Silky Oaks Lodge fully immerses its guests in the Unesco World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, the oldest living rainforest in the world. First opened in 1985, the lodge recently underwent a A$20 million makeover, revealing a sleek new look that blends in with the surrounding landscape.

Its 40 treehouse-style rooms are built mostly from timber, with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to private decks. Take in the balmy ylang ylang-scented air and the orchestra of sounds emanating from the rainforest—a chorus of birds and cicadas, leaves being rustled by resident lizards, possums and platypus, and the soothing flow of the Mossman River.

Take a dip in the nearby billabong, or stay on site in Silky Oaks’ lagoon-style pool that’s surrounded by jungle. The lodge’s Treehouse Restaurant is perched over the river, and sources most of its produce from the massive on-site kitchen garden, where native tropical ingredients like pandan and finger limes are harvested.

Since you’re in the neighbourhood, take advantage of the series of marked walking trails that surround the lodge, or better yet, book a Walkabout Tour led by a First Nations Kuku Yalanji guide. And if you did want to include a more common tourist outing, the departure point for the Great Barrier Reef is just 20 minutes away. We won’t judge; it’s astounding.

Tatler Tip: Why drive when you can fly? Have the lodge arrange a helicopter transfer from Cairns Airport; the aerial views over the Daintree are mesmerising.

Connect to Australia’s spiritual centre at Longitude 131, which is located in the World Heritage-listed expanse of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It has just 15 tents—more like chic cabins—looking out towards the rust-red wilderness of the Simpson Desert, with incredible private views of the sun rising and setting over Uluru (formerly referred to as Ayers Rock).

Every other night, guests are taken to a secret location for the hotel’s Table 131 dining experience, where they’ll enjoy a three-course meal alfresco, followed by a storytelling session about the region’s expansive desert starscape.

Here, the vast red desert feels like your own personal playground, and there are many ways to enjoy it: you can book a helicopter, Harley Davidson or camel to ride around the area; take a guided excursion to learn about the history of Uluru; or wake up at 5am to catch the ethereal sunrise over the ancient monolith, with freshly baked pastries to tempt you out of bed.

Tatler Tip: As comfy as the beds are here, we recommend spending a night on the deck—the staff can even set up a bed there, so you can sleep under a blanket of stars and wake up with Uluru in your sights.

Tasmania is one of the world’s most underrated destinations for exceptional produce and wine, mind-numbingly beautiful natural landscapes, and cultural hotspots like the very cool Museum of Old and New Art (Mona).

Located in an isolated pocket of Tasmania’s rugged east coast, Saffire Freycinet is a stunning work of architecture by Robert Morris Nunn. The main building is designed to resemble a stingray, with 20 individual villas dotted throughout the coastal greenery, arranged to look like boats along the shoreline, each thoughtfully positioned to ensure sweeping views across Great Oyster Bay and the Hazards mountain range. Inside are wood-heavy interiors crafted from local lumber from trees including celery-topped pine and Tasmanian oak.

Saffire Freycinet has been a bucket-list dining destination for serious food-lovers since it opened in 2010. The ever-evolving menu showcases the best of Tasmanian produce, from abalone and scallops to salt-grass lamb, which has a distinctive taste thanks to the salty, coastal pastures on which it feeds. A stay here also includes bottomless pours from the impressive wine cellar. Cheers!

Lord Howe Island is an otherworldly spot of volcanic origin, with soaring emerald green mountains, glittering turquoise waters home to the world’s most southerly coral reefs and unique tropical flora and fauna.

And nestled on this little paradise is Capella Lodge, an intimate upscale retreat where a maximum of only 20 guests are allowed at any one time. There are just nine suites, including the split-level Lidgbird Pavilion with its wraparound verandas and an outdoor stone bath shaded by frangipani trees.

The hotel’s laidback aesthetic allows the epic surroundings to play their rightful role as protagonist—no matter what direction you’re looking in, the views are simply incredible. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring is from the infinity pool, which looks out to twin peaks Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower towering over the pristine coastline. Guests are encouraged to go out and explore the island, with bikes available for use. Activities such as  surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, canoeing and sport fishing are also on offer.

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