The Most Romantic Getaways in the Northern Territory

It isn't hard to find a romantic getaway in the Northern Territory – a tent under the stars will do. But luxury resorts like Longitude 101º, Bamurru Plains or Cicada Lodge are the definition of next level. These coveted retreats, world-class dining and wilderness experiences are only enhanced by the Northern Territory’s long summer days and refreshing swimming spots. Embrace the heat (and the romance) at these outback stays.

Bamurru Plains

West of Kakadu National Park, Bamurru Plains safari lodge is a stellar find for nature-lovers who want a remote wilderness experience and creature comforts. Here on the Mary River floodplains, wallabies abound, bird sightings are a given and you’re almost guaranteed to see crocodiles. The property’s intimate 10 bungalows and two sprawling suites, have mesh-screen walls to give you a front-row seat to buffalo roaming the floodplain while still ensuring complete privacy. The rooms are rustic-chic (think timber floorboards, corrugated iron and dim lighting) and are fitted out with a supremely comfortable bed and a high- pressure shower. There’s no television, internet or mobile phone reception, which makes for a truly immersive getaway. Chill out by the pool with its open bar or work your way through a list of activities that spans guided walks through paperbark forests and croc-spotting cruises.

Dining

Bamurru’s guests are well catered for with all-inclusive gourmet meals, including a hearty three-course dinner paired with Australian wines, served at the communal table in the main lodge at dinner time.

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Request the large Kingfisher Suite to enjoy an intimate in-room candlelit dinner or stay overnight in the elevated bird hide, where you can admire the thick blanket of stars from high in the tree canopy.

Dial up the romance with a getaway in the Northern Territory. Book now.

Finniss River Lodge

Part working cattle station, part wilderness oasis, Finniss River Lodge is 200 square kilometres of exhilarating landscapes stretching from the edge of Litchfield National Park all the way to the Timor Sea. Just a 90-minute drive or 20-minute charter flight from Darwin, the lodge feels a million miles from anywhere. Six elegant suites on the edge of the floodplain are the extent of the accommodation here, meaning a maximum of 12 people enjoy the highly personalised hospitality of Finniss River Lodge at a time. Two daily experiences are included with your stay – it could be an early-morning wilderness hike among a monsoonal rainforest and giant termite mounds or a sundowner atop Quartz Hill,s. The focal point is always that vast, ever-changing flood plain, visible from the verandah of each suite, as well as the edge of the infinity pool.

Dining

Utilising produce gathered from the property – think mud crab, barramundi, crocodile, Finniss River dry-aged beef and seasonal produce such as mango, lime and bush foods – the lodge restaurant’s daily-changing menu is a highlight.

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The Finniss River’s pristine waters are home to the world’s third-largest density of estuarine crocodiles. See salties up-close – or close enough, anyway – on an airboat Croc Tour to learn more about these prehistoric beasts.

Longitude 131°

Watch nature’s spectacular dawn show unfold in the rugged spiritual centre of Australia – without even lifting your head off the pillow. That’ll be your experience if you’re in one of 15 luxury tents at Longitude 131° with dress-circle views of Uluru. Before sunrise, the monolith looks like a lonely hulk sleeping in the distance but soon turns into a mass of burning orange as soon as rays bathe its weather-beaten surface. If you want to get closer, join an early-morning excursion to learn about the sacred rock’s geology and its connection to the Anangu people, the traditional owners. Back at the lodge, enjoy the dining and lounge area – with its soaring tent-like canopy and open bar – or indulge in a massage with native rosemary-infused oils at Spa Kinara.

Dining

Meals are taken in Dune House and the menu incorporates modern-Australian dishes and native ingredients, from fresh pastries at breakfast to a five-course dégustation for dinner. For an additional fee, you can dine at a table set up on a nearby dune. 

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Lying in bed with a white-fabric canopy above and the resplendent red Uluru within view.

Make your next romantic getaway an unforgettable holiday in the NT. Book now.

Cicada Lodge

Everything about Cicada Lodge feels intimate, from the personal welcome note to the nightly three-course chef’s menu. There are only 18 rooms, each with its own private balcony, louvred screens and full-length windows facing the bush. The comfy rooms have plenty of reading and lounging space, original works by Indigenous artists and a selection of teas with a coffee machines. Cicada Lodge is part of Nitmiluk (meaning “land of the cicadas”) National Park, famed for its string of 13 gorges and located on the lands the Jawoyn people. Guests can gain a deeper understanding of Jawoyn culture and country through the Footsteps of Our Ancestors presentation. Sitting on the shady poolside deck with the traditional owners as they share their knowledge of weaving, dyeing, hunting and painting, you’ll feel a connection to this ancient land – and to one another.

Dining

Expect sunset drinks and elegant canapés, followed by dishes such as previous favourites of beef eye fillet with native thyme and potato fondant, and coconut panna cotta with lemongrass harvested from the garden.