Romantic getaways in Australia's countryside

By Freya Herring and Leah Dobihal

For many of us, life in the country looks pretty sweet – so what better getaway to enjoy a bit of romance? In Australia's countryside, you can do everything from milk cows to churn butter. Or, you can simply enjoy each other's company in serene surrounds.

Here are some of Australia's most romantic country getaways and farmstays.

Currajong Retreat

Where: a three-hour drive from Canberra

At Currajong Retreat, nestled in South-Eastern New South Wales, romance is top of the agenda – closely followed by luxury picnics, candlelit dinners and balcony bubble baths. Cosy into your plush glamping tent, perched atop the Towamba River, before rising to the sounds of nature and a scrumptious breakfast hamper on your doorstep. Between luxury, eco-friendly digs, dreamy views, adorable farm goats and an off-grid location, pure relaxation isn't difficult to come by here.

Dairy Flat Farm

Where: a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne

For a truly wholesome country experience, look no further than Dairy Flat. This 40-acre (16-hectare) productive farm and lodge is located near Daylesford, a quaint village just a drive away from Melbourne. The happenings here are like something out of a storybook – with bakers tending the ovens, beekeepers checking in on their hives and native wildlife like kangaroos and wombats roaming the grounds. 

Mt. Mulligan Lodge

Where: a 2.5-hour drive from Cairns

Who says the rugged outback can't be romantic? Mt. Mulligan Lodge is a property that brings luxury to Queensland's outback – but a stay here is about much more than the retreat-style accommodation. It's the experiences outside of the lodge that make this a trip worth taking.

Mylor Farm

Where: a 30-minute drive from Adelaide

Located in the picturesque Adelaide Hills, Mylor Farm is a cute-as-a-button country cottage and certified kangaroo sanctuary. Guests stay in an elegant, three-bedroom stone cottage with a large verandah and a crackling fireplace for the cooler months. You're sure to spot kangaroos hopping across the property, and you may even see koalas sleeping in the treetops. 

Tommerup's Dairy Farm

Where: a one-hour drive from Brisbane

Set in the dramatic landscapes of Queensland’s mountainous Scenic Rim, Tommerup’s Dairy Farm has been in the Tommerup family for six generations. Stay in one of the two 19th-century cottages for a rustic atmosphere and stunning views.

Naked Cubby Co

Where: a 20-minute drive from Canberra

Ever dreamt of waking up on a vineyard, the dawn mist covering the vines? Then Naked Cubby Co, a vineyard farmstay, is your dream come true. Each of the two stylish glamping pods offers something different: hilltop 'Edgar' has breezy, sweeping views over the top of Mount Majura Vineyard, whereas 'Frank' is cosy and sheltered, nestled at the bottom of a slope. Both are perfect for a couple's getaway.

Bullo River Station

Where: a ten-hour drive (or a helicopter ride) from Darwin

Adventurous couples should look no further than Bullo River Station in the Northern Territory’s East Kimberley. Life on a 200,000-hectare (500,000-acre) working cattle station is never dull, and you're sure to leave feeling a little more in tune with Australia's epic outback.

Curringa Farm

Where: a one-hour drive from Hobart

When it comes to farms, Curringa is the real deal. The property encompasses some 300 sprawling hectares (750 acres), producing meat and wool via 3,000 resident sheep (who’ll most likely wander past your door). Stay in the luxury two-person studio for a romantic weekend in the country.

The Farmstead Tatura

Where: a two-hour drive from Melbourne

The Farmstead Tatura in Victoria's Goulburn Valley is perfect for those who want to experience country life without any of the hard work. Outside are the smells of gardens and flowering trees, and inside your guest room (located in the owners’ 1920s farmhouse), it’s all about slowing down.

Burnside Organic Farm

Where: a three-hour drive from Perth

Situated between the laidback town of Margaret River and a beach, Burnside Organic Farm grows avocados, grapes, honey and capers, and even has its own minimal-intervention winery onsite. The bungalows here were made for a romantic getaway – think outdoor stone baths, wood fireplaces and open-plan living.

Springfield Farm

Where: a 1.5-hour drive from Sydney

Springfield Farm is located in the tiny town of Avoca in the Southern Highlands. It's not only the luxury houses that draw visitors to the farm; it's a fully immersive experience at Springfield, from the moment you wake up with birds chirping to when you warm up by the fireplace in the evening.