Top 10 places to see the outback in style

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1. Longitude 131, Uluru, NT

Australia’s original luxury lodge, in a prime position. The 15 ‘tents’ here have stunning and privileged views of Uluru, with private dining and tours available. $2040 per night for two, all inclusive; minimum two-night stay.

 

www.longitude131.com.au

2. Wildman Wilderness Lodge, Mary River FloodPlains, NT

If we’d done this feature three years ago it would have included Queensland’s Wrotham Park. The entire resort has been moved 2000km to Kakadu’s doorstep, to open April 1 this year as a Wildman Wilderness Lodge with luxury cabins and touring of the Top End’s diverse wetlands. $285 per person per night including dinner and breakfast; touring is extra.

 

www.wildmanwildernesslodge.com.au

3. Bamurru Plains, Mary River FloodPlains, NT

In the same region as Wildman and part of the Wild Bush Luxury portfolio (which includes Arkaba Station). Wetland tours, fishing and airboat adventures. $930 per person per night including all meals and scheduled activities, but aircon is extra. Minimum two-night stay.

 

www.bamurruplains.com

4. Bullo River, The Kimberley, NT

Made famous by Sara Henderson, the Bullo River Station is on the NT side of the Kimberley and is a true working station experience, with guest activities that include mustering by helicopter and horse, or more relaxed options such as fishing tours to various gorges and the Bungle Bungles. $800 per person per night.

 

www.bulloriver.com

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5. El Questro, The Kimberley, WA

One of the most special locations in the entire Australian Outback, let alone the Kimberley, there is a way to stay here without spending
$1890 a night: camping costs from $17 per night, plus $17 for a seven-day park permit.

 

www.elquestro.com.au

6. Cable Beach Club, Broome, WA

It’s a bit weird to include a beachside resort in an Outback issue, but Broome is where the Outback meets the sea and it’s a great leaping-off point or final destination for an exploration of the Kimberley. From $427 per night.

 

www.cablebeachclub.com

7. Rawnsley Park Eco Villas, SA

The Eco Villas at Rawnsley Park, five hours’ drive from Adelaide, are the best bang-for-buck accommodation in the entire Australian Outback. You’ll find loads to do in the
Flinders Ranges. $350 per night.

 

www.rawnsleypark.com.au 

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8. Burrawang West Station, Forbes, NSW

Not very high-profile but big on luxury, this working sheep and cattle station serves up
an authentic homestead and wilderness experience. $4400 per night for four people including all meals and some activities.

 

www.burrawangwest.com.au

9. Mungo Lodge, NSW

The incredible, sculptural, ancient landscape of Mungo National Park is 100km from Mildura and one of the least recognised destinations
in the Outback. Mungo Lodge’s self-contained deluxe cabins are on the simpler, more affordable end of the style spectrum. Expect king-size beds and plasma TVs, and the feeling that you’ve stumbled upon a truly magic place. $250 for two.

 

www.mungolodge.com.au

10. Platinum SERVICE on The Ghan

The Adelaide to Darwin journey takes in some stunning central Australian Outback scenery. Enjoy the relatively new Platinum Service, which has larger rooms and beds and much more space. Jump off in Alice to explore the Red Centre then rejoin the train two days later. Or for the ultimate indulgence, book a self-contained carriage all for yourself. Darwin to Adelaide and vice versa, $2987 per person.

 

www.greatsouthernrail.com.au

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8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

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    Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

    Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

    1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

    Hanging Rock Summit Walk
    Take in views across the Macedon Ranges.

    Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

    2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

    Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout
    Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

    The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

    3. Mount Alexander Traverse

    Mount Alexander Traverse
    Take in the serenity.

    Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

    4. Murmuring Walk

    Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes
    Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

    Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

    5. La Gerche Forest Walk

    La Gerche Forest Walk
    Walk into history on the La Gerche Forest trail.

    Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

    6. Sailors Falls Loop

    Sailors Falls Loop
    See these spectacular falls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

    7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

    Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

    8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

    Mount Franklin Summit Walk
    Take in forests and waterfalls along the way to the top of Mount Franklin.

    An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

    The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.