Natural Habitat Adventures | Asia & Pacific Adventures | Ultimate Australia Safari

Pullman Cairns International Hotel

Location
Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Conveniently located just a short drive from the airport for our nighttime arrival, the Pullman Cairns International offers premium accommodations in the heart of Far North Queensland's main city. Recently remodeled rooms feature bold contemporary decor with trendy mid-century furnishings and one king or two long double beds, a large work desk, flat screen TV, mini bar, Nespresso coffee machine, in-room safe, and individually controlled air conditioning. On the walls are striking artworks from a curated selection of the most talented artists in the Cairns region. Spacious marble bathrooms have a glass walk-in shower, vessel sink, bathrobes and slippers, and quality toiletries. Each room has a balcony overlooking the mountains beyond. A breakfast buffet is served in the bright and airy Coco's Kitchen.

Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges

Location
Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia

Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges sit on 20 private acres of lush, tropical highland rain forest in the waterfalls and crater lakes district of the Atherton Tablelands. A pioneer in ecotourism in the region, the property caters to birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, naturalists, photographers, film crews and anyone who wants an authentic experience of the rain forest. Accommodations are in 10 one-bedroom lodges that are exceptionally spacious at 570 square feet. Each lodge suite has a king-size bed, en suite bath with spring-fed shower, a full kitchen, and a lounge with 32-inch LCD television and an electric fireplace for chillier nights—here at 2,460 feet above sea level, temperatures are markedly cooler than on the coast. An expansive covered veranda lets you take in all the sensory wonders of the rain forest beyond. Free Wi-Fi is provided in each lodge. Shared facilities include a covered swimming pool, large rain forest deck with lounge chairs, and a lounge area with pool table and wildlife library. A 3/4-mile boardwalk path connects you to platypus ponds, brush turkey mounds and tooth-billed bowerbird stages. More than 110 bird species are found on the property, and an illuminated nocturnal animal viewing platform is situated for spotting wildlife that emerges after dusk, including kangaroos, striped possums, sugar gliders and bandicoots.

Heritage Lodge

Location
Daintree Rainforest, Queensland, Australia

Here where the world's most ancient rain forest meets the reef, follow in the footsteps of Sir David Attenborough who stayed at Heritage Lodge while filming The Life of a Plant. Twenty secluded cabins are nestled amid the intense greenery of ferns, vines and palms, while Cooper Creek, a crystalline stream with pristine swimming holes, winds through the property on its course from the mountains to the sea. The silence is broken only by the call of birds or a passing musky rat-kangaroo rustling the leaves. The lodge, which feels one with its surroundings, has been lovingly renovated by its owners, a couple who bought and restored it from a state of disrepair. While upgraded with every comfort, it retains a sense of family-run intimacy and friendliness. Individual cabins feature dark tropical hardwoods, queen-size beds, en suite bathrooms and private balconies from which you might spot an endangered tree kangaroo, cassowary, bandicoot or tree frog. Air conditioning and a ceiling fan ensure comfort, and amenities include coffee- and tea-making facilities, a small refrigerator, TV and DVD player. Start the day overlooking the creek with a tropical continental breakfast featuring fresh-baked bread, homemade jams and special Daintree Tea. In the evening, dine in the open on creative chef-prepared dishes featuring local ingredients, as candlelight, flaming torches and rain forest night sounds create an exotic atmosphere.

Sebel Margate Brisbane Beach

Location
Margate, Queensland, Australia

Less than 30 minutes from the Brisbane Airport in the upscale beach suburb of Margate, this stylish boutique hotel offers contemporary rooms with private balconies overlooking Moreton Bay. The beach boardwalk is just outside the door, or stake your spot around the rooftop pool for a view from on high. Our accommodations are in deluxe 420-square-foot rooms furnished with a modernist vibe in tones of gray and white with burnished accents. Spacious bathrooms have large glass walk-in showers. Amenities include high-speed Internet, LCD TV with free movies, multimedia hub with radio, in-room safe, mini bar and Illy coffee machine. The Margate Beach House restaurant features contemporary Australian cuisine showcasing fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The Margate Beach Bar has an oversized deck with uninterrupted ocean views, the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy a special cocktail as you survey the sea.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

Location
Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. It is located within a highly protected "Green Zone" that provides sanctuary for more than 1,200 marine species, including an abundance of manta rays, turtles and healthy corals. The island is home of the second-highest diversity of seabirds on the barrier reef. This low-key, family-run ecolodge is the island's only accommodation, licensed to operate with the Marine Park and designed to have minimal impact on a fragile ecosystem. Outstanding snorkeling is available directly from the beach, with additional snorkeling offered on boat excursions farther afield. Twenty different dive sites surround the island, and certified guests may choose a guided dive for an extra fee.

Rooms are simple but comfortable, just steps from the beach, with en suite bathroom, private balcony with lagoon view, a mini fridge, microwave and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Meals, which often feature fresh seafood, are served in the Beachfront Dining Room, while the Lagoon Bar offers cocktails, spirits and Australian and international beer and wine. So guests can truly connect with nature, there are no telephones, televisions or radios in the rooms. Limited Wi-Fi access is available for purchase at a central hotspot point. Enjoy a selection of books, movies and games in the Manta Lounge, and visit the Reef Education Center to learn about the flora, fauna, marine life and history of Lady Elliot Island and the Great Barrier Reef via informative wall graphics, fact sheets and educational videos. Recreation activities in addition to snorkeling and nature exploration include beach volleyball, table tennis, a pool table, and a saltwater swimming pool.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort has been a conservation leader in the Great Barrier Reef region since it opened in 1985. Under the stewardship of its passionate custodians, the resort has earned Australia's Advanced Ecotourism Certification, Climate Action Leader Certification and Green Travel Leader status from Ecotourism Australia, as well as numerous other state and national tourism awards including the Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism and TripAdvisor GreenLeader status for its low-impact operations and commitment to sustainability including reducing carbon emissions, water use and waste; protecting and improving the island’s biodiversity in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and private industry; and inspiring its guests and the surrounding community to join in its mission to protect the Great Barrier Reef for future generations.

Macq 01 Hotel

Location
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Located in the heart of the historic Hobart waterfront, MACq 01 is a luxury hotel designed to connect guests with engaging pieces of history and fables that make up the remarkable story of Tasmania. Centrally located with gorgeous views of the Derwent Estuary, the hotel is on Hunter Street on the old Hunter Island, one of the earliest sites of European settlement in Tasmania. From your private balcony, take in the surrounding view of yachts, docks, convict-built sandstone warehouses and a huge expanse of open water. Innovative decor is sleek yet quirky in a way that reflects the Tasmanian character, including large local-landscape murals at the head of plush king-size beds. En suite bathrooms include a spacious walk-in shower. Rounding out the amenities are free Wi-Fi, a large flat screen TV, wireless speaker and mini bar.

Truffle Lodge

Location
Gretna, Tasmania, Australia

Described as a “5-star hotel under canvas, “ Truffle Lodge offers guests a peaceful, unhurried experience in nature. Surrounded by farm country and wild bush, the lodge shares space with wildlife, including resident platypus and charming marsupials that appear at dusk. Styled like a bush safari camp, with vintage atmosphere and contemporary comfort, the lodge enjoys an incomparable setting on the banks of the Derwent River with a view of the mountains beyond. Its name comes from the terrain on which it is built: one of Australia’s first truffieres — a plot of land cultivated to produce truffles.

Guests stay in individual safari tents, but “tent” belies the true nature of these elegant accommodations, which are spacious suites (870 square feet) with rustic ambience captured in wood plank floors, wicker trunks and furnishings made of leather and recycled wood. In your en suite bath, refresh under a rain shower or soak in the deep wooden tub, then sink into your luxurious deep bed—rooms have one king or two singles. Designed deliberately for an unplugged escape, tents do not have televisions or Wi-Fi (though you can connect to the Internet at the main lodge). Instead, take in the serene river view from the hammock or rocking chair on your private deck—your tent is meant to be a personal sanctuary during your stay.

Tents are connected by boardwalk to The Lodge, comprised of three large farm-style sheds joined by wrap-around decks. It’s a casual communal space for sharing meals, enjoying a drink overlooking the river, or lounging in front of the fireplace. True to the old-school vibe, you’ll find games and puzzles, books and magazines, and an old-fashioned record player with a collection of original 1960s LPs. Table tennis is also available on the canopy-covered deck. In keeping with its bush camp theme, Truffle Lodge offers simple, rustic comfort food accompanied by Tasmanian world-class wines and artisan beers and ciders. Breakfast is self-serve continental-style while dinners are a set menu (though some dietary preferences can be accommodated with advance notice).

Cradle Mountain Lodge

Location
Cradle Mountain–Lake St. Clair National Park, Australia

This lakeside lodge at the edge of Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park offers warm hospitality, local food and wine, and proximity to one of Tasmania's premier wilderness areas. Its heritage extends back decades, when four men from longtime Tasmanian families bought 800 acres on the border of the national park with visions to build a lodge that would attract passing travelers—mostly avid bushwalkers and fishermen. The original Pencil Pine Lodge enjoyed magnificent views and easy access to some of the mountain's most scenic terrain. Over the years, a collection of 30 cabins was added to the property, and the main lodge was enhanced and refurbished by new owners while preserving its rustic appeal and harmonious integration with its wild setting.

Located close to the main lodge and linked by timber boardwalks, our private cabins enjoy a discreet setting with a balcony overlooking the lake or bushland. Featuring contemporary decor in warm tones, each cabin has a queen-size bed, separate daybed, and armchairs fronting a gas heater reminiscent of a traditional fireplace. Amenities include a mini bar, fridge, Nespresso machine, tea kettle, and Bluetooth speaker for your own personal listening preferences. The main lodge lounge invites cozy relaxation with a fireplace and deep-cushioned leather chairs and sofas—or stop in at the Tavern Bar and Bistro for a casual drink. The Highland Restaurant features acclaimed Tasmanian fare served in view of a roaring fire in the huge stone fireplace. Time permitting, take a sauna or soak at the Waldheim Alpine Spa, where walls of glass look out onto the King Billy pine forest and mountain streams. A guest laundry is also available on the premises.

Wilpena Pound Resort

Location
Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park

Tucked against the backdrop of the magnificent Wilpena Pound mountain amphitheater, this luxury tented camp features 15 spacious Ikara Safari Tents set beneath the stars. It’s the perfect base from which to experience the rugged wilderness of the Ikara-Flinders Ranges, the traditional homeland of the Adnyamanthanha people who have lived here for millennia. Each air-conditioned tent has one king or two single beds; an en suite bathroom with walk-in shower, basin and flush toilet; tea- and coffee-making facilities; and small indoor and outdoor seating areas. Dining at Wilpena Pound Resort is as much a highlight as our atmospheric accommodations. Inspired by the native flavors of Adnyamanthana Country, meals combine contemporary Australian cuisine with Indigenous ingredients such as bush tomatoes and quandong, paired with wine from renowned South Australia wine regions including the Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills and Barossa Valley.