Unique Hidden Gem Stays In Australia

From country to coast to rainforest and river, hole yourself up in one of these sweet retreats and just try not to let anyone in on the secret.

Here are the seven hidden gems that made it into positions 12 to 18 of our coveted list of 100 unique stays. Head here to read the full list and start planning your next escape.

12. The Potting Shed at Acre of Roses, Trentham, VIC

Ever since I read The Secret Garden I’ve been drawn to whimsical gardens. If walking through a rambling, flower-filled garden is an antidote to modern ills, then staying in an old garden shed is tantamount to a course of therapy. Located in the small town of Trentham, 20 minutes east of Daylesford, the Potting Shed is a self-contained, garden-themed studio retreat on a quaint rose farm. Upon arrival I can see how much love the owners have put into this special place. What was once a working garden shed is now a cosy adults-only (but dog-friendly) retreat that honours its horticultural heritage.

Outside there’s a Yates display case and a productive kitchen garden. Beyond the fence there’s an acre of roses to explore, but it’s raining so I head inside as the drops beat down on the tin roof. Inside, I’m greeted by a wistful collection of vintage ephemera – still-life paintings, timeworn botanical books and retro wing-back chairs. Above, there’s a glass belltower with a bell just asking to be rung by the ropes draped over the timber beams. With a potbelly fire, fast wi-fi, commercial coffee machine, convection microwave, and fridge filled with gourmet bites, there’s no reason to leave. By night, I trade the soft embrace of the armchair for a deep slumber in a toasty bed warmed by an electric blanket.

Interior of the The Potting Shed at Acre of Roses in Trentham, Victoria — A look inside the quaint, idyllic accommodation at The Potting Shed. (Image: Marnie Hawson)

After a lingering lie-in, I graze on a complimentary continental breakfast of strawberries, muesli, yoghurt, juice, and sourdough from local artisan bakehouse RedBeard Bakery. Checking out, I realise I’ve accomplished nothing but reading, sleeping, eating, and listening to birdsong – and that’s fine by me. – Jo Stewart

13. Faraway Bay, Kimberley Coast, WA

No other shower I’ve been in has ever compared to the one at Faraway Bay. The corrugated iron tank – with open front and top – is best used under night’s inky cloak, when an unhampered Milky Way glows overhead. Standing naked in the dark, spring water flowing and stars beaming, I sense both awe and joy. It typifies the dedication to wonder and simplicity at this remote speck in the Kimberley, from the handcrafted dipping pool to the communal dinner table and airy bush cabins. Striking views spring from every angle: turquoise ocean, rusty red cliffs, pale beach with croc tracks to boot. Wilderness expeditions to black swimming holes, hidden rock art and the majestic King George Falls only sweeten the deal. – Fleur Bainger

14. Marramarra Lodge, Hawkesbury River, NSW

The early morning mist has settled on the Hawkesbury River like a soft blanket and the sun streaks through the trees to warm my skin as I sit on the deck of our peninsula tent sipping a steaming cup of tea. The nearby cackle of a kookaburra cuts through the silence and I hear a slow rustling in the bushes below, likely a goanna or bush turkey. It’s nearly been a full 24 hours since my partner and I arrived by boat to Marramarra Lodge and I am soaking up the stillness of the moment, willing it to last just a little longer as the hour of our departure inches closer.

Inside the Peninsula Tents at Marramarra Lodge. — The view of the Hawkesbury River from inside the Peninsula Tents at Marramarra Lodge. (Image: Isaac Tseng)

Our glampsite, named Wirriga (meaning goanna in the language of the Dharug people), is not your traditional bell tent experience. With timber floorboards, a butter-soft leather lounge, dining area, oversized king bed, reverse cycle air conditioning and riverstone-walled bathroom, it feels more like an open-plan luxury lodge with the added bonus of canvas walls that unzip for ready-made access to the beauty of the surrounding bush. The adults-only retreat, which can only be accessed by boat, helicopter or seaplane, is located just over an hour from Sydney on Fishermans Point peninsula. The eight Peninsula Tents and six Hawkesbury Bungalows are nestled on the edge of Marramarra National Park and set over more than three hectares of land – the traditional land of the Dharug people, who have been the custodians of it for tens of thousands of years, long before European invasion. Both the peninsula and nearby Bar Island, which was once used as a meeting place between Dharug clans, are rich in Indigenous, early European and convict history.

Peninsula Tent Marramarra Lodge — Glamping at Marramarra Lodge is not your traditional bell tent experience. (Image: Isaac Tseng)

During our arrival tour, we are pointed in the direction of a small cave on the edge of the river just beyond our deck. Inside, we find rock carvings and the remains of Aboriginal meals of periwinkles and oysters littered throughout the dirt; it offers a quiet and contemplative moment for reflection. The lodge’s dedicated team members express a deep respect and passion for Aboriginal traditions and culture – something that comes through in the way they care for and talk about Marramarra. The legacy of the Dharug people is woven into every facet of this place – from the names used to the food and experiences to the guiding operational principles that aim to preserve Marramarra’s unique origins and encourage the return of native wildlife.

Aerial view of Marramarra Lodge — The legacy of the Dharug people is woven into every facet of a stay at Marramarra Lodge.

Just before the sun starts to set on our first day we make our way down the sandstone path to the river for an evening cruise along the Hawkesbury, complemented by oysters and sparkling wine. Our skipper points out historical sites along the riverbank as we soak up the mesmerising surroundings. The varied hues of blue of the river and sky, and on the slopes of the land on the horizon are interrupted with a dusty pink sunset that deepens to a vibrant orange as the boat slowly turns to make its way back to Marramarra for dinner.

Marramarra Jetty and sunset cruise — The sunset cruise departs from the picturesque Marramarra Jetty. (Image: Isaac Tseng)

Another unique aspect of Marramarra is its exclusivity. The all-inclusive stay caters to a maximum of 28 guests, which makes unwinding here alongside the river, immersed in nature, an intoxicating experience. But perhaps the most alluring aspect of all is the food and wine we are served at Budyari Restaurant. The five-course degustation features scampi, toothfish, duck, wagyu beef and a melt-in-your-mouth Basque cheesecake for dessert. Each course is perfectly paired with a mix of both local and international wines from the on-site cellar. With full stomachs, we sit around the outdoor fire pit and share stories of our day with another guest here on his babymoon. Marramarra is just the type of place you’d want to celebrate such a special occasion.

All food and wine at Budyari Restaurant is included in your stay at Marramarra Lodge.

Rain clouds roll in the next morning as we wait in the boatshed for our return transfer to Mooney Mooney. We missed the early yoga session that is held here by the water shortly after sunrise and now the hour I had tried to avoid arrives. As the boat pulls away from the jetty, the sky opens and rain falls hard and heavy. I look back as Marramarra Lodge grows smaller in the distance thinking that the rain should make it easier to leave, but strangely it only makes it harder. – Katie Carlin

Marramarra Lodge Boat Shed — Soak up the serenity from the Boatshed at Marramarra Lodge. (Image: Torchlight Media)

15. Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Blue Mountains, NSW

The newest property from Spicers Retreats, Sangoma is the kind of intimately nature-bound hideaway where you might spend the day out on a private canyoning adventure before resting your well-worked muscles with a soak in a Philippe Starck bathtub overlooking the forest canopy. Located in a serene spot at the foothills of the Blue Mountains and blending equal parts luxury and eco cred, it promises pure escape from the everyday only an hour from Sydney.

16. Hotel Corones, Charleville, Qld

Ask to stay in the room that Gough Whitlam, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, pioneering pilot Amy Johnson and Slim Dusty all slept in before you. Hotel Corones is the fanciest pub built anywhere west of Toowoomba. Almost 100 years old, you can feel the history oozing right out of these walls; there are newer motel rooms built next door, but settle in upstairs instead in rooms that have barely changed in a century. If you’re itching for conversation, the bar downstairs (the longest bar in the southern hemisphere at the time it was built) is the place to meet Charleville’s most eccentric locals. – Craig Tansley

17. Secret Cabin Society, Sunshine Coast, Qld

If it weren’t for owner Cathy Fitzgerald leading the way, I’d be oblivious as to where I’d be sleeping tonight. After following my GPS to this address near Eumundi, provided just the day before, I’m yet to see anything that resembles accommodation. And it all just adds to the deliciousness of the experience. We wander down a mowed track that peters out to a steeper, slightly rocky incline. I can hear water trickling around the bend. Then suddenly, in a clearing illuminated by the waning daylight, there she stands. I follow Cathy’s footsteps across the creek and marvel at the oasis she and partner Carlos Sanchez have built here.

This Secret Cabin Society oasis is hidden away on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. (Image: Krista Eppelstun for Life Unhurried)

Secret Cabin Society is exactly what it says on the label – a little-known club built for one or two at a time. It’s been crafted with consciousness for the soil, the creek, the birds. Masses of lantana were hacked away by hand, every building element carried in. I’ve stayed in off-grid places before, but this is different. It exists not just in harmony with the rainforest, but feels a living, breathing part of it.

Climb the ladder inside the beautifully crafted cabin to reach your bed of an evening. (Image: Krista Eppelstun for Life Unhurried)

From outside, the cabin resembles an old tobacco kiln, clad in corrugated iron with a wooden deck where a hammock invites repose. With solar lighting inside, the space glows like that indeterminate space between sleep and dream. A writing desk sits by the wood fired heater in one corner. Beside that, two cosy armchairs, where candles drip inside lanterns above. I climb the ladder to the bed, tucked into the eaves with butter-soft linens and views into the treetops. Outside, I imagine marshmallows toasted over the campfire later; coffee brewed on the gas stove come morning. I pad barefoot across to the (composting) loo with a view that compels me to linger longer than necessary and, as the light ekes away, shower with the kiss of the rainforest on my skin. – Celeste Mitchell

18. Corinna Wilderness Experience, Tarkine, Tas

No tarmac roads lead to the little settlement of Corinna. No wi-fi, phone or television leaks news of what’s going on beyond it. It’s bordered by World Heritage Takayna/Tarkine rainforest and rests on the shores of the peaceful Pieman River and, once there, it might as well be the edge of the world. For three days it will be my world.

Kayaking at Corinna Wilderness Experience — The Corinna Wilderness Experience is bordered by the World Heritage Takayna/Tarkine rainforest.

In the late 1800s, Corinna was bustling with a few thousand gold prospectors, but by 1900 the population began its decline and now the only residents are guests of Corinna Wilderness Experience where a string of timber and corrugated iron cottages have been built in the miner’s cottage style of old. They’re warm, cosy and contain all the mod cons bar a television – I prefer the dancing flames of my fireplace anyway. Central to Corinna is The Tarkine Hotel, a rustic wooden tavern serving hearty meals and Tasmanian beers and wine. In such isolation, connection with the wilderness is immediate and absolute.

Corinna Wilderness Experience cottages — The timber and corrugated iron cottages are warm, cosy and contain all the mod cons bar a television.

The air here is some of the cleanest in the world and though I’ve seen some forests in my time, the Tarkine’s beauty is of mythical proportions. Ten walking trails meander through magnificent trees carpeted in moss and to the tussock-topped Mt Donaldson with its epic views. The Pieman River offers another perspective: a misty morning kayak on its mirror-like waters sees me glide silently past wallabies and diving azure kingfishers, while a cruise on the historic Arcadia II takes me to a remote windswept beach at Pieman Heads. Tassie’s Western Wilds feels like another place and time and, running on solar power and with plans for carbon neutrality, Corinna is doing its best to preserve what is a truly special piece of wilderness. – Laura Waters

Read all 100 unique stays around Australia here.

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.

Unique hidden gem stays in Australia