This article on family glamping in Australia first appeared in Issue 4 of Family Holiday Destinations digital magazine.
Spotlight on the Best Family Glamping Spots in Australia
Glamping in Australia … does it get any better?
It’s all the good parts of camping such as the outdoors, family & friends, the night sky and roasting marshmallows on a fire …without all the not-so-fun stuff!
Ranging from comfortable to utterly luxurious, STATE-BY-STATE, here are some of the best glamping experiences in Australia for families!
Glamping in New South Wales
Paperbark Camp in Jervis Bay
Credit: Paperbark Camp.
Paperbark Camp was one of the first places offering glamping in Australia! Located just a five-minute drive from the blue-sapphire waters and white sands of Jervis Bay, Paperbark Camp is a hub for both relaxation and adventure. Boasting open campfires, luxury bedding, contemporary furnishing, free-standing bathtubs and hot showers overlooking the bush.
With the safari tents elevated on polished hardwood flooring and an onsite restaurant, Paperbark Camp offers a blend of sophistication and simplicity.
Children over the age of 6 years are able to stay at Paperbark Camp. Kids will love the forest and wildlife and you’ll love getting them outdoors and away from the screen!
The Hideaway on the Tweed Coast
Credit: Kristy Mason Photography.
Located in the perfect spot right next door to the beachside village of Cabarita Beach and Cudgen Nature Reserve, The Hideaway is seaside camping with an upside of luxury.
Cabarita Beach was voted the best beach in Australia for 2020 by Tourism Australia. It’s home to iconic surf breaks, untouched open beaches and Norries Headland, which gives amazing 360° views of the valley and Wollumbin Mount Warning beyond.
The ‘’Bigger is Better’’ Bell Tent is a great choice for families, featuring super comfortable Koala beds with quality linen, lighting, floor rugs, furnishings, bath towels and guest amenities.
Glamping at one of Australia’s best beaches … does it get much better?
Reflections Holiday Parks on the Coffs Coast and Mid Coast
Bonny Hills 
Mylestom Jimmys Beach Red Rock
Reflections Holiday Parks offer luxury beach glamping style tents at numerous locations on the NSW Coffs Coast and NSW Mid Coast. The beach tents come fully equipped with kitchens, comfortable beds with linen, TV’s and private bathrooms.
The hardest part will be choosing the location! Choose from Mylestom and Red Rock on the Coffs Coast and Bonny Hills and Jimmys Beach on the Mid Coast.
Glamping in Queensland
Fraser St Discovery Parks in Hervey Bay
Credit: Fraser Street Discovery Parks.
Hervey Bay has long been a favourite when it comes to family seaside holidays and is well known for its whale watching opportunities, proximity to Fraser Island and family-friendly esplanade and beaches.
Fraser St Discovery Parks have designed these great glamping tents with families in mind. Each tent comes with the comfort of a queen bed, bunks, living room, kitchenette, en-suite and a deck with BBQ facilities. All of this overlooks your own private piece of lake!
The well-known Hervey Bay beach is only a 200-metre stroll away as well as plenty of cafe options. The campgrounds themselves include all the fun things we’ve come to know and love from Discovery Parks, such as a swimming pool, playground equipment, jumping pillows and bicycle rental.
Beach Camp Eco Retreat on Fraser Island
Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland – Darren Jew.
World Heritage Listed K’Gari (Fraser Island) is an outdoor paradise with many iconic sights such as Eli Creek, Lake McKenzie, Lake Wabby, Maheno Wreck, The Cathedrals and more.
Not far from the Eurong township, Beach Camp Eco Retreat offers glamping safari tents with options for families. Guest can self-cater using the communal kitchen and there is even a wood fire to make pizzas!
A 4WD vehicle is required to get around Fraser Island but if you don’t have one of your own, Beach Camp Eco Retreat offers a glamping and 4WD hire package.
How great would it be to tick glamping on World Heritage Listed K’Gari off your bucket list?
Mitchell Grass Retreat in Longreach
Credit: Mitchel Grass Retreat.
Mitchell Grass Retreat offers a glamping experience set against the stunning and expansive backdrop of the Mitchell Grass plains bushland. This low impact accommodation option is the perfect soul-soothing base to explore Longreach and Outback Queensland.
The Mulga Tent is a great choice for families, an oversized, eco-friendly tent featuring more than a dash of luxury. Enjoy a walk through the surrounding bushland, kayak the Thomson River or check out some of Longreach’s attractions such as the Qantas Founders Museum.
Sanctuary by Sirromet at Mt Cotton
Credit: Sirromet Sanctuary.
You wouldn’t usually think of a winery for a family getaway, but Sanctuary by Sirromet offers beautiful luxury family pavilions as a retreat to disconnect and relax. The pavilions surround a billabong on the winery estate and while there are no TV’s, there is plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
Explore the 560-acre property on foot or better yet, bring along the family push bikes and ride one of the many tracks. There is even a 9-hole Supagolf course perfect for all ages featuring larger club-heads and balls!
Children are welcome to join in the Winery Tours at no charge (obviously, they don’t partake in the wine tasting), so Mum and Dad can still enjoy a cheeky wine should they wish. The property is conveniently located at Mt Cotton, 30 mins from Brisbane CBD and Surfer Paradise.
NRMA Woodgate Beach Holiday Tents
Credit: NRMA Woodgate Beach Holiday Park.
Woodgate Beach is one of Queensland’s best kept secrets! Located just 45 minutes south of Bundaberg, Woodgate features a 16km stretch of protected beach offering calm clear waters, untouched sand, expansive views, friendly locals and a blissful lack of crowds.
NRMA Woodgate Beach Holiday Park have set up two new safari tents in this wonderful family-friendly destination. Featuring one queen and two single beds, a kitchenette, airconditioning, dining area, bathroom with outdoor bath, sofa and a veranda with BBQ and outdoor furniture. This is the kind of location that will have you visiting again year after year.
Glamping in Western Australia
Karijini Eco Retreat in Karijini National Park
Credit: Karijini Eco Retreat
Karijini Eco Retreat is an environmentally-friendly retreat and campground, nestled in pristine bushland at Joffre Gorge in the heart of Karijini National Park. Karijini National Park is famous for its spectacular gorges, dramatic creeks and towering sheer-sided chasms up to 100 metres deep.
The retreat offers an ultimate outback camping experience, but with the comforts of ‘glamping’. Families can embrace a greener style of accommodation by staying in the semi-permanent deluxe eco tents that incorporate eco-friendly practices.
Discovery Rottnest Island
Credit: Discovery Rottnest Island.
Glamping in Australia and Quokka selfies … does it get any better? Nested behind the dunes of the iconic Pinky Beach on Rottnest Island is Discovery Rottnest Island, an eco-sustainable resort with a difference.
Featuring 83 eco-tents, families can appreciate being close to nature but with all the creature comforts of a hotel or resort.
Wooramel River Retreat on the Coral Coast
Credit: Gypsy Loving Light
Located on Western Australia’s Coral Coast, join other happy campers along the banks of the Wooramel River at Wooramel River Retreat where you can relax in the naturally heated therapeutic artesian bore baths, check out the birds and wildlife, watch the amazing night sky or just enjoy the space.
Each eco-tent features a queen bed with up to two swag beds for the kids, solar lighting, a front deck with tables and chairs that overlooks the river and your own fire pit on the river bank for cooking.
The bathroom facilities are shared and a cooking utensil camper hamper can be hired if you don’t have your own.
Kooljaman at Cape Leveque on the Dampier Peninsula
Credit: Kooljaman at Cape Leveque.
Kooljaman is a remote wilderness camp owned and run by the Indigenous Bardi Jawi Communities. Situated on native title land, the locals invite you to share this amazing place. Kooljaman’s low-impact accommodation has been specifically designed to capture the rugged character and beauty of Bardi Jawi country and reflects the Aboriginal values of caring for land and country.
The Family Safari Tents feature a queen and two single beds, all linen and towels, gas BBQ with kettle, timber dining setting, balcony with ocean views, private bathroom, fridge/freezer and all cooking equipment.
Swell Lodge on Christmas Island
Credit: Swell Lodge.
Christmas Island is home to Swell Lodge, a state-ofthe-art luxury eco glamping operation situated in the heart of the Christmas Island National Park.
Glamping on the sea cliffs on the far side of Australia’s remote Christmas Island, a stay at Swell Lodge is like nothing else on earth. Fully inclusive, with all meals, drinks, transport and flexible daily guided tours tailored to your interests, Swell Lodge has just two glassfronted eco-chalets.
The chalets are 100% solar-powered and feature luxurious Italian-tiled en-suite bathrooms with jungle views from the shower, king sized bed, stone benchtops, canvas-side walls with huge zip-down meshed windows and much more.
Christmas Island is one of Australia’s most remote island territories at around 1,500km west of mainland Australia in the Indian Ocean and around 2,600km from Perth.
Glamping in Victoria
Wilderness Retreat at Wilsons Prom
Credit: Wilsons Prom Wilderness Retreat.
Operated by Parks Victoria, these purpose-built safari-style canvas tents are located within the beautiful Wilsons Prom National Park in South Gippsland.
Located in a tranquil area within easy walking distance to the beach, the Wilderness Retreats provide a “close to nature” experience of bush camping with all the conveniences of modern cabins.
Each Wilderness Retreat features timber floors, private en-suite and an outdoor deck area with table and chairs. There is a fully equipped communal kitchen and an outdoor BBQ area for your meals. All furniture
has been made and sourced locally in Gippsland by sustainably grown hardwood.
Glamping in Tasmania
Stargazing Safari Tent in Port Arthur
Credit: NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park
Located on the Tasman Peninsula, the Stargazing Safari Tents at NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park offer luxury style glamping accommodation set among the trees with glimpses across Stewarts Bay.
The tents feature one king and two single beds, heating and air-conditioning, kitchenette, full bathroom, lounge area with TV, fireplace with seating, an outdoor bath and an outside deck.
Famous for its breathtaking natural beauty and rich convict history, you’ll never be short of things to see and do on the Tasman Peninsula. Take a visit to the world-heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site, set out on foot along the Coal Mines Historic Site walking trail, visit the Port Arthur Lavender Farm or spend a day sightseeing its natural features such as the Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen.
Glamping in The Northern Territory
Kings Canyon Resort
Credit: Kings Canyon Resort
Kings Canyon Resort offers family glamping tents with close access to Kings Canyon and its magnificent Rim Walk. Each glamping tent features premium linen, modern lounge area, dining space, outdoor deck with seating, split air-conditioning system, private en-suite bathroom, Nespresso machine, fridge, and designer furnishings and amenities.
The Top End Safari Camp Near Darwin
Credit: Tourism Australia & Nicholas Kavo
The Top End Safari Camp offers an all-inclusive package for a memorable outback glamping experience. Just 1.5 hours drive from Darwin, families will have access to plenty of memorable and unique activities to try the best from the Top End such as a crocodile encounter, airboat ride or scenic helicopter flight.
End your day with a gourmet BBQ dinner, star gazing around the fire pit and an unforgettable bespoke outback glamping experience in a deluxe lotus belle tent.
Banubanu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island
Credit: Tourism NT & James Fisher
Off the coast of East Arnhem Land, families heading to Banubanu Beach Retreat on Bremer Island can stay in the Penthouse Bungalow.
Known for its untouched beaches, lush tropical surrounds and abundant sea life, Banubanu offers plenty of fishing and traditional mud crabbing experiences off the pristine coastland.
Longitude 131° in The Red Centre
Credit: Longitude 131.
A pioneer in luxury glamping, Longitude 131° is located adjacent to the World Heritage-listed Ulura – Kata Tjuta National Park.
The camp welcomes children from 6 years of age and each of the 16 luxury ‘‘tents’’ have their own private view of Uluru. Each tent includes king or twin beds, en-suite with rain shower, private balcony with day bed, fireplace and floor to ceiling glass windows.
This is luxury glamping in Australia at its best!
Wildman Wilderness Lodge in Kakadu
Credit: Shaana McNaught & Tourism NT
Set on the edge of World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, the Wildman Wilderness Lodge offers family-friendly safari tents that cater for those that wish to escape the rest of the world and fully immerse
themselves in nature. Spend a day in the nearby and lush Mary River Wetlands and relax at night at the lodge’s infinity pool.
Each safari tent is spacious and comes complete with en-suite bathroom. Natural colours and materials from the region have been utilised and reflect the surrounding environment, giving the experience of a grounded closeness to the wilderness with all the comforts of glamping.
Glamping in South Australia
Yorke Peninsula Oz Pods at Port Vincent
Credit: Yorke Peninsula Council.
While the walls aren’t made of canvas, these Ozpods at the Port Vincent Caravan Park in the Yorke Peninsula are too unique not to include.
Set in a beautiful, sweeping bay that looks out over the protected waters of the Gulf of St Vincent, Port Vincent has long been a holiday playground for families.
The Ozpods can sleep four people and feature reverse cycle air-conditioning.
Ikara Safari Camp at Wilpena Pound Resort in the Flinders Ranges
Credit: Wilpena Pount Ikara Safari Camp.
Wilpena Pound Resort is the only accommodation located within the Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park. Go on a guided walking tour, 4WD into outback gorges or head out on the popular Sunset Tour, which sees guests enjoying canapes while watching the sunset over Wilpena Pound and the Ikara Flinders Ranges. A scenic flight is a great way to appreciate the grandeur of the surrounding area!
The family safari tents sleep up to four people and include private en-suite, bar fridge, air-conditioning and tea/coffee.
