Plans for more “rtreets” augur well if this luxe off-grid bush escape on the Fleurieu Peninsula, 50 kilometres south of Adelaide, is the blueprint. Set on 50 hectares of vineyards and rolling hills, the main house has three bedrooms, with a fourth occupying a separate studio. The landscape is echoed inside in a palette of mustard, ochre and olive with clean lines, natural fabrics and lots of wood. A-type personalities can book yoga instructors, massages and garden tours through rtreet, or hike to the hills and go koala-spotting in re-wilded native forest. Everyone else can avail themselves of the pool and its lush surroundings, spend an inordinate amount of time deciding on dinner and even longer lingering over the meal in the dining room.

Ancient relics of the past still adorn the Glasshouse Mountain region, traditional land of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara people, about 30-minutes’ drive south of Maroochydore. There are 11 vertical ranges of cooled volcanic rock jutting out of this lush hinterland; an incredible backdrop to the area’s valleys and woodlands. Make like the bushland’s many residents (namely koalas, black cockatoos and goannas) and bunk in a treehouse; Glass on Glasshouse puts very little between you and the surrounding canopy, with windows replacing walls to capitalise on the incredible outlook.

For years, Bruny was a sleepy patch of paradise where Hobart locals escaped their version of the rat-race. And then mainlanders discovered it. That has had pros and cons. Pros? You can eat and drink well on this 362-square-kilometre island, which can only be reached by ferry from Kettering, 30 kilometres south of Hobart. There are some lovely things to do, beyond appreciating the dramatic landscape, such as dropping into Sprokkelwood, a sculpture garden created by local artists Keith Smith and Grietje van Randen. And the cons? Guilt for sitting in the sun-drenched lounge room of Cloudy Bay Beach House and doing nothing but watching plump pademelons waddle by. Guilt for eating another wedge of Nick Haddow’s epic Bruny Island Cheese Co. cheese. And guilt for loving every long, lazy minute of this untamed version of island life.

Kangaroo Island, a short 40-minute flight from Adelaide, is composed of almost one-third national park, making it the ultimate long weekend destination for anyone looking to get off the grid. Phone reception is gloriously limited on the island, especially when travelling between towns on your search for sandy shores. Which beaches deserve a pitstop? Glittering Emu Bay, just 15 minutes from Kingscote; the family-friendly shallow waters of Brown Beach and Seal Bay (pictured), where scores of its namesake mammals gather on the sand to snooze in the sunshine.

Co-founder Jessica Collins conceived Tiny Escapes out of a desire to share Tasmania’s wilderness with others. Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (a 1.5 hour drive from Burnie) captivates visitors with its alpine heathlands and rainforests, the imposing summit of Cradle Mountain and its furred and feathered denizens, including quolls, Tassie devils and platypus. Tiny Escapes offers six houses, secreted among more than 100 hectares of temperate rainforest, through which the Iris River twists and weaves. More spacious than the rest, Blackjack is a modern chalet that’s exquisitely, if simply, furnished along clean lines. With two bedrooms, heated bathroom floors, an outdoor bath, a two-way fireplace and a campfire, the comfortable little home is a front-row seat to nature’s wonder.

There are few better places on earth than Ningaloo Reef to spot the majestic whale shark, which cruises the cool waters off the Exmouth coast between the months of April and July. About 90 minutes’ drive from Exmouth, Coral Bay is an ideal base for reef exploration via glass-bottomed boat tours or simply snorkelling; about an hour from there is the bucket list stay Sal Salis, a dune-side glamping experience like no other. Pastimes here could be as heart-pumping as humpback whale spotting or as relaxed as stargazing (the latter as easy as opening your tent flap after dark).

Base yourself at Darwin’s DoubleTree Hilton Esplanade and you’ll have most of the region's national parks within day-tripping distance. Berry Springs Nature Park is a 40-minute drive away and perfect for kids, with a paddling creek and plenty of shade. The vast Litchfield National Park is just under a two hour drive from Darwin and our recommendation is to head over early to beat the crowds as it's popular for both locals and tourists. Buley Rockhole has shallow pools as well as deep diving – you’ll find the crystalline Florence Falls Swimming hole at the bottom of a 160-stair descent.

Essentials for the ultimate seaside weekend include a beach within walking distance, days that conform to a lazy rhythm dictated by meals and swims, and accommodation that isn’t so precious you can’t hang your cossies on the balcony to dry. Smiths Beach Resort, located in the Margaret River region three hours’ drive from Perth, ticks all the boxes. Sitting alongside the white sand and turquoise water are options from one-bed beach shacks to four-bedroom villas. The property also features Lamont’s Restaurant by chef Kate Lamont and Gourmet Deli & Wine Store. And for burning off energy, Margaret River is packed with options, including fun parks, horse riding, zip-lining, archery and First Nations cultural tours.

Two-and-a-half hours south of Perth, the heritage-listed Busselton Jetty – the longest wooden-pile jetty in the Southern Hemisphere – awaits. Take the train down the jetty to the Underwater Observatory and watch as southern fiddler rays swim through coral in the artificial reef. On Sunday mornings, you’ll find fresh produce at the Busselton Markets which should be followed by an afternoon swim at Meelup beach. The Mandalay Holiday Resort is great for families, offering a range of accommodation options including glamping, self-contained cabins and camp sites for those who like to sleep under the stars.

Impressing a teenager is a challenge for any parent. Throw everything at it with a weekend getaway to the Eyre Peninsula – the coastal town of Port Lincoln is just under an hour’s flight from Adelaide. Go on a tour with the Baird Bay Experience and see screen-dulled eyes widen and smirks stretch to smiles on encountering bottle-nosed dolphins and sea lions in the waters off Jones Island. Watch the hard-toplease light up when they see Camel Beach House, a chic shack with the best Instagrammable aesthetics, such as edgy art and sculptural succulents, in a remote location. Make sure you take a snap of that smile – not for Insta but for the family memories.

Fans of low-food-mile dining (and everyone else) can live the philosophy on Tasmania’s east coast. Beginning in St Helens, about 90 minutes drive east of Launceston, and travelling along the rugged coast towards Coles Bay, you can cruise from meal to spectacular meal on an edible adventure. On the way, there’ll be fat briny oysters, superb lobster and scallops every which way – try the pie at Blue Edge Bakery in Bicheno (55 Burgess Street; +61 03 6375 1972). Stomach full, settle in at Rocky Hills Retreat with its ocean views and crashing waves soundtrack. Have breakfast on the deck (provisions provided), wander to the art studio or bathe in the Huon pine outdoor tub. By now, it’s likely been at least 12 hours since
your last oyster. What are you waiting for?

Drift 90 minutes south of Melbourne and into the thermal pools of Alba Thermal Springs and Spa in the Morning Peninsula and discover a whole new level of Zen. This $90-million complex has over 30 pools to choose from, including a spa, sauna, cold plunge pool and pools with perfect sunset views over the hinterland. After all, how many places can you walk around 15 hectares of landscape and also go to dinner in a fluffy white bathrobe?

There’s something magical about a zoo after hours, when the animals, performance over, can finally be themselves. What do they get up to after dark? Find out at Australia Zoo by spending the night at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge. Steve Irwin was probably happy to sleep in a swag but don’t worry, things are more lavish at this stay, where eight family-sized cabins are set in a bushland habitat with kangaroos, koalas and emus. Watch their comings and goings from The Billabong, a 25-metre infinity pool, or over drinks and dinner at the Warrior Restaurant & Bar. Unlimited entry to the zoo is included in your booking and once you’ve explored the African Safari Park, cuddled a koala and fed a kangaroo, the beaches of the Sunshine Coast await.

Positioned among the vines, Lancemore Milawa is a 40-room hotel that has recently undergone a $3 million makeover. Across the road, leading Australian-owned family wine company Brown Brothers host ‘The Slow Lunch’, a meal that has been months in the making and uses produce grown on-site – the kingfish with fish bone dashi dish paired with a dry chardonnay is a crowd favourite. If you’re peckish, nearby Milawa Cheese Co has countless varieties of handcrafted cheese to choose from.

Tucked into a curl of the Sapphire Coast, Merimbula’s proximity to both lake and ocean ensures its not only a picturesque escape but also a delicious one. Oysters are abundant in this part of the state – Sydney rock as well as Angasi and Flat bivalves can be slurped within hours of harvest – as are lobsters. Merimbula Fresh Seafoods can deliver the goods to your chosen caravan park for a very special picnic dinner or, if you’d prefer to have the sea’s spoils cooked for you, try lakeside Valentina or casual Dulcie’s, where ling burgers are served from a cute powder-blue trailer.

There are few Australian tropical escapes so gloriously remote as the Tiwi Islands. An archipelago in the Timor Sea, 80 kilometres north of Darwin, the Tiwis are small but diverse with the two inhabited isles, Melville (Yermalner) and Bathurst (Nguyu) boasting dense jungle, rainforest, white-sand beaches and foliage-fringed waterholes. Tiwi Island Retreat is an off-grid oasis of barefoot luxury on Bathurst Island. Activities include helicopter flights to a remote waterhole and buggy rides along Five Mile Beach for wildlife spotting, beach fishing and picnicking on the sand. Two new glamping tents offer the resort’s most sumptuous stay yet, each with a beach-facing deck jacuzzi and space for a family of four.

How to describe the blue of the Indian Ocean? Turquoise? Cerulean? It’s tempting to reach for your phone to share a pic. But don’t bother – there’s no wi-fi here. Made up of 30 glamping-style Eco Tents, 25 Eco Villas and two Beach Houses connected by elevated boardwalks, Eco Beach Resort is set amid the dunes on Cape Villaret, a 25 minute heli flight or 90 minutes by car south of Broome. Having come all this way, the only thing left to do is immerse yourself in the land – the Mud & Bubbles experience involves being smothered in mineral-rich mangrove mud from nearby Jack’s Creek while sipping champagne. There’s also stand-up paddleboarding, fishing safaris, early-morning beach yoga and bushwalks led by Traditional Owner Neil McKenzie.

This tranquil escape can only be reached after a 40-minute drive from Brisbane airport to the ferry crossing, where you can take your family and car across to the island. Start with a walk along the quiet Frenchman’s Beach and follow up with a walking culture tour of the island with Yura Tours – you’ll try native honey straight from the guide's backyard beehive. A stay at Gabura Beach House means thick bush surrounds and kangaroos as your neighbours.

Having small children puts the kibosh on some of life’s great pleasures: late nights, white T-shirts, spontaneity. But it need not get in the way of a luxurious escape. Enter Elements of Byron, a sprawling beachfront resort with two-bedroom villas equipped with everything from full kitchens and laundries (maybe you can wear white, after all) to board games. The Lagoon Pool Precinct is for tiny splashers, a sandy log-and-rope playground makes for imaginative games and Azure Bar & Grill has a greatest-hits kids menu. The Kidz Club (school holidays only) will keep little ones entertained while parents escape for lunch, a massage at Osprey Spa or the adults-only pool. Reach town in 10 minutes flat on the solar-powered Byron Bay Train.

Northern NSW’s Bangalow is fast becoming a gourmet destination to rival its coastal neighbour, Byron Bay. Drop your bags in two-bedroom cottage Hav’eli House – the luxe Bali-style villa is the ideal retreat for lounging in style – then get ready to eat your way through town. On Saturdays, pick up local produce at the Bangalow Farmers Markets then check into a leisurely long lunch at The Hut Byron Bay for seasonal share plates paired with Italian and French wines. Still got room for dinner? A salami woodfired pizza at hatted Italian restaurant Ciao Mate is the way to go.

Spectacular views from each balcony (see that sunset!) is reason enough to visit this idyll, just three hours drive from Adelaide in Paringa. Comprising three luxurious contemporary retreats built on a clifftop overlooking the meandering Murray River, The Frames invites you to indulge in the on-site hydrotherapy spa (each retreat boasts its own pool, spa and sauna), cook a feast in the gourmet kitchen or pop a cork on the balcony and dine as the sky darkens to mauve. In-villa services include massages and a private chef who’ll create threecourse dinners. If you can bear to leave your riverside abode, guided wetland and wildlife safaris, sunset gondola cruises and cultural tours can all be organised.  

10 Incredible Places to Stay in and Around Coffs Harbour