UPDATED - February 2022
Staycations. It was the new travel vibe for 2020 and is lasting well into 2022 also.
Honeymoons have changed, and couples are looking for beautiful, relaxing holiday spots much closer to home than ever before. While this might seem disappointing at first, I think this is an incredible opportunity to put our tourist dollars back into regions that could really use a leg up right now, as well as giving us a new appreciation for our own backyard. So take a good look at this Aussie honeymoon inspo, and get excited!
Before we get into your honeymoon options, here’s a tip from someone who’s been there - do not plan any activities whatsoever for the first couple of days. You. Will. Be. Tired. Planning a wedding is no easy feat, it’s emotionally draining, and I spent the first two days of my honeymoon asleep by the pool. Not a bad place to be, but we did have to re-schedule a thing or two :)
Within South Australia -
KANGAROO ISLAND
This little slice of heaven has come a long way since your school camp when you stayed in dorms and travelled the well-known tourist traps by coach. Take your car on the SeaLink ferry from Cape Jervis and choose your own adventure - it’s all wineries, fresh seafood, wildlife, and natural wonders from here!
Top Sights: Flinders Chase National Park, Seal Bay Conservation Park, Remarkable Rocks
Hidden Gems: Dudley Wines for a grazing board lunch at their Clifftop Cellar Door, Snelling Beach for pristine white sand and surf-worthy waves.
Travel Time: Ninety minutes from Adelaide to Cape Jervis, and just over an hour on the ferry to Penneshaw
Stay: Easily a five night honeymoon, you’ll probably wish you’d booked seven.
Perfect Weather: January-April, December
Dudley Wines | Pic by Kangaroo Island Food and Wine Association
PORT ELLIOT
For those who want to go just far enough to feel like they’ve gotten away from the usual daily routines, you can’t choose better than this friendly little coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Top Sights: Granite Island, Horseshoe Bay, Urimbirra Wildlife Park
Hidden Gems: the Flying Fish Cafe has a cult following with locals - book dinner in the restaurant, or take away some fish and chips to eat on the beach. Cycle the Encounter Coast Bikeway.
Travel Time: A 75 minute drive from the centre of Adelaide | Stay: An extra long weekend of five nights.
Perfect Weather: January-May, October-December
Port Elliot
Further Afield -
SYDNEY
For a city stay, Sydney is an exciting choice with plenty of iconic sights for the first-time visitor. Take one of the many harbour cruises from Circular Quay and get orientated with the city from the water.
Top Sights: Bondi Beach, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge
Hidden Gems: Sculpture by the Sea, Botany Bay, walking tour of the cobbled laneways at The Rocks
Travel Time: Two hour flight from Adelaide
Stay: Seven nights will let you fit in shopping, beaches, a little history, and all the big sights.
Perfect Weather: March-May, September-November
Sydney
GREAT OCEAN ROAD
Take a drive from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. While it can be done overnight, we think it’s much more fun to take your time, see the natural sights, and stay in some of the amazing little towns along the way - how does four nights with stops in Mount Gambier, Port Fairy, Apollo Bay, and Torquay sound? Some couples like to hire a car for the drive, and spend a few days enjoying Melbourne before flying home.
Top Sights: the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge, the Grotto
Hidden Gems: Loch Ard Gorge, Great Otway National Park
Perfect Weather: January-April, November-December
Great Ocean Road
PALM COVE
Hands down my top choice, and one of the best holidays I’ve ever spent, was at Palm Cove in Tropical North Queensland. When I travel (and particularly when it’s a popular tourist spot) I tend to find a place to stay that’s just outside the main destination, because I don’t enjoy the crowds and I want to feel more like a local. Palm Cove provides easy access to the big attractions, but it’s just the most dreamy little beach town you ever did see. With a high street full of white weatherboard shops and restaurants running right along the beach-front, luxury resorts, and a population of just 2,000 people, you’ll never want to leave!
Top Sights: Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda Scenic Railway and Cablecar
Hidden Gems: Kuranda Heritage Markets, Scoops Gelati Bar
Travel Time: Three hour flight from Adelaide to Cairns, followed by a 45 minute drive to Palm Cove. Hire a car to easily get around.
Perfect Weather: June-September
Palm Cove
