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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5 of the best day trips from Hobart

(Credit: Samuel Shelley)

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
    Continue
    Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

    In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

    Where to stay

    Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick hotel
    Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

    Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

    For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart. Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline, and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique from your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

    For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles. Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

    1. Bruny Island

    Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island.
    Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Credit: Elise Weaver)

    Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

    Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

    Catch a rare glimpse of the white-furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked. Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

    2. Mount Wellington

    Mount Wellington Summit tasmania
    Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Credit: Samuel Shelley)

    At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

    Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes, which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

    For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

    2. Port Arthur

    Port Arthur tasmania
    Wander through convict-built grounds and gardens. (Credit: Alastair Bett)

    Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

    The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

    Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

    3. Launceston

    Duck Reach Power Station Bridge Cataract Gorge launceston
    Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Credit: Nick H Visuals)

    You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

    Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

    Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo, for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

    4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

    woman with wombat at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
    Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

    Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

    Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

    5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

    Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart.
    Trace the river through history and wine country. (Credit: Alastair Bett)

    Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol, said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

    Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.