9 heavenly places to go glamping on the Gold Coast

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Reconnect to nature in spectacular fashion with the best glamping on the Gold Coast.

High-rise hotels and sizable resorts offer pretty views, but nothing plunges you into all-consuming beauty quite like glamping on the Gold Coast. Lovebirds, adventure seekers and kid-heavy families are all catered for in luxuriously tented stays that offer instant access to natural wonders, unique foodie experiences and a level of comfort typically reserved for the Gold Coast’s most luxurious accommodation.

1. Tamborine Mountain Glades

a 4WD outside the glamping tent at Tamborine Mountain Glades, Gold Coast
The off-grid accommodation is nestled in the middle of nature. (Image: Tamborine Mountain Glades)

Where: Tamborine Mountain

Breathe in the dewy subtropical rainforest air of Tamborine Mountain’s resident glamping site, Tamborine Mountain Glades. Enveloped in lush bushland, the site is actually home to awesome Gold Coast tent and caravan camping, self-contained cabins and The Vistas, hotel-like stays that share a huge communal fire pit, but its Woodlands glamping is the star of the show.

Found over in a remote corner of the remarkable 114-hectare property, right next to a small creek that trickles out the front of all 11 spacious tents, the Gold Coast glamping experience starts simple with a king-size bed, flat-screen TV, ensuite with an open-air shower and underfloor heating, outdoor dining table, barbecue and bar fridge and private fire pit. Climbing up the scale a step is the Woodlands Luxe Tents, which add a private outdoor jacuzzi to the equation, before the Woodlands Family Tents drop a roomy bedding configuration for up to five guests and the mac daddy, the Woodlands Family Luxe Tent, offers a private three-metre plunge pool.

Natural textures and tones complement their bush surroundings, but the mood is luxe safari inside as fluffy bedding dial up the indulgence. Plus, there’s in-room dining if you’re good with antipasto platters, grazing boards and jam-packed hampers featuring ingredients plucked from the team’s kitchen garden.

There’s also the Rainforest Restaurant & Lounge Bar offering locally sourced meals, plus a range of activities at the adjacent Thunderbird Park (a kids’ ultimate playground) including ziplining, treetop challenges, crystal panning, mini golf, laser tag and more. If you’ve got a budding demolition expert in your family, don’t miss Dig IT, too, a mini excavator park that your little one will rave about for months, even years (speaking from experience) beyond exiting the grounds. Glamping starts from $349 per night.

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2. Reset Tallebudgera Valley

a luxe glamping tent at Reset Tallebudgera Valley, Gold Coast
Each glamping tent is complete with every creature comfort you need. (Image: Reset Tallebudgera Valley)

Where: Tallebudgera Valley

Like a spacecraft sent from another planet, Reset Tallebudgera Valley is a semi-transparent dome situated amid lush bushland right next to a freshwater creek. Even crazier, the interior is Instagram-perfect, styled with creams and timbers and dotted with green plants while a kitchenette, pristine bathroom, plush double bed, bathrobes, air-con, a dining area, coffee machine and curtains that close the transparent section of the dome, offer every creature comfort you could possibly expect from glamping.

There’s also an outdoor bathtub, fire pit and barbecue facilities to help you soak up the beauty that envelopes you, while an additional lounge setting, set right against the creek itself, provides prime real estate for indulging in scenic nothingness.

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3. Binna Burra Lodge

an aerial view of Binna Burra Lodge, Lamington National Park
Binna Burra Lodge is perched 800 metres above sea level. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where: Binna Burra, Lamington National Park

Soaring high over mountain at 800 metres above sea level, Binna Burra Lodge is treated to some of the region’s dreamiest views. Its location, however, fell right in the path of destruction caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, so in June 2025, the hot spot was closed for repairs and renovations with a reopening date yet to be confirmed. When this Gold Coast glamping hot spot does get back on its feet, guests can definitely expect ultra-serene stays about an hour’s drive from Burleigh Heads.

Most of the original iterations featured private verandas, double beds, USB charging ports, dining tables and internal lighting — so they were very basic, to be fair — while the largest offered a private fire pit. Bathrooms and kitchen facilities were shared (watch this space on whether this key booking factor changes), plus you had to either bring your own linen or hire out a set. The price tag was the real MVP, offering overnights from under $100 per day.

When it’s time to eat, the on-site Binna Burra Tea House offers generous breakfast, lunch and dinner, and various barbecue packs filled with meat, veg and condiments should sort out every meal in between.

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4. Nightfall

a glamping tent in the middle of a forest at Nightfall, Lamington National Park
Hit reset in an exclusive eco-tent. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where: Lamington National Park

Switch off and unwind at arguably the most exclusive glamping on the Gold Coast, Nightfall, located 90 minutes inland on the fringes of Lamington National Park. This is luxury immersed in astounding natural scenery, with just five tents situated within the entire property (it equates to no more than eight people staying on-site at once).

Ideal for couples, the 62-square-metre structures are fitted with timber flooring, vintage bathtubs, private fireplaces, kitchenettes stacked with snacks, rain-head showers, flushing toilets, and an abundance of plush boho-inspired bedding to keep you extra toasty in the cooler months.

The spoils just keep coming as all meals and beverages are catered for. Once the sun begins to sink, pre-dinner drinks are presented as cooks prepare organic meals utilising locally foraged ingredients and fresh produce from Brisbane, in a wood-fired oven housed within the camp kitchen. Best of all, dishes are completely customed to each guest’s particular tastes. Additionally, creek-side spa treatments can be arranged, as can private yoga sessions in the comfort of your tent. Phenomenal. Rates start from $985 per night.

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5. BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park

Where: Helensvale (near the Gold Coast theme parks)

Holidaying with the kids but keen to step up the fancy? BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park is the answer to family prayers, offering glamping on the Gold Coast accompanied by all the typical holiday park amenities children delight in. Located right near some of the Gold Coast’s best theme parks, the tents sleep up to six guests and feature kitchenettes, air-con, living and dining areas, private bathrooms and best of all, private decks with bathtubs overlooking a river.

When you step outside, extend your adventure at the insanely huge water park, swimming pool with daybeds, remote-control car track, frisbee golf, jumping pillow, licensed poolside cafe and more. Prices start from roughly $420 per night.

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6. Paradise Country Farmstay

a family arriving at Paradise Country Farmstay, Gold Coast
Paradise Country Farmstay offers a premium glamping experience for families. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Where: Oxenford

Make it a family holiday for the ages with a stay at Paradise Country Farmstay, offering eco tents from the team at Paradise Country, the coast’s epic Aussie farm experience. Glamping on the Gold Coast is rarely this kid-indulgent as full access to Paradise Country and its wildlife park is on offer, plus exclusive experiences like egg collecting, cow feeding and milking, campfire complete with marshmallow-topped twigs and unique animal encounters. The tents themselves, which also cater to couples, are beautifully appointed via polished timber furniture, deluxe bedding, private balconies and a refrigerator.

There’s also the Farmhouse Restaurant, a charming eatery housed within a converted shed, dishing up breakfast, pub favourites for lunch and a buffet dinner. The Burrow Café is also on hand for coffee and snacks. Glamping starts from $235 per night for couples and the price climbs for varied family options.

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7. NRMA Parks & Resorts’ Treasure Island Holiday Resort

Where: Biggera Waters

Another top-notch option for families hunting down kid-friendly activities is NRMA Parks & Resorts’ Treasure Island Holiday Resort, offering fun-filled glamping on the Gold Coast. Once again benefiting from holiday park facilities, including a massive splash zone, the park houses three playgrounds, four swimming pools with one featuring a waterslide, a giant bouncing pillow, daily kids’ club, go-kart and e-bike hire, a games arcade, mini golf and the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, which rivals the theme parks for thrills.

The tents themselves, which sleep up to four people, are great, offering large front verandas with dining tables and a barbecue, private bathrooms, kitchenette, lounge area and TV, and it’s extremely tidy and clean. Galleons Bistro, selling pizzas, burgers, and other hearty mains, is located right near the splash zone, so lunch and dinner are a cinch. Rates start from $166 per night.

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8. Ketchup’s Bank Glamping

the al fresco kitchen at Ketchup’s Bank Glamping, Gold Coast
Knapps Luxury eco-tents offer cosy lodgings with private al fresco kitchens. (Image: Supplied)

Where: Cannon Creek

Tucked high in the hills of the stunning Gold Coast hinterland, Ketchup’s Bank Glamping is a secluded oasis, 90 minutes from the Gold Coast, offering two glorious glamping tents. You’ll feel lightyears away from civilisation as views across the region’s lush rolling hills take your breath away and the sound of birds chirping and spectacular wildlife provide a soulful soundtrack.

Both the Ironbark Luxury and Knapps Luxury eco-tents offer comfortable, stylish lodgings with private al fresco kitchens stocked with utensils, plus private campfires, ensuites, internal bar fridges, dishwashers, Wi-Fi, and TVs. Various food hampers and charcuterie boards filled with seasonal produce can be purchased, providing romantics with the perfect accompaniments to sensational sunset gazing. Rates start from $319 per night.

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9. Southern Sky Glamping

Where: Mount Tamborine

Set in the lush tranquillity of Mount Tamborine, Southern Sky Glamping features luxury tents (including ones large enough to accommodate families up to five), each with its own flat-screen TV, dining table and private bathroom – not to mention a fully equipped kitchen so you can cook up your own meals.

You’ll have your own private seating area, but a large, heated pool (open outside of winter) and outdoor fire pit will likely draw you out of your cosy stay. Or, head a little further afield and discover the many hiking trails around this glamping experience on the Gold Coast.

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Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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7 wellness experiences on Hamilton Island for complete rejuvenation

(Credit: Riley Williams)

Conjuring calm and active adventure in equal measure, Hamilton Island is a tropical tonic for body and mind.

Hamilton Island knows a thing or two about indulgence. There are long lunches to linger over, seafood towers to savour and poolside loungers designed for guilt-free idling. But for health-minded travellers wanting to feel energised inside and out, this sliver of the Whitsundays takes wellbeing just as seriously. Think yoga mats rolling out at dawn, kayaks skimming turquoise water, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and spa therapists working tropical magic. These Hamilton Island wellness experiences promise to restore, rebalance and leave you feeling brand new.

1. E-Mountain biking

mountain bikers on Hamilton Island wellness
Follow Hamilton Island’s mountian biking trails. (Credit: Harry Gruttner)

For travellers with an appetite for adrenaline, Hamilton Island’s new self-guided e-mountain biking experience is worth carving out a morning for. Start at HI Trails HQ, where you’ll be fitted with a full-suspension, pedal-assisted e-mountain bike and given a run-through of a nine-kilometre section of the island’s 25-kilometre trail network. The electric boost makes the ride more accessible (and the climbs more manageable), though an intermediate level of fitness is still recommended.

As a first-time mountain biker, I start off wobbly – taking my time to get used to switching gears and electric modes – and wonder if I’ve overestimated my coordination. But soon something clicks. Suddenly we’re zooming through pockets of eucalyptus and out onto ridgelines with sweeping views of electric blue waters, catching our breath at hidden bays with barely another soul in sight. More than 70 per cent of the island remains untouched, so witnessing these lesser-explored pockets feels like a blessing. It’s the kind of adventure that leaves you buzzing, accomplished and blissfully tired out.

2. HI Fitness Club

HI Fitness Club reformer pilates
Stretch out with reformer pilates.

If mountain biking isn’t quite your speed, there are plenty of other ways to stay active on the island. One of the newest Hamilton Island wellness experiences, HI Fitness Club now has 24-hour access, offering a fully equipped modern gym, group classes spanning HIIT to yoga, plus two bubbling spas and a sauna waiting to loosen sore muscles.

I drop in for a Reformer Pilates class. Each of the four machines has its own mini screen with a wide selection of high-quality virtual classes, meaning I can select one that suits my level and mood that day. Beyond Pilates, the virtual library is like a choose-your-own adventure for fitness enthusiasts: dance, Body Pump, Body Combat and GRIT Cardio are among the options. Or perhaps challenge a family member or friend to a hit of tennis at one of the three courts.

3. Walking trails

runners on hamilton island
Get the blood pumping on a morning run.

We set out early. By 6:45am, we’re halfway up Passage Peak, the highest point on Hamilton Island and widely considered its most impressive vantage point. From the Scenic Trail Entrance, the viewing platform takes around an hour to reach by foot, with moderate inclines that will get your heart pumping without feeling too punishing. The payoff at the top is immediate. Bush-clad Whitsundays islands scatter across the horizon in every direction, the sunrise brushing the scene with soft melon and gold tones. I take my time soaking up the 360° panorama, remembering how powerful an active start in nature can be for clearing the mind and energising the day ahead.

While Passage Peak is one of the most popular hikes on Hamilton Island, Flat Top Hill Lookout and the longer Southeast Head Trail are also excellent choices.

4. Spa wumurdaylin

Spa Wumurdaylin on hamilton island wellness experiences
Feel your worries melt away at Spa wumurdaylin.

In a tranquil treatment room at Spa wumurdaylin, the world disappears. The space is all brown stone tiles, bamboo racks and lush garden views, setting the tone for my Soul Temple treatment. My therapist, Kass, begins with a full-body, exfoliating orange buff sugar scrub that feels divine. Next comes the vertical Vichy shower and underwater massage to knead out muscle knots. The sound of cascading water is reminiscent of a tropical rainstorm, and stress becomes a distant memory.

It’s a prime example of the transportive power of the island’s spa, where guests can come to reset the mind and loosen tension in the body. The menu spans radiance facials to deep release rituals and mud wraps, all using products from pH-balanced skincare brand LaGaia Unedited. Concluding with herbal tea, I leave in a blissful daze.

5. Sunrise yoga

sunrise yoga session at the sundays on hamilton island wellness experiences
Start your day on the right foot.

Morning movement doesn’t get more surreal than sunrise yoga on The Sundays’ seaside terrace. As we roll out our mats, morning light spills across Catseye Beach below, turning the water into a sheet of molten gold. But the setting only does half the healing. I match my breath to the rhythm of the waves and feel my body gradually lengthen and wake as instructor Tyla Rae guides us through a slow, mindful flow.

Available exclusively to guests of The Sundays, this session captures the spirit of wellness on Hamilton Island – immersion in nature, slowing down by the sea, recalibrating both body and mind. To round out the experience, the perfect ocean cool-off awaits just steps away.

6. Getting out on the water

people on sup boards at the sundays hamilton island
Try your hand at a host of watersports.

Speaking of ocean delights, Catseye Beach’s host of watersports delivers spades of fun and rejuvenation. Glide over the crystalline water in a kayak, test your sailing skills in a mini catamaran, spot schools of fish (and a turtle if you’re lucky) from a stand-up paddleboard, or slip into an underwater wonderland when you snorkel off the beach.

Out here, the water is so clear it feels like floating in glass, and the green silhouettes of the Whitsunday Islands rise on the horizon. Half an hour on the water here is all you need to reset your entire mood.

Guests staying at qualia, Beach Club, The Sundays, Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and Hamilton Island Holiday Homes have complimentary access to all these water activities, making it easy to dive right in.

7. Take a swing

Dent Island Golf course
Enjoy incredible views with a swing of golf.

For others, mindfulness comes from calm concentration – and golf fits the bill to a tee. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, Hamilton Island Golf Club is perched along the scenic ridges of Dent Island. It’s Australia’s only golf course on its own island, making it one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. The experience is suitable for golfers of all skill levels, with spectator bookings also available for those simply wishing to take in the views. Follow the game with a well-earned lunch at the Clubhouse restaurant.

Find out more ways to unwind in the Whitsundays at hamiltonisland.com.au.