Camping, but make it chic: from sleeping among olive groves to hitting the hay in a geodesic dome, here are six of the best places to go glamping in Margaret River.
If you’re plotting an escape to this bucolic pocket of WA and toying with the idea of staying somewhere a little bit special, this is the guide for you. Over the past decade, a glut of great glamping spots have opened up in Margaret River, promising guests the wholesome fulfilment of communing with nature while also offering a few more creature comforts (and plenty more convenience) than camping ever could.
A luxurious light-filled geodesic dome set in the middle of the forest. (Image: Mile End Glamping)
But perhaps best of all, glamping in the Margaret River means you can get up close and personal with the region’s dreamy landscapes, located right on your tent’s doorstep – gentle valleys laced with small creeks, paved with vineyards, and visited by local wildlife, verdant patches of farmland, and white sand beaches lapped by glassy waters with few souls in sight.
There are some seriously luxe glamping options in Margaret River. (Image Willow Wood Glamping Retreat)
Hole up in one of these glamping retreats and enjoy the simple pleasures in life: stargazing from your private deck, waking up to chirps of birds, cosy nights under canvas listening to the rain pitter patter on your rooftop, sundowners around a crackling fire pit, hearty homemade dinners cobbled together with local produce and cooked atop the barbecue.
Below, find the best glamping Margaret River has to offer.
1. Willow Wood Glamping Retreat
Located 35 minutes from the Margaret River town centre, Willow Wood Glamping Retreat takes glamping up a notch with its romantic adults-only accommodation.
Each of these luxurious eco-tents offers a Queen bed, bathroom, kitchenette, electric fire, airconditioner, a table and chairs, and a deck. A complimentary breakfast board with local produce is also provided for guests on the first morning.
Local interior designer Jacqui Withers from Ocean and Earth has swathed the cosy tents in neutral tones. (Image: Willow Wood Glamping Retreat)
A point of difference for this glamping retreat is the dedicated eco tent for spa treatments in partnership with Larn’wa Australia. There are five treatments to choose from including the Larn’wa Kodo Full Body Massage, a 60-minute treatment inspired by healing techniques and essences from Aboriginal community Elders.
The Melaleuca Luxe tent features both an indoor and outdoor tub to relax in. (Image: Willow Wood Glamping Retreat)
2. RAC Margaret River Nature Park, Wooditjup National Park
Sure, you can go the old classic route of camping or caravanning at this holiday park (and let’s be honest, a national park is a pretty fine spot for it) but why pitch your own poky tent in the dark when you can have someone else do all the hard work for you? Enter RAC Margaret River Nature Park’s ‘safari tents’. Sleeping a maximum of six, these permanent canvas tents feature one double bed and two bunks.
This modern safari tent caters to larger groups of up to six people. (Image: RAC Margaret River Nature Park)
And while there’s nothing fancy about them, they have pretty much everything you could need for a comfy night’s sleep in the bush – think linens, lamps, a heater during winter and a fan during summer, plus power so you don’t have to fret about where to charge your phone overnight.
Choose from the modern or traditional tents, the only real difference between them being aesthetics. And naturally, all campers get access to the site’s facilities, from the camp kitchen to the fire pits, communal barbecues, a shared amenities block, a nature playground and a guest laundry.
A rustic forest edge cabin tucked at the heart of Margaret River. (Image: RAC Margaret River Nature Park)
3. Two Blind Cows, Osmington
Easily the most boutique glamping experience in the Margaret River region, the attention to design detail at Two Blind Cows is admirable, the stylish interiors of its four canvas tents offering a genuine safari camp vibe. The bathroom features a rough-hewn stone sink, brass tap and marble tabletop alongside handmade soaps and lotions.
Soak in a bathtub with fresh rose petals exclusively for you. (Image: Two Blind Cows)
And the bedroom/lounge features hardwood furnishings, a rattan bedhead, a leather armchair and beautiful linens. Each tent also has its own small private deck that’s the perfect spot for drinking up the night sky views, and a fully equipped kitchenette with locally roasted plunger coffee.
Situated on Osmington hill, in the middle of a private farm, this sizable patch of land is delightfully free from light pollution, yet surprisingly only a 12-minute drive from Margaret River town.
Stay in a luxury tent right next to the Margaret River. (Image: Two Blind Cows)
4. Olio Bello Lakeside Glamping, Cowaramup
The six safari-style bungalows at this organic farm in Cowaramup are about as close to a luxury hotel room dropped into the middle of the great outdoors as you can get. Really, the word ‘tent’ is underselling it quite some. Situated on yet another olive grove, Olio Bello is home to 8,000 trees spread across a whopping 130 hectares and boasts both an onsite cafe/bistro and a farm shop too. But the scenic backdrop to your glamping bungalow is in fact a lake.
An idyllic stargazing spot to ponder constellations. (Image: Olio Bello Lakeside Glamping)
Except for the setting (lakefront or lakeview), all of the tents have the same features – a king-size bed, a private en-suite, a kitchenette, reverse cycle air-con, even bioethanol fireplaces come winter – as well as access to shared barbecues and lawn games. But the piece de resistance here is the daily breakfast hamper, best enjoyed on your tent’s spacious deck.
The accommodations feature private luxe ensuites. (Image: Olio Bella)
Whatever your needs, the team at Olio Bello can probably take care of them… The bungalows are child-friendly (BYO cot), feature a sofa bed that can sleep a further two guests (pending a surcharge), and one of the bungalows has been modified to accommodate those with restricted mobility.
5. Mile End Glamping, Yelverton
A kooky alternative to your regular, run-off-the-mill glamping options, at this Yelverton accommodation you can bed down in a geodesic dome. Nuzzled among the gum trees and boasting sweeping valley views, this glamping option in Margaret River is primed for those who love the great outdoors but aren’t yet ready to give up their creature comforts.
Soak up scenic views from your own private dome. (Image: Mile End Glamping)
Each dome comes with reverse-cycle air conditioning and remote-controlled gas fires, a kitchenette, a four-poster bed, an ensuite bathroom, and a private deck that features a barbecue and an outdoor bath that’s not a bad spot for stargazing.
The four-poster bed adds a luxe touch to the tent. (Image: Mile End Glamping)
Originally written by Chloe Cann with updates by Rachael thompson
For more insider tips and inspiration, see our ultimate travel guide to Margaret River.
The post The most incredible places to go glamping in Margaret River appeared first on Australian Traveller.
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