Seven self-indulgent long-weekend luxury escapes

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Megan Arkinstall finds seven long-weekend ideas to take you away from it all so you can indulge in, well, pure indulgence.

1. Glide on water in the Top End: Kakadu National Park, NT

Bamurru Plains coined the term ‘wild bush luxury’ to describe their accommodation; a down-to-earth camp with a focus on fine details, designed to draw your attention to the surrounding environment rather than the distractions of modern life. There are a host of activities to get you out and about to explore the wildlife, but we recommend starting with a morning glide on the wetlands on board a fan-propelled airboat (specially for shallow waters) – a unique way to view the birdlife native to the area. At night, retreat back to camp for a hearty meal cooked with local ingredients, before falling into a deep sleep to the sounds of Kakadu silence: croaking frogs and local owls. Sounds like a bloody good long weekend to us.

 

Location: Bamurru Plains is a three-hour drive or 20-minute flight from Darwin. Swim Creek Station near Point Stuart in the Mary River Region, 10 kilometres from Kakadu National Park’s western boundary; 1300 790 561; bamurruplains.com

2. Create a work of art in your own studio: Swansea, Tas

Two kilometres up a dirt road brings you to the secluded and stunning Rocky Hills Retreat. Set on 250 acres of dry bush, the house overlooks a valley and out towards Maria Island. Have a bath on the deck and watch the sun go down, or awaken your inner artist in the fully-equipped on-site art studio. In here you’ll find tools to draw, paint, sculpt and knit… the possibilities are endless.

 

Location: Rocky Hills Retreat is 1.5 hours from Hobart. 11901 Tasman Highway, Rocky Hills, Swansea; 1300 361 136; rockyhillsretreat.com.au

3. Take a private seaplane to a secluded getaway: Whale Beach, NSW

Jonah’s boutique hotel, on Whale Beach just north of Sydney, offers an idyllic getaway without really getting away at all. Kick back on your private balcony and simply admire the 180-degree views of the ocean… and imagine previous guests Sir Anthony Hopkins, Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger doing the same. To really knock your socks off, we recommend arriving in style by private sea plane – you can transfer direct from Sydney’s Rose Bay, as part of a hotel package including a three-course dinner at their hatted restaurant and brekky. Now that’s how a long weekend should be spent (if you’re comfortable with spending, that is).

 

Location: Jonah’s is a 50-minute drive from Sydney or 20 minutes by seaplane. 69 Bynya Road, Whale Beach, Sydney; 02 9974 5599; jonahs.com.au

4. Soak it up on a private rooftop spa: Noosa, QLD

Perched on the highest point of Noosa’s Sunshine Beach Esplanade is a not-so-average retreat, complete with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, media room, billiards room, pool and yes, a rooftop spa overlooking the Coral Sea. Turn on the bubbles, pour some bubbles and toast to the Queensland winter sun with a few of your favourite friends, before a barbecue on the deck. Winter warming at its best.

 

Location: The Beach Shack is two hours north of Brisbane. 19 The Esplanade, Sunshine Beach, Noosa. Book through R&W Noosa Holidays; 07 5448 0966; rwnoosaholidays.com.au

5. Retreat to a weekend of relaxation and pampering: Byron Bay, NSW

Sometimes, the best kind of indulgence is a break from indulgence. Whether you want to detox, de-stress, lose weight or simply gain some peace, the sprawling hinterland of Byron Bay, home to Olivia Newtown-John’s eco-retreat Gaia, is a beautiful place to do it. With activities like yoga, tai chi, meditation, body balance, cooking classes, art and sculpture classes, and a multi-award winning day spa – your mind, body and spirit are covered. Leave your mobile phone at home… we dare you.

 

Location: Gaia Retreat & Spa is two hours south of Brisbane. 933 Fernleigh Road, Brooklet; 02 6687 1216; gaiaretreat.com.au

6. Luxury beyond words in a picture worth a thousand: Wolgan Valley, NSW

Brush up on your photography skills and capture the beauty of Wolgan Valley with a guided photography tour. The six-star Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort is a beautiful 4000-acre property with 40 luxury suites boasting a private pool and terrace, and double-sided fireplaces (no wonder it was voted number five in AT’s 100 Incredible Travel Secrets). Step out from behind the lens to enjoy the other onsite activities including hiking, mountain biking, 4WD tours and horse riding. Then return home with your stunning photos to prove that yes, you were indeed at Wolgan Valley. Lucky you.

 

Location: Wolgan Valley is a three-hour drive from Sydney. 2600 Wolgan Road, Wolgan Valley, Lithgow; 02 6350 1800; wolganvalley.com

7. Take a bush bath: Barossa Valley, SA

An elegant country manor located on a 225-acre estate… sounds like an idyllic place to rejuvenate. And what better way to do that than running yourself a soothing bath and soaking to the sound of silence in the middle of the bush? (Yes, it fits two.) The all-inclusive two-night stay at Kingsford Homestead includes drinks and canapés served on the verandah as the sun goes down, cooked breakfast, complimentary wines from the cellar, a five-course degustation one night and a three-course dinner the other. The 1856 homestead may look familiar: it was the previous home to McLeod’s Daughters, but now it can be yours.

 

Location: Kingsford Homestead is 45 minutes from Adelaide. Kingsford Road, Kingsford; 08 8524 8120; kingsfordhomestead.com.au

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This geological wonder is hiding in the heart of Victoria

    Michael TurtleBy Michael Turtle
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    Mythical, historical and most of all, spectacularly beautiful, Buchan Caves demands you take your time – and a tour. 

    In the pools of water, so still they could be mirrors, the reflections of the stalactites make these limestone towers seem even taller. Almost 400 million years ago, an underground river carved through the rock to create the Buchan Caves . Now, artworks created by dripping water adorn these subterranean galleries: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, pillars connecting some to the ground, even curtain-like wave formations clinging to the stone.

    Caves House
    Visit the caves for the day or stay onsite in the campground or at the self-contained Caves House. (Image: Ben Savage)

    “This is called the Fairy Cave because it’s full of fairy dust,” a guide tells visitors as they enter a cavern glittering with “calcite that’s solidified into thousands of tiny little diamond shapes”.  Buchan Caves is Victoria’s largest cave system, but Fairy Cave is a highlight and, along with nearby Royal Cave, is accessible only by tour. Naturally cold, naturally dark, these caverns deep below the surface light up as the local experts tell their stories. 

    couple walking in cave
    You’ll need to book a guided tour to see the caves. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the hundreds of caves, some can be easily accessed from the surface. For instance, a casual stroll along the FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk, as kangaroos watch on from beneath acacia trees, leads into the 400-metre-long Federal Cave and its natural steps of white limestone. A slightly longer track, the Granite Pools Walk heads through soaring forest down into moss-covered gullies where the calls of lyrebirds trill through the leaves. 

    A quick history lesson on Buchan Caves 

    Buchan Caves
    Buchan Caves are a must-visit attraction in Gippsland. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the geology and the nature are millennia of history. This part of East Gippsland connects the high country to the coast and was long a place of refuge for the local Gunaikurnai people on seasonal migrations to the mountains. Archaeological studies show humans lived here up to 18,000 years ago, with artefacts such as small stone tools found around the site. But not too far into the caverns – oh no! The Gunaikurnai didn’t dare venture deep into the dark at Buchan Caves, telling stories they were inhabited by gnome-like nyols (small grey-skinned creatures that could steal memories). 

    Buchan Caves Hotel
    The Buchan Caves Hotel was rebuilt after burning down in 2014. (Image: Jess Shapiro)

    By the early 1900s, more people had started to hear about these incredible caves and so the Moon family set up home at the site and started to run tours below ground for intrepid visitors. More than a century later, their historic residence is available as accommodation, with the three-bedroom house sleeping up to eight people and now equipped with modern amenities the Moons could only have dreamt of. 

    But whether you stay overnight or just spend the day here, it’s worth taking your time to explore more than just the main caves, to get a deeper understanding of one of Victoria’s fascinating geological attractions.