15 places for glamping with kids in Australia

Are you hesitant about going camping for the first time? Perhaps glamping with kids is more your style.

Australia has some of the best family glamping experiences anywhere in the world. Think quality canvas structures, stunning bathrooms,  fine dining, exclusive access to sublime locations and higher standards of comfort than the average hotel and you’re on the right track. We’ve found the most unique options that you and the family can visit this year.

The best glamping with kids in NSW

Paperbark Camp

Shoalhaven, South Coast, NSW

Tucked among eucalyptus and paperbark trees, the safari-style tents at Paperbark Camp in Jervis Bay are ideal for getting cosy in the NSW bush. Then return to the luxury of your private safari tent. Catering for kids over six, each private tent features timber floors, wraparound decks, quality bed linen, ensuites and solar-powered lighting. As well as quality bed linen and insect screens.

There are easy walking trails through mangrove forests, creek kayaking, beach swimming, snorkelling, bike hire and massage treatments.

Kings Creek Retreat

Mid North Coast, New South Wales

At Kings Creek Retreat, families can settle into spacious tipis fitted with a solid raised floor and carpet, soft furnishings, comfy beds (linen, pillows and blankets provided), electricity and plenty of insulation to protect campers from the elements. It is located in the Great Lakes Hinterland, halfway between Forster and Barrington Tops.

This cosy retreat is a farm stay and campsite combined, with a range of old-fashioned favourites to entertain nature-lovers. There is an indoor antique pianola, hockey table and board games occupy little ones. Outdoors there’s a swimming pool, lawn and ball games, a creek to explore, animal feeding and pony portrait painting.

Tanja Lagoon Camp

Sapphire Coast, NSW

Nestled among the spotted gums of Mimosa Rocks National Park, Tanja Lagoon Camp has four luxury safari tents. Each is in a secluded spot with stunning lagoon views.

The family tent, Buru, comes with a kitchen, bathroom, queen bed and enough space for three bush swags. The swags are fitted with upscale bedding and are easily moved if the kids prefer to sleep on the deck or under the stars.

Nearby will love bushwalking, swimming, kayaking, wildlife watching and campfires.

Roar and Snore at Taronga Zoo Sydney

New South Wales

The centre of Sydney might not seem like the easiest place to pitch a tent, but Taronga Zoo Sydney has proved otherwise. Their Roar and Snore experience is designed to help visitors get the very most out of their trip to the zoo, with behind-the-scenes experiences and glamorous safari-style tents to unwind in. Enjoy an exclusive night safari with some of Taronga’s passionate keepers and guides. You’ll tuck in to a delicious buffet dinner and breakfast and make the most of the campsite’s incredible harbour views. It’s the perfect family camping trip: a short journey, minimal packing and stunning views.

Glamping in Victoria

Sheltered Glamping Co

Berrys Beach, Phillip Island, Victoria

The Sheltered Glamping Co have a range of glamping tents set up on Berrys Beach.

The Emperor Safari tent is the family-friendly glamping tent on offer. It has off-grid solar power, hot showers, a gas stovetop and kitchenette, Bluetooth speaker and USB chargers. These tents are totally off-grid and the loo is a private composting toilet.

The tent has a four-poster queen bed and a king-size sleeping nook.

Werribee Open Range Zoo

Melbourne, VIC

What do you get when you cross camping with a zoo visit? Very excited kids. The Werribee Open Range Zoo’s ‘Slumber Safari’ is a camping experience your kids will absolutely adore.

Enjoy two days of exclusive animal encounters, a safari tour on the savannah at dusk, an overnight stay in a luxury tented lodge with a private bathroom, and an African-inspired dinner and breakfast. Wake up to the sound of lions roaring and step out onto your tent’s viewing balcony to witness the elephants and giraffes find their feet for a new day.

Glamping with kids in Queensland

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Gold Coast Hinterland, Queensland

Every child has jungle-clad dreams in which they have a treehouse to call their own. Fantasies reveal themselves at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Queensland’s Lamington National Park. You’ll find the retreat touch over a one-hour drive from the Gold Coast. O’Reilly’s offers two- and three-bedroom villas tucked away in the rainforests canopy. They are entirely self-contained with an ensuite in each bedroom, full kitchen and undercover parking.

Natural timber and expansive private decks strike a perfect balance with modern features. Explore the National Park’s 20,200 hectares of forest home to countless Australian wildlife and 500 waterfalls.

Read: The best of the best holiday parks in Australia

Ingenia Holidays Rivershore

Diddillibah, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Sleeping four or six, the Safari Tents at Ingenia Holidays Rivershore are paradise under canvas. The self-contained safari tents have a four-poster king bed, ensuite bathrooms, a kitchenette and calming views of the Maroochy River. Kids will love spending their days using the water slide, playground and mini-golf all in the holiday park. Families can hire kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to explore the Maroochy River.

Spicers Canopy

Southern Downs, QLD

Spicers Canopy honours family bonding amid nature and campfire chats under the stars. It is set deep within a 2,000-hectare private nature refuge, 1.5 hours from Brisbane.

Add the opulent inclusion of safari tents with king beds and verandahs, a hot-water-bottle turndown service, a hot tub, and a communal lodge with home comforts, and you have camping at its finest.

In the school holidays, families can book the ‘Spicers Canopy Family Adventure’, a two-day, two-night itinerary with daily activities to keep the little ones entertained.

South Australia glamping

Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris

Eyre Peninsula, South Australia

The remarkable outback scenery of South Australia should be on the must-see list for all Australian families. The terrain of the Gawler Ranges on the Eyre Peninsula changes from semi-desert, to eucalypt woodland, to volcanic gorges. Explore it on a two- or three-night tour with Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris and choose from two luxurious camping options.

The Luxury Safari Tent offers outback glamour. While those with a fondness for the unique may want to opt for the ‘Swagon’ at Kangulana. It is equipped with a swag bed that enables you to stargaze long into the night. In fact, if the family is fascinated by all things cosmic, the camp is home to an eight-inch computer-controlled telescope. It is so powerful you can view Saturn’s rings and the moon’s craters. Spring is the recommended time to visit, as wildflowers carpet the landscape.

Ikara Safari Camp at Wilpena Pound Resort

Flinders Ranges, South Australia

Head to Ikara Safari Camp for extravagance under canvas in the heart of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.  Family safari tents sleep four with king and bunk bed. It comes complete with ensuite, mini-fridge air conditioning, private deck and fire pit.

Wilpena Pound Resort is the only accommodation located within the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.

This surrounding landscape is 800 million years old and has been home to the Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years. Youngsters will have the opportunity to embrace culture as much as nature with Aboriginal heritage tours on offer including the ‘Marri Mita’ (Bush Buddies) hands-on experience with an Adnyamathanha guide. You can also go on 4WDing, mountain biking, bushwalking or hop on a scenic flight.

WA family glamping

Sal Salis

Ningaloo, Western Australia

Sixteen wilderness tents positioned on the shore of Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia’s Cape Range National Park. This glamping experience is at the top end of the luxury scale.

Sal Salis is renowned for its wilderness accommodation with awe-inspiring views and comfortable accommodation. Hndmade jarrah beds are fitted with 500 thread count organic cotton sheets andan eco-ensuite bathroom. It is also in a prime location for unique animal encounters.

Nestled in the dunes of the Cape Range National Park it is 50 metres from Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef. Guests can hope to catch glimpses of kangaroos grazing in the morning, in addition to the 500 species of fish and 250 varieties of coral in the reef.

There’s no TV or Wi-Fi, but kids will be enthralled by the variety of marine life. Ningaloo is one of the best places on earth to swim with whale sharks which migrate past the reef between April and July. The sharks can grow to 12 metres in length.

Karijini Eco Retreat

Joffre Gorge, Western Australia

Western Australia is proving to be ‘the’ destination for luxury camping, with the Karijini Eco Retreat pronouncing itself as another of the state’s noteworthy camps. Set in Karijini National Park – an iconic outback landscape that draws thousands of national and international visitors each year – 40 eco-tents with ensuites and 10 dorm-style tents are available to adventurous families. Although your choice of accommodation may be green, the rest of the onsite luxuries are a far cry from the basic facilities of traditional camping. The Alfresco Restaurant serves tasty meals with an Australian flavour, and can even cater for your daytime explorations by preparing packed picnic lunches and snacks.

Glamping with kids in the NT

Bumurra Plains

Northern Territory

The private buffalo station that borders Kakadu National Park, Bamurru Plains, was born from the concept of ‘wild bush luxury’ and its safari bungalows certainly reflect this. The bungalows are set on stilts that overlook a floodplain. Floor-to-ceiling mesh screens are the only barrier between you and the sights, smells and sounds of the surrounding wilderness.

Organic cotton linen, an ensuite bathroom with high-pressure shower and decor that relects the enchanting landscape makes these luxe tents the ultimate escape from reality (the lack of internet, television and mobile phone coverage only adds to the tranquillity). Open-top safari vehicles and airboats navigate the wetlands and savannah woodlands teeming with wallaroos, dingoes, birdlife and the elusive crocodile.

Tasmanian Glamping

Scamander Sanctuary Holiday Park

East Coast

Located between a beach and wildlife reserve, Scamander Sanctuary Holiday Park offers gorgeous glamping accommodation for families of up to six. The four three-bedroom, cabin-style safari tents are self-contained with separate sleeping areas, indoor and outdoor dining and a cubby for kids. Between beach days and bush exploring, allow time to explore the Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay.