9 restful weekend getaways around Australia

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Whether it’s a city staycation, a digital detox in the wild or a long weekend exploring new places, a short break can be all the reset you need.

1. The Limestone Coast, SA

Pristine beaches, lush vineyards and dazzling sinkholes, all just a 3.5-hour drive from Adelaide. It’s entirely possible to enjoy three separate holidays around South Australia’s 350-kilometre-long Limestone Coast over one long weekend. From a refreshing dip at Mount Gambier’s Kilsby Sinkhole to an exclusive wine tasting experience with Zema Estate in Coonawarra and a boutique stay at Church on the Hill in Robe, your easy, breezy itinerary awaits.

diving in Kilsby Sinkhole
Diving in Kilsby Sinkhole. (Image: Jessie Cripps)

2. Pumphouse Point, Tas

Travelling with: Imogen Eveson

If your idea of a perfect weekend means a digital detox in the wilderness, this unique, adults-only retreat in a historic hydro-electric station on a glacial lake might be just the ticket. Pumphouse Point is located on Lake St Clair in the central highlands of Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area, just 2.5 hours’ drive from Hobart and Launceston. Here, your boutique digs offer front-row seats to the drama of the landscape that envelops you.

the Pumphouse Point, Tasmania
Switch off in the Tassie wilderness. (Image: Adam Gibson)

3. The Hunter Valley, NSW

Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

There are myriad ways to experience the Hunter Valley, just a two-hour drive from Sydney. While the region is best known for its award-winning restaurants and cellar doors, teetotallers aren’t completely left wanting. Float in the sun-blushed skies over the vineyard-laden landscape with Balloon Aloft, join an outdoor cooking class at Majors Lane in Lovedale or head to Hunter Valley Resort and Farm for a range of activities, from barrel rolling to horse riding. Squeeze every drop out of your visit with a pampered stay at Elysia Wellness Retreat.

Balloon Aloft in the Hunter Valley
Take it above and beyond in the Hunter Valley. (Image: Destination NSW/Chris Elfes)

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4. Trentham, Vic

Travelling with: Imogen Eveson

Like its nearby siblings Kyneton and Daylesford, the tiny gold rush town of Trentham in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges has been increasingly luring Melburnians away from the city for a weekend, if not a tree change, with its ever-expanding hit list of eateries, boutiques and galleries. The latest addition seals the deal: a luxuriously renovated two-bedroom weatherboard cottage has opened at The Cosmopolitan Hotel, a historic country pub and dining destination in and of itself.

a weatherboard cottage at The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Trentham, Victoria
A two-bedroom weatherboard cottage has opened at The Cosmopolitan Hotel.

5. The EVE Hotel in Sydney, NSW

Travelling with: Emily Murphy

The EVE Hotel Sydney is more than a stylish new stay – it’s a microcosm of Redfern’s creative energy and Sydney’s ever-evolving cultural landscape. Set within the heritage Wunderlich Lane precinct, The EVE blends biophilic design with thoughtful nods to the area’s past. Sip cocktails at Bar Julius or settle in for a long lunch at Lottie, where authentic Mexican flavours meet premium Australian produce. It’s a stay designed for lingering long after you’ve closed your suitcase.

the interior of The EVE Hotel, Sydney
The EVE blends biophilic design with thoughtful nods to the area’s past. (Image: Georg Roske)

6. A weekend cruise along Australia’s coastline

Travelling with: Imogen Eveson

The concept of a weekend cruise has gained popularity in recent years, as the world’s best cruise lines make their way Down Under for the summer season. A two-night weekender onboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas (January/February 2026) offers the chance to bliss out on a sea day between porting in Sydney, while a three-day sampler onboard Voyager of the Seas (December to March) offers the same opportunity from Brisbane. Princess Cruises offers similar two-day ‘seacations’ sailing between Sydney and Brisbane (November 2025). Or make an extra-long weekend of it, sailing five nights from Sydney on Celebrity Cruises’ award-winning Celebrity Edge, taking in Eden on NSW’s Sapphire Coast and Hobart (November 2025). It might just prove the ideal reset between busy working weeks.

the Celebrity Cruises’ award-winning Celebrity Edge villa
Sail five nights from Sydney on Celebrity Cruises’ award-winning Celebrity Edge. (Image: Michel Verdure)

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7. The Blue Mountains, NSW

Travelling with: Emily Murphy

Treat yourself to a luxury weekend in the tranquil surrounds of Spicers Sangoma Retreat, perched in the Bowen Mountain landscape of NSW’s Blue Mountains National Park. Lush bushland, sandstone cliffs and the sounds of native birdlife set the scene for deep relaxation. Indulge in spa treatments at Spa Anise, savour hatted dining at Restaurant Amara, float in the heated infinity pool or wander bush trails. It’s a secluded haven designed for restorative escapes.

relaxing in the tub at Spicers Sangoma Retreat
Lean into restorative R&R in the Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW/Jem Cresswell)

8. Explore Fitzroy in Melbourne, Vic

Travelling with: Katie Carlin

Melbourne’s oldest neighbourhood is a hub of contrasts: designer boutiques and fine-dining restaurants sit alongside graffitied terrace houses, tattoo parlours and historic pubs. Now, the world’s first StandardX hotel is drawing travellers out of the CBD and into the heart of Fitzroy. Its location, tucked behind the main drag across from Rose Street Artists’ Market, is prime for exploring Melbourne’s hidden art scene. You can’t walk a block without spotting a building-sized mural or painted stencil underfoot. To truly appreciate it, join a Street Art Tour with Blender Studios. You’ll never look at a tag the same way again.

al fresco dining at StandardX hotel, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria
Join the cool set at the world’s first StandardX hotel. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)

9. The Lodge Wadjemup, Rottnest Island, WA

Travelling with: Fleur Bainger

the Salt Lake view at The Lodge Wadjemup
Cast away on Perth’s favourite island.

Grinning quokkas? Check. Sixty-three perfect-smile beaches? Yep. A flash new way to spend the night? Well actually, yes. The opening of The Lodge Wadjemup may just unlock the insatiable demand for sandy-footed weekend getaways on Rottnest Island. The $40 million redevelopment will add 102 rooms to Perth’s favourite dot on the horizon once works are finished mid-May. More than half are already open, earning the resort global kudos as the only Australian hotel included in TIME magazine’s 2025 World’s Greatest Places list.

the interior of The Lodge Wadjemup
Spend the night at The Lodge Wadjemup. (Image: Shot by Thom)

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Your first look at Australia’s brand-new luxury camp

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

    Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit, a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

    Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

    Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon.
    Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

    Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

    Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

    Aerial view of Wilderluxe.
    Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

    Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’, all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

    On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

    A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe.
    Sleep beneath the stars.

    Style and character

    When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

    Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

    The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe.
    Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

    ‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience. Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

    Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

    Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

    While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

    The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake.
    Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

    No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

    Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

    Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

    Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

    A person kayaking through serene waters.
    Paddle into peace.

    The details

    A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

    The interiors of the glamping tent.
    Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

    Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.

    9 rejuvenating weekend getaways around Australia