Outback luxury: 5 luxurious places to stay in Outback Queensland
The outback might be best known as a place to pitch a tent, unroll a swag and boil a billy, but take it from us, it’s not just a camper’s playground.
If you prefer a few stars with your accommodation rating, the outback will surprise you with boutique accommodation offerings that prove outback luxury is alive and well in Queensland.
From the seclusion of having the whole property to yourself, to a posturepedic mattress inside a glamping tent, we’ve found the best boutique digs in Outback Queensland.
1. Gilberton Outback Retreat, Gilberton
Buckle up for a six hour drive from Cairns or Townsville, or arrive in rockstar style with a helicopter transfer or charter flight to the outback’s most luxurious place to stay, Gilberton Outback Retreat.
Pack your book and get ready to digitally detox, out here there’s no phone, no television and no WiFi, just uninterrupted views of the Gilberton River from the comfort of your 5-star luxury hut.
You know you’ve hit max-luxe status when you’re the only guests at the property and kangaroos, cockatoos and other wildlife are the only neighbours you’ll see.
Your home-away-from-home comes equipped with a fully self-contained kitchen, but don’t worry, your hosts will cook for you.
If you can peel yourself away from your canopy bed, or bathtub on the verandah, jump aboard a 4WD Safari tour around the cattle station.
A: Gilberton Station, on the Gilbert River, Einasleigh Far North Queensland Australia, 4871
P: 07 4062 5329
W: gilbertonoutbackretreat.com
2. Cooper’s Country Lodge, Eromanga
Plenty has changed in Eromanga since dinosaurs roamed the region more than 64 million years ago, and accommodation like Cooper’s Country Lodge proves the point.
The Cooper’s Country Lodge is nestled in the Eromanga Natural History Museum Nature Reserve, allowing you to combine a history lesson on “Cooper” – Australia’s largest dinosaur – and a night under the outback sky.
Settle in for the night with self-catering facilities with a BBQ and alfresco dining area, and order a breakfast hamper to fuel you for your outback adventure.
A: 1 Dinosaur Drive, Eromanga Queensland Australia, 4480
P: 07 4656 3084
W: enhm.com.au
3. North Gregory Hotel, Winton
It’s not called the Grand Old Lady for nothing, marked in history as the first place Waltzing Matilda was performed by Banjo Patterson.
An institution in Winton, the hotel may be nearly 140 years old, but thanks to recent renovations you can indulge in all the mod-cons you need to survive the outback – air-conditioning and controlled heating.
Although recently renovated, don’t expect modern finishes, an art deco flair runs through the veins of the hotel and the spiral staircase, timber paneling and high vaulted ceilings are a constant reminder of yesteryear.
A: 67 Elderslie Street, Winton Queensland Australia, 4735
P: 07 4657 0647
W: northgregoryhotel.com
4. Saltbush Retreat, Longreach
Located just a few minutes walk from the Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Qantas Founders Museum, Saltbush Retreat offers outback rustic charm a stone’s throw from the sights and history of Longreach.
Transport yourself back in time with a night in one of their 4.5-star homestead cabins, or book a night in a 4-star slab hut – a re-creation of an early settler’s home.
Outback cabins are also available, offering more modern fittings.
For those staying in the homestead cabins or slab huts, enjoy a complimentary soak in the claw-foot bath on their secluded bath terrace.
A: 63-65 Ilfracombe Road, Longreach Queensland Australia, 4730
P: 07 4658 3811
W: saltbushretreat.com.au
5. Wallaroo Outback Retreat
Prepare yourself for a night under the stars.
Set on a 72,000 acre cattle property, 180km from Roma, Wallaroo Outback Retreat (‘Wallaroo’) ups the glamping game with tents set amongst 100-year-old eucalyptus trees in the Carnarvon Ranges.
Wallaroo doesn’t short change you when it comes to your glamping experience, with posturepedic mattresses and high quality linen to ensure a good night’s sleep.
You may be in the outback, but you’ll be able to enjoy hot showers and flushing toilets, along with a communal kitchen and dining hall – for when you’re not sitting around the campfire.
With a landing strip only 1km from the property, turn up your glam status with a helicopter arrival.
A: 573 The Basin Road, Injune Queensland Australia, 4454
P: 07 4626 3746
W: wallaroooutbackretreat.com.au
What luxury accommodation have you stayed at in Outback Queensland?
