Safari Lodge at Monarto Safari Resort is Australia’s answer to an overnight African safari experience without the long-haul flight.
It starts with a purposeful trot across the paddock towards the waterhole, but ends in a bite. One zebra has annoyed another. A chase ensues until the wronged zebra gets close enough to bite the other. Satisfied that the point has been made, all is calm again. Monarto Safari Park is set across 1500 hectares of South Australian bushlands and is the largest open-range zoo in the southern hemisphere, but I’m watching this unfold from the deck of my premium tent at Monarto’s Safari Lodge. Hot on the heels of 2025’s 78-room Monarto Safari Resort unveiling, the newly opened lodge is Australia’s answer to an overnight African safari experience.
First impressions
African wildlife takes centre stage at this luxury stay.
My stay starts at Monarto Safari Resort’s Marula Day Spa. A couple’s massage with my husband, a sauna session in the Marula Soak House, followed by a two-course lunch with views of giraffes will set you back $495 per couple, but as far as first impressions go, it doesn’t get much better.
A van transfer takes us on the short drive from the resort to the Safari Lodge reception (also the location of the restaurant, bar and entertainment hub for guests). We’re greeted warmly and given a short tour before one of the hosts takes us via buggy to our safari tent to get settled.
The safari tent
There are 20 premium safari tents curved around the plains of Wild Africa. (Credit: Monarto Safari Resort)
Watch the animals from your tent. (Credit: Monarto Safari Resort)
Number 17 is one of the best-positioned tents for animal encounters. (Credit: Monarto Safari Resort)
There are 20 premium safari tents curved around the plains of Wild Africa – home to free-roaming herds of African animals, including zebra, giraffes, and the endangered scimitar-horned oryx. We’re in number 17, one of the best-positioned tents for animal encounters, due to its proximity to the waterhole.
Inside, the King Safari Tent is a spacious 71 square metres with a king bed, lounge area, separate dressing room with kitchenette, coffee machine, kettle and a fully stocked all-inclusive mini bar (which is replenished daily), and an ensuite bathroom with rain shower. Reverse-cycle air-conditioning keeps us toasty warm during our stay, and the king bed is so comfy I struggle to leave it in the morning.
Yet the real focal point is the waterhole. You can even glimpse it from the shower, just in case any animals decide to congregate while you’re momentarily detained. But there are also small-yet-thoughtful details designed to encourage connection. From the sketching pad with pencils and board games I find in the cupboard to a pair of binoculars in place of a television. And while there is wi-fi available, time here is designed to be spent noticing, not distracted.
The safari experience
Hop into the purpose-built Safari LandCruiser. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
This really is as close to the wilds of Africa as you can get in Australia. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
We board the purpose-built Safari LandCruiser late Saturday afternoon. There are eight of us on board; one of the benefits of staying in the lodge over the resort is that guests are treated to a more exclusive experience. Monarto Safari Park’s open terrain is designed to support complex social groupings, natural behaviours and long-term species management. Facts we learn more about from Louis Tonkin, our Wild Africa Tour host, on the 2.5-hour sunset safari.
“There’s 1500 hectares, and we are going to use every inch of it for conservation," he says from the driver’s seat of the open-sided truck as we wait for the gates to open into the cheetah’s paddock. “Our goal is to make the whole world care about animals," adds Louis. “If we can do that, we’ll be one step closer to saving them."
Now inside, two cheetahs can be seen slinking slowly towards us. Louis tells us they’re twin sisters and, due to their non-confrontational nature, the only carnivore enclosure we’ll enter on the tour. But soon after, as I’m watching one of two female white rhinos charge at a male for attempting to mount her, I’m not thinking about the animals I don’t get to see. This really is as close to the wilds of Africa as you can get in Australia.
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AI Prompt
How does Monarto compare to an African safari?
Watch the giraffes free roam. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Zebras meeting at the waterhole. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
The sunset safari drive is a highlight. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Having previously spent a week on safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, I can confidently say that Monarto’s Safari Lodge is as close to the real thing as you can get. From the sunset safari drive, where I witnessed hippopotamus, giraffes, rhinoceros, cheetahs and more, to falling asleep listening to the sounds of the wild and waking to animals gathering at the waterhole – a stay here really does feel like you’ve been transported to Africa.
Food and drink
Spend some time by the bar. (Credit: Monarto Safari Resort)
It’s 6pm and canapé hour has begun. Inside the main lodge, drinks are poured for guests perched on stools at the bar’s edge as waiters serve a delicious assortment of canapés. I order the 2024 Heirloom pinot noir from Adelaide Hills and sink into the fireside couch.
From communal feasting to an intimate degustation, dining here is different every night. Tonight, the tables are set in two long rows. A variety of salads are already plated for sharing, and moments after we’re seated, dishes start to flow from the kitchen in fast succession – think pork belly drunk on broth, slow-cooked duck and barramundi poached to perfection and accompanied by roast potatoes. Dessert is a generous heaping of tiramisu.
Days begin with a barista-made coffee and hot breakfast made to order alongside a basket of fresh pastries, fruit and an immunity-booster shot. Lunch is a generous charcuterie board that we enjoy with champagne beside the private plunge pool. Should you feel peckish later, there are chips, cookies, and hot and cold beverages replenished daily in your mini bar.
The pool and common areas
Unwind in the heated swimming pool. (Credit: Monarto Safari Resort)
Reserve a private plunge pool. (Credit: Monarto Safari Resort)
The lodge features a heated swimming pool as well as several private plunge pools available to reserve. Lunch and drinks can be served poolside. There is also a gym and a tennis court.
Is Monarto’s Safari Lodge good for families?
Children under 15 aren’t permitted in the Safari Lodges. (Credit: Monarto Safari Resort)
Safari Lodge at Monarto Safari Resort caters to teenagers aged 15 and above. They’ll get a real thrill out of the sunset safari through Wild Africa, especially if you have a budding photographer on your hands. Even hard-to-please types won’t be able to deny that seeing a cheetah roaming freely or spotting giraffes and zebra from the deck of a morning is beyond cool. Children under 15 are not permitted to stay at the lodge. But Monarto Safari Resort is just down the road and caters to families with children of all ages.
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Is Monarto’s Safari Lodge worth the money?
The King Safari Tent is a spacious 71 square metres. (Credit: Monarto Safari Resort)
Yes, the all-inclusive Safari Lodge at Monarto Safari Resort is great value when you weigh up the experience and inclusions. From $1910 per night for two adults, guests choose between luxury King or Twin Safari Tents, with an accessible tent also available. Stays include breakfast, lunch, a multi-course dinner, afternoon canapés, beverages, a mini bar, a sunset safari through Wild Africa and a multi-day pass to Monarto Safari Park.
The details
Monarto Safari Park’s Lions 360 is the only 360-degree lion experience in Australia. (Credit: Katie Carlin)
Getting there: Safari Lodge at Monarto Safari Resort is an hour east of Adelaide/Tarntanya.
Inclusions:
Safari Tent accommodation
Wild Africa Sunset Safari Experience in a custom-built, open-sided 4WD LandCruiser
Daily general admission pass to Monarto Safari Park
All-inclusive dining: breakfast, lunch, afternoon canapés, and a bespoke three-course dinner
All-day access to lodge beverages: coffee, tea, soft drinks, a selection of spirits, cocktails, wine and beer
Price: From $1910 per night for two adults per tent.
Check-in time: 3pm; check-out is 11am.
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Katie Carlin is Australian Traveller's Head of Content and when she’s not travelling or behind her computer, she’s hosting a dinner party (likely cooking an Alison Roman recipe), at brunch, working on extending her running k’s, or has her nose buried in a book.
She joined Australian Traveller in 2018 and is responsible for leading the editorial team across print, digital, social, email and native content. Her job is to make sure we create content that connects readers to incredible experiences in Australia and beyond. In addition to sharing her expertise on travel through industry speaking engagements, Katie appears onToday, A Current Affair and various radio segments.
With a BA in Communications majoring in Journalism and a career that has spanned roles at Fairfax Media and Are Media writing for titles such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and various lifestyle brands, she brings a wealth of experience to her role. Her most impactful trip to date has been swimming with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef. For her next trip she is longing to experience the romance of train travel – hopefully on The Ghan or Indian Pacific.
From the moment you arrive in Moreton Bay, stunning natural vistas, fresh and tasty dining, history and more invite you to stay and play.
Untouched national park, mirror-like lagoons and endless stretches of beaches all make Moreton Bay experiences feel like you’ve stumbled across a secret Queenslanders collectively vowed not to tell. Yet it’s easily accessible. Explore further and discover hinterland farms, ancient rainforest, fresh seafood and more: there’s something on offer for every pace, interest and generation.
Just 20 minutes from Brisbane Airport, it’s hard to believe how underrated this Queensland getaway is. Here’s your ultimate guide to rediscover play with unmissable experiences in Moreton Bay.
1. G’Day Adventure Tours, Bribie Island
Explore Bribie Island with G’Day Adventure Tours.
G’Day Adventure Tours’ Sea to Table Experience should be your first agenda item in Moreton Bay. Take a 4WD journey through the sandy tracks of Bribie Island’s beaches to the still, glassy waters of the island’s lagoons. Glide over perfect replicas of paperbarks and fluffy blue clouds mirrored in the lagoon waters in your kayak. Listen as native birdsong echoes around you.
Then, it’s on to Fort Bribie. During the Second World War, these concrete bunkers – now slowly being enveloped by the dunes – were the last line of defence for Moreton Bay.
End the day with a sun-dappled beach picnic of locally caught Queensland prawns and famous Moreton Bay bugs. As you head home, watch the dolphins playfully dart in and out of the surf.
2. Morgan’s Seafood at Scarborough
It doesn’t get fresher than Morgan’s Seafood. (Image: Ezra Patchett)
Right on the Scarborough Boat Harbour, you’ll find Morgan’s Seafood. Between the luxury yachts, you’ll also spot trawlers and fishermen delivering their day’s catch right to Morgan’s. The family-owned and operated spot is one of the best places to try the region’s eponymous Moreton Bay bug. Or, sample more of the area’s direct-from-the-boat seafood fresh at their oyster and sushi bar. If you’re lucky, your visit might coincide with a day they’ve caught tuna.
Picture fish caught that day, prepared and then served to you as fresh sashimi as the sun sets over the unique silhouette of the Glasshouse Mountains.
3. Woorim Beach, Bribie Island
Hang 10, or relax, on Woorim Beach.
On Bribie’s eastern coastline, you’ll find Woorim Beach: aka the closest surf beach to Brisbane. Find a place on the sand by the patrolled area or wander further south to find a quiet spot and while the day away between the shaded dunes, the pages of your book and the peaceful sound of rolling waves.
Ask any local where to grab lunch, and they’ll direct you to Bribie Island Surf Club Bistro. Tuck into a fresh, local seafood platter, just metres from the beach.
4. D’Aguilar National Park
Admire the landscapes of D’Aguilar National Park.
D’Aguilar National Park is a 40,000-hectare slice of greenery that stretches from urban Brisbane right up to Woodford (home of the Woodford Folk Festival). The vast expanse of park is home to ancient rainforests, eucalypt forests and shaded swimming spots hidden within gorges and under waterfalls. The area is significant for the Jinibara and Turrbal people, with ceremonial bora rings and dreaming trails all found within the park.
Carve out some time in your itinerary to explore the park’s many trails. The Maiala day-use area is the perfect starting point for walks for all levels of ability.
5. Arcade Wine Bar
Sit down to a menu inspired by Italy.
Opposite the Redcliffe Jetty and down a laneway, you’ll find an unassuming wine bar. Venture inside and quickly fall in love with Arcade Wine Bar, one of the region’s most beloved local haunts.
Owners Danilo and Matt have a combined 50 years of sommelier experience, which they have poured into the menu, styling and wine list. More than just a hole-in-the-wall wine bar, Arcade Wine is an enoteca (a wine repository), whose walls are lined with bottles upon bottles of Italian wine varietals from every corner of Italy.
Settle in with a wine and work your way through the menu inspired by Danilo’s native Italy: traditional meatballs, their quick-to-sell-out terrine, or a selection of Italian cheeses, charcuterie and arancini.
6. Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail
Away from the ocean, tucked in the hinterland, is the Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail. Perfect for cyclists or walkers, the trail was built to showcase the history of the Caboolture to Kilcoy rail corridor (last operating in 1964) and makes for the perfect family day out. The trail runs for 10.5km and connects Wamuran and Caboolture via an accessible path.
Pass through former railroad, bridges and shaded bushland as you cut from A to B. Plus, visit in winter for a detour along the way to one of the many pick-your-own strawberry farms.
7. Farm Visits
Beaches, mountains and history make an enticing combination. But Moreton Bay also brings hinterland, family-friendly farms to the table. Trevena Glen is one of the area’s most loved, with bunnies, ponies, sheep, alpacas (and more) available to visit for the kids. For the adults, book a horse-riding session and be treated to a grazing platter as you watch the sun set over the mountains of D’Aguilar National Park.
At White Ridge Farm, find camels, putt-putt, train and tractor rides and all kinds of animals. The entire farm is paved, making it accessible for all.
8. Miss Sprinkles
Pick your scoop at Miss Sprinkles Gelato.
An ice cream at the beach is one of life’s most perfect pleasures. While in town, stop by Miss Sprinkles for the locals’ pick of homemade gelato on the Scarborough foreshore.
The gelato here is made the authentic Italian way and scooped up just across from the beach. Or, settle in at their kitschy pink wooden tables for traditional gelato in the sunshine. Aside from the homemade gelato, you’ll also find tarts, pies and even doggie gelato.
