10 Valentine’s Day ideas for true travel romantics

We’ve found the nooks for your nookie, the spaces for your romance to roam for Valentine’s Day and well beyond.

Whether you think it’s just a hallmark holiday or not, here are Australia’s best romantic getaways, hotels, islands, spas and ideas to amaze your partner  and yourself (in no particular order). PS you might want to book ahead!

1.  The Melbourne splash-out

Book into your room at Crown Towers Melbourne and, if the mood takes you, ease into your love-extravaganza with one of the hotel spa’s early-morning Caviar Lift facials (90 minutes). Later, a short stroll along the Yarra brings you to the funky bars around Hoiser Lane – dip into Cumulus Inc or Cutler & Co.

Next a spot of dinner at Mamasita (pre book) for some fresh and fast ‘street style’ Mexican. Back to Crown’s lounge for nightcap. Well, you know what to do next.

Mamasita Melbourne for some street style Mexican

2. Romance on a rooftop

When it comes to matters of the heart, does anything quite compete like panoramic views and champagne? We think not.

This Valentine’s Day, get cosy and enjoy spectacular views of the city skyline at Sydney’s famous (and Instagram famous) Intercontinental Double Bay.

Striped day beds beckon bathers from the rooftop pool (for the use of guests only) while the bar and restaurant help along with the relaxed vibe. Anyone can enjoy the facilities up here to dine and drink between 11.00am – 1 hour after sunset, with the often-spectacular sunsets here truly worth timing things right in order to soak in.

3. On-lake wilderness and water views

For couples who like to say “we’ve been there” way before anyone else, book the weekend at a zhushed art-deco former hydro station electric station on the cusp of one of Tasmania’s most eye-peeling World Heritage areas.

Many of Pumphouse Point’s rooms sport floor to-ceiling water views so you can make the executive decision to stay in and stare or head out on a nature walk around Lake St Clair. Inevitably you’ll probably end up cosying up around the flickering fire and deep seats of the Pumphouse Lounge anyway.

Pumphouse Point is surrounded by panoramic views

4. Sail, walk, sigh

Walk through picturesque Maria Island, Freycinet Peninsula and the Tasman Peninsula by day; sip local wines and enjoy fresh oysters by sunset, and then get some much-needed R & R to the gentle rock of your yacht (Lady Eugenie, a 23-metre (75-ft) luxury classic ketch) by night.

The Tasmanian Walking Company’s unique Wineglass Bay Sail Walk tour offers all this and more. Heaven.

Dense bushland of Freycinet National Park

5. Retreat to the rainforest and/or the mountains

Flee your hectic city routine to a rarefied rainforest or a mystic mountain lodge – that’s an order. At 1130m above sea level Spicers Peak Lodge is an almost-alpine canoodlers’ (and gourmands’) paradise in Queensland’s Scenic Rim.

Try the award-winning gourmet four-course shared lunch full of local goodies and then, much later, a signature spa experience perhaps. There’s a heli pad if a James Bond-style escape is needed. To be at two with nature, book one of three lodges (Balinese temple, rainforest yurt or Hobbit house) at Wollumbin Palms, amongst 80 acres of rainforest around Mt Warning in NSW’s Northern Rivers.

Test the Pamper Massage for couples or the signature Bliss Out package after your gentle horse ride through the Numinbah Valley or your light paddle in your complimentary canoe for two. If you want to go all the way, so to speak, Wollumbin offers Elopement Packages.

Retreat to Spicers Peak Lodge

6. The Sydney Harbour view trinity

Pre-dinner tipples at Shangri-La Sydney’s Blue Bar on 36 with its harbour-from-the-heavens view of sparkling Sydney. Book well ahead for dinner at Quay restaurant and then toil with your dessert choice – snow egg or the chocolate ethereal – as you catch yet another exquisite angle of the illuminated bridge and Opera House.

Next a short, pleasant evening waterside stroll back to your City King Harbour room at the Park Hyatt, where you can take advantage of your round-the-clock butler service or try out the custom-made bed linen.

Pre-dinner tipples at Shangri-La Sydney’s Blue Bar

7. The all-in-one country drives

The delicious four-hour drive north east from Melbourne to Beechworth sets the scene nicely for your stay (and dinners) at Micheal Ryan’s awesome (and hatted) The Provenance. No matter if your true love is not a meat eater, try the degustation veggo menu.

Historically gorgeous Beechworth is worth a lingering wander or retire immediately to one of The Provenance’s four sleek suites (preferably yours) and pop into the spa bath.

Other sparkling country gems:

-The spa-related pamperings and hatted restaurants of Daylesford/Hepburn
-The ‘other Byron’, Bellingen, is absolutely gorgeous (check out Cottonwood Cottage!)
-The seductive cycle trails around Victoria’s café hub Bright; including a cycle-thru burrito shop and a long lunch degustation where you cycle between five wineries
-The foodie goodness in picturesque country surrounds of amazing Mudgee
-The backroads of the Blue Mountains through adorable apple country around Bilpin

Stroll the historical streets of Beechworth

8. Almost deserted luxury island

You don’t want an utterly deserted island – who’s going to serve you and your other champagne? Luckily Australia has plenty to choose from. For small-scale intimacy try a high-end option such as the bountiful and beautiful Bedarra Island (140km south of Cairns) where you’re unlikely to be bothered by other guests (only eight private villas and a maximum of 16 guests at any one time).

There are 45 hectares of tropical rainforest to get lost in or indulge in a candlelit dinner for two on your own beach. Alternatively, pack a gourmet hamper and head off in a dinghy for a romantic soiree on one of the nearby deserted islands.

Spoilt for choice: Where to start? Qualia, Hayman Island and Lizard Island. Or for further afield try one of our 10 remote island paradises.

Australia has plenty of islands to choose from – like Lizard

9. A vineyard, an ocean feast

Slow drive through the Adelaide Hills and stock up at your fave wines there or in McLaren Vale where you check into a cosy B&B (The Vintage or Amande to name just a couple). From there it’s a short drive south west to the coast town of Port Wilunga.

Looking a little more local?

-Try the 10 best wineries in Tasmania
-Or the top 10 wineries on the Mornington Peninsula 
–South Australia’s best wine experiences is another tempting feat
-There’s also the best food and drink in North-Tasmania’s hidden region
-The Hunter Valley also provides many places to stop
-Victorians, the overlooked Yarra Valley holds many a hidden secret

10. Lovers in the air

Nothing says “I love you” like seaplane, hot air balloon or helicopter. How about a heli-picnic; fly over the Coral Sea and land on a tiny island for a very private gourmet picnic (just the two of you). Gourmet lunch, snorkelling equipment, beach umbrella and, of course, cushions provided.

Jonah’s on Sydney’s Whale Beach is famous for its fly-and-dine option but Sydney Seaplanes also offers packages to a number of other quality New South Wales’ coastal restaurants such as Bells at Killcare and Berowra Waters Inn. Prefer going where the wind takes you? Float over the verdant hills of the nation’s capital with Balloon Aloft in the early morning after a gourmet breakfast. A champagne celebration follows, naturally.

Float over our nations capital