Our Favorite Luxury Lodges and Hotels

In addition to spectacular landscapes, rich cultural heritage and outstanding food and wine, Australia has some of the world’s top luxury lodges and resorts. Our favorite luxury lodges in Australia are set in extraordinary locations, capture a unique sense of place through architecture and design and offer world-class cuisine and service.

Here are some of our favorite luxury lodges and exclusive resorts that are included in our private Australia tours.

Longitude 131, Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Set amid the dunes of Australia’s vast Red Centre, Longitude 131 is a luxury tented camp that offers contemporary Outback style, gourmet cuisine, leisure facilities and unparalleled views of iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) across the desert.

With floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive decks, the standalone tented bungalows and pavilions for dining and relaxing showcase magnificent views of Uluru and the surrounding red desert landscape. Seeing the red sandstone monolith change colors throughout the day is a memorable highlight.

We arrange private touring in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the cultural and spiritual heartland of the indigenous Anangu Aboriginal people that includes Uluru and the domes of Kata Tjuta The Olgas).

Artisans of Leisure arranges unique experiences, including guided walks and hikes around the base of Uluru and Kata Tjuta, learning about the local Anangu people and the area’s significance and cultural heritage, seeing Aboriginal rock art and enjoying sunset cocktails against a backdrop of red dunes and Uluru turning fiery red in the evening light.

Lizard Island Resort, Great Barrier Reef

Lizard Island, one of Australia’s foremost luxury lodges, is spectacularly situated on a private island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

Reached by a scenic flight over the reef from Cairns, Lizard Island is an ultra-luxurious resort with tranquil beachfront accommodation, gourmet food and wine and a wealth of experiences that showcase one of Australia’s most iconic natural wonders.

Artisans of Leisure can arrange cruises to the inner and outer Great Barrier Reef, a private visit to the Lizard Island Research Station, snorkeling, scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, nature walks and more.

Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree Rainforest, Tropical North Queensland

Overlooking the Mossman River, Silky Oaks Lodge is a tranquil sanctuary set in the lush Daintree Rainforest in Tropical North Queensland. Completely refurbished in 2022, Silky Oaks offers treehouse accommodation in an understated luxurious style with floor-to-ceiling windows and private decks for an immersive experience in the ancient, UNESCO-listed Daintree.

The open-air dining pavilion set in the treetops features seasonal local produce (many ingredients come from the lodge’s kitchen garden) and sophisticated wine pairings.

The highly recommended spa overlooks the jungle canopy and incorporates indigenous wellness traditions and locally made products.

During private touring, we arrange for our travelers to take guided walks through the ancient rainforest with a wildlife expert, enjoy a private boat ride on the Mossman River, learn about the ancient culture of the First Nations Kuku Yalanji people, take part in an Aboriginal art workshop, get a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest and reef during a helicopter flight and more.

Southern Ocean Lodge, Kangaroo Island

Off the coast of Adelaide in South Australia, the legendary Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island is an exclusive eco-wilderness lodge perched on clifftops overlooking the ocean.

Featuring contemporary design that blends in with the setting and gourmet dining that showcases local produce and wines, Southern Ocean Lodge is a luxurious base for exploring Kangaroo Island’s incredible landscapes and diverse wildlife.

Large windows frame views of the untouched wilderness, and the clifftop Southern Spa incorporates traditional Aboriginal healing therapies and local products like Ligurian honey and eucalyptus.

Favorite excursions we arrange with a naturalist guide include guided hikes in the unique landscapes, exploring Flinders Chase National Park (including seeing Remarkable Rocks, unique rock formations)…

…visiting a seal colony, spotting native kangaroos and getting up close with koalas.

Kangaroo Island also has a number of artisanal food and wine experiences, including boutique vineyards, local markets and the notable Ligurian honey bees, which were introduced to the island in the 1800s.

Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania

The dramatic landscapes of Tasmania offer visitors the opportunity to see unique flora and fauna, birds and wildlife and a microclimate that results in high-quality wine and cheese. Saffire Freycinet is our favorite luxury lodge on the island, providing understated luxury in the  spectacular coastal setting of Freycinet National Park.

We love the distinctive organic architecture, luxurious contemporary suites with breathtaking views of the Hazards Mountains, wellness treatments at the exclusive day spa and fine cuisine that showcases the island’s produce.

Away from the lodge, we arrange for our travelers to enjoy immersive experiences in Tasmania’s beautiful landscapes, including a guided tour of an oyster farm, seeing endangered Tasmanian devils, a beekeeping experience, wine tasting, hiking, kayaking and birdwatching, fishing, mountain biking and more.

El Questro Homestead, The Kimberley

Dramatically perched on red limestone cliffs, El Questro Homestead is a luxurious retreat in the vast and remote wilderness of The Kimberley in Western Australia.

Set in lush gardens with ancient Baobab trees and frangipanis, the exclusive homestead (just ten rooms) on 700,000 acres offers contemporary, elegant accommodations with panoramic views over the Chamberlain River with floor-to-ceiling windows and private decks.

Gourmet meals accompanied by fine Australian wine can be enjoyed under the stars, by a waterfall, cliffside or elsewhere on the property to make the most of the spectacular setting.

The diverse landscapes of The Kimberley include hot springs, dramatic gorges, rainforests, waterfalls and rugged cliffs. Excursions from the lodge feature cultural touring to learn about the local Aboriginal history and traditions, birding, guided hikes, river cruises, wildlife tours with rangers, going for a dip in thermal springs hidden in dense vegetation, 4WD excursions, private helicopter flights to see spectacular natural wonders like the Bungle Bungle Range from the air, heli-fishing, horseback riding and more.

Bamurru Plains, Northern Territory

The tropical Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory is a region of coastal floodplains and savannah woodlands teeming with an incredible diversity of birds and wildlife. Situated on a vast private wilderness reserve, Bamurru Plains is an off-the-beaten-path luxury safari camp ideal for luxury adventure travelers wanting an immersive experience in the Australian bush.

Set on a working buffalo station in the Mary River floodplains, Bamurru Plains is known for its rustic-chic safari bungalows, gourmet cuisine and its many activities and experiences that immerse visitors in the local nature and wildlife.  Safari bungalows on stilts have mesh floor-to-ceiling “walls,” luxurious linens and en-suite bathrooms. Lodge facilities include a saltwater infinity pool overlooking the floodplain, a library and a communal space for dining.

The area is known for having the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the world and hundreds of bird species (Bamurru Plains has a birdwatching tower for enthusiasts). Favorite excursions with naturalist guides include airboat safaris, river cruises to spot crocodiles, guided wilderness walks, sundowner safaris and more.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to begin planning a private Australia tour featuring in-depth incredible landscapes, iconic sites, cultural touring, celebrated food and wine and our favorite luxury lodges throughout the country.