The 9 Best Glamping Spots In New South Wales

Whilst we all love a good old-fashioned camp out in the elements, we can’t really go past a romantic getaway that combines the best of camping without losing any ‘necessities’ like running water and a comfy bed.

From the stunning Hunter Valley wine region, to the hidden forest on the South Coast, glamping around New South Wales couldn’t be prettier. We take a look at some of the best glamping spots in NSW here.

1. The Cove, Jervis Bay

For those who know this place, you’ll have to forgive us, because we’ve just exposed the best kept secret in Jervis Bay. The Cove.

There’s hardly anything written about this secluded glamping paradise, and we seriously can’t imagine why.

Perched within Boderee National Park, wake up just meters from the beach in your own waterproof, canvas bell tent. Just don’t be alarmed at the tens of kangaroos that playfully hang around your campsite.

Tents are furnished with a king size bed, a daybed (can be used as an extra bed), an outdoor table and two deck chairs. There’s also an outdoor bath (YES) and a communal barbeque with a table and chairs. Oh, and there’s a pizza oven too. Just don’t tell too many people, okay?

Wake up surrounded by kangaroos at The Cove

2. Boydell’s Secret Escape, East Gresford

The ultimate romantic getaway in the glorious Hunter Valley, Boydell’s Secret Escape sits high on the property, overlooking the family vineyard and lush grazing paddocks.

Relax in the fabulous copper bath with a glass of wine in hand and set the fire in time for sunset. Wake up to the kangaroos and cows grazing on the lush-green paddocks and help yourself to the supplied breakfast: juicy strawberries, local bread and freshly squeezed orange juice.

If you’re feeling extra indulgent, book an in-house massage, private chef or a picnic lunch hamper to really enjoy your stay.

3. Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay

Hidden in the forest on the NSW South Coast, choose from the 13 canvas safari-style tents, wedged between eucalyptus and paperbark trees.

Be at one with nature when you stay at Paperbark Camp, as all of the tents’ bathrooms are semi-exposed to the elements. Don’t worry, you’ve still got privacy screens!

This peaceful bush retreat combines luxury accommodation with some of the best food from the on-site restaurant. Gunyah, from the local Koori word meaning ‘meeting place’, really is the heart of the camp.

The famous Paperbark camp

4. Faraway Domes, Warialda

Nestled amongst the bushland of leafy trees on a private 3600-hectare property, Faraway Domes is further away than others, but the one-of-a-kind structures are well worth the trek.

More than 400 kilometres from the city of Brisbane, Faraway Domes is an exclusive getaway, reserved for those adventurous enough to explore the harder-to-reach regions of Australia.

The high-tech geodesic domes are built to withstand the tough elements of the Australian outback, while still having all the luxurious touches. Enjoy panoramic views of the stunning surroundings and relax into your own exclusive getaway.

Nestled among bushland you’ll find Faraway Domes

5. Sierra Escape, Mudgee

Surrounded by rolling hills and breathtaking views, Sierra Escape in Mudgee provides the ultimate escape from city life.

Designed for comfort and luxury, reset your mind by setting a relaxing bath, toasting marshmallows over the fire, or pouring a glass of wine whilst taking in the picturesque views of the mountain ranges.

Guests can pick from three of the Australian-made tents to suit your level of luxury.

Sierra Escape offers a new level of luxury

6. Tandara Glamping Tent, Lane Cove National Park

Sydneysiders don’t have to travel far to try a touch of luxurious glamping with the Tandara Glamping Tent situated within the Lane Cove Holiday Park.

Tandara is unique in there being only one tent. It’s first in best dressed, and if you’re wanting to wine and dine your loved one, I’d recommend booking fast.

Blended into the Australian bush, the tent offers first-class luxurious facilities.

Blended into the Australian bush, Tandara offers first-class luxurious facilities

7. Roar & Snore, Sydney

The unforgettable overnight Taronga Zoo experience allows guests to share a night right by the animals. The experience features intimate encounters, fascinating talks and of course, the safari-style accommodation overlooking the stunning Sydney Harbour.

Head along to the exclusive night safari, and get the chance to see the Sumatran Tiger, Red Panda and Sea Lion pups. Join in at early-morning feeding time and build a special bond with the zoo’s animals.

The unforgettable overnight Taronga Zoo experience

8. Bubble Tent Australia, Capertee

Not your traditional safari-style glamping set-up, Bubble Tent’s unique outer shell gives guests an experience like no other. Sleep under the stars in the clear, inflatable, bubble-like tent sitting high over the second-largest canyon in the world, Capertee Valley.

Situated on a 400-hectare property, there are three individual compounds to choose from, all separate and out of view from one another.

The three domes all come with their own telescope for late-night stargazing, an outdoor firepit for toasting marshmallows, an outdoor shower (if you’re game), and each with their own unique features: a floating bed, hammock and even a love swing. Two of the structures, The Virgo and The Leo both come with their very own outdoor hot tub.

Bubble Tent’s unique outer shell gives guests an experience like no other

9. Zoofari Lodge, Dubbo

Another incredible glamping experience from Taronga Zoo is Dubbo’s Zoofari Lodge. Guests can retreat to the wild for an unforgettable glamping safari, waking up to an African safari at your doorstep. Have breakfast with giraffes, zebras, and rhinos, only an arm’s length away.

With two styles of lodges to choose from – animal and bushland view – guests can decide whether they wish to take in the native bushland, or experience the zoo real safari-style.

Nestled in the heart of the zoo, experience first-hand exclusive tours, delicious cuisine, safari-styled accommodation, zoo entry and bike hire.

Sleep among the animals

Welcome to the first instalment of Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.

Hotel stays have quietly become my thing. Long before I became a travel journalist, I was booking staycations just for a change of scenery. Some had charm, some had character, some had neither. Once, I even stayed in a hotel directly opposite my own apartment – partly for the novelty, partly because I wanted to see my life from a different angle.

For me, hotels represent a kind of mystery – I find myself wanting to know what these buildings contain. Many of them are designed with intention: lighting, materials, scent and sounds that often reflect the city they sit in. Time seems to gently pause in these spaces, which have increasingly become the destination itself for modern travellers.

It only felt fitting for the first hotel in this series to be in my home city and at the hotel that’s been at the top of my list: Capella Sydney.

A sandstone heritage building and palm trees

Capella sits within an Edwardian Baroque‑style sandstone building.

An email with a hotel program from the “Culturist Team” lets me know this will be a luxurious stay. There’s a guided walk around the Botanic Gardens, a weaving workshop and a Sydney contemporary art tour – the kind of addition that signals a hotel that’s tuned into the finer details, and one that’s not surprising given that Capella’s ethos centres on delivering personalised, immersive experiences.

Capella opened in 2023 within a transformed Edwardian Baroque‑style sandstone building in Sydney’s CBD that was originally designed by renowned Scottish-Australian architect George McRae. I often walk past this building and once attended an event inside – I distinctly remember being surprised by how beautiful it was. Bar Studio, Make Architects, and stylist Simone Haag were engaged to sensitively adapt the building for contemporary luxury while honouring its past, in collaboration with Heritage NSW and the City of Sydney.

When I arrive, I’m greeted by three different staff members along the way to reception. There’s a lovely subtle scent, which I later learn combines notes of bergamot, green tea leaves, peony, freesia, vetiver and cedarwood. This hotel strikes such a beautiful balance between grandness and intimacy, with large floral bouquets, contemporary artworks, impressively high ceilings that give it an international feel and quieter nooks to unwind in. Each space is unique, but they’re all unified by a warm, textural and layered design.

Sydney has been deserving of a hotel of this calibre for quite some time, with many of the accommodations in the city looking and feeling dated.

A modern hotel reception with high ceilings

The design strikes the perfect balance between grandness and intimacy.

I have a treatment booked at the hotel’s Auriga Spa prior to check-in. The space is ultra-luxe, moodily lit and intimate, featuring timber joinery, green walls and a sleek design that’s so perfect it almost transports me to Japan. I opt for the Replenish Beauty and LED Facial – a strategic choice with a TV segment on the horizon, and a hopeful bid to look extra fresh for the camera.

The treatment begins with me sitting in the softest robe of my life, wearing slippers and sipping chamomile tea. I’m then whisked away to my private treatment room, which has its own bathroom, a large skylight and a small Japanese-style garden. The treatment is extremely relaxing and moves through cleansing, exfoliating, massaging (arm, head, neck and face) and LED Light Therapy. There’s so much attention to detail – even at the end, the facialist puts my slippers back on me, while I’m still lying down.

Spa treatment room with a massage bed, featuring timber walls and a serene Japanese-style garden visible through a window.

A treatment at Auriga Spa might be the best way I’ve ever started a hotel stay. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

While this treatment certainly hasn’t had a Benjamin Button effect, my sister seems to think I’m glowing, so I walk away happy, or at the very least, zen.

Auriga Spa has a sauna, steam room, ice fountain and a beautiful indoor heated swimming pool. There’s also “experiential showers” – new to me, but essentially it combines water flowing from different places, changing temperatures, mood lighting, gentle sounds, and a subtle lemongrass scent.

You could easily spend the better part of a day at the spa and pool, even if you’re not a guest.

The indoor heated swimming pool with glass ceiling at Capella Sydney.

Guests outside the hotel can use the spa and swimming pool. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

I’m escorted to my room, drunk on relaxation, but I make sure to take note of how noisy the hallways are – answer: dead quiet. My room is 50 square metres, which is huge by hotel standards, but particularly for one in the CBD. It feels like a high-end apartment with floorboards, a freestanding bath and a seating/dining area. My eyes are immediately drawn to the line-up of macarons waiting for me on the dining table.

I’m thrilled to see the mini bar armoire includes a small wine fridge stocked with Minuty Prestige Côtes de Provence, Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Handpicked Wines Pinot Noir, and Moët Grand Vintage. Not that I plan on using it (I simply could not justify the prices) – but it’s a nice extra that makes the room feel that much more luxurious. The drinks lineup reads like a who’s-who of local favourites – Young Henrys, Maybe Sammy cocktails, Four Pillars gin and Archie Rose gin. Snacks include Tyrell’s chips, Pringles, Natural Confectionery lollies, and a Carman’s oat bar.

Some small touches I appreciate that some hotels don’t offer: the option to choose your housekeeping time, an iron that actually works well, a Bluetooth speaker, the beloved wine fridge, aluminium water bottles and a bathroom without a glass door or screen that awkwardly exposes you. The one downside is that some of these rooms don’t offer much in the way of a view.

A modern hotel room with a monochrome paletter.

I stayed in a Premier Room which was elegant and relaxing. (Image: Rachael Thompson)

4:30pm is Swill Hour – a daily tradition that nods to the historical “six o’clock swill” in Australia. This one-hour event takes place in the Living Room and invites guests to gather and enjoy each other’s company with a signature cocktail in hand. This afternoon’s tipple is a Eucalyptus Gimlet, a clever, herbaceous little cocktail, by the multi-award-winning Maybe Sammy Team, served on coasters depicting drawings of the historic building. The canapé of the day is a tomato and stracciatella tart. I noticed several staff members chatting with guests like old friends, asking how their adventures earlier in the day went – clearly remembering previous conversations from earlier visits.

Dinner is booked for 6:30pm in Aperture – arguably the most beautiful area of the accommodation. It’s decorated with Australian flora and features a kinetic sculpture hanging from the roof that opens like flowers, with softly changing lights. Tyler, who is serving us, clearly admires the Capella brand, speaking enthusiastically about the other international properties he’s been to and sharing how he sometimes brings his five-year-old daughter here to use the pool.

Interior of Aperture at Capella Sydney, featuring lush greenery and a striking ceiling-mounted sculpture.

The scale of Aperture gives it an international feel.

I kick things off with a basil melon margarita – a winning recommendation – before tucking into the best prawn toast I’ve ever had. For mains it’s crispy Ōra King salmon and spaghetti with mud crab.

When I arrive back at my room, there’s a vegan leather journal on my bed with a note that says: “The ritual of journaling allows us to pause, reflect and focus.” This is part of the turndown service, and my slippers are neatly lined up next to my bed. Will I journal? No. Do I think it’s a nice touch? Yes.

Brasserie 1930 at Capella Sydney, where Art Deco elegance meets contemporary Australian cuisine.

Brasserie 1930 boasts Art Deco elegance.

The next morning, I make the predictable choice of smashed avo for breakfast at the on-site restaurant, Brasserie 1930. There’s also a buffet brimming with all the usual suspects.

Afterwards, I head to the pool to relax for a few hours before the 11am checkout. Despite my earlier resolve not to journal, I find myself reflecting nonetheless – an irony not lost on me – on my 21st hotel stay in Sydney. I write this with growing assurance that great hotels don’t just provide a place to stay; they create memorable moments, thanks in large part to fantastic staff. Kudos to the hiring manager.

Next stop: The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart!

The best glamping spots in NSW

Whilst we all love a good old-fashioned camp out in the elements, we can’t really go past a romantic getaway that combines the best of camping without losing any ‘necessities’ like running water and a comfy bed.

1. The Cove, Jervis Bay

2. Boydell’s Secret Escape, East Gresford

3. Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay

4. Faraway Domes, Warialda

5. Sierra Escape, Mudgee

6. Tandara Glamping Tent, Lane Cove National Park

7. Roar & Snore, Sydney

8. Bubble Tent Australia, Capertee

9. Zoofari Lodge, Dubbo

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Welcome to the first instalment of Hotel Addict, a monthly column where I check into Australia’s best hotels, exploring not just the rooms, but the stories, service and settings that make each stay unforgettable and worth adding to your wishlist.