Embrace the winter chill at these Australian country hotels

Winter has well and truly arrived, and with the cool days, long nights and occasional need for an extra layer of clothing comes a perfect excuse to warm up with a gourmet escape. There are some sensational ones to choose from too.

Although our capital cities certainly have winter luxury down to a fine art – we’re looking at you, Melbourne and Hobart – they’re not the only places where we can relax, de-stress, and give your batteries a midyear recharge. The regions are also worth exploring.

With that in mind, here are 11 beautiful country hotels and retreats worth checking into.

Hotel Vera, Ballarat, VIC

Breathing new life into a glorious nineteenth century mansion, Hotel Vera in Ballarat is among the newest and most enticing regional escapes in Victoria. One look at the plush, contemporary interiors of its seven suites is all you need to understand why.

The boutique hotel opened in January 2023, and was an instant hit.

Each one has its own distinct personality, from the emerald-rich Kingston (designed to mimic the greenery of the shire) to the fiery reds of Tourello, which echo the volcanic soil. The latter is wheelchair accessible too, with appropriate height and access amenities.

Hotel Vera is home to Underbar, a 14-seater fine dining venue from chef Derek Boath.

Bathrooms are white with sleek brass fittings and black trims, plus contains lotions from Salus in Melbourne, as well as Dyson hairdryers. Mini-bars are stocked with local treats and cocktails, while continental breakfast is available for Friday and Saturday stays.

Halcyon House, Cabarita, NSW

Though oft-overshadowed by nearby Gold Coast and Byron Bay, The Tweed region in far north NSW is one full of surprises. World class galleries and arts precincts, a globally adored distillery and barefoot beach towns plucked from nostalgic memories, to name a few.

Each stay includes à la carte breakfast, complimentary mini bar and more.

The hotel situation is no exception – and Halcyon House is a prime example. Because, though it may look like a typical beach motel from the outside, within is overflowing with opulence and indulgence, from the eclectic decor to its hatted restaurant, Paper Daisy.

Chef Jason Barratt (ex Attica and Rae’s on Wategos) is at the helm of Paper Daisy.

Only 15 minutes from the Gold Coast airport, its 19 rooms make a stellar retreat from the nightly embrace of winter, while the mostly-sunny days typically hover around an inviting 20 degrees. Whichever way you look at it, that’s an escape worth travelling for.

Osborn House, Southern Highlands, NSW

An eccentric designer retreat where no two rooms are the same, Osborn House is one of the region’s most exciting new additions. Why? Because it’s stunning from top to bottom, transforming a 1892 guesthouse for the modern era, while adding a lightning bolt of character. 

Dinah’s is an exclusive dining venue for hotel guests only.

Featuring 15 luxury suites and seven free-standing cabins, each with a romantic fireplace and balcony bathtub, it’s a masterclass of emotional design, with the award-winning behind it saying you could visit multiple times and have a completely different experience. 

No two guests rooms are the same, making each visit a potentially different experience.

Just two hours from both Sydney and Canberra, with spectacular views to neighbouring Morton National Park, Osborn House is home to two fabulous restaurants – George’s and Dinah’s – as well as a day spa offering acupressure massages, wraps, facials and more.

Pumphouse Point, Central Highlands, TAS

Perched above the sleeping waters of Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest lake, Pumphouse Point is a unique, former industrial site turned luxury hideaway – a place where visitors can breathe in the surrounding Wilderness World Heritage Area, exploring by day and indulging by night. 

The former industrial site has been transformed into a luxury hideaway.

Despite its utilitarian role, feeding water into the state’s hydroelectricity network, it was built more like an Art Deco theatre than a remote industrial outpost. This prompted Australian developer Simon Currant AM to embark on an 18 year passion project to transform it. 

Spring temperatures are perfectly suited to exploring the surrounds by bike.

Located around 2 hours 30 minutes from Hobart, the boutique hotel features just 19 rooms in total: including 12 above the water in the Pumphouse and six on land in the Shorehouse, together with a striking one-bedroom hideaway known as The Retreat. 

The Retreat is a gorgeous free-standing hideaway gazing out to the Pumphouse.
Adam Gibson

Relaxing in-house massages, delicious share table dinners, inspiring bushwalks and e-bike rides along trails, and feasts by the fire are just a few ways to fill your days and nights.

Brae Guest Suites, Otways, VIC

Dan Hunter is one of Australia’s most talented chefs. His three-hatted destination restaurant Brae, nestled amid 30 acres of beautiful organic farmland south of Geelong, is regularly named among the best in the country. And it has accommodation onsite too. 

Brae Restaurant is set on an organic farm in Birregurra, approx. 130kms southwest of Melbourne.
Kristoffer Paulsen

Rather than dine and dash, Brae Guest Suites invites you to stay on. After a seasonal degustation lunch that showcases local produce, enjoy a stroll through the property, maybe venture out for a drive, and then retire to your environmentally-conscious suite. 

A Thorens turntable and vinyl record collection are on-hand to help set the holiday mood.
Colin Page

Filled with custom artworks, each suite features a king bed and stargazing skylight, cocktail bar and vinyl collection, and private outdoor area with views to The Otways. When you wake up, tuck into a house-made breakfast of wood-fired sourdough, pastries and preserves. 

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range National Park, WA

Low-impact luxury alongside the world’s largest fringing reef. Sal Salis is a place where you can while away the hours in your hammock, stroll 50m down to the beach and be surrounded by a rainbow of marine life, and then feast on five star food and wine. 

Low impact luxury on the edge of Ningaloo Reef.

Featuring 16 off-grid glamping tents, the all-inclusive experience includes meals, an open bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and national park fees, together with complimentary kayaks, snorkel gear, guided wilderness activities and more.

Fine food and fabulous wine are part of the Sal Salis experience.

The cooler months also see the arrival of the whake sharks, with an opportunity to swim with these slow-moving, gentle giants of the sea one you won’t forget in a hurry.

Mount Lofty House, Adelaide Hills, SA

Just 15 minutes from Adelaide CBD, Mount Lofty House is one of the best luxury hotels in Australia. Built in 1852 as a summer home for a wealthy statesman, the estate exudes heritage charm from all angles. It was also recently named number one hotel in Australasia by TripAdvisor. 

Mount Lofty House is surrounded by botanic gardens and boutique wineries.

In addition to 33 guest rooms, the five-star hotel features a late night lounge bar and three-Chef Hatted restaurant Hardy’s Verandah, as well as the pampering Gatekeeper’s Day Spa. There are also extensive gardens to explore, and a library to lose yourself in a good book. 

The view from Hardy's Verandah is a perfect accompaniment to its degustation menus.

Taking full advantage of its fertile Adelaide Hills location, Hardy’s Verandah plates up seasonal, locally-inspired four- to seven-course degustation menus, paired with a multi-award-winning selection of premium wines and sake, as well as creative cocktails.

Mona Farm, Southern Tablelands, NSW

Mona Farm is much more than a working sheep and cattle station. Set on an historic 124-acre estate at Braidwood, less than an hour from Canberra and three hours from Sydney, it offers an authentic taste of country life with an artistic, modern twist. 

Art is a key element of the regional hotel's experience.

Though dating back to 1836, contemporary art and sculpture form a large part of the Mona Farm DNA, with no less than 18 installations by Australian and international artists dotted throughout the property. The emphasis on art continues with the guest quarters too. 

Guests can enjoy delicious pre-prepared meals by Executive Chef, Tristan Rebbettes.

Each of the seven beautifully-restored houses on the property – including The Homestead built in 1853, and The Coach House built in 1903 – are adorned with beautifully curated art and statement pieces, yet still retain much of their original character and charm. 

The Shearer’s Quarters is the newest addition to the property, though it dates back to 1873.

Feeling peckish? Guests can enjoy delicious pre-prepared meals by Executive Chef, Tristan Rebbettes, one of the finalists in the 2022 Good Food ‘Young Chef of the Year’ Award.

Cape Lodge, Yallingup, WA

On the sunny west coast, there are two words you need to know: Cape Lodge. Three hours south of Perth, enveloped by the acclaimed Margaret River wine region, this local favourite is one of the best winery stays in Australia.

The lodge has 22 secluded rooms and a magnificent 5-bedroom private luxury Residence.

Featuring 22 rooms spaced throughout 40 acres, the hotel welcomes just 44 guests at one time. It also boasts an award-winning restaurant, private vineyard, and inviting pool and day spa. Like every good manor estate, there’s even a croquet court. 

Cape Lodge's menu is driven by local and seasonal produce.

Beyond its stunning lakes and lush gardens, the wonders of Margaret River are within easy reach. Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle Wines, Voyager Estate and Cullen Wines are just a handful of the renowned wineries worth taking time to visit nearby.

Blackbird, Byron Bay, NSW

Australia’s most easterly holiday town, Byron Bay requires little introduction. Its beautiful beaches and bars are world-renowned. Yet just a short drive from the coast lies its greatest secret: the emerald green hinterland, dotted with colourful towns and rolling farms.

Sunrise over Byron Bay, Australia's most easterly point.

Blackbird, a luxury bed and breakfast in the hills behind Mullumbimby, is one of the region's most underrated getaways. Accessed via a scenic drive, the former banana farm and packing shed was reborn as a modernist dream of glass and steel a little over five years ago.

It's a character-filled retreat with plenty of calls back to its rural heritage.

Adorned with reclaimed timber and polished concrete floors, each of its light and bright pavilions is like the pages of an interior design magazine brought to life. Best of all, every one is angled to take full advantage of sunrise across the Pacific Ocean.

Raise a glass poolside at Blackbird, in the hills behind Mullumbimby.

Breakfast is served at the poolside pavilion each morning. While there’s no onsite restaurant, cocktails and seasonal dinners prepared by private chefs can be arranged in advance.

Mount Mulligan Lodge, Northern Outback, QLD

Hidden in the rugged bushland of Northern Queensland is perhaps the last place you’d expect to find an all-inclusive luxury resort. But then, Mount Mulligan Lodge, set on an almost 70,000-acre estate 180kms west of Cairns, is no ordinary outback property. 

The lodge is surrounded by dense bushland, some 180kms west of Cairns.

Part of the Northern Escape Collection, which operates the similarly enchanting Orpheus Island, the lodge welcomes just 20 guests, with barramundi fishing, chef-prepared picnics, visits to abandoned townships and mines, and stargazing a handful of the activities on offer. 

How's the serenity? Mount Mulligan Lodge offers a chance to get back to nature.

There are four stunning room types, with each assigned an electric buggy to help guests zip around between the Main Pavilion and Sunset Bar. There’s also a glamping option too. 

Mount Mulligan Lodge is a rare, precious gem in the outback.

Food and wine are essential elements of the experience, with an extensive wine cellar and menus featuring the likes of kangaroo tataki and grass-fed beef with charred peppers and smoked chimichurri. The seven-course degustation under the stars is a highlight.

Looking for something a little more extravagant? Take a look at Austrlia’s best luxury hotels and resorts.