Keep the Spark Alive at Australia’s Best Romantic Getaways
From sleek city hotels to nearby getaways that deliver on charm, these stays are sure to spice things up. Check-in for one night midweek or make a weekend of it – just pack your overnight bag and jump in an Uber.
Words by Alice Jeffery · Updated on 15 Jul 2026 · Published on 25 Jan 2024
Grand gestures and far-flung getaways are great but the simple pleasure of packing an overnight bag and getting an Uber (or public transport) to a city staycation shouldn't be overlooked. Plus, playing tourist in your own town is always fun.
Whether you’re booking for an anniversary celebration or making a long weekend of Valentine’s Day , these hotels, Airbnbs and tiny homes are equipped with everything you need: think epic views, soaking tubs and the best eats in town right on your doorstep.
The Calile Hotel, Brisbane
$479 - $499
This boutique 175-room hotel features breezeblock hallways; a 30-metre, palm-tree-lined pool; and distinctive Juliet balconies – there’s a reason it was named the 12th best hotel in the world last year. But if the green-striped umbrellas and peach-toned rooms aren’t enough to draw you in, neighbouring restaurants Same Same and Bianca should sweeten the deal. Plus, Sprout and Agnes – two of Brisbane’s best bakeries – are a short stroll away for morning pastries.
If you’re keen to get slightly out of town, Spicers Hidden Vale is about an hour drive from Brisbane’s CBD. Set on 12,000 acres of native bushland, the property features restored colonial cottages and luxe cabins. There are rooms with outdoor bathtubs, king-size beds and stone fireplaces. Guests also have access to two pools. Indulge in paddock-to-plate dining at on-site restaurants The Homage and The Barn, book a private picnic or fly over the Scenic Rim for lunch at Spicers Peak Lodge.
Billed as one of Byron Bay’s best new openings , this 16-suite Californian-inspired oasis is located metres from Main Beach. Velvet bedheads and sheer draping curtains set the mood in the rooms. There’s a marble-tiled pool, as well as a complimentary infrared sauna and ice bath to book. Two on-site bars are stocked by some of the best local producers, and you’re a short stroll to Light Years for date-night dining.
About an hour west of Byron Bay you’ll find Unyoked tiny house Pana. Set in rainforest and surrounded by citrus trees, this cabin is designed to maximise seclusion and minimise stress. Fill the outdoor woodfired bath and soak in the serenity; bring your own snacks and campfire cooking favourites; and, most importantly, switch your phone off (reception is patchy anyway) and enjoy each other’s company.
There are 257 hotel rooms kitted out with guitars, vinyl collections and custom robes designed by Deiji Studios at the Sydney outpost from the US-based Ace Hotel Group. The interiors, by Flack Studio, take inspiration from the colours of the Australian desert, while on-site dining at Kiln , Loam and the sunken-lounge lobby bar champion local flavours and produce. Pop over to neighbouring Paramount House Hotel and watch a movie at Golden Age or grab breakfast on the roof at AP House.
A heritage-listed stone house on the cusp of the Royal National Park, Simpson Cottage is truly special. About an hour from Sydney Central if you drive, or closer to two if you go the train and ferry route, it’s close enough for a quick escape but will make you feel a world away. There’s room for six guests inside the house; 1500 square metres of landscaped gardens offer plenty of space outdoors too. But that doesn’t mean this stay can’t be enjoyed by just two. The wide verandahs, six-burner barbeque and private beach access make this house an ideal choice for a late summer holiday.
In the midst of Flinders Lane, W Hotel Melbourne features 294 guest rooms, including a presidential suite with a 40-square-metre balcony overlooking the Yarra. Dine at intimate 30-seat Japanese restaurant Warabi , light-filled all-day diner Lollo or the “cocoon-like” subterranean cocktail bar Curious. There’s also an entire floor dedicated to wellness, including a pool, a steam room and gym facilities.
Camillo House on the Mornington Peninsula is brimming with romance. Settle in with ready-to-pour, all-inclusive Negronis on arrival before you swan around the gallery-like home, à la Jacob Elordi in Saltburn. Dressed with mostly vintage furniture, there are views for days through picture windows and outdoor vantage points. There are also two custom-made bathtubs: one indoor, made of spotted gum, and the other outdoor: a circular concrete slab where you can have a secluded post-beach soak.
This boutique, five-star stay is in the centre of Adelaide’s cultural precinct. With art nouveau-inspired furnishings throughout, the hotel is home to bar Luma , which won best bar design in the world at the 2023 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. There’s also a heated indoor swimming pool, spa and sauna available for use if you don’t fancy heading too far from your room.
This eco cabin by tiny-house company Cabn is the perfect base for a Kangaroo Island adventure. After touching down at Kingscote Airport, or docking at the ferry terminal (both are around 30 to 45 minutes’ journey from Adelaide), it takes about an hour to drive to the Cabn x Cape St Albans site. Once you’re there, settle in and stargaze from the king-sized bed through a glass skylight, soak in the indoor or outdoor bathtubs and get steamy in the private sauna: the off-grid escape is centred around relaxation.
Set in the mid-19th century State Buildings, this hotel is home to some of the most elegant rooms in Perth. Lofty ceilings and grand windows bring a magisterial vibe to the 48 rooms and suites designed by Kerry Hill. The wellness centre boasts a 20-metre heated indoor pool, and the spa menu features hands-on holistic treatments. Local fine-diner Wildflower is also housed on-site.
With 98 rooms, lagoon-like pools and beachside dining, this island stay is less than 30 minutes by ferry from Fremantle. Breezy interiors and modern amenities add to the far-flung feel of the hotel, which opened in late 2020. Book a beachfront room and take in the view from a private terrace – these rooms also have outdoor rain showers.
This 152-room hotel fronts Murray Street in Parliament Square, right near Hobart’s famous Salamanca Market. Part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection , the rooms on offer are themed, with contemporary, art deco or Georgian furnishings. There’s also the 108-square-metre Aurora Suite – it’s filled with plenty of natural light thanks to its rooftop location. Take in panoramic views of the waterfront from an expansive terrace (complete with firepit) or retreat inside to a generously sized bath and bed. Pop by the intimate sandstone cocktail bar Mary Mary , which is complete with fireplaces and a rare-spirits library, before dinner at Peppina.
This Japanese-inspired home is the work of Tara Bennett (the owner of Sydney’s Provider Store) and Sydney-based architecture studio Trias. It’s only 15 minutes’ drive south to the Hobart CBD, 15 minutes’ drive north to Mona, and 20 minutes’ drive from Hobart airport. A combination of antique and modern furniture fills the three-level space. Beds are made in pristine white Tekla sheets. There’s a reading room and fully equipped kitchen. And we can’t not mention the ryokan-inspired wooden bathtub, crafted from Australian western cedar.
Looking for more places to stay? These are the best hotel openings of 2024.
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About the author
Alice Jeffery is a freelance writer and Broadsheet’s former shopping editor.
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