Without a doubt, Australia has some of the best stargazing spots in the world. From our beaches to our deserts and everything in between, the lack of light pollution in regional Australia means we have epic night skies. If you want to soak up the stargazing vibes, but don't want to get out of bed in the middle of the night, why not stay in a place where you can see them from bed? Lonely Planet has released a new travel guide, Under the Stars Camping Australia and New Zealand, with 200 of the best places to add to your wishlist.
Our recommendation: hire a chic campervan or motorhome – Camplify have vans of all sizes to choose from – map out a bunch of stargazing locations you want to visit and travel between them in comfort at your own pace. Read through to see some of the best places in Australia where you can sleep under the stars. Just outside Perth, you don't actually find out where these cabins are until just three days before your stay.
The trio of tiny cabins offer privacy and comfort in re-energising and easy-to-reach nature-based settings. Perfect for a winter escape, all cabins have as mall wood-burning stove, a firepit outside, and a curated selection ofbooks and board games to entice you from checking your phone. Would you camp by an abandoned silver mining town? What if we told you it was just $6 a night? Yerranderie was home to more than 2000 residents back in the early 1900s, but is now one of Australia's best-preserved ghost towns.
Off-grid, organic and overlooking Bass Strait, Compass Hut might feel remote and rural, but Tasmania's Devonport and the Spirit of Tasmania ferry are just a 15-minute drive away. Sustainability is a big factor in Compass Hut's appeal, and each tiny house is set in private gardens, including an edible one. There are also rainwater collection, compost toilets and solar panels feeding into Tesla Powerwall batteries.
This off-grid but accessible farmland retreat 30 minutes from Hobart has the best of the country without having to schlep it for hours in the car. Located near the Coal River Valley's cellar doors, you can spend your days sipping wine and your nights gazing at the starry sky. It may not look like it, but this barrel is home to world-class luxury accommodation in Daylesford, Victoria.
The minimalist cabin has been described as UFO-like, but it's cosy inside with an indoor firebox, wooden bath, and views for days. How about a trip to Christmas Island? At Swell Lodge, you'll wake to the sounds of tropic birds and the Indian Ocean just metres from your bed. This is the only place to spend the night in the national park covering most of remote Christmas Island.
This is a classic B&B – but in this case, it stands for boat & breakfast. Located on a working farm just a few kilometres from the ocean on the Mornington Peninsula, you can't get more cosy than this. To connect with nature, you can stroll through 17.
5 hectares of remnant rainforest at Endeavour Fern Gully, or walk the 6.5km Red Hill Rail Trail to Merricks General Store. Live the nostalgic Kombi dream just a short drive from Hobart, sharing a sprawling farm with its Clydesdale horses and platypuses.
The van can be decorated with your choice of three themes, and is fitted out with a double bed. On a fine night, you can throw open Frida's tailgate, pop something soothing on the sound system, and fall asleep to views of the stars Unplug in style at one of these three designer A-frame huts in the rolling hills of country New South Wales, each with an alfresco tub. Each is privately positioned on a 2833-hectare farm just outside the small country town of Gundagai.
Just up the road from Tasmania's iconic Bay of Fires you'll find this tranquil bush retreat with luxurious bell tents. Owned by prominent Tasmanian chef Tom Dicker, expect this stay to be a gastronomic experience. Pre-prepared meals from a local chef – like slow-cooked lamb ragout or harissa chicken – fill a fridge, and there's an honesty bar brimming with Tasmanian cheeses, beers and wines.
Guests can also forage through the sizeable seasonal vegetable garden for herbs, kale, lemongrass, potatoes or summer berries. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is tucked away in a remote corner of the Flinders Rangers. Over 100km from the nearest town, Australia's dark sky sanctuary offers astronomy experiences including a ridgetop sleepout under the stars.
Perfect for people who want to be in nature, but hate roughing it, this is glamping at its finest. Around two hours west of Glen Innes in northwestern NSW, you'll find these light-filled, geodesic domes privately situated on a 3642-hectare property. With an open-plan kitchen and a four-poster king bed, you'll probably never want to leave.
Plus, the stargazing is amazing. .
