Fifteen of Australia’s best places to stay in the wild

From lush tropical islands to rolling red desert dunes, Australia presents infinite opportunities to get off grid in seriously scenic surrounds.

But you don’t need to venture far from Australia’s urban centres to get wild. With more national parks than any other country, about 681, the country offers a wonderfully diverse collection of protected natural areas in which to pitch a tent, typically in the company of more native wildlife than fellow campers.

Bubbletent Australia: Gaze out across the world’s widest canyon.

The call of the wild is perhaps stronger than ever before, with more and more of us longing to escape our daily lives and immerse ourselves in the beauty of the natural world.

For some, ideal forays may be weeks in the wilderness, hiking, biking or kayaking from one remote campsite to another.

For others, it’s a weekend of busy glamping within easy reach of urban life.

Everyone’s definition of a nature-based escape differs, as does their comfort zone within it. The common denominator is that it feels good. Spending time with Mother Nature is not only a rewarding way to refresh mind, body and soul – science has proven that it’s beneficial for our health, too.

This extract from Lonely Planet’s new book, Under the Stars Camping Australia & New Zealand, presents an inspiring list of Australia’s most memorable places in which to drift off to sleep under the stars.

Our picks range from the wild and rugged to comfortable safari-style stays and architectural cabins that cling to cliffs and shorelines.

For further inspiration, we delve into some of the best activities that can play a role in your back-to-nature escapes – so you can connect more deeply to your incredible natural environment between sleeps.

Bubbletent Australia, Capertee Valley, NSW

The pitch
Gaze out across the world’s widest canyon by day then up to the stars at night from this trio of off-grid domes on the edge of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Heavenly aspect: Bubbletent, Capertree Valley.Credit:

Hit the hut
Marvel at the Milky Way from the comfort of your queen bed in an inflatable “bubbletent” overlooking the immense Capertee Valley, under three hours’ drive from Sydney. Each named after a star sign, three transparent domes sitting on a 400-hectare working farm offer ensuites, outdoor wood-fired hot tubs, outdoor gas-powered camp kitchens and a telescope each for peering deep into the night sky.

Virgo also has ducted air-con to take the edge off summer nights. Spend a quiet day relaxing in the hammock with your book, or take a drive to the wineries of nearby Mudgee. Savour a luxuriously long soak in your tub as the sun goes down, then whip up an alfresco meal. Simply bring food, drinking water and your favourite person.

Don’t miss
Spend a quiet day relaxing in the hammock with your book, or take a drive to the wineries of nearby Mudgee.

The essentials
This is a year-round stay. It is best accessed by car and costs $1430 for two nights, twin share. See bubbletentaustralia.com

Larnook, Dandenong Ranges, Victoria

The pitch
A solo or couple’s retreat in an off-grid hideaway with luxury and day-trip options galore.

Larnook, Dandenong Ranges.Credit:

Hit the hut
Take a nature-based break on a huge flower farm only an hour from Melbourne at Larnook, the name taken from the Boon Wurrung word for habitat. It comprises two adjoining modified off-grid shipping containers, decorated with designer flair. Larnook offers a long list of luxe additions – indoor gas-log fireplace, Nespresso coffee machine, Bose Bluetooth speakers, top-shelf bathroom products, plus a bottle of complimentary local wine and chocolate. And that’s on top of the views from the deck.

There’s plenty of bushwalking to keep you connected to nature, and you are also close to the Puffing Billy Railway and, for gourmet touring, the Yarra Valley.

But a stay at Larnook is likely to have you ignoring the outside world’s day-trip offerings in blissful comfort.

Don’t miss
An hour-long walk through Sherbrooke Forest brings you to Grants Picnic Ground, known for its crimson rosellas and rainbow lorikeets, while quaint mountain villages such as Tecoma, Kallista and Olinda have their own charms.

The essentials
Good for staying year-round. Best accessed by car. $790 for two nights.

See larnook.co

Hideaway Litchfield, Rakula, Northern Territory

The pitch
The Northern Territory’s only modern wilderness cabin accommodation offers an elegant nature-based stay for a more affordable price tag than a high-end glamping retreat.

Shipping container ingenuity: Hideaway Litchfield.Credit:

Hit the hut
On a private property just outside Litchfield National Park, Hideaway’s three one-bedroom cabins are made from 12-metre shipping containers sliced in half – producing two double-storey spaces (Tolmer and Wangi) and one single-level pavilion (Cascade), ideal for guests with less mobility. Each of the villas has a lounge area, fully equipped kitchen, bathrooms with rain showers and a deck with a barbecue, perfect for frying up the breakfast provisions supplied in your fridge.

With their huge bedroom windows inviting the outside in (minus the critters), the cabins, situated 70 metres apart, offer a nature immersion of their own.

Newer to the property are a trio of cosy queen-bed huts, with cheaper rates but less privacy, as they are clustered together.

Don’t miss
Just eight kilometres from Wangi Falls, Hideaway Litchfield is ideally situated for exploring its eponymous national park.

The essentials
The best period for staying is May-October. Best accessed by car. From $420 a night a cabin. See hideawaylitchfield.com

Cortes Stays, Ovens Valley, North-East Victoria

The pitch
Enjoy private bush views and river access at this small-house-design triumph in the epicurean hub of Victoria’s Ovens Valley.

Hit the hut
In the mid-20th century, Italian immigrants moved into the Ovens Valley, leaving a legacy of wine-making, olive groves and tobacco production. Cortes is located on a walnut farm, where accommodation includes a historic tobacco kiln restored and transformed into a house with a minimalist aesthetic as well as a modern off-grid cabin overlooking the Ovens River. The vibe is simple and rustic, but there are luxe touches like Aesop bathroom products, linen sheets, and, of course, plunger coffee (or coffee machine pods if you prefer).

Nearby you’ll find vineyards, nut groves, berry and fruit farms drawing culinary tourists by bike, car and on foot to sample the valley’s la dolce vita. Come evening, relax in the private outdoor bath, or take a dip in the alpine snow-melt flowing by your doorstep.

Don’t miss
The Great Alpine Road leads to outdoor adventure hub Bright in one direction, and the produce-rich hamlets of Milawa, Stanley and Beechworth in the other.

The essentials
This is an all-season, year-round stay. It’s best accessed by car.

From $300 a night. See cortes-stays.com.au

Farmer’s Hut, Bathurst, NSW

Farmer’s Hut, Bathurst.Credit:

The pitch
This secluded couples retreat puts a unique luxury spin on classic Australian farm stay, with local goodies and plenty of wide open spaces included.

Hit the hut
Wilga Station, just outside Bathurst in the NSW Central Tablelands, includes the secluded hut with a roof of grass in perfect harmony with the lush green hill it sits atop on a 105-hectare working sheep station. It features a king-size bed, wood fireplace, bathroom and kitchenette for prepping breakfast with local produce from a complimentary hamper.

Savour a bottle of premium local wine (included in your hamper) beside the outdoor firepit as the sinking sun sets the rolling hills aglow, then snuggle up beside the indoor fireplace after dark.

Aside from the owners, the only other people you’re likely to cross paths with on your stay are guests of the farm’s Shearer’s Hall accommodation.

Don’t miss
Follow the winding Wilga Sheep Trail to willow-lined Wilga Creek and spend a relaxing day lazing on its banks.

The essentials
This is a year-round stay. It is best accessed by car. $900 for two nights. See wilgastation.com.au

Eyre Way, Sleaford, Eyre Peninsula, SA

Raw beauty: Eyre Way, Sleaford, SA. Credit:

The pitch
Take in the raw beauty of the Eyre Peninsula while staying warm and cosy in this twin set of tiny abodes nestled on a remote stretch of private coastal farmland.

Hit the hut
First, in 2021, came Yambara, an architecturally designed, off-grid tiny abode on a secluded stretch of the Eyre Peninsula between Sleaford Bay and the dramatic cliffs of the Whalers Way. Then, in 2022, came its sibling Maldhi, located on the same private farm, just a 30-minute drive from Port Lincoln. While Yambara is light and bright with sunset tones, Maldhi is furnished in earthier olive hues. But both have the same layout, offering a front-row seat to the natural beauty of the Eyre Peninsula, and a private oasis to relax and recharge in supreme comfort, with a double shower and well-appointed kitchen at your disposal. Both cabins have a double bed and an additional bed in a mezzanine space ideal for kids.

Don’t miss
In the winter months, the sun-drenched deck is perfect for watching whales cruise across Sleaford Bay.

The essentials
This is a year-round stay. It is best accessed by car. From $1100, for a two-night minimum stay.

See eyreway.com

Kimo Estate Eco Huts, Gundagai, NSW

The pitch
Unplug in style at one of these three designer A-frame huts in the rolling hills of country NSW, each with an alfresco tub.

Kimo Estate Eco Hut.Credit:

Hit the hut

Get a taste of minimalist luxury in Kimo Estate’s architect-designed, adults-only “eco huts”, each privately positioned on the 2833-hectare farm just outside the south-eastern NSW country town of Gundagai. Enjoy a lie-in as the sun streams in through the large windows of your off-grid hut, perched on its own hill overlooking the Murrumbidgee River flats. Prepare a feast in the alfresco kitchen to enjoy on your private deck, and light the wood-fired heater inside on chilly nights. The solar-powered huts don’t come with a fridge, but there’s an Esky to keep your food cold, including local produce for breakfast.

In summer, the hot tub transforms into a refreshing plunge pool.

There is accommodation in another two cottages and converted shearers’ quarters on the same property.

Don’t miss
Cap off the day with a leisurely soak in the wood-fired outdoor hot tub.

The essentials
This is a year-round stay. It is best accessed by car. $600 a night.

See kimoestate.com

Sierra Escape, Mudgee, NSW

The pitch
When you want to be close to nature as well as wineries, this string of glamping stays gives you both, along with a little luxury.

Stargaze stays: Sierra Escape, Mudgee.Credit:

Hit the hut
Rouse yourself to admire the rolling hills of the Mudgee region, north-west of Sydney, bathed in golden light at Sierra Escape, a collection of five adults-only glamping tents and one tiny house on a private property just 20 minutes from town. With a generous 54-square-metre footprint, the four premium tents, each furnished with a king-size bed, give you all the space you need to unwind in the countryside. While the Carinya tent is more compact, this newer addition to the Sierra family features the same luxe amenities including an indoor fireplace and a standalone bathtub on the outdoor deck – with another tub indoors. Meticulously crafted from a shipping container, Elouera, the property’s first tiny house, follows suit, with even larger windows drawing the eye across the rippling landscape. Opt to add a local-produce platter, in-room massage or even a private yoga class.

Don’t miss
Venture out to sip your way around Mudgee’s cool-climate wineries and dine at its award-winning restaurants.

The essentials
This is a year-round stay. It’s best accessed by car. From $1280 for two nights. See sierraescape.com.au

Domescapes Tasmania, Tamar Valley, Tasmania

Dome away from home: Domescapes, Tamar Valley, Tasmania.Credit:

The pitch
Glamping domes inside a Tamar Valley vineyard with grapes growing almost to the front step, and a short stroll to the cellar door.

Hit the hut
Domescapes Tasmania’s geodesic domes are all about the “viner” things in life. This trio of glamping domes sit directly beside the vines of Swinging Gate Vineyard, and just a few minutes’ stroll from the cellar door – no designated driver needed on this stay. The large domes, spaced about 70 metres apart, each feature a king bed with ensuite and shower. About 25 per cent of the dome’s surface is a transparent “sky window”, allowing for stargazing from bed and the embrace of sun-lit Tamar Valley days. Warmth is guaranteed, with insulated walls and underfloor heating, and each dome has its own firepit. Two of the domes also have a clawfoot bath on the deck in which to perhaps enjoy a glass of bubbles in the bubbles. Each booking receives a bottle of Tamar Valley wine and a local cheese platter. The bulk of the Tamar Valley’s vineyards, as well as Launceston and Narawntapu National Park, are within a 45-minute drive. A fourth dome large enough for families is coming later this year.

Don’t miss
Swinging Gate’s quirky, farmhouse-rustic cellar door always beckons. Enjoy a tasting with Nellie, the winery’s attention-stealing Staffy, who once featured in the book Wine Dogs of Australia.

The essentials
October until April are the best months to visit. Best accessed by car. $295 a night.

See domescapes.com.au

Nook On The Hill, Halls Gap, Victoria

Nook On The Hill … a tiny house that makes a big statement.

The pitch
If the term tiny-mod-Scandi-chic existed it would describe this inspired owner-built dwelling at the foothills of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.

Hit the Hut
All the materials used to create this luxurious self-contained cabin have been salvaged and reclaimed: the 130-year-old bricks from a local bakery, oak from an Otways shearing shed, ironbark gates – it’s modern yet steeped in history.
Every remote tiny house has to make space and comfort tradeoffs, but it’s hard to see what the Nook is missing. You’ll find polished concrete benchtops, a full-sized oven and hob, cleverly concealed dishwasher and handmade crockery that make cooking here a pleasure. And the tall roof and floor-to-ceiling windows not only give the cabin a sense of space, but also mean you can dine with views of the Grampians in the distance.
There’s a complimentary food hamper that includes wine from Pomonal Estate. Sip while relaxing in the outdoor cast-iron bath under the stars.

The essentials
This is a year-round stay. It’s best accessed by car. $650 a night; two-night minimum. See nookonthehill.com.au

Five more star huts

New Pelion Hot, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania

Midway along Australia’s most famous mountain trail, the Overland Track, New Pelion Hut is akin to a crossroads inn. It’s the perfect pause along the track, surrounded by attainable summits and historic sites with room to sleep 36 hikers. The cost is included in the Overland Track Pass. See parks.tas.gov.au

CABN, various locations, South Australia

Born in South Australia and now expanding across the country, CABN’s self-contained, off-grid tiny stays are designed to tread ultra-gently on the surrounding environment. All are powered by the sun, built to conserve water, and furnished with eco-friendly amenities. From $229. See cabn.life

Red Hill Boat, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

Stay on the Mornington Peninsula at its most unusually nautical accommodation on a working farm, kilometres from the sea. This dry-docked B&B – once a wartime rescue boat – keeps the home fires burning (in the outside firepit, that is) with a cosy mid-century feel. From $300 a night. See redhillboat.au

Nightfall Camp, Lamington National Park, South-East Queensland

Aussie bush meets ancient Gondwana rainforest at this luxurious, minimal-impact glamping retreat on the isolated south-western edge of World Heritage-Listed Lamington National Park. $1870 for two nights. See nightfall.com.au

Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary Glamping, Port Stephens, NSW

Just north of Newcastle, Port Stephens is home to one of the last remaining koala populations on Australia’s east coast. Stay overnight in a tent at this unique sanctuary. $475 a night. See portstephenskoalasanctuary.com.au

Extract edited by Julietta Jameson.

Under the Stars Camping Australia and New Zealand by Lonely Planet, $44.99. See shop.lonelyplanet.com