prefer harbour views or coastal escapes, these seven hotels prove that every holiday should start poolside.

    For the 13 million Australians planning a domestic holiday next year, where to stay is as important as where to go. The ideal hotel is one that helps you relax the moment you check in, with freshly prepared dining, easy access to local attractions, and an inviting pool lined with loungers and lush greenery. These seven hotel pools tick every box.   

    1. Hilton Surfers Paradise

    Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences rooftop pool
    Dive into this sunny pool precinct.

    What’s better than a stunning hotel swimming pool? Four stunning hotel swimming pools. Just two minutes’ walk from the iconic Surfers Paradise beachfront, Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences has its own pool precinct extending over 1500sqm. 

    There’s a 40-metre lap pool, plunge pool, kids’ pool with playground, and an indoor pool for a heated escape on cooler days. Follow up your swim with a luxury treatment at the eforea Spa, before taking in the ocean and hinterland views at the hotel’s Catch Restaurant. Guests can choose from luxury hotel rooms, or fully self-contained apartments with a kitchen, laundry and private balcony. The Sky Residences are located on level 33 and above, and include floor-to-ceiling windows, larger balconies and stop-you-in-your-tracks views.  

    2. Hilton Cairns

    hilton cairns pool
    Spend a day by the tropical lagoon-style pool.

    If location is key, Hilton Cairns offers an urban, waterfront escape just two minutes’ walk from the marina, Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and CBD. When you’re not exploring the Great Barrier Reef or the local restaurants and markets, you’ll most likely spend your time on a lounger by the inviting tropical lagoon-style pool, shaded by lush palm trees. There’s even a ‘Popsicle Hotline’ for a complimentary ice block delivered straight to your lounger, or order from the popular pool bar.

    Every room at the Hilton Cairns features a private balcony – rare for city hotels – so you can sip your coffee and watch the sunrise as the marina readies itself for boats heading out to the reef through Trinity Inlet.  

    3. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns

    Double Tree By Hilton Cairns pool
    Pull up a lounge chair and enjoy the Cairns weather.

    Famous for their ridiculously delicious welcome cookies, served warm on arrival, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns is also known for its seven-story, open-air tropical atrium with waterfalls, bridges, pathways and a pond filled with barramundi. Some rooms and internal balconies overlook this rainforest indoor garden, and you can explore it anytime you like.

    Don’t miss the regular fish-feeding sessions. When you’re not adventuring in the atrium, pull up a lounge chair beside the newly refurbished pool, or enjoy The Vine Room restaurant and bar, which won best redeveloped hotel in QLD at the Queensland Hospitality Awards. This hotel is the perfect base to visit the nearby Cairns Esplanade Lagoon, Cairns Aquarium, and the Reef Fleet Terminal.  

    4. Hilton Garden Inn Busselton

    heated pool at Hilton Garden Inn Busselton.
    Enjoy the heated pool at Hilton Garden Inn Busselton.

    To experience the colour-soaked sunrises of South West WA, get up early and take a dip in the welcoming, heated pool at Hilton Garden Inn Busselton. Overlooking the sheltered Geographe Bay foreshore, the loungers are perfectly positioned to take advantage of sunny afternoons as well. 

    Order a cool drink or devour fresh seafood from the hotel’s restaurant, Together & Co Restaurant. The unique menu is refreshed seasonally, but expect locally sourced Western Australian produce, Margaret River wines and modern Australian dishes. This hotel also offers Ocean View Rooms that frame the iconic Busselton Jetty nearby, as well as some rooms with private balconies, all decked out in soft coastal colours, pale timbers and sandy tones, reflecting the surrounding landscape.   

    5. Hilton Darwin

    Hilton Darwin pool deck
    Head to the sun-drenched rooftop pool.

    As soon as you drop your bags off in your harbour-view room at the Hilton Darwin, you’ll most likely head to the sun-drenched rooftop pool to wash away the tropical humidity and enjoy the endlessly blue Northern Territory skies.

    After a dip, book into award-winning PepperBerry Restaurant. The menu leans into the cultural significance of the region by incorporating native ingredients. Think lemon myrtle, Kakadu plum, saltbush, wattle seed and other Indigenous flavours. Round out your evening with a short stroll to the CBD for an after-dinner drink or ice cream by the waterfront.  

    6. DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin

    DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin pool
    Dine beside the pool, or dive right in.

    The most sought-after seat at the DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin is undoubtedly a terrace table in the hotel’s Aqua Restaurant and Bar. With views across the oversized pool and tropical gardens, the terrace is the best place to relax and enjoy the Mediterranean-inspired dishes with local ingredients.

    From there, famous attractions such as Crocosaurus Cove and the Darwin Waterfront are within a gentle stroll. Recharge in one of the comfortable, luxury rooms with the Sweet Dreams® by DoubleTree sleep experience – a custom-designed bed, with feather or down bedding and crisp white sheets. It’ll give you a sleep so restorative, you’ll want to take the bed home with you, which you literally can, thanks to the brand’s retail collection.       

    7. Hilton Garden Inn Darwin

    an aerial view of the pool at Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
    Hit the on-site pool under shady palms for a respite.

    Striking a balance between being central and blissfully removed from Darwin’s busy nightlife, the Hilton Garden Inn Darwin hugs the quieter end of the famous Esplanade. With a resort-style pool set among palms and tropical plants, it’s a destination in its own right. Harbour View rooms have sweeping panoramic views of ochre-coloured sunsets, while other rooms enjoy the striking city skyline. The hotel is so highly regarded by the locals, it recently won the Best Overall Accommodation Hotel and Best Mid-Range Accommodation categories at the Hospitality NT awards – but that won’t surprise anyone who has stayed there. 

    Start planning your poolside bliss at hilton.com.