Top 10 beach retreats in Australia to visit in 2020
As a beautiful island nation bounded by sea, with some 10,000 beaches dotted along its shoreline, Australia has some truly impressive and luxurious beach retreats to match.
From the tropical warmth of the Great Barrier Reef to the southern shores of the Fleurieu Peninsula and beyond, here are 10 of the best Australian beach retreats to visit in 2020, with Halcyon House as your first port of call (of course).
1. Halcyon House – Tweed Coast, NSW
Australian beachside hotels don’t get better than this. Halcyon House in Cabarita offers everything you could dream of – and more. Transformed from small town surf motel into one of Australia’s most highly awarded boutique hotels, it’s a destination in itself with sophisticated guest rooms and suites, a glamorous beachfront pool and terrace, and divine spa sanctuary to help to relax and rebalance. ‘Good Food Guide’ hatted restaurant Paper Daisy, led by award-winning chef Jason Barratt, is the icing on this delicious cake.
2. Zen Beach Retreat – Bargara, QLD
A blissful hideaway on the Southern Great Barrier Reef, close to the rum-loving mecca of Bundaberg, Zen Beach Retreat is a sanctuary of calm just a hop, skip and a jump from the sands of Bargara beach. Surrounded by tropical gardens, this boutique hosted retreat features big, bright and colourful guest rooms, and welcomes just 24 guests at a time.
3. Pullman Bunker Bay Resort – Margaret River Region, WA
On the sunny south west coast of WA, Pullman Bunker Bay Resort offers two getaways in one – a blissful beachside retreat and an indulgent wine lover’s escape, with the vineyards of Margaret River wine region practically on its doorstep. The self-contained villas each offer space and privacy, while the restaurant offers amazing food, wine and views to match.
4. Kings Beach Retreats – Fleurieu Peninsula, SA
If you love a room with a view, Kings Beach Retreats is a name you need to remember. Just over an hour drive from Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula, each of its warm and inviting houses take full advantage of their incredible oceanside setting. The surrounding headlands are a haven of biodiversity too, with no less than 100 bird species sighted nearby.
5. Lizard Island – Great Barrier Reef, QLD
Turquoise waters teeming with marine life, glorious white sand beaches, and palms casting dappled shadows on the ground; Lizard Island is one of the most famous beach retreats Australia. Set amidst a 1,013-hectare national park, it’s more than just an awarded beachside destination – it’s paradise. With 24 private beaches to choose from, and just 40 rooms on the island, this intimate hideaway is all your Great Barrier Reef dreams rolled into one.
6. Eco Beach Resort – Broome, WA
The Kimberley Coast is one of Western Australia’s most remote, untouched and under-visited destinations. It’s time to change that. With deep red cliffs, beautiful blue seas, and blindingly white beaches, it’s every inch the picture-perfect destination – and offers plenty of thrills for those willing to make the trip. Ramada Eco Beach Broome is a perfect base to discover this pristine region, with 25 luxurious Eco Villas linked by more than a kilometre of elevated wooden boardwalks, as well as 30 safari-style Eco Tents.
7. Intercontinental Hayman Island – Whitsunday Islands, QLD
One of the Whitsundays’ newest getaways, InterContinental Hayman Island is seriously luxe. Each of its 168 bright and breezy rooms, villas and suites is designed to take advantage of its Queensland location. Floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular views, furnishings you just want to reach out and touch… every angle is ready for a close-up. Throw in sophisticated dining and bespoke local experiences that take you behind the façade and showcase the best of the island, and you have an experience worth writing home about.
8. Elements of Byron – Byron Bay, NSW
Byron may have a reputation for alternate lifestyles, but it also knows a thing or two about luxury. Surrounded by nature, the award-winning Elements of Byron is one of the town’s premier accommodation options, with private villas set amidst beautiful bushland and a lagoon swimming pool that is absolutely to die for. Relax at the onsite day spa, find a patch of sand at Belongil Beach, or climb aboard the solar train for a ride into the town centre.
9. Castaways Mission Beach – Tropical North Queensland, QLD
Between the reef and the rainforest, Castaways Resort & Spa is a stunning property on the waterfront at Mission Beach. Though the name conjures images of deserted islands and volleyballs named Wilson, there’s no need to rough it here thanks to the onsite restaurant and bar, day spa, and gorgeous cascading swimming pool. Choose from three stylish room options and let the relaxation wash over you like the lapping waves on the beach outside.
10. Peppers The Sands Resort – Great Ocean Road, VIC
When you want to retreat beachside in Victoria, the Great Ocean Road is where you need to be. There are plenty of great options to choose from but Peppers The Sands Resort in Torquay is up there with the best. Fill your mornings exploring the region, fit in a few holes of golf in the afternoon, and then indulge in gourmet dining at Hanners Restaurant.
