glamping experiences
Nestled among sand dunes and hidden between towering gums, these are some of the top glamping destinations across the country.
By: Sarah Hinder
Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef WA
Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef WA
Set upon outback dunes overlooking one of Australia’s most well-preserved coral reefs, this remote eco-luxe retreat offers guests a truly surreal experience. An outstanding oasis where the outback meets the reef, Sal Salis is one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia. With 15 wilderness tents, plus a special hut for honeymooners, the ethos here is to ensure only a minimal footprint upon the pristine landscape. From April to July you can take a swim with local whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef, while from August to October you can jump in beside migrating humpback whales.
Sal Salis, Ningaloo Reef WA
Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay NSW
Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay NSW
With safari-style tents inspired by the owners’ time in South Africa, Paperbark Camp seamlessly combines luxury with sustainable camping in a bushland setting. Surrounded by towering gums, 12 deluxe canvas tents boast all manner of five-star luxuries, while allowing you to entirely switch off from the outside world – meaning no power points or TV. The intimate site is a beautiful wedding and event venue, while the licensed restaurant serves gourmet breakfasts and dinners as well as offering picnic hampers: the perfect lunch to accompany your day exploring Jervis Bay.
Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay NSW
Glamp Sandridge, Boat Harbour Tas
Glamp Sandridge, Boat Harbour TAS
This campsite and wedding venue is all about the location: at the centre of a 500-acre wilderness reserve in rugged north-west Tasmania, overlooking the distant Bass Strait. When it comes to the eight-tent eco village, Sandridge Estate really throws in the good stuff — everything from wine and cheese to fairy lights and log fires — plus Tassie’s extraordinary star-studded skies and abundant native wildlife. Book your wedding here and guests need only walk a short distance from the reception to spend a night beneath the stars.
Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park WA
Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park WA
Set among one of Western Australia’s largest and most awe-inspiring national parks, these low-impact glamping lodges are designed to cause no harm to the surrounding natural environment. The spacious solar-powered eco tents feature a king-size bed, quality linen and their own ensuite bathroom. The region is home to gorges, rock formations and cascading waterfalls that have been virtually untouched for more than two billion years, providing plenty of opportunities for hiking, abseiling, rock climbing and swimming.
Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park WA
Swell Lodge, Christmas Island
Swell Lodge, Christmas Island
Christmas Island’s first luxury eco-accommodation opened in June. A single glass-fronted chalet on the island’s rugged west coast (eight are planned), the lodge marks the first ecologically sustainable accommodation to be approved inside an Australian national park. The lodge is strikingly remote, set within wild country and overlooking the Indian Ocean. The island is known as “Australia’s Galapagos”, and guests can snorkel amongst marine life – plus be indulged by the private chef.
Swell Lodge, Christmas Island
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Great Barrier Reef Qld
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Great Barrier Reef QLD
Situated at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay that provides a sanctuary for more than 1,200 species of marine life. The island’s eco resort has recently added secluded glamping tents alongside its comfortable rooms. The aim is to engage and educate guests with minimal impact, and with such an abundance of manta rays, turtles, sea birds and tropical fish, for which the island provides a haven, there’s plenty of opportunity for natural encounters. Guests are encouraged to join in the efforts towards conservation and sustainable living.
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, Great Barrier Reef Qld
Cosy Tents, Daylesford Vic
Cosy Tents, Daylesford VIC
Deep in Victoria’s spa country, in rural Hepburn Shire, Cosy Tents aims to provide all the creature comforts in a low-key environment. From goose down quilts and a woodfired heater to a continental-style breakfast basket and Bose Bluetooth speakers, a stay here is like checking into a luxury hotel – but outside under the stars and with a firepit at your door. In the surrounding region you can book yourself into a day spa or explore local restaurants and wineries.
Longitude 131°, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park NT
Longitude 131°, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park NT
A glamping experience of a lifetime, Longitude 131° has been thoughtfully and sustainably designed to preserve the natural lie of the land. Atop acacia-coloured sand dunes, 16 tented pavilions overlook Australia’s most recognisable natural landmark: Uluru. When you’re not dining under the desert stars or peering out from your lodge at Uluru basking in the sunset, perhaps venture out for a helicopter ride to see the Red Centre from the air, hike the Valley of the Winds walk at Kata Tjuta, or learn about the local Anangu people, the traditional custodians of this ancient land.
Longitude 131°, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park NT
Wandering Souls Australia, Kangaroo Island SA
Wandering Souls Australia, Kangaroo Island SA
This bespoke glamping experience provides pop-up five-metre bell tents right across Kangaroo Island. Individual tents make for a romantic getaway, while your own tent city could provide the rustic accommodation for your next exciting event or a wedding. From medieval to Australian luxe and Hollywood glam, each tent emanates its own theme and provides all your required essentials, right down to a powerpack to charge your devices. All that’s required is to book your tent, pick your location and arrive – Wandering Souls can even help organise transport to your site.
Wandering Souls Australia, Kangaroo Island SA
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