The 10 best honeymoon destinations in Australia

Fringed by stunning, secluded beaches and kissed by the warm, turquoise waters of the Coral Sea, Lizard Island is the very definition of island paradise. It’s not easy to reach – only accessible by private charter from Cairns Airport – but after all the wedding expenses, a few extra hundred dollars surely won’t hurt. Here, you’ll have access to Australia’s greatest natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef, with 24 breathtaking beaches to enjoy. And if you’re looking to splurge, we can think of nothing more romantic than lounging by the private pool or feasting on fresh seafood at Lizard Island Resort.

Good for: Couples who’ve saved up for a seriously bougie island holiday.

Best time to visit: During the dry season (May to October), for warm weather, less rain and fewer jellyfish.

Where to stay: Lizard Island Resort

Food, food, glorious food (and wine). For some, true, honeymoon paradise cannot be reached unless the food and booze are good and aplenty. One of the best places to do this is the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Whether it's long, lazy days exploring wineries, floating above rolling green hills in a hot air balloon, or eating your way through the region's incredible array of local restaurants and eateries, you can rest assured that your love will be well-fed. 

Good for: Lovers who are above all else wine drinkers and food eaters. 

Best time to visit: Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) to see the landscapes burst with colour.

Where to stay: The Louise

Lord Howe Island, off the coast of NSW, only allows 400 people on at a time, which is pretty perfect for any new lovers that don't want a large crowd of people to burst their newly-wedded bliss bubble. Secluded walks, incredible beaches and stunning views abound on this tiny slice of paradise, meaning that your days will be full of nature-filled activities. But, it ain't all about getting outside. Lord Howe is also home to a lot of bougie resorts, swanky cabins and an abundance of refined and casual eateries and boozers, meaning that you don't have to give up any creature comforts in the wild. 

Good for: Honeymooners into lush mountains and rainbow fish by day – and luxe dinner and drinks by night. 

Best time to visit: From September to May, as many lodges and tour operators close during the winter months. 

Where to stay: Capella Lodge or Earl's Anchorage

If camping, nature escapes or lounging without purpose on a tropical beach aren't your or your spouse's idea of a zesty time, you should pop Melbourne on your honeymoon list. Australia's coolest city is rich with tiny candlelit restaurants, incredible live shows, winding little streets and a general kind of European-esque urban romance that isn't normally found in the land Down Under. Whether you and your beloved wander around for a weekend or a week, this honeymoon is sure to leave your minds, hearts and bellies feeling a whole lot more full.  

Good for: The loved-up city couple keen on pretending that they're lost somewhere in Paris (but without having to worry about the Euro).

Best time to visit: Early in the year, to catch the biggest sporting events and festivals.

Where to stay: Melbourne Place or Hannah St Hotel

This dreamy patch of paradise on NSW’s south coast has honeymoon written all over it. If the wedding planning took it out of you, then escape here for endless days spent relaxing on the soft, white sands of Hyams Beach – they’re literally whiter than your wedding dress. Turn up the romance with a sunrise paddle on the crystal-clear waters or a stargazing sesh with a glass of wine in hand. After all, you may as well live it up in paradise.

Good for: The couple who wants to do nothing more than lie on a beautiful beach for days on end.

Best time to visit: Spring (September to November) to enjoy the warmish weather, catch the end of whale season and avoid the summer crowds.

Where to stay: Paperbark Camp

It's a universal truth that no two humans are the same, which can make planning an ideal holiday for two people occasionally tricky. That's where Tasmania comes in. Your spouse into deep sea fishing and trekking through a glow-worm grotto? Tasmania. You into incredible produce, mind-blowing wine and wandering through one of the world's most wacky art galleries? Tasmania. It's got secluded beaches, romantic road trips, deep green forests, and cosy country pubs. It's got everything – including the healing balm needed to smooth your way into your marriage. You're welcome. 

Good for: The couple who can't agree on what to do. 

Best time to visit: Year-round

Where to stay: Sabi Stays (Binalong Bay) or MACq 01 (Hobart)

Ah, the Whitsundays. They're pretty much a living honeymoon cliche – there's even a bloody love heart-shaped coral reef. Whether it's sunning yourselves on a pristine white beach, drinking champagne on a sleek yacht, island hopping or snorkelling around the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays has every conceivable classic honeymoon activity in spades. If you've got the cash, you can eat lunch on a private beach in the middle of the Coral Sea, stay in a seriously luxe island resort, and charter a helicopter to check out the famed love heart from above. It's the little things. 

Good for: The bougie romancers who like sugar white beaches, turquoise waters and the odd yacht. 

Best time to visit: During the dry season (April to October), for sunny days with lower humidity.

Where to stay: InterContinental Hayman Island or The Sundays (Hamilton Island)

Ningaloo Reef is one of Australia's most secretly spectacular and romantic destinations. While it's a big drive to get here from Perth, the UNESCO wonders of Ningaloo will make all the car fights you may or may not have with your partner over directions worth it. If you're someone who likes their remote wilderness with a side of luxury, 100 per cent book the honeymoon tent at the incredible Sal Salis glamping resort for chef-prepared meals and a king-sized bed next to the reef. If not, pitch your own tent at a local campsite, drink beers on the beach and when you dive with a whale shark, feel like a princeling anyway. 

Good for: The adventurous couple who like off-grid aquatic remoteness, swimming with whale sharks and secret beaches. 

Best time to visit: From March to August, so you can swim with whale sharks and avoid the summer heat.

Where to stay: Sal Salis

Are you and yours the kind of folks who prefer feeling the wind in your hair and dirt between your toes? Does the thought of getting lost (spiritually, not physically) in a primordial ancient sacredness spiked with deep red rocks and desert stars sing to the tiny romantic within? You can't look past Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park. Exploring the Red Centre is a perfect way to get closer to the land and one another, with the incredible hikes, night skies and general feeling of awe that will stay with you for the rest of your married life. Pro tip? Do the Red Centre Way Loop track from Alice Springs to avoid marital disputes over directions. It's clearer this way.

Good for: Couples who like driving 4WDs, camping and frolicking around in a big, red and epic wilderness. 

Best time to visit: From May to September, when it's less humid. 

Where to stay: Sails in the Desert or Longitude 131

Basically tailor-made for honeymooners who want to feel like they've travelled to a far-flung corner of the world without having left national waters, Cocos Keeling is full of glass-blue water, swaying palm trees and some of the best snorkelling and diving on Earth. Home to a tiny local Coco Malay population who speak a Malay dialect, this is an incredibly vibrant and special corner of the world that lies a few thousand kilometres off the coast of Darwin, deep in the Indian Ocean.

Good for: Lovebirds into remote tropical islands and experiencing a new and vibrant culture. 

Best time to visit: There’s never a bad time to visit, with temperatures hovering between 25 and 30 degrees year-round.

Where to stay: The Breakers Cocos