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The Best Remote Luxury Stays in Australia for Disappearing in Style
From island seclusion to outback silence, these are the stays where distance is the luxury and the landscape does all the talking.
The best luxury stays aren’t always found in the middle of the action. Sometimes they’re perched above a windswept coastline, tucked away on a reef-fringed island or hidden deep within the outback. These are Australia’s best remote luxury stays, where breathtaking landscapes, thoughtful design and five-star hospitality make every kilometre travelled worthwhile.
In This Guide
Best Remote Luxury Stay: South Australia
Southern Ocean Lodge
For the kind of escape where the soundtrack is crashing waves and the nearest city feels a lifetime away, Southern Ocean Lodge is hard to beat. Set on Kangaroo Island’s remote south-west coast, this award-winning retreat combines dramatic clifftop scenery with all-inclusive luxury, immersive wildlife experiences and thoughtful design inspired by the island’s raw beauty.
Rebuilt after the 2020 bushfires, the lodge’s sweeping curved architecture mirrors the wind-sculpted coastline, with every suite opening onto uninterrupted Southern Ocean views. Days unfold over locally inspired dining, spa rituals shaped by nature and curated island experiences that showcase Kangaroo Island’s wildlife and producers.
Location: Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island
Price Guide: $$$
Best For: Luxury, remote escapes, coastal, nature lovers, wellness
Book your stay with Southern Ocean Lodge
Best Remote Luxury Stay: Victoria
Alkina Lodge
Victoria’s wild coastline feels a world away at Alkina Lodge, where complete privacy replaces the bustle of the Great Ocean Road. Set among rolling farmland on the edge of Great Otway National Park, this architect-designed retreat is the state’s most secluded luxury stay within reach of the Twelve Apostles.
Each of the three private residences is crafted with natural stone, expansive glass and contemporary interiors, opening onto sweeping bushland views. Guests can explore nearby beaches and coastal trails before returning to spacious living areas, designer kitchens and uninterrupted night skies that make the experience feel quietly removed from everything else.
Location: Alkina Lodge, Great Otway National Park
Price Guide: $$$
Best For: Luxury, remote escapes, couples, nature lovers, bush
Book your stay with Alkina Lodge
Book your stay with Booking.com
Best Remote Luxury Stay: New South Wales
Capella Lodge
With visitor numbers strictly capped and access only by a short flight from the mainland, Lord Howe Island is one of Australia’s most exclusive destinations, and Capella Lodge is its crown jewel. Set beneath the dramatic peaks of Mount Gower and Mount Lidgbird, overlooking a turquoise lagoon, this intimate retreat delivers five-star island luxury in one of the country’s most protected environments.
Suites open onto sweeping ocean views, while all-inclusive dining showcases premium Australian produce and fresh seafood. Between guided hikes, reef snorkelling, sunset drinks and bespoke island experiences, every stay is designed to immerse guests in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape that defines the island.
Location: Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island
Price Guide: $$$
Best For: Luxury, remote escapes, coastal, nature lovers, adventure
Need to Know: Accessible only by a short flight from the mainland, with visitor numbers to Lord Howe Island strictly capped.
Book your stay with Capella Lodge
Best Remote Luxury Stay: Queensland
Lizard Island Resort
Accessible only by private charter flight, Lizard Island Resort is one of Australia’s most remote island luxury escapes. Set within a national park on the northern Great Barrier Reef, the resort is surrounded by coral reefs, white-sand beaches and turquoise waters that feel entirely removed from the mainland.
Elegant suites and villas are designed for barefoot luxury, with the reef just steps away. Guests can snorkel or dive straight from the beach, explore 24 private beaches, or unwind with long lunches and sunset dining overlooking the Coral Sea. It is one of the few places in Australia where the reef feels like part of your everyday surroundings.
Location: Lizard Island Resort, Great Barrier Reef
Price Guide: $$$
Best For: Luxury, remote escapes, coastal, nature lovers, honeymoon
Need to Know: Accessible only by private charter flight.
Book your stay with Lizard Island Resort
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Best Remote Luxury Stay: Tasmania
The Keep
Set high in Goulds Country, The Keep is a wildly romantic, adults-only escape perched on a 650-metre granite outcrop overlooking the Blue Tier and Tasmania’s remote north-east. A private stone tower for two, this is seclusion dialled right up, with sweeping 360-degree views, tactile timber-and-stone interiors, and a handcrafted granite fireplace designed for slow, fire-lit evenings.
Outside, a sculptural granite bath sits exposed to the elements, while private walking tracks wind through the property. It’s immersive, cinematic and completely self-contained.
Location: The Keep, Goulds Country
Price Guide: $$$
Best For: Couples, remote escapes, luxury, honeymoon, bush
Need to Know: Adults-only.
Best Remote Luxury Stay: Western Australia
El Questro Homestead
If your idea of switching off means 700,000 acres of Kimberley wilderness, El Questro Homestead is about as remote as luxury gets. Hidden among burnt-orange cliffs above Chamberlain Gorge, this adults-only retreat combines all-inclusive hospitality with one of Australia’s most dramatic outback landscapes.
With just a handful of suites overlooking the river, days are spent cruising gorges, soaking in the exclusive Zebedee Thermal Springs, exploring ancient landscapes and joining guided wilderness experiences. Evenings unfold over long-table dining and matched wines beneath vast Kimberley skies, far removed from everyday life.
Location: El Questro Homestead, Chamberlain Gorge
Price Guide: $$$
Best For: Luxury, remote escapes, adventure, nature lovers, couples
Need to Know: Adults-only retreat.
Book your stay with El Questro Homestead
Book your stay with Booking.com
Best Remote Luxury Stay: Northern Territory
Longitude 131°
For the kind of escape where red desert replaces city skyline, Longitude 131° delivers one of Australia’s most iconic remote luxury stays. Set in the heart of the Red Centre overlooking Uluru, this intimate lodge offers front-row views of one of the world’s most recognisable natural landmarks.
With just 16 luxury tents, the experience is designed for immersion. Guests wake to Uluru views from their bed, explore the surrounding desert on guided experiences, and end the day with sundowners as the rock changes colour at sunset. Evenings bring open-air dining under a sky filled with stars and spa treatments inspired by native botanicals.
Location: Longitude 131°, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Price Guide: $$$
Best For: Luxury, remote escapes, couples, special occasion, nature lovers
Book your stay with Longitude 131°
FAQs
Properties like Lizard Island Resort in Queensland and Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island rank among the most remote, both accessible only by flight rather than road. Lizard Island Resort requires a private charter flight and sits within a national park on the northern Great Barrier Reef, while Capella Lodge is reached by a short flight to Lord Howe Island, where visitor numbers are strictly capped. El Questro Homestead in the Kimberley, The Keep on its granite outcrop in Tasmania’s north-east, and Longitude 131° overlooking Uluru are similarly remote, each set deep within landscapes far removed from any city.
Each state offers a distinct take on remote luxury. South Australia’s Southern Ocean Lodge delivers clifftop coastal drama on Kangaroo Island, while Victoria’s Alkina Lodge offers secluded farmland privacy near the Twelve Apostles. Queensland’s Lizard Island Resort and New South Wales’ Capella Lodge both centre on reef and island immersion, Tasmania’s The Keep offers a single stone tower perched above the Blue Tier, and Western Australia’s El Questro Homestead and the Northern Territory’s Longitude 131° showcase outback and desert landscapes. The best choice depends on whether a coastal, reef, or outback experience is the priority.
Many of Australia’s remote luxury lodges operate on an all-inclusive basis, with Southern Ocean Lodge, Capella Lodge, El Questro Homestead and Longitude 131° all built around this model, bundling dining, wines, and guided experiences into the nightly rate. This structure suits the remote settings, where few or no alternative dining options exist nearby. Guests should confirm exactly what is included, such as spa treatments, activities, or airport transfers, directly with each property before booking, as inclusions vary between lodges.
The Keep in Tasmania is built specifically for two, a private stone tower with a granite bath and fireplace designed for slow, fire-lit evenings, making it one of the most deliberately romantic options in the country. Longitude 131° is another strong choice for couples, with just 16 tents overlooking Uluru and a sunset ritual built into the daily experience. Alkina Lodge in Victoria and El Questro Homestead’s adults-only policy also suit couples seeking privacy, whether in secluded Victorian farmland or an outback gorge setting.
Timing varies significantly by region given the geographic spread of these properties. Longitude 131° near Uluru is best visited during the cooler months from April to September, avoiding the extreme heat of central Australian summer, while El Questro Homestead’s Kimberley location has a dry season from May to October that suits outback exploration. The Keep in Tasmania’s north-east is well suited to the cooler months for its fire-lit interiors, though the exposed outdoor granite bath has particular appeal in warmer weather too. Coastal and island properties like Southern Ocean Lodge, Capella Lodge and Lizard Island Resort are more temperate year-round, though cyclone season (November to April) can affect parts of Queensland. Checking seasonal conditions for the specific region is worthwhile before booking.
If these remote escapes are already on your wishlist, keep exploring with our edit of Australia’s most unique stays and the best new hotels is full of inspiration for your next unforgettable getaway.
