The best Australian Instagram pictures trending right now

Looks like Australian Traveller’s Instagram community has been loving their summer holidays to death. The colours that have been passing through @austtraveller (from both us and our talented followers), proves beyond any debate that Australia is the most diverse place on earth to travel around and get your eye-candy fix.

Help us discover more vibrancy by hashtagging the best of your travel-related Instagrams with #austtravellermag . Meanwhile, here are the pick of the ‘grams that made us smile In January (seems like we’re particularly loving Tassie this month)!

1. The Breakaways, Coober Pedy
Sure it’s hot out here but the sexy sandstone shades of the artfully beautiful ‘Breakaways’ are just so damn cool! This mind-blowing landscape is 30km north of South Australia’s Coober Pedy.

2. Poles apart, Melbourne
Superb and just a little bit trippy post-holiday snap from@jarrodhydephotography – taken from Port Melbourne. He’s just returned from his travels around Tassie. Tough for some.

3. Blue oyster bar, Tasmania’s east coast
Simple, fresh and perfect way to start the weekend on Tassie’s east coast – that’s if you’re oyster fan. Outstanding colours from the legendary @maxdoylephotography

4. Turtle nursery, Mon Repos beach, Queensland
Tentative first steps (or are they flips?). This bubba Loggerhead turtle struggles towards the sea on Mon Repos beach (near Bundaberg). Privileged! From the prolific @laurenepbath

5. A Coral dunescape
Loving this dunescape at Gnaraloo on the Coral Coast.@waexplorer reckons these dunes almost make up for not having any snowy mountains in Western Australia. Almost.

6. Aurora lights up the south
The Southern Lights are popping up their pretty little faces at the moment down in Tassie. Thanks to Aurora Australis chaser @kathrynleahy

7. City in pink
This no-filter snap shows that you don’t have go to the outback to see the legendary pink lakes of Australia. @lauraalycebell dips her shoes in at Melbourne’s Docklands! Seriously wow! Not toxic either, as one follower quipped.

8. Bussleton beauty
Geographe Bay certainly shaking its beauty… a little bitty piece of the 2km long Bussleton Jetty, 220km south-west of Perth (longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere).

9. The pinnacle of yacht hiking
Our view from the very, very top of ‘Bishop and Clerk’ (620 steep metres above sea level) on Maria Island, off Tassie’s east coast. Yes, we hiked up here. And, yes, we finished the day with a three-course gourmet dinner on a 75ft luxury yacht. Nice shot@elliottjameselliott

The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon. — Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

Aerial view of Wilderluxe. — Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe. — Sleep beneath the stars.

Style and character

When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe. — Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake. — Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

A person kayaking through serene waters. — Paddle into peace.

The details

A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

The interiors of the glamping tent. — Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.

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