19 Best Honeymoon Destinations In Australia
Whatever your idea of a romantic holiday, chances are you’ll find it in Australia.
Many of the world’s most breathtaking beaches, ancient rainforests, mesmerising country-scapes, rugged bushlands, glamorous cities, remote islands and striking outback locations converge here. For newly-weds it is, quite possibly, the ultimate honeymoon destination. On behalf of ABIA’s thousands of registered wedding couples, and lovers everywhere, Tanya Bywater scours the ‘Land Down Under’ — from Tasmania to the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales — to discover the 19 most amazing honeymoon escapes.
1. Elysian Retreat
Long Island, Whitsundays, Queensland
Honeymoon Style: Island Escape
All Images courtesy of Elysian Retreat
Couples in pursuit of an island paradise might be surprised to find it a mere six-minute helicopter flight from Hamilton Island, or Airlie Beach on the Australian mainland. Nestled in a private bay, footsteps from the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and enfolded in national park rainforest, Elysian Luxury Eco Island Retreat offers an indulgent, off-the-grid, adults-only honeymoon hideaway exclusively for 20 guests.
Crisp whites, breezy coastal tones and vaulted ceilings adorn the luxe interiors of the ten ocean-facing villas here, each with its own private deck and daybed. Attentive five-star service, daily yoga, use of paddleboards, kayaks and snorkelling gear, and gourmet meals — including evening canapés by the firepit — are among the inclusions, and the retreat’s nod to sustainability extends from organic toiletries to its completely solar-powered commitment.
Ayurvedic-inspired spa treatments, and a magnesium mineral infinity pool round out the understated extravagance — though couples who opt for the most secluded villa, with its private plunge pool, won’t need to worry about sharing.
2. Pumphouse Point
Lake St Clair, Tasmania
Honeymoon Style: Lakeside Retreat
Image Jemima Phelps at Fiddle & Spoon
Tranquillity is somewhat synonymous with Tasmania, but perhaps never more so than at Pumphouse Point, which sits suspended over an ancient glacial lake — the deepest in Australia — in the midst of pristine wilderness, at the foot of iconic Cradle Mountain.
Image Adam Gibson
This adults-only retreat offers couples a choice of 18 rooms, spread across two heritage buildings — the over-water ‘Pumphouse’ and the lakeside ‘Shorehouse’ — linked by a picturesque timber boardwalk. Rooms vary depending on position, but honeymooning duos gravitate to ‘The Retreat’, a secluded shoreside cabin, or those on the Pumphouse’s upper levels, which offer gargantuan windows with views over the still waters of the surrounding lake.
Image Rachel Vasicek
Comfort, relaxation and simplicity reign here. Toasty fires and timber finishes warm the interior spaces. Bushwalking, picnicking, massages, rowing, e-biking and fishing are encouraged, and chef-prepared meals are included, served communally in the Shorehouse. Rooms come complete with a gourmet larder, bars work on an honesty system, and there’s no wifi, by intent.
Image Adam Gibson
3. Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef
Exmouth, Western Australia
Honeymoon Style: Beach glamping
All Images courtesy of Sal Salis
Extraordinary comes in many guises and newly-wed couples chasing a unique honeymoon experience may find it off-grid at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef from March to November. It’s camping, but not as most of us know it. Here the 16 eco-luxe safari tents, set upon decks in the sand dunes, open to spellbinding views of the Indian Ocean. Inside are comfortable Jarrah timber-framed beds — a four-poster in the more-secluded Honeymoon Tent — and well-appointed bathrooms. Outside are nap-inducing hammocks and expansive vistas of the pristine coastal wilderness.
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, footsteps from the tents and submerged just beneath the gently lapping waves, is the real lure for adventure-seeking couples though. Home to turtles, dugongs and hundreds of species of coral and colourful fish, at certain times of the year it is also the playground of whale sharks and humpbacks, and swims and close-up encounters with these magnificent creatures are, perhaps, the highlight of the many memory-making moments offered.
Use of snorkelling gear, paddleboards, kayaks and wetsuits form part of the all-inclusive package here, as do guided tours of the surrounding Cape Range National Park and meals — all locally-inspired, chef-prepared gastronomic delights served in the lantern-lit communal lounge.
4. Capella Lodge
Lord Howe Island, NSW
Honeymoon Style: Island Escape
All Images courtesy of Capella Lodge
Couples seeking a reprieve from the pressures of wedding planning, will find almost instant relief on UNESCO World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island. Here, surrounded by a coral-fringed lagoon, pristine beaches, verdant rainforests and lush pastures meld with rare plants, sea birds and the exotic marine-life of the world’s southern-most reef, to form a natural oasis.
Nestled amidst it all, looking out over the Pacific Ocean and up to spectacular volcanic peaks, Capella Lodge offers honeymooners a choice of nine individually-curated luxury suites, combining the likes of comfy king-beds, open fireplaces, high-ceilings, private plunge pools or hot tubs and outdoor decks with soul-soothing vistas.
“Refreshingly off the radar,” reads Capella Lodge’s narrative. And, indeed, it is a place where a slower pace reigns, where cars are swapped for bikes, e-buggies and hand-in-hand strolls, and where mobile phones are set aside in favour of aquatic adventures and island escapades. Packages combine locally-inspired breakfasts, evening canapés and dinners in the Lodge’s onsite restaurant, and the Capella Spa menu almost guarantees to whisk the last of your cares away.
5. The Louise & Southern Ocean Lodge
Barossa Valley and Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Honeymoon Style: Vineyard Getaway and Island Retreat
All Images courtesy of The Louise
Due to rise from the ashes later this year, after being devastated in the summer bushfires of 2020, Kangaroo Island’s set-to-be-spectacular Southern Ocean Lodge warrants a mention here. It’s not available for bookings yet, but newly-weds looking for South Australian splendour will still find it at the property’s sister lodge, The Louise, in the beautiful Barossa Valley.
Recently refreshed, The Louise, offers honeymooners a hint of the south of Europe in southern Australia. Think spacious suites — many replete with cosy open fires — lavender and rosemary-fringed walkways, private sun-dappled courtyards and rolling vineyard vistas.
The multi-award-winning, onsite Appellation restaurant highlights the gastronomic delights for which the Barossa region is renowned, and the property itself provides an ideal base for couples to embark on their own epicurean explorations of the area.
Couples can choose to breakfast with kangaroos, seek out surrounding cellar doors, producers, art galleries and nature walks, frequent the fitness centre and sauna, or simply watch the sun disappear beyond the vines from the quiet of the wet-edge lap pool.
6. Longitude 131°
Uluru, Northern Territory
Honeymoon Style: Desert Glamping
All Images courtesy of Longitude 131°
There is an ethereal enchantment, exuded by the rust-red sand dunes and vast expanses of space, that draws couples to Longitude 131° in central Australia. The luxury campsite, with uninterrupted views of Uluru (Ayres Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), is a veritable desert oasis, comprised of 16 tented-pavilions, each combining custom furnishings, local Indigenous artworks, ensuites with rain showers and ambient fireplaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a private deck, both afford breathtaking vistas of Uluru’s colour changes, and an outdoor daybed — almost as comfy as the one inside —offers couples the chance to sleep under the endless star-filled sky, if desired.
All dining and beverages — including French Champagne —form part of the package inclusions here, as do a host of ‘signature experiences’, which range from guided visits to Uluru at sunset, to tours of Kata Tjuta and Walpa Gorge at sunrise, and strolls through the illuminated art installation ‘Field of Light’.
At the onsite Spa Kinara, couples can discover indulgences that combine the best of native beauty products and Indigenous wisdom, and dotted throughout the camp they’ll find ‘help yourself’ bars, outdoor lounges, private dining pods, a swimming pool and plunge spa for the ultimate in outback relaxation.
7. Jackalope Hotel
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Honeymoon Style: Vineyard Getaway
All Images courtesy of Jackalope Hotel
Slip just outside Melbourne, to the celebrated Mornington Peninsula, and couples is search of a sleek, sophisticated honeymoon hideaway may find it within the jet-black exterior of the Jackalope Hotel. ln stark contrast to the private vineyard that surrounds it, art, design and indulgence converge here, providing culture-loving couples with a carefully-curated sensory experience.
At its entrance, a lustrous 7m-high sculpture of the mythical jackalope — part jackrabbit, part-antelope — hints at the art that is infused within this space, as does a 10,000-globe chandelier that sits suspended above the dining area.
Muted grey and white minimalist interiors adorn the Hotel’s 45 ‘Lairs’, many of which offer romance-seeking duos, deep-soak Japanese bathtubs, rain showers and floor-to-ceiling outlooks of the seasonally-changing vineyards.
Couples can select in-room DIY spa treatments from the Room Service menu, or venture beyond their cosy cocoons to the cocktail bar, either of two hatted-restaurants, a black infinity pool overlooking the vines, or further to discover the many charms of the Mornington Peninsula.
8. Spicers Peak Lodge
Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland
Honeymoon Style: Mountain Retreat
All Images courtesy of Spicers Retreats
Follow a winding country road upward, into the Gold Coast Hinterland, and newly-wed couples can find themselves elevated to the realm of Spicers Peak Lodge. Here, amidst low-lying clouds and crisp mountain air, the main guesthouse welcomes visitors with open log fires, sumptuous leather lounges, vaulted ceilings and colossal window-views of the World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park, picturesque Scenic Rim and rural farmland surrounds.
It’s a similarly inviting story in the assorted suites — some with comprehensive package inclusions, and all with beautifully-appointed, naturally-inspired interiors — and in the more secluded private lodges, that sit perched on the escarpment and feature heated outdoor spas, securing full advantage of their captivating vistas.
Newly-wed couples can share the infinity pool at the main lodge too, please their palate at The Peak restaurant, or while away their days in the guest library, on the tennis court, by the pool table or on an optional Scenic Picnic or Helicopter Winery Tour.
9. Mt Mulligan Lodge
Mount Mulligan, Queensland
Honeymoon Style: Outback Oasis
Image Jason Ierace Photographer
If bathing on an outdoor verandah, in a re-purposed corrugated-iron water tank, with uninterrupted views of the surrounding bushland landscape, is your idea of romance, Mt Mulligan Lodge may be the ideal honeymoon escape. And don’t let the raw, rugged outback location — a 28,000 hectare private cattle station, 160km inland from Cairns — deceive you. Luxury emanates from this place.
Image Brad Newton Photography
Four styles of accommodation are available, for a limit of 28 guests, but honeymooners tend toward the Outback Room and Suite, which each combine rich native-timber-clad interiors, natural textured furnishings and palatial bathrooms, opening onto deep verandahs, from which ‘that’ bath looks out over a weir fringed by eucalyptus.
Image Brad Newton Photography
Couples can opt to hike the nearby gorge at sunset, dine beneath the stars, visit an old goldmine and partake in a medley of outback escapades, or content themselves with the Lodge’s all-inclusive offerings, which extend to chef-curated meals and an electric buggy to whisk to the infinity pool and back again.
Image Jason Ierace Photographer
10. Kittawa Lodge
King Island, Tasmania
Honeymoon Style: Island Escape
Image Adam Gibson
For couples with a yearning for delectable delights and absolute solitude Kittawa Lodge offers an inviting epicurean escape, a 30-minute flight from Melbourne.
Nestled within sand dunes, on a private coastal estate, atop an island best known for its pristine pastures, celebrated cheeses, succulent beef, luscious cream and gourmet produce, each Lodge here is an intimate refuge, architecturally-designed to embrace the natural elements that surround it, and intended for moments of connection and rejuvenation.
Image Sammy Green Photography
There is no television. Instead, floor-to-ceiling windows expose the rugged sand-, sea- and sky-scapes beyond, with a deep hand-made concrete bath, sumptuous king-size bed and plush sofas providing perfect places for couples to absorb them from.
Image Oscar Sloane
Exquisitely-prepared meals and gourmet provisions are included with each stay, though newly-wed couples who venture out will find even more at the Island’s renowned bakery and fromagerie. On offer also, are two world-class golf courses, light houses, nature tours and boundless scenic walks for duos eager to explore.
Image Adam Gibson
11. Bamurru Plains Lodge
Mary River, Kakadu, Northern Territory
Honeymoon Style: Bush Safari
Image Archie Sartracom
Couples content to share their newly-wedded bliss with a cacophony of birds and a cavalcade of wildlife — think crocodiles, buffalo, bush pigs, wild brumbies and wallabies — should add Bamurru Plains Lodge to their honeymoon shortlist.
Located on the fringes of World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, this palatial bush camp comprises nine Safari Bungalows, built on stilts, overlooking the surrounding floodplains of the Top End’s Mary River.
Image Richard I'Anson
Equal parts supreme comfort and considered simplicity, they each comprise sumptuous, organic-cotton-clad beds, spacious ensuites and brass high-pressure rainshowers, but are deliberately devoid of televisions, Wi-Fi and mobile phone reception — and semi-transparent mesh replaces walls for a fully-immersive experience.
Image Tourism Northern Territory
Stays include all bush-inspired meals, unlimited beverages and daily guided bush safari programs, that take in the surrounding pristine wilderness with the likes of airboat safaris, crocodile-spotting cruises and open-top game drives. And, at day's end, there’s an infinity pool for couples to cool down and delight in the dramatic red-and-orange-glow of a Northern Territory sunset.
Image Tourism Northern Territory
12. Saffire Freycinet
Coles Bay, Tasmania
Honeymoon Style: Scenic Retreat
All images courtesy of Saffire Freycinet
The breath-taking scenery of Wineglass Bay and stunning Freycinet National Park are a romantic drawcard all their own, but for couples seeking the ultimate accommodation is this Eastern enclave of Tasmania, it’s difficult to bypass Saffire Freycinet.
Perched high on a hilltop, enfolded within the park itself, the floor-to-ceiling window vistas here spill out to Great Oyster Bay — a renowned playground for migrating whales and dolphins — and spacious interiors combine just the right balance of sleek modern architecture and comfortable indulgence.
Outside each suite, private plunge pools make the most of the panorama, an onsite spa promises post-wedding restoration, and three carefully-curated meals a day are included with accommodation packages. So too are a range of complimentary experiences designed to showcase the extraordinary attractions of the region — close encounters with Tasmanian devils, local winery and distillery tours and the chance to don waders and devour freshly-shucked oysters straight from the ocean.
13. Spicers Sangoma Retreat
Blue Mountains, New South Wales
Honeymoon Style: Mountain Retreat
All Images courtesy of Spicers Retreats
Couples seeking a sojourn just outside Sydney, need only head toward the haze of the majestic Blue Mountains. Here, twinkling lights on the horizon are the only reminder of the bustle an hour away, and the adults-only sanctuary, that is Spicers Sangoma Retreat, offers a contrast of almost-instant serenity.
Deep, deluxe baths, warm, textured interiors and supreme comfort set the scene in each of the varied suites here, but it’s the more secluded Bush, Escarpment, Chief and Tent — think five-star treehouse complete with chandelier — Suites that tend to captivate honeymooners.
Set within their distinct bushland cocoons, each of these accommodations combine optimal privacy and unparalleled luxury with considered convenience. All-inclusive packages can cater for meals and most beverages, an on-site day spa and heated infinity pool provide for those who venture beyond their rooms, and a menu of tailored experiences offer options ranging from private yoga and meditation to local guided tours and the services of a Bath Butler for an extra dash of romance.
14. Orpheus Island Lodge
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Destination Style: Island Escape
Image Elise Hassey Photography
Those who envisage swaying palm trees, swathes of white sand and clear turquoise waters as honeymoon essentials, may find their post-wedding bliss on Orpheus Island.
Image Pixel Frames
Ensconced within the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, a 30-minute helicopter flight north of Townsville, the privately-owned atoll offers unrivalled access to some of the reef’s best-preserved coral. Indeed, Orpheus Island Lodge is committed to enhancing the health of the Reef through its sustainability practices and this ethos is reflected in the 14 bright, breezy, predominantly-solar-powered suites. They each blend natural textures and understated luxury, with simple, yet sumptuous, furnishings, washable slippers, yoga mats and — in many — al fresco showers.
Image Pixel Frames
Spectacular beach and ocean vistas, visible from huge windows and generous outdoor decks, are ‘standard’ and accommodation packages also include the use of water sports equipment, daily ‘Orpheus Experiences’, a selection of beverages and three chef-prepared meals daily — many sourced from the onsite veggie patch. A reading room and day spa provide couples with extra possibilities for relaxation, as does a vast infinity pool, that blends seamlessly with its blue-green surroundings.
Image Pixel Frames
15. Arkaba Homestead
Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Honeymoon Style: Outback Oasis
Image Randy Larcombe
At first mention a stay in a remote 1850’s farmhouse might not top many honeymoon wishlists, but for nature and adventure-loving couples Arkaba Conservancy offers a rare and rugged romantic experience.
Image Randy Larcombe
At the heart of the former sheep station, and beneath a quintessential corrugated-iron roof, Arkaba Homestead delivers a rural oasis of comfort and abundance. In each of only four ensuited guest rooms, premium mattresses are dressed with organic cotton, cosy overstuffed armchairs and cushions abound and wide verandahs open to views of the surrounding rust-coloured mountains. For honeymooners, the slightly-removed Coachman’s Cottage offers the same level of understated luxury just beyond the main house, and all seasons are accounted for with wood fires, air-conditioning, fans and a refreshing infinity pool set within the property’s vast outback expanse.
Image Randy Larcombe
South Australia’s acclaimed food and wine are highlighted on the all-inclusive menus, and twice-daily outback safaris are included too. They take in the 60,000 geographically-diverse acres of the privately-owned conservancy — from the dramatic walls of Ikara (Wilpena Pound) through to dry creek beds brimming with ancient river gums — accompanied by expert field guides to point out the native Australian wildlife that thrives is this outback wilderness.
Image Luke Hanson
16. Drift House
Port Fairy, Victoria
Honeymoon Style: Coastal Getaway
Image Martina Gemmola
At one end of the iconic Great Ocean Road, couples seeking a sophisticated, post-wedding stop with a difference, may discover it at Drift House in the seaside enclave of Port Fairy.
Image Martina Gemmola
In this highly-acclaimed, boutique-style small hotel, historic Victorian and Edwardian charm merges with modern architecture and each one of the six suites are entirely unique, combining innovative design, bold colour and extraordinary applications of material and texture.
Image Martina Gemmola
Drift House is a memorable honeymoon hideaway, and an ideal base from which to explore the picturesque southern Victorian coastline, but it’s the onsite dining room that draws couples here too. Breakfasts, of carefully-sourced artisan and organic produce, are included with each stay, and evening soirées, offered exclusively to in-house guests, begin with pre-dinner cocktails and apertifs, followed by à la carte menu offerings, that take a contemporary twist on traditional Spanish dishes.
Image Martina Gemmola
17. Silky Oaks Lodge
Daintree Rainforest, Queensland
Honeymoon Style: Rainforest Hideaway
All Images courtesy of Silky Oaks Lodge
Rest and relaxation are often called for, following the excitement of wedding planning, and Silky Oaks Lodge delivers just that for couples requiring retreat.
Concealed within a canopy of tropical greenery, with the Mossman River bubbling beneath, all 40 suites at the Lodge offer newly-weds an immersion in nature, and unfettered access to The Daintree — the world’s oldest rainforest.
Honeymooners here tend to take to the trees, where elevated lodgings, embraced on all sides by tropical leaves, feature private decks with deep stone baths for outdoor bathing. These are adorned with rich timber furnishings, neutral colour schemes — blending perfectly with the natural setting — and carefully slung hammocks, which offer an alternative to the plush king-size beds for afternoon naps.
Couples keen for more can ease into the included dinner at Treetops Restaurant with sunset drinks, or start the day with guided yoga sessions. There’s also a tranquil swimming pool, an onsite day spa, ample forest walks and the river to explore — using complimentary kayaks and snorkels — plus a choice of Port Douglas, Cairns and The Great Barrier Reef to discover right on the doorstep.
18. El Questro Homestead
The Kimberley, Western Australia
Honeymoon Style: Outback Oasis
All images courtesy of El Questro Homestead
It’s easy to understand why couples, called by the remote mysteries of The Kimberley, find themselves seeking sanctuary at El Questro Homestead. While the ‘wet season’ renders it inaccessible at other times of the year, during the months from April to October this is a honeymooner’s haven, and an ideal base from which to explore the spectacular surrounding landscape.
Welcoming only 20 adult guests, rooms and suites here vary, but all indulge creature-comforts with inviting naturally-inspired interiors, and many feature decadent baths and beds cantilevered over the spectacular Chamberlain Gorge and River — perfectly positioned for savouring the sweeping panoramic vistas, and spotting the occasional crocodile on the riverbank beneath.
Immersive experiences with the wildlife and spellbinding scenery of this area form part of the all-inclusive packages, with the likes of river cruises, gorge tours, 4WD safaris and swims in nearby thermal springs offered daily. A cooling swimming pool, gourmet meals, and most beverages are included too. They’re offered communally under the property’s star-lit skies and shaded verandahs, though couples with a preference for privacy can opt to dine at one of the impressive cliff-top table settings.
19. Raes On Wategos
Byron Bay, New South Wales
Honeymoon Style: Coastal Getaway
Image Sean Fennessy
A delicate blend of Hollywood glamour, Mediterranean charm and Byron Bay ease, awaits honeymooning couples at Raes On Wategos.
Image Sean Fennessy
Just footsteps from the fine sand and sparkling waters of iconic Wategos Beach, the hidden enclave offers two lavish penthouses and five elegant suites, each individually decorated in keeping with the casual, coastal aesthetic. Crisp white walls, sumptuous beds, slip-covered sofas, rattan easy-chairs, overstuffed cushions, lush foliage and marble baths define the interiors, while arched windows and timber shutters open to ocean breezes and sea glimpses.
Image Sean Fennessy
The onsite spa evokes a Moroccan bath house atmosphere and promises a menu of massages and facials for post-wedding recouperation. There’s a secluded pool for those seeking an alternative to the beach and — in addition to Byron Bay’s many renowned restaurants, bars and cafes — Raes’ Cellar Bar and acclaimed Dining Room serve up a tempting array of brunch options, casual snacks, cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired eats.
Image Sean Fennessy
Discover even more amazing Australian wedding and honeymoon inspiration in the ABIA Directory — where you'll find over half a million wedding reviews, ratings and recommendations from recently-married couples on everything from wedding photographers to wedding venues — or click for more information on wedding night accommodation and honeymoon destinations across the country.
