Crack the red wine, pull on your favourite pair of woolly socks and get cosy this winter at one of Australia’s best Slow Stays with fireplaces.
From tiny beachfront cabins to country houses big enough for the whole brood, read on for a list of our favourite winter escapes totally worth splurging your banked-up annual leave on.
ACRE OF ROSES
Trentham, VIC
Roses by name and nature, Acre of Roses is a quaint country cottage on a working flower farm, just a short drive from Melbourne. Ideal for a quiet girl’s weekend away, this peaceful sanctuary was made for winter and is the ultimate place to rest your head and your sore feet after a long day exploring the region. Kick off your boots, light the fire in the open-air theatre room and enjoy flowing conversations while the in-house chef (available to book) pulls together a decadent feast using local produce. Don’t leave without immersing yourself in the rain-filled cedar hot tub—its relaxation properties when paired with a piping hot herbal tea will leave you feeling like you’ve stepped straight out of a luxury treatment at a day spa.
FIVE ACRES
Phillip Island, VIC
Penguin parades at sunset, craggy coastal walks and visits to boutique cellar doors, Phillip Island is about two hours from Melbourne but feels like a world away. When you’ve spent the day adventuring, there’s no better place to rest up than one of Five Acres luxury cabins. Light the fire and defrost, as you sip on a complimentary gin while watching a rolling film of wild weather and Scottish Highland cows out the oversized windows. If you’re looking for one of the best Slow Stays with fireplaces, it’s time to get booking!
WHALE SONG
Falmouth, TAS
If romance were a beachfront shack, Whale Song would be it. A revamped fisherman’s cabin like no other, it’s here you’ll swap car horns and noisy kids for a calming soundtrack of waves lapping at the rocky shore below; where your neighbours will become a thousand stars and if you’re really lucky, a pod of magnificent Orcas; and where it’s totally acceptable to spend your days roaming between a cocoon-like bed, the outdoor cast iron bath, an oceanfront firepit or as the cold creeps in, snuggled indoors by the open fire. Ah the serenity!
NIGHTFALL
Lamington National Park, QLD
If you thought glamping was only something to do in the warmer months, Nightfall, hidden in the wilderness of Lamington National Park, will make you think again. This tranquil paradise is kitted out with everything you need to stay warm in winter, including an indoor fire and organic woollen throws, making it a shoo-in for our roundup of the best accommodation with a fireplace. Pack your sneakers and your favourite book—there’s no room for busyness here – and unwind as your cup is filled to the brim with forest sounds, stunning vistas and nourishing, wood-fired food.
UPLAND FARM
Denmark, WA
Run-of-the-mill doesn’t enter the vocabulary when talking about Upland Farm in WA’s Denmark. Sitting on a 107-acre cattle farm, a stay at this sustainable, architecturally-designed timber cabin will see you spending as much time taking in the thoughtful interior as you do the sweeping panoramic views. Surrounded by rolling vineyards and cellar doors, set aside time to pick up a special drop to savour in front of the wood fireplace when the sun goes down. Honestly, winter getaways don’t get much better than this!
SCANDI AT MALENY
Maleny, QLD
A blissful night’s sleep is serious business at the adults-only, luxury cabin Scandi at Maleny. Sitting amongst 300 acres of rolling pastures on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland’s Blackall Range, this eco-friendly haven comprises two bedrooms filled with luscious king-size beds donned in quality Australian linen and your choice of not one or two, but three pillow options—because there’s nothing worse than a neck ache, following a kip with the wrong kind of pillow. When you’re not getting some shuteye, tuck up on the comfy couch in front of a roaring fire, drinking in the remarkable mountain views between bingeing on the curated selection of hardcover books provided.
THE COB BARN
Lilydale, TAS
Straight out of a dream, The Cob Barn dishes up an enchanting setting and is perfect for that special love-up getaway. Perched on peony farm in Tasmania, this hand-shaped home charms guests with its bone-warming woodfire, outdoor bath, dainty interior and its very own pond, complete with a rowboat for an afternoon paddle.
AFRAME, KANGAROO VALLEY
Kangaroo Valley, NSW
When it comes to Slow Stays with fireplaces, some homes were just made for them, and Aframe Kangaroo Valley gives off all the right kind of vibes. Encapsulating the essence of slow travel, through its sustainability practises and meticulously thought-out design, this intimate timber hideout is a truly magical escape. With a stash of complimentary firewood and kindling provided, your only afternoon agenda should be pulling on the trackies, plonking yourself on a cushion in the loungeroom and smashing out a few games of backgammon.
BELLINGEN FARM HOUSE
Bellingen, NSW
When you’re not dipping your toes in the magical waters of Never Never Creek or strolling the main street of the charming village nearby, you’ll be exploring every nook and cranny of the rambling Bellingen Farm House. While the concrete plunge pool, orchard and farm animals may lure you outdoors, when the chill sets in there’s nowhere you’ll rather be than alongside the fireplace. Sitting pretty in the main living and dining area, this central fireplace will become a part of your holiday cook-offs, long-winded dinners and later, deep chats on the couch.
THE WAYFARER
Eaglehawk Neck, TAS
Hop off the plane in Hobart and you could be walking through the door of an authentic 1970s shack overlooking Pirates Bay, within the hour—such is the beauty of the homely The Wayfarer. Shake off any post-flight jitters with a hike around the area, followed by a coffee on the sunlit deck and then a night spent deep in the sofa beside the log fire. This is the quintessential coastal cabin stay in Tasmania that your heart has been aching for.
WARRNAMBOOL RETREAT
Warrnambool, VIC
If a getaway wrapped in nostalgia and Art Deco vibes is your jam, then lock in a weekend at the sunlit 1930s Warrnambool Retreat for one of the best Slow Stays with fireplaces. Separated into two self-contained units, affectionately named Merri and Henna, this stunningly restored building sits on a street lined by formidable Norfolk pines. Both apartments come with mood-setting record players, mammoth open fireplaces and secluded courtyards, perfect for an aperitif before strolling to Frolic for cocktails and cheesy pizza.
