Affordable luxury

Planning a holiday can sometimes feel like being both the kid and the parent in the toy shop. There is so much on offer that promises an exciting and luxurious experience, but the holiday fund will only stretch so far. But before you turn around and decide not to treat yourself, it is important to remember that there are many ways to achieve a luxurious getaway – and perhaps browsing a little longer will uncover an unexpected gem that won’t cost you an arm or a leg.

Australia has a list of luxurious destinations as long as its coastline that are well worth a visit, but to help you out, we have collated a list of unique options from across the country that each offer a unique take on luxury.

Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool Walk

Veering away from the ever popular and frequently expensive coastline, you can save a pretty penny and enjoy NSW’s beautiful alpine region as well as the natural wonders of this spring-fed pool in the Yarrangobilly region of the Kosciuszko National Park. Nestled in the valley and surrounded by eucalypts, this natural thermal pool encourages you to take a step into tranquil luxury. The waters are fed by a subterranean natural spring and are slightly mineralised and at a constant 27 degrees year-round, there is never a bad time to visit.

Access is via a short yet steep track from the carpark into the Rules Creek Valley; returning to the carpark is uphill, so there is the option to detour via the Yarrangobilly Caves – River walk and South Glory Cave or the Yarrangobilly Caves – Flory Farm walk.

The thermal pools are open 9am to 5pm daily (closed Christmas Day). Park entry fees apply ($4 per vehicle per day to access the Yarrangobilly Caves alone) and can be purchased online or from the Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre, where tours can also be organised.

There are two local campgrounds that will get you within a 20-minute drive to the Yarrangobilly Caves Thermal Pool Walk: Bullocks Hill Campground and Yarrangobilly Village Campground. Toilets, barbecue facilities and carparks are available at each campsite, but no showers or power. But enjoy the beautiful natural landscape, with alpine creeks and the potential for brumbies to wander in to say hello. While equally beautiful, Bollocks Hill Campground wins out on tranquillity, due to Yarrangobilly’s proximity to a somewhat busy road. Bullocks Hill is closed from June long weekend to October long weekend. Bookings are required ($6 fee may apply) and can be made online or by calling the National parks Contact Centre on 1300 072 757.

VIC

Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park

A balance of nature and modern luxury can be found at this holiday park, with all the perks of a bush camp experience but also the added bonus of new and exciting facilities. Spacious grassy powered and unpowered sites are available, as well as cabins. If for you, luxury means easy access to amenities, then stick to the front end of the park, or if you’re looking for your own piece of quiet serenity then set up camp at the back of the park to immerse yourself in a bush camping experience – with only a short walk to those very amenities that make this park a bucket-list attraction.

While a back-to-nature getaway might be the luxury you’ve been looking for, there are many unique touches at Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park that will ensure you have a relaxing, carefree holiday. Personal campfires are allowed, and for a small fee the park will deliver a fire drum and wood right to your site while you sit back and relax. And for the cherry on top, let your worries float away in a wood fire heated outdoor pool that is run year-round, with temperatures adjusted according to the season. Ice, coffee, take-away wine and beer, and gas refills can all be found at the front desk.

Enjoy the proximity to Lake Bellfield, which in the warmer months is a dream location for recreational water activities, or for something a little calmer, enjoy a relaxing walk along the flat surface of the dam wall, which runs for 800m and offers spectacular views. Or venture out into the Grampians wine region for a dash of decadence.

The park also features a playground, ice cream cart, gift shop, laundry, and modern camp lounge.
 And enjoy a premium bathroom experience without the extra price tag. The park has six unisex private bathrooms, each equipped with a toilet, shower and basin – ensuring you don’t need to share the moment you lock the door. Just don’t forget to take your toiletries when you leave.

Staying at this park will only set you behind $36 per night for an unpowered site, or $45 for a powered. Or take the luxury a step further and enjoy a glamping experience for only $89 a night. Senior Card holders and Top Park Members receive a 10% discount (up to $40) per stay, minimum two nights.

TAS

Left of Field Camping Gardens

As the name would attest, this isn’t your usual caravan park or campground. Left of Field Camping Gardens offers a quirky kind of comfort that will make sure your next holiday won’t soon be forgotten. Nestled in the Mount Field National Park, this campground is run by owners Adrian and Mel, who have created an endlessly unique location with great hospitality. Enjoy camping surrounded by gardens, complete with bathrooms, outdoor wood fired baths where you can soak under the stars, camp kitchen, fire pits, and perhaps even some chickens wandering around to say hello.

The campground is in prime location to explore Mount Field National Park and Maydena Bike Park, and is host to ‘Playing the Field’, a musical festival featuring a collaboration of Tasmania’s finest musicians running from 23-27 February 2023. Only 200 tickets will be sold and are available for purchase online. A powered site at Left of Field Camping Gardens only costs $25 per night for one adult, or $40 per night for two adults; additional adults are $15 each, or $8 for children. Upon arrival, you will be given the choice of sites where possible. There is a minimum stay of two nights required or stay for three to seven to receive a discount.

 SA

BIG4 The Bend Holiday Park

Located next to the new world-class motorsport park at Tailem Bend on the Murray River, this caravan park is unique to say the least and offers a different take on ‘luxury’. A dream holiday destination for any motor enthusiast or family who wants plenty of activities to keep the kids (big and small) busy.

Enjoy the best of both worlds at this park, with the beautiful, laid-back atmosphere of the Murray River only a short walk away, and Adelaide an hour’s drive. Inside the park itself, let your worries go and appreciate the park’s brand-new facilities, including a solar heated outdoor pool, commercial grade kitchen, and modern amenities. The park is also pet friendly, so feel free to bring your four-legged companions to enjoy the fun. The Bend Holiday Park has a wide variety of accommodation available for you to select your level of lux. For caravans and camping sites there are options for unpowered, powered, drive through (regular or large) or ensuite.  An unpowered site will only cost you approximately $28 per night for two adults, with prices rising depending on the kind of site.

A long list of recreation activities ensures this destination ticks the luxury box for all the young at heart, with mini golf, basketball, bike riding and adventure playground available. Or to kick things into gear, challenge yourself on the Go-Karts, the 4WD Adventure Park, or head over to the neighbouring The Bend Motorsport Park to get on the world-class racing track itself or enjoy a premium dining experience at the APEX restaurant and Bar. The free car museum is also well worth a visit to appreciate the unique character of this holiday destination.

If a slower pace is the kind of luxury you’re looking for, simply head out into the surrounding region. Take a paddleboat cruise along the Murray River, or lose yourself in one of South Australia’s fantastic wineries, before heading back to the high-end action – for what is luxury except finding something that makes us happy?

WA

Barn Hill Beachside Station Stay, south of Broome

Western Australia provides a veritable smorgasbord of luxurious holiday destinations, and if you’re in the area or heading that way there are plenty that won’t break the bank once you add up the travel expenses, accommodation and activities. Heading to the coast is frequently one of the simplest ways to infuse some luxury locale into your getaway, but we have found a unique beachside location that offers some additional creature comforts you didn’t know you needed.

Barn Hill Beachside Station Stay has been family run since 1986 and is located on an old cattle station property, right on the coast. It offers a perfect balance of unique rustic charm and beachside bliss. And at only an hour drive south of Broome, you remain in a peak location for exploring what else this region of WA has to offer. The station has 200 sites available, with a mix of powered and unpowered sites, as well as camping shelters, caravan storage and huts available. The standard ablution blocks are complete with fresh water and hot showers – but with roofless showers on offer, who would turn down a luxurious showering experience under the stars? Potable water and rubbish disposal is available on site, making things as simple as can be.
 
 An unpowered site is only $35 per night for one or two adults, or $45 for an unpowered ocean view site or powered site. Barn Hill generates all its own electricity, so all powered sites are restricted to 6A). Additional adults range from $17.50-22.50, depending on your site, while extra children are $8 each. Pets are welcome, just keep them on a lead and clean up after them. The station stay does get very busy in the peak months of June and July, so it is advisable to book early.

Barn Hill is also the proud host of its very own pizzeria, Biancaville Pizza, which delights visitors with authentic Italian flavours as well as some Aussie favourites, all cooked by pizza chef Benedetto Sardina. Sit back and relax with a slice as you enjoy live music every Saturday night and a beautiful WA sunset. Or head over to the small store and cafe for a coffee, fresh bread or other freshly made treats. Visitors can also enjoy the lawn bowls green – complete with weekly competitions and prizes – as well as a range of weekly social events, from buskers to communal barbecues to a Sunday morning local craft market. The kids will be endlessly entertained, with a playground, pet goats, rockpools and a family-friendly beach perfect for swimming and boogie boarding. And with cave exploring, cliff and bushwalking tracks to explore, you won’t have to work hard to have a picture-perfect holiday.

NT

Darwin Free Spirit Resort

While the rest of Australia is out and about enjoying (or enduring) the summer heat, the Northern Territory is going through its unpredictable Wet Season, that runs between November and April. While some of those bucket-list attractions might be closed due to the rain, it has to be said that the thunderstorms are bound to put on a spectacular display – and what better way to appreciate it than from Darwin.

If you’re looking for a NT location that has it all – locale, amenities, options for where to set up camp – all while remaining affordable, then the Darwin Free Spirit Resort is perfect. Only a 15-minute drive from Darwin’s CBD you’ll be ideally placed to explore the city and watch those infamous summer thunderstorms roll over the bay, or head out and explore the territory’s spectacular national parks. Litchfield National Park is only a 90-minute drive away, or two and a half hours to Kakadu. Or for something within the city, Deckchair Cinema offers a unique outdoor cinema experience, while Crocosaurus Cove can get you up close and personal with Australia’s iconic crocodiles.

Set up camp within the landscaped tropical gardens, with a choice of five different powered campgrounds within the park. Each campground has bathroom amenities and a different appeal depending on landscape and location within the resort. There are some suitability restrictions depending on whether you have a tent, caravan, camper trailer or van, or motorhome, and there are options of concrete slab or grass. For two adults prices range from $36 to $53 for a single night, depending on the site chosen – ensuring you’ll have plenty left in the holiday fund to explore everything that Darwin and the NT has to offer. A range of accommodation dwellings are also available.

For those who like to stay within the luxurious resort itself, there are plenty of activities and facilities to ensure you are living in the lap of luxury. Camp kitchens, barbecue areas, laundries, a lagoon style pool and two smaller pools will cover the essentials for a comfortable holiday. But to raise the bar, the Darwin Free Spirit Resort also offers its Elements Poolside Bar and Bistro as well as a kiosk, gaming room, convenient roadhouse, as well as a large bouncing cushion and Kidz Korner activities, ensuring the whole family has a truly splendid stay.

Qld

Talaroo Outback Camping and Caravan Park

Unique, luxurious and affordable – Talaroo Outback Camping and Caravan Park is a triple threat. The one caveat is that it will not reopen until 1 April 2023 – but keep it up your sleeve because it is best appreciated in the cooler months. Located between Mount Surprise and Georgetown, and approximately four and half hour’s south-west of Cairns, this holiday destination takes you into the heart of Queensland to truly appreciate its natural wonders. Featuring 30 landscaped sites surrounded by nature, visitors receive the whole package with a modern camp kitchen, new amenities block, gift shop and small cafe. There is also a central fire pit for a traditional Yarning Circle, inviting guests to connect with Ewamian Rangers. The Ewamian People are the traditional owners of this region. A powered site only costs $40 per night for two adults or $54 for a family (two adults, two kids). Unpowered for $32 or $44 for the family. Additional adults are $15 each, additional kids $8. For those who aren’t coming with their own accommodation, Talaroo also has Eco tents for a touch of glamour without loosing the camping experience. Bookings are essential.

But what truly makes this destination so special and tips it into the ‘luxury holiday’ category are the Talaroo Hot Springs. Unique to Australia, these mounded travertine terraces and hot springs have a unique and rich history and are only one of Australia’s two mound springs and the only ones to not be fed by the Great Artesian Basin. Guests can book in for a Hot Springs Discovery Tour for a 1.5-hour guided walk along the elevated boardwalk to learn more about the history and secrets of Talaroo and its springs, before delivering you to the original soaking pool where you can test out the powers of the geothermal waters yourself; tour costs $46 per adult, children 5-15 $20, family (Two adults, two children) $100, infants FOC. Alternatively, for a touch of decadence, book a 40-minute session in one of Talaroo’s private soaking pools for $30 per session; the private pools are comfortable for two people but will fit up to four.

The title ‘luxurious holiday’ sometimes gets packaged up too tightly, when in reality there are plenty of ways to infuse a deluxe quality into your getaway without stretching your holiday fund too far. Whether it’s the location, the perks or a unique sense of style that sets it apart – there is always something that will bring you a level of happiness that will transform any holiday into true luxury.