The best glamping spots in Victoria

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A handful of the most unique glamping (that’s glamorous camping) stays in Victoria where a bottle Bollinger or a boiling billy is equally on the cards.

If you’re looking to go glamping in Victoria, you’ve come to the right place.

 

From wilderness retreats and zoo safaris to seaside valleys, here we give you the top locations for glamping in Victoria.

1. Cosy Tents, Daylesford

Cosy Tents glamping Daylesford
Cosy Tents nestled in the rarefied bushland surroundings of Daylesford.

Nestled in the hills of the Hepburn Shire, in a wide, open paddock encircled by Australian bush and a dam, the five ‘Cosy Tents’ for hire here are just too cute for words. Linen of 1200 threads, duck-down quilts, wood-fired stoves, mood-setting lanterns and Bose Bluetooth speakers to play a bit of Paul Kelly: they’ve thought of everything. Except who you’re going to bring. From $185 a night.

 

Address: 6A Kanga Rd, Yandoit

2. Pebble Point, Great Ocean Road

Pebble Point glamping, a suitable night's accommodation on the Great Ocean Walk.
Pebble Point glamping, a suitable night’s accommodation on the Great Ocean Walk.

Doing the Great Ocean Walk? (You should, it’s spectacular… just saying.) At the end, just three kilometres from the Twelve Apostles, in between three national parks, you’ll find this hidden bush retreat with five luxury tents.

 

Each tent at Pebble Point has all the glamping ‘usuals’ – king-sized beds, spacious ensuites with full-sized shower and toilet, and a private deck with stretching views of the peaceful valley – as well as a shared lounge/dining tent, with fridge, microwave, toaster and tea/coffee facilities to refuel and get out exploring again. From $140 a night.

 

Address: 20 Old Coach Rd, Princetown

 3. Wilderness Retreats, Wilsons Promontory National Park

Wilderness Retreats glamping, Wilsons Promontory National Park
Wilderness Retreats glamping, Wilsons Promontory National Park – So much more than your usual ‘two-minute noodle’ camping trips.

Spend a day walking through rainforest, snorkelling at Norman Bay, or swimming in the azure waters of Squeaky Beach, then come back to your safari-style tent and be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the boundless nature in Wilsons Promontory National Park.

 

Add in the well-equipped communal kitchen, to cook up a gourmet feed, and your usual ‘two-minute noodle’ camping trips will just be memories in the dust. From $182 a night; visitvictoria.com

 

Address: 32 Ring Rd, Tidal River

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4. Werribee Open Range Zoo, Werribee

In with the animals, Slumber Safari, Werribee Open Range Zoo.
In with the animals, Slumber Safari, Werribee Open Range Zoo.

For little people, sleeping at Werribee Open Range Zoo just might be the best thing since sliced fairy bread – but this one’s for big people, too. The zoo’s ‘Slumber Safari’ package includes zoo entry for two days, exclusive wildlife viewings and an overnight experience in one of eight family-sized tents.

 

Enjoy a sunset drink on your deck overlooking the ‘savannah’, feast on African-inspired cuisine then head out on a night walk and toast marshmallows on the fire. $300 per adult, $145 per child.

Giraffe Slumber Safari Werribee Open Range Zoo
Meet your giraffe neighbours at ‘Slumber Safari’, Werribee Open Range Zoo.

 

Address: K Rd, Werribee South

5. Happy Glamper, Mornington Peninsula

Happy Glamper at Mornington Peninsula yurt style glamping
Happy Glamper at Mornington Peninsula hires fitted-out yurt-style tents and, luckily, does all the hard work for you.

Want a bit more flexibility with your location? Happy Glamper is your company: they hire out bell tents and yurt-style tents with beds, fresh linen, rugs, lighting and any other homey essentials you may need, to be set up at your chosen seaside location in the sparkling Mornington Peninsula.

 

We know what you’re thinking: setting up your own tent isn’t very glamporous, is it? Don’t worry, they do all the work for you. They’ll even tow a vintage Airstream to your chosen site if that’s more your style. From $290 for two nights plus site fees.

Happy Glamper's 'Lotus Belle' interior - this one suits a family of five.
Happy Glamper’s ‘Lotus Belle’ interior – this one suits a family of five.

6. Phillip Island Glamping, Phillip Island

If it’s views of a pristine sand and beaches you seek, rest your head at Phillip Island Glamping.

 

With three sites on offer (each as breathtaking as the next), you really will be spoiled for choice.

Phillip Island luxury

Fall asleep to sounds of the ocean and wake up just steps from the sand. You will also be right in the thick of all island activities, including the Penguin Parade and the Cowes Farmer’s Market.

 

Equipped with a Queen size air mattress, heaters, crockery and card games, these tents come with the 5-star treatment you deserve.

 

Address: Cowes Caravan Park, 164 Church Street, Cowes

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7. Into the Woods, North East Victoria

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.

8. French Island Glamping, French Island

If you’re keen to truly go off-grid, what could be better than a glamping island adventure?

French Island interiors

A short ferry ride from Stony Point on the Mornington Peninsula lives French Island National Park – the state’s largest coastal island.

 

You’ll feel completely removed from crowds, truly immersing yourself in the famous natural landscape.

 

Adding to this is the lack of, well, services. There’s just one grocery store on the island, which means guests are encouraged to pack their own food to cook in the communal kitchen and barbecue area. As for everything else, well French Island Glamping takes care of it…

 

Address: 59 Barge Access Rd, French Island

9. Mornington Peninsula Glamping, Rosebud

New to the accommodation offerings on the peninsula is Mornington Peninsula Glamping. The first glampsite to pop up on the peninsula, it’s located on the Blue Range Estate Winery , run by the Melone family.

Mornington Peninsula Glamping
Blue Ridge Estate Winery now have their own glamping site

An adults-only retreat, each of the glamping tents accommodates two people maximum. Within the five-by-five-metre tents is a queen-size bed, two lounge chairs and a coffee table. You won’t need to go device-free either, with solar power to ensure you can remain connected if you desire. Within easy walking distance is a shared cooking and dining area (barbecues, hot water and boutique coffee and tea) plus bathroom facilities, which are just as snazzy and chic as the tents.

 

Between Friday and Sunday, you can eat at the winery’s restaurant if embracing the great outdoors as your kitchen doesn’t appeal to you.

 

Address: 155 Gardens Road, Rosebud

 

Megan Arkinstall
Megan Arkinstall is a freelance travel writer who you’ll often find at the beach, bushwalking or boating with her young family. She loves reliving travel memories through writing, whether that be sipping limoncello in a sun-drenched courtyard of Monterosso or swimming with green turtles in the aquamarine waters of Tropical North Queensland.
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The iconic Victorian beach where true Aussie surf culture was born

    Craig Tansley Craig Tansley
    Torquay’s Bells Beach is considered one of the best surf beaches in the world.

    It’d be easy to think Australian surf culture was born around the right-hand point breaks of the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. These regions seem the epitome of how the world views Aussie surfers – bronzed (or burnt), languishing in warm water and sunshine. The reality is a lot different.

    The rise of surf culture along Victoria’s coastline

    surfers at Bells Beach in Australia
    Surfers stand on the shore at Bells Beach, where the country’s biggest surfing competition is held each year. (Image: Getty/Filed Image)

    True Aussie surf culture was born on the chilly waves of Victoria’s winters, when huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean hit cliff-lined beaches along the Great Ocean Road . These beaches were the ultimate proving ground – surfers from all over Australia arrived in panel vans and VWs to do battle with the biggest waves they could find.

    huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean at Bells Beach
    Surfers take advantage of the huge swells from the Great Southern Ocean at Bells Beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

    There are surf breaks all along this very picturesque coast – but those around Torquay were most revered. The ultimate test of a surfer’s ability – and durability – however, was Bells Beach: Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. Just beyond, the breaks at Jan Juc and Winkipop beckoned.

    an aerial view of surfers at Bells Beach
    Hit the waves along the picturesque coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Torquay became surfing’s Silicon Valley: HQ for the entire Australian surf culture revolution. Four young locals worked out of their backyards in Torquay to create two of the world’s biggest surf labels – Rip Curl and Quiksilver , which soon became the region’s biggest employers.

    surfers out at Bells Beach
    Surfers out at Bells Beach, Victoria’s most famous beach. (Image: Tourism Australia/Cameron Murray)

    Rip Curl started sponsoring the Bells Beach Pro in 1973 – and have done ever since. It’s been going since 1962 – making it the world’s longest continually run surfing contest. Held every Easter, it’s part of the world surfing tour. Spectators line its 30-metre-high cliffs to watch the world’s best take on enormous waves – it’s the ultimate coliseum for the sport and has inspired generations of Aussie surfers to join the list of heroes whose names are on its iconic bell.

    Follow the waves through Victoria’s surfing heartland

    Australian National Surfing Museum, Torquay
    The Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Just behind Torquay’s main drag, you can see all that history on display at the world’s best surf museum – the Australian National Surfing Museum . Here you can take your time absorbing the 100-year-or-so history of Australian surfing and check out the 150-strong surfboard collection.

    surfboards on display at Australian National Surfing Museum
    The museum holds surfing memorabilia, including a room dedicated to the history of boards. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    But classic Aussie surf culture can be observed in everyday life all over the Great Ocean Road and Torquay. Surfing dictates life here; no work is done until the big swells have come and gone. Just being here provides a window into 60-odd years of rebellion against convention; for no-one likes nine-to-five living on the Great Ocean Road.

    surfing memorabilia at Australian National Surfing Museum
    The varied displays celebrate the Bells Beach competition, surfing legends and Aussie surf culture. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    There’s less panel vans and VW Beetles these days, but surf culture still rules life. Surfers run this coast; you’re better off keeping out of their way when they’re running down past you to face the biggest swells – then hear them swap stories at cafes, restaurants and bars all around you.

    surfing at Bells Beach
    The beach near Torquay is Australia’s answer to Hawai‘i’s Pipeline. (Image: Visit Victoria/William Watt)