Luxury holidays around Australia for a well-deserved weekend of pampering

For luxury holidays with a nautical theme, check out Mantra Aqueous on Port. Close to the beach end of Macrossan Street, you’re perfectly placed to experience everything the Coral Sea town has to offer.

Wake in the tranquil bedroom of a teal-accented Spa Apartment and indulge in a doorstep dip thanks to your private swim-out pool deck. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, skip over the road to Betty’s Bohemian Beach Cafe for decadent ricotta pancakes before a leisurely meander along the crystalline Four Mile Beach.

Spend lazy afternoons on a sleek sunlounger by one of the hotel’s four lagoon pools with an icy cocktail. Alternatively, drop by the tour desk and arrange an awe-inspiring cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef—snorkelling the cerulean waters surrounded by turtles and tropical fish is an experience you’ll remember for years to come.

Return to your room to wash off the salt and sand before an evening meal at next-door Zinc Restaurant & Lounge Bar. Wash down rich Tasmanian salmon with a chilled lychee bellini before watching the stars come out from the spa bath on your private balcony.

An exquisite adults-only destination among the top luxury resorts in Australia, Whitsundays Rainforest Retreat sits on nearly nine acres of verdant property. Though you’re only a five-minute drive from the thumping nightlife at Airlie Beach, you’d never know it when you arrive to the hotel’s soothing soundtrack of birdsong and rustling palms.

For the utmost in opulence, book into the King Honeymoon Suite if you’re here to reignite some romance—or even if you just like extra space for yourself! Glide through Italian marble interiors to the private terrace, where you can take in panoramic views of the Coral Sea from the bubbling depths of your very own hot tub.

Mornings begin with a splash when you visit the hotel’s indoor pool or stroll along the sparkling waterfront. Afterwards, drop into local favourite Fat Frog Beach Cafe for dukkah poached eggs and a foamy cappuccino. For some post-brekkie exercise, wander the sandy shoreline to Shingley Beach and try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding.

You’ll be back in time for that afternoon massage you booked on your way out (clever you), then a blissed-out nap in a gently swaying hammock while your other half prepares a gourmet dinner of lobster and prawns on the communal barbecue.

Strap in for some serious pampering when you head to the mist-shrouded Blue Mountains at Parklands Country Garden & Lodges. Your first stop will be the gleaming Parklands Day Spa, where you can skim the decadent service menu for the treatment that speaks just to you. We recommend the two-hour Volcanic Stone Ritual, where an expert therapist will apply fragrant blended oils to add to the sensory experience. Afterwards, land in a lavish Loft Suite for a sound sleep in your Sealy Posturepedic Dynasty Series king-size bed—or what some just call heaven.

Just an 18-minute walk away is the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre where you can learn about Aboriginal history. Afterwards, set out on a local walking trail to take in the magnificent terrain for yourself. Return to the hotel for afternoon high tea featuring petite pastries and finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and a variety of specialty teas at the hotel’s own Hydro Majestic fine-dining spot. Or, just recline with a coffee in the quiet confines of your room until cocktail hour arrives.

That’s when you’ll want to slip into your finest attire and stake out a table in Darley’s Restaurant for a seven-course extravaganza; think foie gras mousse, scampi tartar and wagyu ribeye. Come morning, the sun rising over forested peaks will wake you gently—as will a refreshing rainshower elevated by complimentary Appelles toiletries.

Arrive at historic Parliament Place and begin unwinding in style at the five-star Park Hyatt Melbourne—and what better way to do so than a graceful dive into the aquamarine pool?

For the epitome of grandeur, pass under a marble entryway and set your bags down in the Presidential Suite. You’ll want to seek out the expansive bathroom and dip into your deep soaking tub—just put in a quick call to room service first. That way, you’ll emerge to a rich supper of freshly made pasta laid out on your gleaming mahogany dining table. For a low-key end to the night, curl up in your private library with a time-tested classic or a gripping new read.

When you rise the next morning, feast on a selection of fruits, cheeses and other continental delights at on-site Radii Restaurant & Bar. You might challenge your travel partner to a game on the outdoor tennis court, then ease any aching muscles in the hotel’s steamy sauna.

If you make the eight-minute walk to world-famous Queen Victoria Market, you’ll browse a wide selection eye-popping wares, fresh fruits and veg. Bring back your delectable purchases to prepare in-room and raid the minibar for a cheeky tipple—though it might just lead to belting out a tune at your suite’s grand piano!

The Mayfair Hotel is a five-star haven for glamour seekers in the centre of artistic Adelaide. Elegance is standard here, as you’ll see from your room expertly finished with marble-topped tables, handcrafted wardrobes and custom-made beds. You can even emulate the life of a royal in one of three Executive Mayfair King Suites.

Freshen up first thing with complimentary L’Occitane toiletries so you’re ready to rub shoulders with the hotel’s alluring clientele (Kardashian-style sunnies not required). Downstairs, a satisfying buffet breakfast awaits you in the sophisticated Mayflower Restaurant and Bar. If all the glitz isn’t quite your style, opt for a quiet cup of Nespresso over the morning paper delivered to your door, then sneak out for buttery baked goods in downtown Adelaide’s Central Market (an 11-minute walk away).

Work off any croissant-given calories with some power shopping along bustling Rundle Mall. Pick up some souvenirs for loved ones back home, or select something special to wear out later on the glass-topped terrace of the hotel’s own Hennessy Rooftop Bar. You’ll sip premium champagne beneath glittering chandeliers and catch breathtaking views over the city as the moon rises and stars emerge in the inky skies. Should you indulge in a tipple too many, a sweat session in the on-site gym in the morning will sort you out.

Close to the sizzle of Salamanca Square is Tasmania’s famed Lenna of Hobart. This exquisite sandstone mansion dates back to 1874, but you’ll be amazed at how effortlessly it blends historic elegance with modern touches for a truly luxurious stay.

If you’ve arrived early, leave your bags at reception and grab a silky flat white at Brooke Street Larder (and perhaps a luscious lemon tart). Jump on a ferry to the world-renowned MONA for an unforgettable foray into the inspiring world of art, so you’ll come out the other side with your horizons that little bit broader. On your return to the hotel, you’ll be ready for a drool-worthy dinner of red seafood curry and vanilla panna cotta in the Chandelier Lounge Bar.

With your suite now ready, head up to your space to end the evening with a little something from your private minibar. If you booked the plush Harbour View King Suite, you’ll rise from your king-size bed to views over Hobart’s glittering waterfront bobbing with majestic icebreakers just back from Antarctica.

Start your day with the help of complimentary Appelles Apothecary & Lab toiletries in your walk-in shower while wake-up tunes blast from the iPod dock. After a breakfast of maple syrup-drenched hotcakes at on-site Alexander’s Restaurant, meander the shops and galleries of Castray Esplanade for a dose of Tassie culture.

Port Fairy’s super cool Drift House is the place to stay if you value laidback luxury in a central spot. With just six suites (each stocked with bougie touches like open fireplaces and specially commissioned art pieces), your hosts can give you personalised attention here.

Book Suite Five to rise early after a sumptuous sleep in brushed cotton bedding and catch the sun casting its orange rays over your private veranda. Pad along to breakfast and enjoy a complimentary ‘Super-Continental’ spread of locally-sourced delights like artisan sourdough bread, mouthwatering Tilsit cheese and Irrewarra Estate granola.

For a morning out, walk 20 minutes to Griffiths Island and marvel at the magnificent mouth of the Moyne River. The Wharf @ Port Fairy is an easy stop on your way back to the hotel for a tas box of hot fish and chips.

Back at your ‘home’ digs, you can drift lazily in the solar-heated swimming pool as afternoon turns to evening or retreat to your luxe space for a long soak in your own stone tub. And to make your bath that bit more luxurious, delve into your in-room Maxibar—a special touch unique to the Drift House—and retrieve essential oil candles, homemade biscuits and Crawford River wines.

Serenity, spa vibes and Japanese stylings are what you’ll find at the five-star Azabu Boutique Accommodation Byron Bay. Located within the tree-lined grounds of a five-acre property, this beguiling hotel is a feast for every one of your senses. Set your bags down in a Queen Spa Room while the perfumes of the forest fill your tranquil space, then kick off the pampering with a long, velvety soak behind a traditional Shoji screen in your sunken spa bath.

Relaxation is the order of the day here, so you’ll want to follow a refreshing dip in the resort-style pool with some time in the hotel’s own day spa. We’ve heard that a zen body polish is a perfect prelude to a soothing massage. For a real treat, you can spend three blissful hours experiencing the Luxury Pamper Package.

Afterwards, you’ll sip Japanese tea and slowly reconnect with your surroundings to the sound of ethereal flute music before retiring to your room’s spacious forest balcony. Settle in for a reviving night’s sleep in your Japanese-inspired queen bed, so you’ll have ample energy to tuck into a nourishing breakfast of Brookfarm macadamia and cranberry muesli with steaming hot organic coffee in the morning.