Six of the best honeymoon destinations in Australia

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Whether you want an action-packed honeymoon or some serious privacy, or a camping experience with the rough edges knocked off, here are six of the best places to honeymoon in Australia.

1. Makepeace Island, Queensland 

Best For: Honeymooners who have kindly benefactors or are luxuriously-inclined

 

Forget heart-shaped balloons and chocolates. This sanctuary with its heart in the right place is the original love island.

 

Arrive in your luxury yacht to the heart-shaped Makepeace Island, which was named after the housekeeper who inherited it from its owners in the 1930s.

 

Located within minutes of Noosa or a 20-minute drive from Sunshine Coast Airport, the island is owned by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Australia co-founder Brett Godfrey, which adds to its appeal for wannabee gazillionaires.

 

The island features a two-storey Balinese wantilan, where guests can settle down on Balinese day beds while overlooking the Noosa River. There’s also a boathouse, large lagoon pool, 15-person spa, tennis courts and outdoor cinema.

 

Those who want to give the credit card a workout can also head to the fashion boutiques and hatted restaurants in nearby Noosa.

 

The island accommodates 22 lovebirds in luxurious seclusion.

Makepeace is your very own private island escape

2. Western Australia 

Best for: East Coasters who want to escape their in-laws

 

After dancing till midnight on the East Coast of Australia, you can go west and embrace the time difference to add a few more memorable hours to your big day.

 

Start your love affair with WA by booking into Como The Treasury in Perth, which offers an exceptional five-night experience aimed at more active couples.

 

After a refreshing night’s sleep and breakfast for two, honeymooners can head north to explore WA’s wilderness, with a three-night experience at either El Questro Homestead in the Kimberley region or Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef on the northwest coast.

 

If you are having a winter wedding, head to Sal Salis Ningaloo beachside safari camp where – if you’re lucky – you may even get to swim with whale sharks.

 

Como has curated three five-night itineraries, which are designed to make newly married couples swoon while simultaneously sharing the love for WA. Como The Treasury is in the heart of Perth, so use it as your base to stay and play.

 

The Berkeley River Lodge is also a sweet spot to visit with your significant other. East Coast couples flock to the Kimberley Coast to relax on the beach and watch the sun set over the sea. The lodge can arrange a cruise along the Berkeley River to Casuarina Falls.

El Questro Homestead is one of the stand-out luxury stays in the region.

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

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3. The Coffs Coast, NSW

Best for: Everyone from boho types on a budget to those with healthy trust funds

 

Point your car with the bouncing cans tied to the bumper toward the hippie bubble that is Bellingen. The Mid North Coast region of NSW has a range of options to suit: from a fully furnished bell tent at Sapphire Beach Holiday Park to an architect-designed chalet at Promised Land Retreat with views of the Great Dividing Range.

 

Staying in Bello doesn’t have to be a patchoulis-scented affair. Those with a healthy trust fund in play can fork out $18,000 a night for a two-night minimum stay at Hermes Estate Luxury Retreat. It’s not a hotel. It’s not a resort. It’s a two-bedroom private villa with a fulltime butler and a fulltime chef located near a bend of the Never Never River.

 

The villa near the small town of Gleniffer along Waterfall Way is surrounded by rainforest with all the luxuries imaginable: take your complimentary glass of Dom Perignon for a walk-through: there’s a media room, private spa studio, full-size kitchen with Villeroy & Bosch dinnerware and Hermes Estate branded cutlery.

 

When the cloak of night falls over the retreat, it’s just you and your sweetheart being serenaded by the resident tree frogs. Note: the paint is only just dry at the gorgeous estate, which  starts taking bookings in April.

Promised Land Retreat offers views of the Great Dividing Range

4. Uluru, Northern Territory 

Best for: Adventurous types who eloped ahead of their impending nuptials

 

Forgo the big, fat wedding in order to better afford a week-long retreat at Longitude 131° in the stunning Northern Territory.

 

Uluru is a less obvious choice than the cliched beach destination for honeymooners where even the palm trees seem to beckon and sway in a suggestive way. But for likeminded couples whose idea of luxury is drinking in nature and exploring the rich Australian landscape, Uluru is paradise.

 

Longitude 131° lets the landscape do the talking: the luxury desert basecamp is embedded in a river of red dirt overlooking the iconic rock. Here, bespoke experiences include a trek to Kantju Gorge, dinner under a night sky at Table 131°, and a meander around artist Bruce Munro’s solar installation, Field of Light under a big sky, confetti’d with stars.

 

Stay in a luxury tent or contemporary pavilion offering views over the World-Heritage listed Uluru and Kata Tjuta.

 

Ayers Rock Resort also offers a compelling argument to elope to Uluru.

The illuminated magic of Field Of Light

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5. East Coast of Tasmania

Best for: Couples who adore nature as much as each other

 

Whether you’re on a babymoon, honeymoon, mini moon or mega moon, Tasmania’s scenic East Coast is a great out-of-earshot, gone-to-ground place to start your romantic getaway. A shared adventure is always romantic: strengthen your quads and your bond with a walk to Wineglass Bay and explore the spectacular Bay of Fires before rounding another bend and arriving at Saffire Freycinet, one of the most fancy-schmancy resorts that freckle the coast of Tasmania.

 

Couples who are feeling frisky can bunker down in this romantic getaway while swooning over the view. Forget five-star pomp, think barefoot luxury as you eat oysters shucked to order while knee-deep in an estuary, and seafood line-caught from the bay.

 

Reinvent the dinner date by telling executive chef Iain Todd of your likes and dislikes and ordering room service to be enjoyed on your deck overlooking Great Oyster Bay.

Coastal cubbies at Freycinet Lodge
Coastal cubbies at Freycinet Lodge

6. The Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

Best for: Those who have a strong affection for sun, sea and sand

 

Honeymooners love anything heart-shaped. After promising your heart to another, and saying your ‘I-dos’, take a scenic flight over Heart Reef in The Whitsundays to admire the Instagram-friendly island tinged with turquoise seas.

 

Happy couples staying on Hamilton Island can also travel by helicopter to the Heart Island pontoon helipad where they can swim and snorkel and enjoy a boat ride around the reef.

 

Those whisking a loved one to the Whitsundays can choose between a range of accommodation: from the swanky Hamilton Island hideaway qualia to the oh-so-chic InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, which has a romantic ‘Sunset Escapade’ that includes a speedboat ride to Blue Pearl Bay for a private picnic.

 

Sustainable-minded sweethearts will also find Elysian Retreat on the southern point of Long Island appealing. The retreat is the first 100 per cent solar-powered resort on the Great Barrier Reef and is barefoot luxury at its very best, with only 10 bungalows available.

Sustainable-minded sweethearts flock to Elysian Retreat

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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8 reasons why the low season is the best time to explore the Northern Territory

Credit: Tourism and Events NT

September to April in the Northern Territory rewards those who seek adventure.

Sure, the Northern Territory shines during the high season, but did you know it transforms into lush magnificence in the summer low season? From September to April, hundreds of waterfalls roar into action, vegetation flourishes and natural pools swell, all thanks to spectacular storms. This is when some of the country’s best arts and cultural events hit the calendar, too.

Travelling at this time of year means you’ll also be rewarded with off-peak travel pricing on accommodation, tours and experiences, and can even enjoy many of the top sites all to yourself.

1. Kings Canyon is transformed

Kings Canyon Rim Walk Garden Of Eden in the rain
Kings Canyon transforms in the low season. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Kings Canyon’s towering sandstone domes and crevasses are a sight to behold year-round, but during the low season you can witness a rare phenomenon. This ancient outback wonder’s arid landscape bursts to life when it rains, temporarily transforming it with waterfalls that thunder down the cliffs. At the base of the canyon is the verdant Garden of Eden and its permanent watering hole.

2. John Hayes Rockhole is a natural wonder

Two women hiking to John Hayes Rockhole, one of the unforgettable experiences during the best time to explore the NT.
Hike to a desert oasis. (Credit: Tourism and Events NT)

Hidden in the Trephina Gorge Nature Park in the East MacDonnell Ranges, John Hayes Rockhole is an oasis waiting to be discovered. Visit the narrow canyon during the high season, and you may see only a sandy creekbed, but after rain in the low season the pool is full of cool water. It’s accessible via a 4WD-only track off the Ross Highway, or you can set out early and join the nine-kilometre Trephina Ridgetop Walk. The reward for undertaking the hike is worth every step, and there’s a dedicated, tent-only campground for those who’d like to soak up the serenity overnight.

3. The Red Centre Light Trail shines bright

A woman admiring The Light Towers, one of the must-see attractions during the best time to explore the NT.
Watch the Outback light up after sunset. (Credit: Tourism and Events NT)

The Red Centre’s rich cultural heritage and lack of light pollution make it the ideal setting for immersive light shows, and you can experience the most iconic ones on an epic six-day road trip in April. Witness the Parrtjima cultural festival in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) before heading to Kings Canyon for Bruce Munro’s Light-Towers, where 69 glowing towers shine to a celestial soundscape. At Uluṟu, Munro’s Field of Light blankets the red soil with glowing frosted-glass stems, and the Wintijiri Wiru drone show lights up the sky in front of the sacred cultural site. Along the way you’ll witness the changing landscapes of the desert from the West MacDonnell Ranges to the Valley of the Winds.

4. The Parrtjima festival lights up the Red Centre

Festival lights illuminating the Northern Territory, showing why the best time to explore the NT is during festival season.
Witness the magic of Parrtjima. (Credit: Tourism and Events NT)

For 10 days every April, the Red Centre turns into a dazzling display of colour for the Parrtjima festival. Held at Alice Springs Desert Park, the unmissable celebration shines a spotlight on the world’s oldest living culture using modern technology. Artworks by local Aboriginal artists are transformed into large-scale illuminated installations with accompanying soundscapes, offering a unique opportunity to see the spectacular sunburnt landscapes, night skies and 300-million-year-old West MacDonnell Ranges in a new light. The jam-packed line-up of art and cultural events also includes workshops, markets, short films, talks and live music.

5. Cruising along Nitmiluk Gorge is breathtaking

Aerial view of Nitmiluk Gorge, showcasing its dramatic cliffs and waterways.
Sail between towering sandstone cliffs. (Credit: Tourism and Events NT/Nic Morley)

Drifting down the emerald waters of Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge between towering red sandstone cliffs carved over millions of years, all while waterfalls stream down around you, is an experience like none other. Nitmiluk Katherine’s two-hour NitNit Dreaming Two Gorge Tour sails through gorges past ancient rock art while a local guide imparts knowledge about the Jawoyn culture and significance of the landscape.

6. You can explore local culture on the Tiwi Islands

A quick boat ride from Darwin lies the peculiarly pink shores of Melville Island, Tiwi Islands. Populated by the hilariously cheeky Indigenous Tiwis, stepping onto the Islands is like stepping back in time. Sweeping rusty dirt roads meander through the eucalypt forest and are interspersed only by small communities and freshwater springs.
Immerse yourself in Tiwi culture. (Credit: Tourism and Events NT/Elise Cook)

Take an 80-kilometre ferry ride from Darwin to arrive at the Tiwi Islands, an archipelago of 11 picturesque islands and a haven for art lovers and anglers. On the Tiwi By Design walking tour you’ll be guided to the Tiwi Design Art Centre, one of Australia’s oldest art centres, to observe local artists in action and join a screen printing workshop.

If you’re more partial to sinking a line, book a stay at Tiwi Island Retreat in April. It’s one of the best months to fish for barramundi, and their world-class fishing adventures are your best chance at reeling in a prized catch.

7. Scenic flights over Kakadu’s waterfalls are jaw-dropping

Jim Jim Falls from above during a wet season helicopter tour. Covering nearly 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu National Park is teeming with wildlife, home to important Aboriginal rock art sites, and takes in diverse and exotic landscape.
Soar above Jim Jim Falls. (Credit: Tourism and Events NT/Jarrad Seng)

Seeing Kakadu National Park’s gushing waterfalls and dramatic escarpments from above offers a dose of unparalleled beauty – and it’s all best witnessed in the low season.

Taking flight from Darwin, Kakadu Air Services offers an unforgettable experience, with doorless helicopters revealing unobstructed views of the 1.8-billion-year-old landscape. Soar above the untouched savannah that turns into a tropical green paradise, marvel at the thunderous Jim Jim Falls and Twin Falls, and whiz through ancient sandstone canyons. If you’re lucky, the scenery will look all the more dramatic with rolling tropical storm clouds in the distance.

8. Litchfield National Park is an amazing place to cool off

Litchfield National Park
Dive into natural swimming holes. (Image: Tourism NT/Joshua Griffen)

Litchfield National Park is peppered with stunning natural swimming pools for you to beat the heat in. Take a refreshing dip in pristine, crocodile-free spots such as Buley Rockhole, a series of spring-fed cascading pools, and the nearby Florence Falls, which is enveloped by monsoon rainforest and features a crystal-clear plunge pool fed by a 15-metre-high waterfall. Be sure to check the Northern Territory Parks & Reserves website for closures before you go.

Start planning your low season adventure of a lifetime at northernterritory.com.

6 Of The Best Honeymoon Destinations In Australia