Seven of Australia’s Best Design-Led Stays Worth the Drive

There’s something about having to drive somewhere that can make it feel more special. Australia’s best design-led stays are often beyond the confines of the city: off-grid cabins surrounded by bush, architect-designed villas perched above the coast, and farm stays that combine design and sustainability, only accessible by car.

For a weekend escape, the journey is part of the appeal. The electric Polestar 4 coupé is made for this kind of trip, combining striking Scandinavian design with long-range capability, a spacious interior and panoramic glass roof that brings the landscape into the cabin. Its high-definition rear view camera means you can pack the boot to the roof without compromising visibility, and its Google integration makes road trips feel seamless, whether you’re navigating to a remote coastal retreat or using AI to uncover unexpected detours, dining spots and experiences along the way.

From Queensland to Western Australia via Tasmania, here are seven architectural stays worth the destination.

Daylesford Longhouse, Victoria

Set among the rolling countryside of the Macedon Ranges, about a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, Daylesford Longhouse is a building that feels inseparable from its surroundings. Designed by Partners Hill, the long, low structure is part home, part working farm, part cooking school, bringing the landscape inside through expansive windows and greenhouse-style architecture.

It’s the sort of place made for doing very little: cooking, reading, enjoying the sauna. The surrounding Daylesford and Hepburn Springs regions offer plenty of food and shopping to fill a weekend, but the house itself is reason enough to visit. On the way, stop at Passing Clouds winery in Musk for a tasting or full meal before the final leg of the drive.

Blackbird Byron, NSW

Perched in the Byron Bay hinterland, Blackbird is a collection of private, design-led cabins with views across the rainforest and hills. The architecture leans into its setting, combining concrete, timber and glass with private spaces designed to make the most of the landscape. With plunge pools, fireplaces, outdoor spaces and plenty of privacy, this adults-only retreat is made for a couples’ weekend or solo escape without sacrificing comfort.

It’s around 90 minutes by car from the Gold Coast or two hours from Brisbane. Break up the journey with a stop in Mullumbimby, home to independent shops, cafes and rotating markets, before continuing into the hinterland.

Spicers Tamarind Retreat, Queensland

Set in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Spicers Tamarind combines the intimacy of a rainforest retreat with the polish of a luxury hotel. Its villas are tucked into lush grounds near Maleny, with firepits, outdoor cedar tubs, balconies overlooking the surrounding subtropical landscape and several EV charging points.

Fill your days with long lunches, spa treatments and slow mornings, or drive to the Glass House Mountains and wider hinterland for a hike. It’s around 45 minutes’ drive from the Sunshine Coast and 90 minutes from Brisbane, with Maleny an easy stop on the way to pick up local produce, coffee or something for the drive as you head into the hills.

Edge Luxury Villas, WA

On the border of Margaret River’s wine country, Edge Luxury Villas takes a minimalist approach to the region’s familiar luxe accommodation formula. The angular, solar-powered villas are private and pared back, with large windows overlooking the lake, fireplaces for cool winter nights and shared EV charging stations.

It’s a particularly good base for a food and wine weekend with wineries, beaches, restaurants and forests all within driving distance. From Perth, the drive is around three hours, making it one for a longer weekend rather than a quick overnight. Stop at Wayfinder Wines on the way into the region for a tasting before continuing south.

Cabn, SA

Cabn’s small-footprint cabins are proof that a stay doesn’t need a huge amount of space to feel considered. Set in natural landscapes around South Australia, the minimalist retreats put the focus on their surroundings, with pared-back interiors, lots of natural light, and a sense of privacy.

They’re particularly good for a short reset without the usual distractions of a hotel, with a fully equipped kitchenette, barbeque and firepit offering all you need for a comfortable stay. Cabn McLaren Vale is about an hour from central Adelaide, with the German-inspired town of Hahndorf making an appealing detour. Spend an hour or two exploring the historic town and picking up provisions before continuing into the countryside.

Mona Farm, NSW

About an hour outside Canberra and three hours from Sydney, in the heritage-listed town of Braidwood, Mona Farm is a rural retreat that makes the most of its setting. The 124-acre property is contemporary without feeling disconnected from the landscape, thanks to a restored guesthouse and sculpture gardens creating a stay that feels more like a private country house than traditional accommodation.

It’s suited to slow weekends spent dining at the paddock-to-plate restaurant, wandering the property or heading into town to visit the antique stores. Stop in Bungendore on the way, where galleries, boutiques and cafes provide an easy country town interlude before the final stretch to the farm.

Hunter Huon Valley, Tasmania

In Tasmania’s Huon Valley, just under an hour’s drive from Hobart, Hunter is the kind of stay that lets the surrounding landscape take centrestage. The property’s contemporary design, natural materials and expansive views make the most of the valley’s forests and farmland, while locally made pottery and furniture tap into the region’s creative scene.

The space is designed for settling in, though surrounding wineries, producers and small towns offer plenty of reasons to get back in the car when you feel like moving. Stop at Kate Hill Wines en route for a tasting and a look at the cool-climate wines of the region.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Polestar. If you’ve been fantasising about a road trip, take this as your sign and head to your nearest Polestar Space to test the Polestar 4 for the journey.