The Most Beautiful Outdoor Baths In Australia

Australia’s outdoor baths are quickly becoming one of its star attractions.

Soaking away the day in an outdoor bath with a view has become the holy grail of relaxation. So it’s no surprise to learn that Australia has an ever-increasing list of properties that feature bathtubs situated right in the heart of the great outdoors.

Don’t pass up the chance to marvel at dazzling, natural landscapes from the comfort of your own private bath. Let us tempt you with our pick of the best of the bunch below.

El Questro Homestead, The Kimberley

You’ve probably heard of El Questro , the 700,000-acre cattle station with a made-up, Spanish-sounding name that offers one of the most expensive laid-back luxury experiences in the outback. With prices that start at $2155 per room per night, El Questro’s Homestead is certainly the most covetable getaway in the Kimberley.

The Chamberlain Suite is the most amazing room by far, thanks in large part to a private outdoor double bath overlooking a gorge. A soak here will deliver views of the stunning, wild and unlike-anywhere-else-in-the-world landscape that really sets this lodge apart.

Outside the luxury of egg-shaped tubs, Egyptian cotton sheets and crisp air conditioning in your room, you’re always in the thick of nature.

El Questro Homestead bath — El Questro’s Homestead is certainly the most covetable getaway in the Kimberley.

Hope Springs Retreat, Mt Eliza

Affordable luxury and romance combine in this stunning, self-contained apartment. Featuring a fully equipped modern kitchen and light-filled bedroom, Hope Springs Retreat makes full use of its scale with cathedral ceilings and an oversized bathroom.

An adjoining private deck features the magical cedar hot tub. Hop on in with a glass of local wine in hand to enjoy the sweeping garden views or, once the sun sets, gaze at the stars in absolute tranquillity.

My Eliza retreat cedar hot tub — The magical cedar hot tub.

Kookawood Farmhouse, Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains lay claim to some of the most spectacular scenery in NSW and Kookawood Farmhouse boasts the perfect private bath to enjoy it from.

The 200-acre property is a nature lover’s paradise, while the country-style farmhouse is packed with character and charm. Alongside the outdoor, claw-foot tub, guests are treated to an open log fireplace, two large bedrooms, and the natural beauty, culture and culinary delights that await in the Blue Mountains.

Visit our complete guide to the Blue Mountains here.

Kokawood farmhouse bath blue mountians — Bathe in the beauty of the Blue Mountains.

Kingsford Homestead, Barossa Valley

Located on a 225-acre property on the edge of the Barossa Valley, Kingsford Homestead has been the home of a wealthy 19th-century pastoralist, the set of McLeod’s Daughters and since 2009 an ever-so-elegant, but oh-so-Australian boutique getaway.

This exclusive 16-suite retreat caters to just 32 guests, but the real drawcard here is the glorious outdoor claw foot bush bath, which sits in a secluded corner of the property. Surrender to nature and relax with only North Para River and giant gum trees for company. Grown Alchemist bath salts are complementary.

Read our comprehensive travel guide to the Barossa Valley here.

Relax with only Para River and giant gum trees for company.

Longitude 131, Uluru

There are a lot of magical ways to experience Uluru, and while many of them come without the price tag of a stay at Longitude 131, there’s a reason this place is consistently named one of the best properties in all of Australia.

When our editorial director Leigh-Ann Pow visited in 2018, it was the bath that took her breath away. “If there was ever going to be such a thing as an Academy Awards ceremony for bathtubs then this would be the winner hands down.

“It’s a bit about the design of the thing – it resembles a luxe rainwater tank – but it’s mostly about the outlook. It sits in front of a floor-to-ceiling window that perfectly frames the hulking form of Uluru in the distance. A front-row bathtub to one of the most breathtaking views in the world."

Glenayr Farm, Mudgee

Mudgee’s Glenayr Farm offers a traditional upmarket glamping experience set among a 320- acre sheep farming property. Not only do you get to bed down for the night surrounded by the quintessential Australian landscape, but you’ll also be nearby the famous wineries and restaurants.

The real drawcard to staying here is the outdoor, wood-fired hot tub, which transitions into a small plunge pool come summer. You’ll fall in love with the unrivalled sunsets and incredible vistas over one of the most beautiful spots in the region. At night, the sky transforms into one of the best stargazing sites in Australia (Mudgee Observatory is 10 minutes away).

Read more on our Mudgee travel guide here.

Glenayr Farm bath — Fall in love with Glenayr Farm.

Thalia Haven, Great Oyster Bay

What better way to envelop yourself in the beauty of Tasmania than with a long, hot soak in the tub, a glass of wine in hand, as the waves of Great Oyster Bay crash below? It’s all possible at Thalia Haven – a rugged, yet elegant house that is completely wind- and solar-powered.

Set on 130 acres of coastal bushland, you’re never far from the ocean, with sounds of the sea audible from each of the four bedrooms – and each room features a deluxe king-sized bed to complete the experience.

It’s stocked with everything you could need for a private winter weekend hideaway including fresh Tassie produce such as eggs, milk, sourdough bread, jam and butter. Oh, and did we mention that outdoor tub?

Thalia Haven bath — Bathe in complete privacy to the ever-changing colours of the sea.

Saltbush Retreat, Longreach

Longreach is considered the heart and soul of Queensland’s outback, but that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on life’s little luxuries: enter Saltbush Retreat. This spectacular property offers guests accommodation in the rustic, 4.5-star Homestead Stables, the 4-star Slab Huts or the Outback Cabins.

The Homestead Stables are beautifully appointed to tell the full outback story, with old gates repurposed as bedheads and rustic troughs fashioned into bed bases. They also provide access to the all-important outdoor bath terrace where you can enjoy the ultimate soak with a view. The accompanying pamper pack includes comfy slippers, loafers, chocolates and all-important bath salts.

Cliff House, Kangaroo Island

Spend your stay on Kangaroo Island overlooking Snellings Beach at Cliff House . The luxurious pad sleeps six, but you and your partner will want this one all to yourselves.

Boasting several romantic features, including a master bedroom fashioned inside a circular tower with panoramic views of the Southern Sea, the outdoor cliff-edge Jacuzzi is the crème de la crème of luxurious bathing. Hop in after sundown for a truly spectacular atmosphere – just you, the stars, the moon and the Milky Way.

Find more places to stay on Kangaroo Island here.

The cliff-edge Jacuzzi is the crème de la crème of luxurious bathing.

Freycinet Lodge, Freycinet National Park

Freycinet Lodge is a special-occasion-type place. The kind of place that allows you to really get away from it all in luxurious seclusion.

Inspired by its stunning natural surroundings on the Freycinet Peninsula, the accommodation (with options that range from cabins to Coastal Pavilions) features a contemporary yet cosy design made from timber, stone and leather.

For a spectacular sojourn, opt for one of the nine waterfront Coastal Pavilions. These architecturally designed rooms include a private deck that wraps around each pavilion – and it is here where you will find the magical outdoor bath that takes full advantage of the breathtaking views of Coles Bay and out to the Hazards.

Freycinet SAffire Lodge — Freycinet offers special-occasion bathing.

The charm of Mildura is hidden in plain sight along the Sturt Highway. The capital of Tropical North Victoria is in a league of its own.

From the moment you arrive in Mildura , the warm air and palm trees invite you to slow down. While most Australians might drive right past it, Mildura is full of surprises. Here you’ll spend one day witnessing over 50,000 years of First Nations history in a UNESCO-listed National Park, and the next dining in a hatted restaurant after wandering through 12,500 fireflies as the outback sunset bursts to life above. From roadside fruit stalls and family-run wineries to houseboats and galleries, it’s time to explore Mildura.

Feast Street, at the heart of Langtree Avenue in Mildura. — Taste, wander and be surprised in Mildura.

Taste Mildura’s produce

It makes sense to start your trip by addressing the most important question: where to eat. In the beating heart of Australia’s food bowl, sample the local produce directly from the source. And then, of course, experience it through the menu of a hatted chef. Or sandwiched between pillowy slices of Nonna’s ciabatta.

Rows of orchards and olive groves invite you to spend the day traipsing from farm to farm. Taste olives propagated from Calabrian trees brought over in the 40s, oranges picked right from the tree and squeezed into juice and spoons full of honey . Bring the holiday back to your kitchen by stocking your pantry at roadside produce stalls, or calling into the ‘silver shed ’ (Sunraysia’s gourmand Mecca).

Thanks to the warm, balmy air and fertile soils, the wineries dotted along these hills produce award-winning local wines. Like Chalmers , a family-run, innovative winery dedicated to making their wines as sustainable as possible. And picturesque Trentham Estate offers views of the snaking Murray River as you sample their vintages.

Venture beyond the gnarled shadows of olive groves and fragrant rows of blossoming fruit trees and you’ll find an otherworldly side to Mildura. With Discover Mildura as your guide, visit Murray River Salt’s Mars-like stacks. The naturally pink salt is formed from an ancient inland sea and evaporated entirely by the sun to create one of the region’s most iconic exports.

Start your day with just-squeezed sunshine.

Hatted dining & Italian history

Mildura is home to a proud community of Calabrians and Sicilians. This, paired with the exceptional local produce, means that you can find paninos on par with those in Italy. The Italian is a Paninoteca serving up made-to-order, hefty, authentic Sicilian paninos. Nonna Rosa’s pork meatballs, slowly cooked in tomato ragu and served in a crusty, fluffy roll topped with gratings of Grana Padano cheese and salsa verde, will call you back to Mildura for the rest of your days.

To find hatted dining in Mildura, simply follow the staircase down into the basement of the historic Mildura Grand Hotel to find Stefano’s . Following the muscle memory and instinct of his Italian roots, he delivers on the principle of ‘cucina povera’. That is, the Italian cooking ideology that turns simple, local ingredients into magic.

Things to do in Mildura include dining at the acclaimed Stefano’s, where simple local ingredients are transformed into Italian culinary magic beneath the historic Grand Hotel. — Bite into Mildura’s Italian heritage.

Discover a thriving culture scene

The city is alive with culture. Whether it’s painted on the town’s walls, told in ancient yarns, or waiting for you in a gallery.

The Mildura Arts Centre was Australia’s first regional art gallery. Behind the walls of Rio Vista Historic House, you’ll find a lineup of ever-changing exhibitions. The gallery’s wall space pays tribute to the art and songlines of local First Nations People, the region’s awe-inspiring landscapes and more. Outside, on the gallery’s lawn, find 12 contemporary sculptures in the Sculpture Park.

Mildura’s streetscapes are a punch of colour. Swirling strokes of paint blend the winding artery of the Murray River, red dirt and local characters into a story you can see with your own eyes, thanks to the Mildura City Heart’s Mural Art Project . Pick up a copy of the Murals of Mildura guide from the Visitor Information Centre.

Follow the border of NSW and Victoria on a map and you’ll see it hugs the curves of a tiny island on the Murray. That’s Lock Island, where, as the sun and moon trade places, the island comes alive as darkness falls. The island is dotted with 12,500 firefly lights that lead you on a meandering path through the outback sunset. The installation is known as Trail of Lights and was created by the same visionary who dreamt up Field of Light at Uluṟu, Bruce Munro.

Things to do in Mildura include exploring its rich cultural scene. From vibrant street art and ancient stories to exhibitions at the Mildura Arts Centre, Australia’s first regional gallery. — Find culture around every corner.

Wonder at ancient landscapes

The landscapes of Mildura feel almost transcendental. The skyline bursts to life with reds, pinks, and deep, sparkly night skies.

The nature will leave you in awe. See hues of pink water changing with the weather at Pink Lakes inside Victoria’s largest national park, Murray Sunset National Oark. Cast a line into Ouyen Lake. Watch the sunset against 70-metre tall red cliffs that reflect the setting sun. Or get the heart racing and sandboard down the Perry Sandhills dunes, formed 40,000 years ago at the end of an ice age.

Just don’t leave without following the twists and turns of the Murray. Stroll or ride along the Shared River Front Path, or jump onboard a boat for a scenic ride.

Your itinerary will be incomplete without a visit to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park . Head out with an Indigenous ranger to witness ancient campsites and footprints, before standing in awe of ancient civilisation near the discovery site of Mungo Man—Australia’s oldest human skeleton at 42,000 years old.

Mungo National Park at night is a vast, silent landscape where ancient dunes glow under moonlight and stars blanket the sky in breathtaking clarity. — Walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisation.

Meet your home away from home

On equal par with planning your meals and adventures, is finding the perfect place to relax at the end of each day.

Sleep inside a Palm Springs postcard at Kar-Rama . A sleek boutique hotel complete with a butterfly shaped, sun-soaked pool. Here you’re staying right in the heart of Mildura but you’ll feel worlds away. Or if you really wish to connect with nature, a night glamping under the stars at Outback Almonds will have you spellbound.

When in Mildura it’s only right to stay on one of the Murray River’s iconic houseboats . Wake up each day to the calm waters of the Murray lapping outside your window. Enjoy days full of river swims, fishing and exploring. All boats are solar-powered and can be self-skippered or moored along the river.

A solar-powered houseboat on the Murray River in Mildura. — Stay and play on the Murray in a solar houseboat.

Start planning the perfect getaway at mildura.com .

The most beautiful outdoor baths in Australia