25 Romantic Getaways in Australia and Beyond

This guide is about the places. For where to stay, our picks of weekend getaways for couples in Australia and the most romantic hotels worth the splurge cover the suites, lodges and villas.

Romantic Getaways in Australia

1. Hunter Valley, New South Wales

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The Hunter is one of Australia's best-known wine regions, and it's built for a long weekend of cellar doors and slow lunches. Start the day in the air with a sunrise balloon flight over the vines; Balloon Aloft and Beyond Ballooning both finish with a Champagne breakfast. If you'd rather hop between wineries in style, Hunter Valley Helicopters and Aero Logistics Helicopters run heli wine tours.

When to go: spring (September to November) is the busy season; winter is quieter.

Getting there: just over two hours' drive north of Sydney.

2. Blue Mountains, New South Wales

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World Heritage-listed cliffs, crisp mountain air and heritage hotels make the Blue Mountains an easy escape from Sydney. Watch the sunrise from Govetts Leap at Blackheath, with the Grose Valley and Bridal Veil Falls below. At sunset, Evans Lookout is the place to be, as the sandstone cliffs glow in the last of the light.

When to go: summer is peak season, and autumn brings the gardens' colourful leaves.

Getting there: about an hour's drive west of Sydney to the foothills, or two hours by train from Central to Katoomba.

3. Byron Bay, New South Wales

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Byron is known for its beaches, its rainforest hinterland, a creative community and an inventive food scene. Set an alarm for sunrise at Cape Byron Lighthouse and follow the 3.7-kilometre Walgun Cape Byron track through rainforest and along the clifftops. Between May and November, whale-watching cruises head out to see the migrating whales.

When to go: any time of year; spring and summer are busiest.

Getting there: less than two hours' drive from Brisbane, or 30 minutes from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, with direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne.

4. Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

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The peninsula is made for a weekend of pinot noir and slow mornings by the bay. Book a soak at Peninsula Hot Springs in Fingal, where the Bath House has seven geothermal pools and a hilltop pool with 360-degree views. Afterwards, the gondola to the top of Arthurs Seat gives you sweeping views across the bay.

Getting there: about an hour's drive from Melbourne's CBD.

5. Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, Victoria

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Hepburn Springs sits on Australia's largest concentration of mineral springs, so a spa weekend comes naturally here. Spend a day at a bathhouse or book a rose milk bath at Daylesford Day Spa. Down at Lake Daylesford, you can fill a bottle with the local mineral water. In winter, our guide to romantic winter getaways from Melbourne has the cosiest places to stay.

When to go: spring brings wildflowers to Hepburn Regional Park, and autumn colours the Macedon Ranges.

Getting there: 114 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.

6. Great Ocean Road, Victoria

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Drive the coast road for two and finish at the limestone stacks of the 12 Apostles. Time your arrival for sunrise or sunset to watch the stacks change colour. To see the whole coastline at once, 12 Apostles Helicopters runs scenic flights from its own heliport.

When to go: summer, when the skies are clearest for the drive.

Getting there: the 12 Apostles are about four hours' drive from Melbourne along the coast.

7. Freycinet and Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

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Tasmania's most famous beach forms a white curve beneath the Hazards mountains. Climb the trail through the Hazards to the Wineglass Bay Lookout, about an hour to an hour and a half return. Or see the bay from the water on a catamaran cruise out of Coles Bay.

When to go: spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) bring the best hiking weather and clear skies.

Getting there: about two and a half hours' drive north-east of Hobart, or two hours south-east of Launceston.

8. Kangaroo Island, South Australia

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South Australia's tourism body calls Kangaroo Island a time capsule, and there's more wildlife here than people. Visit the wind-carved boulders of Remarkable Rocks in Flinders Chase National Park in the morning or late afternoon, the best times to go. Nearby, Admirals Arch is a rock arch the sea has carved over thousands of years.

When to go: year-round; winter means fewer crowds.

Getting there: about an hour and a half's drive from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, then the ferry to Penneshaw, or fly to Kingscote.

9. Barossa Valley, South Australia

The Barossa is vineyards, heritage towns and rolling countryside, close enough to Adelaide for a spontaneous weekend. Barossa Valley Ballooning's sunrise flights last about an hour and take in vineyards and ranges all the way to the ocean, finishing with a glass of bubbly. Back on the ground, taste your way through cellar doors such as Seppeltsfield, Château Tanunda and Hentley Farm.

When to go: year-round; autumn for colour and food and wine events.

Getting there: around 50 to 60 minutes' drive from Adelaide.

10. Margaret River, Western Australia

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Few wine regions anywhere sit among such tall forests and wildflowers. With more than 200 vineyards, you can spend a day between cellar doors such as Vasse Felix, Cullen and Moss Wood. Between June and December, humpback whales pass along the coast.

When to go: August to November for wildflowers, June to December for whales.

Getting there: about three and a half hours' drive south of Perth.

11. The Whitsundays, Queensland

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The Whitsundays sit in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Most day trips stop at the Hill Inlet lookout, where tide and current swirl the sand, before you step onto seven-kilometre Whitehaven Beach. Heart Reef is protected and closed to snorkelling and diving, so couples see its heart shape on a scenic flight.

When to go: April to November for clear skies and the best water visibility; September to November is peak sailing season.

Getting there: daily flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Whitsunday Coast Airport at Proserpine or Hamilton Island.

12. Uluru, Northern Territory

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Uluru is considered the spiritual heart of Australia, and the national park has five viewing areas dedicated to watching its colours change, two of them at Kata Tjuta. As darkness falls and the rock turns to silhouette, Field of Light lights up the desert. Walking on or climbing Uluru has been banned since 2019.

When to go: May to September; August and September for wildflowers.

Getting there: direct flights to Yulara from Sydney (about three hours), Melbourne and Brisbane.

Romantic Getaways Beyond Australia

13. Lake Como, Italy

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Lake Como is a lake of grand villas and gardens. Walk up through the manicured gardens of Villa del Balbianello at Lenno for the view over the water. A boat to Tremezzo brings you to Villa Carlotta, whose terraced gardens hold 150 varieties of azaleas.

When to go: spring, when the villa gardens reopen and the azaleas peak in April and May.

Getting there: Como is less than an hour from Milan.

14. Amalfi Coast, Italy

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The UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast is cliffs and villages stacked above the sea. In Ravello, the gardens of Villa Cimbrone are open to the public, including the viewpoint locals call the Terrace of Infinity. If you love a walk, the Path of the Gods runs from Agerola to Nocelle above Positano, with views as far as Capri.

When to go: spring or autumn for the hike, when it is less hot.

Getting there: Naples International Airport is the gateway.

15. Tuscany, Italy

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In Tuscany's UNESCO-listed Val d'Orcia, the cypress trees steal the scene. In Pienza, where Zeffirelli filmed Romeo and Juliet, look for the streets named Via del Bacio, Via della Fortuna and Via dell'Amore. Bagno Vignoni, close by, is famous for the thermal baths in its town square.

When to go: May, or June and September for milder summer weather.

Getting there: the airports at Florence and Pisa both serve the region.

16. Santorini, Greece

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Greece's tourism board calls Santorini cosmopolitan and romantic, and its caldera sunsets are the reason. Explore the villages on the caldera rim, such as Fira and Imerovigli, and be in Oia for sunset. Planning to propose there? Santorini is one of our private proposal spots abroad.

When to go: spring to autumn; in summer, plan walks for early morning.

Getting there: a 50-minute flight from Athens.

17. Paris, France

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France's tourism board suggests a hand-in-hand walk around Montmartre. Take a photo together at Le Mur des Je t'aime, the I Love You Wall, and climb the steps or ride the funicular to the Sacré-Cœur. Behind the Montmartre museum, wander the pretty Renoir gardens.

18. Douro Valley, Portugal

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The UNESCO-listed Douro Valley is terraced vineyards and wine estates, or quintas, along the river. Book a guided visit and tasting at Quinta do Crasto, where a paired lunch follows the tour. To see the valley from the river itself, Douro cruises depart from Porto and the riverside towns.

19. Bali, Indonesia

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On Bali, Uluwatu Temple stands on a 70-metre cliff above the Indian Ocean, and its open-air Kecak dance plays out against the sunset. In the hills, the Tegallalang Rice Terrace is a 20-minute drive north of Ubud, with paddies watered by the traditional subak system.

When to go: the dry season runs from April to October.

Getting there: Ngurah Rai International Airport is the island's gateway.

20. Fiji

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For an adults-only stay, Likuliku Lagoon Resort says it was the first adults-only resort in Fiji with authentic overwater bures, set in a natural lagoon inside a protected marine sanctuary. Fast catamarans from Denarau Marina reach it in under an hour.

Getting there: Nadi International Airport is the main gateway.

21. Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

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Ras Al Khaimah's tourism body pitches the emirate to couples for romance and relaxation, with mountains and desert close to Dubai. For thrill-seekers, Jais Flight on Jebel Jais is a three-minute zipline ride, followed by lunch at 1484 by Puro. For something slower, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert has its Moon Bar for cocktails at sunset.

When to go: October to April, when it is comfortably warm; summer can pass 45°C.

Getting there: about 45 minutes by car from Dubai International Airport.

22. Tulum, Mexico

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Tulum is the only archaeological zone in Mexico set on the edge of a cliff, with its ruins above the Caribbean Sea. El Castillo was built on the rocky cliff, looking over the sea and the mainland. Afterwards, swim in the Gran Cenote, a few minutes from town on the road to Cobá.

Getting there: Tulum International Airport is about 40 kilometres by road from the town centre.

23. Maldives

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In the Maldives, Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa offers a sandbank dinner once each evening for just one couple, leaving by boat just before sunset. With luck, you may also see the glowing plankton the islands call the Sea of Stars, though it is never guaranteed.

When to go: the north-east monsoon from November to April is generally sunny.

Getting there: Velana International Airport in Malé, then a speedboat or seaplane to your resort.

24. Queenstown, New Zealand

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Queenstown sits on Lake Whakatipu, with the Remarkables rising above the water. Board the TSS Earnslaw, which has steamed across the lake since 1912, for lunch at Walter Peak high country station. Destination Queenstown also suggests The Ledge, a rocky overhang at the top of a cliff on Cecil Peak.

When to go: summer for long, warm days outdoors; autumn for colour; winter for snow.

Getting there: Queenstown Airport is 15 minutes from downtown.

25. Mauritius

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In Mauritius, Chamarel Waterfall drops through ancient volcanic rock. Off the south-west coast, the island's underwater waterfall can only be seen properly from a helicopter or seaplane. For your last evening, the tourism board suggests a dinner cruise by catamaran.

When to go: year-round; October is the driest month.

Getting there: international flights land at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in the south-east.

Plan a Getaway for Two

Once you've picked the place, Wedded Wonderland Travel can plan the rest: the stay, the transfers and the dinner on the sandbank.

If the getaway is a honeymoon, see when to go on honeymoon. If it's turning into a wedding, our destination guides cover Lake Como, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Greece, France, Portugal, Bali, Fiji, Ras Al Khaimah and Mexico, along with every other destination we cover.

Cover photo: LEPTA STUDIO on Pexels