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Some moments feel straight out of a movie: a warm outdoor bath, kangaroos bouncing past and a golden sunset melting into the hills. That would be the opening scene of my stay at Starscape Australia, a wildly remote, adults-only escape set beneath one of the darkest skies in the country. I’d come here for two reasons: to truly switch off and to see a night sky untouched by city lights – and within minutes of arriving, I knew I’d found both.
I’m not alone in my quest for dark-sky experiences. Last year, Booking.com named noctourism – or nocturnal tourism – as the top travel trend of 2025, covering everything from glow-worm walks and ghost tours to light shows, stargazing adventures and off-grid retreats. Starscape is embracing the noctourism trend, offering guests the chance to slow down and rediscover life’s simple pleasures while witnessing the wonders of the Milky Way.
The biggest drawcard of this rustic yet luxe 100-acre property is its total seclusion, set amid the peaceful landscapes of the Abercrombie River, just a 2.5-hour drive from Canberra or 3.5 hours from Sydney. The night skies here are spectacular, boasting a number two rating on the Bortle Scale – the global standard for measuring darkness and light pollution. That means you’re under some of the clearest, most pristine skies in the world, as untouched as being in the middle of the ocean, free from virtually any light (and noise, for that matter).
I arrived at Starscape on a perfectly sunny afternoon; the clear blue sky stretching over a tranquil valley carpeted with native bushland. Far from the hum of the city, it was just me, a couple of wild goats and my private abode for the next two nights. There were many things I loved about Starscape – from the large daybed tucked next to a tiny fireplace, to the expansive sun-drenched verandah with its sunken open-air bathtub, and the cosy wellness room with yoga mats and weights. But I also appreciated the tiny, thoughtful touches: a stack of board games and books to encourage being offline, simple recipes for mindful cooking, and a record player to set the mood for slow evenings and conversation.
The coolest feature, though, was the StarDome – a private observatory for uninterrupted stargazing. At night, it offered front-row seats to one of the darkest night skies to be found in Australia, revealing a galaxy of stars you simply won’t see near the city. Lying back on the fold-out sofa, I literally pinched myself, mesmerised by the vastness above. It was the perfect reminder that, every now and then, we all need to pause and step away from the distractions and demands of daily life. In that moment, everything I’d been stressed or worried about felt tiny in comparison to the enormity of the night sky.
After my stay, my advice is simple: step back, slow down and look up – otherwise, you might miss the beauty right in front of you. You can find out more about Starscape Australia here.