Australia

8 fabulously fun spots for a girls' weekend away

Spending time with your girlfriends is always memorable. So why not book a trip with your besties for a dose of relaxation, rejuvenation and a bit of fun?

There is nothing quite like long chats over a glass of wine or on a long beach walk with the people that know you best. Mix that up with some shopping, trying a new activity or gallery hopping and you have the perfect girls’ weekend away. Whether you and your friends like fine dining and wine, art or adventure pursuits, there is a destination to suit you across Australia.

From beachside retreats to city breaks with a dash of culture, choose a city or region to visit that you can all enjoy, from dusk to dawn. The key to a great girls’ weekend away is to book accommodations that allow plenty of time for group conversations as well as space for relaxation and pampering. We’ve found the perfect spots for your next getaway. So gather your tribe and start making a plan for the ultimate girls trip.

A girls' weekend away in Margaret River

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Just three hours south of Perth, Margaret River is home to over 200 boutique wineries that produce some of Australia’s most celebrated drops. Take a trip to this picturesque wine region with your girlfriends and sip your way around its cellar doors and discover the premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay varieties that the area is famous for.

Eight Willows Retreat is an ideal base for a wine tasting girls’ weekend away. Set among bushland, the retreat offer tranquillity and space to enjoy quality time with your friends. Each luxury chalet on the property offers spacious living and dining areas perfect for late night conversations. Relax in front of the log fire or on the veranda as you discuss your favourite wine finds of the day. Make sure to stop at Vasse Felix, the region’s founding wine estate at Cowaramup.

In between wine tasting, get your runners on and enjoy the hiking trails in Boranup Karri Forest or a long walk along the beach at Hamelin Bay. To mark a successful hike, savour a long lunch at Wills Domain overlooking the vines followed by a stop at Margaret River Chocolate Factory to taste their gourmet chocolate bars.

Eight Willows Retreat

Margaret River
9.7 Excellent (1040 reviews)

A girls' weekend getaway focusing on wellness

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Should you and your friends need some well-deserved pampering then look no further than Echoes Boutique Hotel in Katoomba in NSW’s Blue Mountains region. This luxury hotel is ideally suited to an indulgent girls’ weekend away, thanks to its day spa and restaurant overlooking the Jamison Valley.

Start your stay with an Echoes Relax Deluxe spa package treatment designed to refresh and rejuvenate. Your skin will be glowing thanks to the mud packed facial and aromatherapy massage. Then head to Echoes Restaurant with panoramic views of rainforest and rock formations of the majestic World Heritage Listed National Park. Catch up on each other’s news over a cocktail at sunset and enjoy the Asian-inspired menu with highlights such as crispy soft shell crab and confit duck with ginger and honey infusion.

If you can bear leave this idyllic sanctuary, the attractions of the Blue Mountains are on your doorstep. Take the short walk together from the hotel to the Three Sisters lookout and snap your photo in front of the famous rock formations as a memory of your luxury girls getaway.

Echoes Boutique Hotel & Restaurant

Top rated
Katoomba
8.9 Excellent (692 reviews)

A girls' weekend away by the beach

Soak up the beachy vibes in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast with a stay at the Noosa Blue Resort, which is a 10-minute walk from the beach and all the action on vibrant Hastings Street. It’s the ideal place to stay if your crew likes to relax and swim in the sun during the day and sip on cocktails in the evening. Check into your rooms and head straight to one of two on-site pools for a quick dip before heading to the steam room together to plan your stay.

Will you spend your getaway lazing by the pool or at the beach, taking a walk along Noosa Heads trail or shopping til you drop at the chic boutiques? Whatever you choose you’ll no doubt build up an appetite. Drop into Bistro C for delicious brunch options like power berry smoothies and corn and chive fritters. For lunch, keep it light with a chilled prawn salad at Aromas.

Back in your rooms, there is plenty of space to get ready for a glamorous night out in Noosa. Choose your favourite flowing frocks and glide over to Miss Moneypenny’s where you can join a cocktail class to learn how to mix up the perfect rose petal martini.

Noosa Blue Resort

Top rated
Noosa Heads
8.8 Excellent (3585 reviews)

A weekend getaway for foodies and art lovers alike

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If you and your friends love roaming through galleries and discussing the art over a coffee or glass of wine then consider Hobart your ultimate escape. Home to internationally acclaimed MONA (Museum of Old and New Art), the city also boasts a thriving art and food scene with many galleries, cafes and restaurants to explore.

Your art fix begins as soon as you check into The Henry Jones Art Hotel, where the walls are adorned with pieces by established and emerging Tasmanian artists. Freshen up in your room before heading to the IXL Long Bar for a pre-dinner cocktail with your favourite friends. Our pick would be the flaming ‘Island of Fire’ whiskey-based tipple accompanied by oysters and croquettes from the bar snack menu. They are sure to get the conversation flowing!

You are bound to spend a full day at MONA exploring the many rooms and unusual experiences of this unique museum, built into the side of a cliff. Compare notes on your favourite pieces at one of the museum’s subterranean bars or sit outside on the patio of the Moorilla bar with a glass of sparkling wine from the local estate. For the ultimate foodie indulgence book a table at The Source and settle in for a long ladies lunch over the Chef’s Table degustation menu.

The Henry Jones Art

Top rated
Hobart
9.6 Excellent (1816 reviews)

A girls' weekend full of shopping

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A shopping trip to Melbourne is a top choice for a girls getaway. Even better if you feel like dancing at one of the city’s stylish nightclubs. Melbourne’s chic shops and boutiques are full of sleek outfits that are sure to sparkle on the dancefloor.

Right in the heart of the action, Collins Hotel is close to international designer boutiques on Collins Street and Australian high-street favourites at Emporium. The major department stores are close by in the Bourke Street Mall, while a stroll through Melbourne’s quaint laneways uncovers fun boutiques like Miss Louise, which is a shoe lover’s heaven. Your whole gang are sure to return to the hotel laden with bags and new outfits to try on.

Book a suite at the hotel so you can get your glam on together in the spacious open plan living area before heading out on the town. At Spice Market, you can reserve one of the elegant lounge areas with a personal attendant that will keep your drinks topped up while you dance with your friends to the latest house beats.

Collins Hotel

Melbourne
8.1 Very good (5687 reviews)

A girls' weekend away in nature

Press the reset button on your hectic lives and get back to nature on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island. This pristine wilderness has all the fresh air and ocean sea breezes you need to recharge your batteries and reconnect with your closest friends.

Pack your hiking boots and enjoy some of the many walking trails on the island together. Choose from long rambles through rainforests and past waterholes or short strolls along beaches to the monumental Remarkable Rocks. Keep an eye out for local wildlife along the way. Of course, you will see many kangaroos but the island’s main attraction is the sea lion population at Seal Bay.

After all that exercise, the Aurora Ozone is the perfect place to relax and recount your adventures. The hotel has three-bedroom townhouses perfect for large groups and a large restaurant featuring local produce and seafood overlooking Nepean Bay. Try the lamb cutlets served with King Island potatoes.

Aurora Ozone Hotel

Kingscote
7.8 Good (1193 reviews)

A weekend getaway for wellness and wine

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Imagine yourself lounging in a natural thermal pool surrounded by your nearest and dearest friends. At the Peninsula Hot Springs on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, you can book a private pool experience and catch up on each other’s news as you relax in the warm mineral waters. Make a day of it and add a rejuvenating Dreamtime stone massage designed to cleanse and rejuvenate body and mind.

The Mornington Peninsula is also known for its cool climate wines. At Montalto, they will prepare a sumptuous picnic feast for your friends accompanied by their award-winning Chardonnay in the grounds of their estate. Or treat yourselves to elegant dining and a walk in the sculpture park at Point Leo Estate.

Make sure to pick up a bottle or two of wine at the cellar door to enjoy at your hotel. Moonlight Bay Apartments, in the seaside town of Rye, offers two-bedroom apartments with lounge areas and self-catering facilities, so you can enjoy your wine discoveries together with a cheese plate before retiring to bed.

Moonlight Bay Apartments

Top rated
Rye
9.1 Excellent (613 reviews)

A girls' weekend away to the countryside

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It’s a three-and-a-half hour drive to Mudgee from Sydney, but it’s worth the road trip. This tiny country town in central New South Wales is winning accolades from far and wide for its thriving food culture and premium local produce.

After the long drive, enjoy the very best regional hospitality at The Horatio, located in the town centre. The hotel offers comfortable rooms and a swimming pool for cooling off on those extra hot summer days. Gather in the cosy lounge and bar before your reservation at The Zin House.

This farm-to-table restaurant showcases organic and biodynamic produce including Angus beef, figs and hazelnuts from the estate. Their five-course menu should be enjoyed slowly over long conversations among friends.

Why not make the road trip extra fun by renting a convertible so your besties can cruise along the highway in style, singing along to your favourite tunes Thelma and Louise style.

The Horatio

Top rated
Mudgee
9.4 Excellent (1016 reviews)

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