Australia is home to some spectacular luxury lodges that put you in the heart of some of the world’s most complex and ancient ecosystems. Fancy digs far away from civilisation (some with free-flow wine)? Sign us up
We love learning new languages, and particularly jargon—it makes us feel more local when we travel. A bit of Aussie slang you might not know is “woop woop”, meaning a place that’s in the middle of nowhere—and the perfect setting for one of this year’s biggest travel trends: going off the grid.
With a country the size of Australia, there are plenty of places where you can get away from it all. And while the famous destinations of Sydney Harbour, Melbourne’s colourful laneways or the incredible (albeit often crowded) Great Barrier Reef are definitely worth visiting, there are far more options for a holiday Down Under.
If you like to stay in vogue when it comes to vacations, consider one of these ultra-luxurious private lodges hidden far away from civilisation. Glamp amid the red sand of the Simpson Desert, or look down on the world from treehouse-chic accommodation in the depths of the world’s oldest living rainforest.
We’ve picked out some of the best and bougiest off-grid offerings, just for you.
Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley, New South Wales
When Charles Darwin visited Wolgan Valley in 1836 he was so fascinated by the valley’s spectacular cliff-rimmed canyons and surrounding wildlife that it ultimately planted the seed for his theory of evolution and adaptation.
The original homestead that hosted Darwin remains—although now it is a museum that highlights the area’s Aboriginal, settler and agricultural history, located at the heart of Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley.
In 2007, Dubai-based airline Emirates purchased what was a working cattle station to build a high-end nature and conservation resort. The result is a string of stone-and-wood villas cradled by dramatic canyons and ancient valleys. Each of the 40 lavish villas comes with a heated private swimming pool and spacious outdoor deck, from where it’s not uncommon to spot kangaroos, wallabies and wombats in their natural habitat.
The resort’s all-inclusive meals are prepared using seasonal, organic ingredients sourced from nearby farmers. At sundown, settle on the veranda for a G&T made from 1832 Wolgan Gin, which is distilled on-site using Australian botanicals.