Accommodation

Boutique accommodation

Australia has many boutique hotels. Generally they are small in size with less than 100 rooms offering an intimate environment to relax in. Most have an individual style and are full of character. Some are themed to showcase Australia’s art or history.

Luxury Lodges of Australia

Luxury Lodges of Australia is a collection of independently owned and operated luxury lodges and camps offering memorable high-end experiences in some of Australia’s most inspiring landscapes.

These lodges range from wilderness havens, vineyard retreats, dining destinations, island hideaways, and luxurious outback camps.

Each lodge offers guests outstanding experiences connected to the location, whether that be snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, or getting up close to Australian wildlife in a luxury wilderness camp. Luxury standards are set very high, with attentive service and delicious regional food & wine a common thread linking each of the lodges in the collection.

Eco-lodges

Eco-lodges are designed to have minimal impact on the local environment. For this reason, many of Australia’s eco-lodges are located in the most pristine natural environments in the country.

Walking huts and lodges

Walking journey operators combine quality food and wine with access to exclusive lodging facilities, including wilderness safari campsites, eco-lodges and historic homesteads.

Serviced apartments

Serviced apartments are found throughout Australia, both in the cities as well as regional locations. These typically include facilities where travellers can cook their own meals, an in-room laundry, as well as separate bedrooms from the main living area. These are particularly popular with families, or those that are staying in a location for a longer stay.

Farm stays

Many Australian farms now take paying guests, offering the opportunity to become part of the family and get involved in working life in rural areas.

A truly unique experience, farm stays offer a high standard of accommodation and food, staying in either the main farmhouse or in self-contained cottages, shearers’ quarters or bunkhouses.

Farms may offer activities such as horse riding, bushwalking, bird and wildlife watching, fishing, tennis and swimming, and children's activities.

Hostels

Hostels are found across Australia, offering amazing value for money and are generally well known for being of a good standard. There are both privately owned hostels, Youth Hostels Association (YHA) and VIP Backpackers properties and many cater for families and couples as well as independent travellers.

Hostels are common near iconic locations including Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Great Barrier Reef, they can also be found in some remote areas.

Private hostels have moved away from dormitory accommodation towards rooms with private facilities and shared kitchens and laundries.

Backpacker accommodation cards for Australia are available. There are several to choose from and they offer a range of discounts on tours, accommodation, entry fees, car hire, activities and more.

Houseboats and yacht charters

Houseboats are available in many areas, especially along the Murray River, which flows through South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

There are a variety of vessels available (from basic to luxury floating ‘apartments’).

Houseboats can also be rented on the Hawkesbury River and Port Hacking, both of which are close to Sydney (NSW).

In Queensland, visitors can hire a houseboat from Hervey Bay or Tin Can Bay and explore the World Heritage-listed Great Sandy Straits and Fraser Island.

Yacht charters are popular in idyllic coastal locations such as the Whitsunday Islands and Sydney.

Visitors can opt to have a skipper on board or navigate the vessel themselves (after a lesson).

Camping

Most of Australia’s national parks have designated camping areas, with fees varying from park to park. Many privately run campgrounds are also available.

Luxury camping or ‘glamping’ is increasingly available in amazing locations. The best luxury camping operators combine ecotourism certification with five-star service and comfort. They usually accommodate small amounts of guests and include an exclusive touring program and gourmet meals. This kind of luxury experience is often referred to as ‘barefoot luxury’ – don’t expect marble floors and gold taps, but top quality and comfy furnishings.

Examples of this type of ‘glamping’ includes Longitude 131 in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Sal Salis on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef or Paperbark Camp in Jervis Bay, a pristine coastal area on the New South Wales south coast.

Useful Links

Hostels/Backpackers

• YHA  
• VIP Backpackers  
• Base Backpackers  
• Backpacker Tours  
• Backpack Around Australia  
• Hosted Accommodation Australia 

Farmstays

• Australian Farmstays

Houseboats 

• Houseboat Hirers Association (SA) 
• Houseboat Booking Centre (Murray River, SA)
• Mildura Houseboats  
• Cronulla Houseboats (Port Hacking, NSW)  
• Hawkesbury Houseboats and Luxury Afloat (Hawkesbury, NSW)
• Rainbow Beach Houseboats (Qld)  
• Tin Can Bay Houseboats (Qld) 

Luxury Lodges

• Luxury Lodges of Australia

Camping

• Australian Camps Association
• Big 4 Holiday Parks  
• Caravan Parks of Australia  
• Caravan & Camping Association NSW  
• The Caravan & Camping Industries Association of South Australia 
• Caravanning Queensland  
• Caravan Industry Association Western Australia 
• Caravan Parks Association of South Australia  
• Victorian Caravan Parks Association
• Family Parks of Australia

Luxury Camping/Glamping 

• Longitude 131  
• Paperbark Camp
• Sal Salis