An hour from Adelaide, you can wake up to giraffes outside your window

5 days ago 12

From safari, seaside and outback escapes to CBD cool and cottagecore cosiness: fresh new ways to recharge from the everyday in South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Monarto Safari Resort

63 Monarto Rd, Monarto; 1800 016 761

EV charging

THE LOCATION Boldly billed as the biggest open-range zoo outside Africa, Monarto is an easy, and rather pleasant, one hour’s drive south-east from Adelaide, just beyond the South Australian capital’s eponymous wine-making hills.

THE PLACE Opened in May this year, the three-storey resort is the newest addition to the Monarto Safari Park, a long-established, open-range zoo. Spanning 1500 hectares, the park is home to 500 animals across 50 species of African wildlife, with the temporary human captives accommodated in 78 comfortable four-star hotel-style suites and rooms. A separate luxury lodge, with fancy glamping tents, is due to open early next year.

THE EXPERIENCE From the balcony of their rooms, guests can observe, and snap, the park’s eclectic creatures, including giraffes, ostriches and eland, gathered around a waterhole. Outside the resort’s well-fenced confines, take a two- to two-and-a-half-hour sunset wildlife safari with equivalent dawn tours available to early risers, each at an additional charge to the accommodation. Back inside the resort, indulge in creature comforts including the in-house restaurant (look out for passing giraffes in daylight hours) and a spa.

DON’T MISS Between the two sizable, waterhole-facing swimming pools, and conveniently adjacent to the main resort building, is a special viewing platform featuring two telescopes for an even closer observation of Monarto’s wildlife.

FROM $335 a night. Anthony Dennis

Adelaide Marriott Hotel

141 King William St, Adelaide; (08) 8451 3300

THE LOCATION Housed within the grand old General Post Office on Adelaide’s main square, the Marriott is a 20-minute drive from the airport and within walking distance of the Adelaide Oval and Fringe Festival.

THE PLACE The first stone of this local landmark was laid by Queen Victoria’s son Prince Alfred in 1867. More than 150 years later, the owners – the Sydney-based developer Greaton Group in conjunction with Marriott International – have breathed new life into the building at a cost of $200 million. With architecture studios Hassell and Baukultur in charge of the restoration of the GPO and addition of a tower, it is now the most modern of developments – a business and hospitality precinct. Inside, there are Morse code artworks, pneumatic tubes that once carried urgent messages and photos of former postmasters-general. It’s a lot. But not too much for Australia’s most dedicated post-office-themed hotel.

The 19th-century GPO in Adelaide’s main square has been restored at a cost of $200 million.

THE EXPERIENCE Woods Bagot did the overall interiors scheme, blending Victorian class with open-plan. It works in a hotel aimed at corporate and high-end weekenders, especially in a city with few options for travellers between chandeliers and scrubby grey carpets. Step next door to Adelaide Central Market, easily Australia’s best, or choose from three classy eateries in the hotel.

DON’T MISS The bread and butter pudding at hotel restaurant Penny Blue, a restrained but decadent dessert triumph. It’s salty, sweet and a bit naughty.

FROM $339 a night. Eryk Bagshaw

Rare Earth Retreats

23 Coppermine Rd, McLaren Vale; 1800 628 410

THE LOCATION In McLaren Vale, the birthplace of South Australia’s wine industry, a mere 40 kilometres from the centre of Adelaide, this trio of luxury, off-grid retreats is on a high ridge at Mollydooker Wines’ estate.

THE PLACE Stone, Clay and Slate – the retreats are born of the land and named accordingly, each featuring a different element in its design but all sharing the same open-plan footprint with a bathroom, living and kitchen for two, the king-size bed dressed in deliciously rumpled French linen and positioned for maximum vine views. The industrial edge of the arched windows and long sofas is softened by textured throws, timber-lined ceilings and woven lampshades. Warmed by fire, powered by the sun, washed by rain, the solar-powered retreats live up to their sustainability claims.

THE EXPERIENCE The kitchen is stocked with local Dawn Patrol coffee, quality wine glasses and chef’s knives begging for crusty bread and cultured butter to accompany one of the estate’s wines, included in the rate. Stock up beforehand so there’ll be no need to step away from the Swedish slow-burner wood fire. The undisputed hero, though, is the outdoor stone bath on the rear deck. Soaking in hot rainwater, the lucky bather is rewarded with classic vineyard views, the vale’s signature d’Arenberg Cube just visible among the foliage. “Mollydooker” is a 1930s boxing term for a left-hander, which explains their entry-level wine, The Boxer shiraz (best tasted in the tub).

The undisputed hero is the outdoor stone bath on the rear deck, with its classic vineyard views.

DON’T MISS The ridge behind Mollydooker is home to Samuels Gorge, the friendliest little cellar door in the vale and an industry favourite. Curl up into a well-worn leather armchair in front of the fire and see why they’re all raving about its sangiovese.

FROM $650 a night. Belinda Jackson

The George Hotel, Glenelg

1 Jetty Rd, Glenelg; (08) 7094 3300

EV charging

THE LOCATION It’s quite a feat to hide a 58-room hotel, but The George has managed it, hanging its shingle in a new-build above busy Jetty Road. Its opening brings a stylish stay to the beachside suburb of Glenelg, 20 minutes from the Adelaide CBD.

THE PLACE The look is streamlined and muted class, with a soft, neutral palette that tucks all the facilities out of sight, leaving the wall-to-ceiling sea views to steal the show. Get the right room – such as 601 – and take a bottle of Jim Barry’s Assyrtiko out onto the balcony to watch the sky roll through all shades of purple and blue behind the 1870s clocktower and the waters of St Vincent Gulf.

THE EXPERIENCE Adelaide’s favourite seaside escape is all about the water; walk the pier, spot pelicans, take a dolphin-watching cruise, eat ice-creams. In winter, find a sea-facing cafe to warm hands chilled by salty breezes or grab a takeaway coffee and pandan and coconut brioche from Sydney star baker Shadow Baking’s Glenelg outpost. The walk everyone’s doing is the seven-kilometre Glenelg to Seacliff Coastal Walk; borrow a dog to pass as local.

DON’T MISS At Ballet wine bar, a minute from the hotel, take a deep dive into exploratory wines paired beautifully with its crowd-pleasing lamb cigars or Abrolhos Island scallops. Sequins or puffer jackets, it’s a friendly, eclectic scene.

FROM $205 a night.

Belinda Jackson

TASMANIA

Bruny Shearers Quarters

Waterview, Main Rd, North Bruny Island

THE LOCATION Bruny Island is an easy half-hour drive plus a 15-minute ferry ride from Hobart. Another 15 minutes in the car will get you to Bruny Shearers Quarters.

THE PLACE Designed by Melbourne architect John Wardle and built by him and his wife Susan in 2011 on their 540-hectare sheep and cattle farm, this strikingly simple dwelling features three bedrooms (one king, one queen, one bunks) lined with old apple crates, but you’ll spend most of your time in the extended kitchen/living area, where floor-to-ceiling windows look out across Storm Bay, a small dam and an outdoor dining patio. There’s a Wardle-designed coffee table, comfy Scandi furniture and eclectic collections of everything from sea shells to Japanese ceramics and colonial artefacts. Rows of colour-sorted books go from red and orange above the fireplace, signifying heat, through to green and blue for the sea outside. Winner of a swag of national and international awards, this Wardle family retreat was only opened to rentals in early 2024.

There’s six kilometres of ocean frontage, including three secluded beaches, to roam.

THE EXPERIENCE Sitting by the fire and gazing out those windows could occupy your entire day but there’s also six kilometres of ocean frontage, including three secluded beaches, to roam. Indoor and outdoor showers will warm you up when you return.

DON’T MISS Take a plunge in the clifftop hot tub, a concrete sheep trough lined with Japanese finger tiles.

FROM $1225 a night plus $150 cleaning fee; two-night minimum stay. Katrina Strickland

Post House

640 Carlton River Rd, Carlton River; 0407 341 321

Pet-friendly

THE LOCATION Set beside a bend in the Carlton River, Post House is midway between Hobart and Port Arthur, a 40-minute drive from the capital and 20 minutes from the airport.

THE PLACE The 1841 cottage was originally built, as the name suggests, as a post office. Abandoned for 30 years, it was reborn as the Post House after a sensitive, heritage-focused restoration. With one bedroom and two living rooms, each with wood heater, it’s designed around original features such as exposed split slab walls and doorways warped by time, with modern luxuries that are integrated but not intrusive: underfloor bathroom heating, brass bathtub and kitchen bench with a window alcove of herbs.

THE EXPERIENCE Hobart, Richmond and the Tasman Peninsula are within easy reach, but the Post House is its own contained Tasmanian experience that invites lingering. The reflective river, 10 metres from the back door, is the star feature, with rowboats and wooden kayaks for guest use and a firepit at its edge. The river view extends to the bathtub, set beside slot windows. The colonial sandstone architecture is distinctly Tasmanian, and there’s the paradox of watching Netflix, via a portable projector TV, beamed onto 184-year-old walls beside surviving charcoal sketches on the plasterwork drawn by the 1940s postmaster.

DON’T MISS Head to nearby Park Beach for a swim, stroll or surf – it’s a favourite beginner break among locals.

FROM $350 a night; $90 cleaning fee. Andrew Bain

Ogee Guesthouse

372 Murray St, Hobart

THE LOCATION In the gentrified inner-city suburb of North Hobart, Ogee Guesthouse is next door to Ogee the restaurant, making this the city’s finest bed-and-bistro pairing.

THE PLACE In a row of red-brick terraces, this freshly renovated 1900s townhouse is ideal for two gourmet and/or design-inclined couples. Upstairs comprises two simply furnished bedrooms and a toilet, with compact living areas and a large bathroom with freestanding tub downstairs. Ogee chef-owner Matt Breen has designed and equipped a serious kitchen with commercial-quality cookware and glassware, Japanese knives and Hobart Hills handmade ceramics. The star of the show, however, is the rich, warm sound from a pair of Hobart-made Pitt & Giblin speakers featuring theatrical cast-bronze “waveguides”, like old-fashioned hearing trumpets.

THE EXPERIENCE Miles Davis sets the scene, streaming on arrival. Pour a bath, tucked behind a striking red-tiled pillar, and settle in with Bellebonne bubbles and tiramisu chocolates, both handmade and thoughtfully supplied. Or pour a couple of Ogee negronis and settle into the charcoal- and bronze-hued audio den with 50-plus vinyl albums. This treasure trove of a library is shared with the bar next door.

DON’T MISS For the rare pleasure of trotting just a few steps from bar to bed, book well in advance for lunch or dinner at 26-seat Ogee. The vibe is intimate, stylish and acoustic.

FROM $500 a night. Luke Slattery

Roaring Beach House

Nubeena, address supplied after booking

EV charging

THE LOCATION This Tasman Peninsula house sits in the scrub above a wild beach just outside Nubeena, one of Tasmania’s southernmost towns.

THE PLACE The architect-designed beach house consists of two main wings, connected by a covered outdoor deck. One wing houses the kitchen and living area and the other has three bedrooms and a bathroom. Both have wood heaters and beach views. Set apart from the house is a kids’ game room, which can double as a yoga space.

THE EXPERIENCE This is an end-of-the-earth getaway that doesn’t skimp on luxury. It works for a family but also a bunch of mates who have perhaps just traipsed the nearby Three Capes Track with you. Maybe you all need some time in the wood-fired sauna, a cook-up in the generous kitchen and some cosy chat time near the fire. But there are also me-time options. Draw yourself a bath under the covered deck and watch Roaring Beach’s distant breakers roll past sandstone cliffs. Don’t forget to say hello to the wallabies as you meander to the shore, a short walk along a path just beyond the back fence.

DON’T MISS Twenty minutes away, the Whitsundays-like sand of aptly named White Beach is so bright on a sunny day, you need sunglasses.

FROM $660 a night; two-night minimum stay. Melissa Fyfe

Kittawa Lodge

South Rd, Pearshape, King Island; 0437 962 020

THE LOCATION Best known for its cheese and golf, King Island is in Bass Strait, a 45-minute flight from Melbourne.

THE PLACE Aaron Suine and Nick Stead quit corporate jobs in Sydney and moved to King Island in 2019, where they built two off-grid luxury lodges, each with a king bedroom, kitchen and lounge, fireplace and en suite with bath looking west out to the Southern Ocean. This year they added Kittawa Retreat, a third lodge which features all the above but has two king bedrooms rather than one, plus an outdoor cedar hot tub and more extensive wine cellar.

THE EXPERIENCE The owners pride themselves on their guest service, hence you might find freshly baked croissants at your door in the morning, and carrot cake (Aaron’s mum’s recipe) on the kitchen bench when you return from a day out. All meals are included in the tariff, with much of the produce sourced on the island. Dinner ingredients will be left in the fridge for you to cook at leisure – some packages involve them cooking it for you. The support-local mantra means an all-Tasmanian drinks bar and for-sale works by King Island artists on the walls. The bathroom products are infused with a “signature scent” crafted for Kittawa by Hobart-based The Raconteur.

This off-grid luxury lodge looks out to the Southern Ocean.

DON’T MISS Drive 20 minutes to Seal Rocks Reserve and walk along the clifftops, watching wild waves crash onto the craggy rocks below. It ain’t called the Shipwreck Coast for nothing.

FROM $1650 a night; two-night minimum stay. Katrina Strickland

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Litchfield Safari Camp

6060 Litchfield Park Rd, Rakula; 0413 175 122

THE LOCATION At the western entrance to Litchfield National Park – a 90-minute drive from Darwin – Litchfield Safari Camp is a gateway to the waterholes and falls for which this part of the NT is famous.

THE PLACE The red dirt driveway to the property sets the mood; there’s something exhilarating about seeing dust rising in the rearview mirror. This 20-hectare patch of outback has unpowered and powered campsites (pets are welcome here only), family cabins and two glamping tents. Inside the tents, expect all the amenities of a hotel room: air-conditioning, an en suite bathroom and a fully equipped kitchenette. Outside, each has a private deck with barbecue.

Adventurous travellers come here to experience the outback while enjoying safety and creature comforts.

THE EXPERIENCE The closest accommodation to Litchfield National Park, this camp is only five kilometres from Wangi Falls, a swimming and picnicking spot popular for its easy access as much as its beauty. But the wonder of staying here is you can venture further into the park and still get back, showered and relaxed in time for a sundowner. The property is loved by intrepid families who come to experience the outback while enjoying safety and creature comforts, including a great pool. But the glamping tents offer twosomes a more luxurious stay, with a super king bed positioned for its occupants to enjoy bush views in private.

DON’T MISS Kin Coffee and Goods is a bar, gift shop and gallery just inside the national park. The owners Roger and Viv make the best iced latte in a 100-kilometre radius.

FROM $399 a night; two-night minimum stay. Alley Pascoe

Get more short-break inspiration from Good Weekend‘s 2025 52 Weekends Away round-up:

‘More Med than Rotto’: 4 of the best weekend getaways in Western Australia right now
From a mudbrick hut to a tranquil harbourside B&B – 17 perfect getaways in Victoria
From farm stays to island escapes – 5 perfect Queensland getaways
Just 90 minutes from Sydney, you can relax in your own balcony bathtub with stunning views: 16 NSW short-break ideas
For more travel inspiration, visit our Traveller section

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.