Glamping in the Outback Northern Territory Australia

When I arrived in Kings Creek station via bus, Lily from Kings Canyon Wilderness Lodge was there to pick a few of us up. She was petite and in her 40’s with a sly smile. She drove an dirty, beat up SUV, perfect for this desert environment.

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The Australian outback is not at all what I was expecting. I had expected this red wasteland – flat, red, and barren. But instead I was surprised to find green plant life all around. Short, bushy, vibrant trees filled the landscape and seemed to glow against the red landscape. I had arrived in Autumn in the Northern Territory of Australia and I quickly determined that it’s the best time to be there – the temps were pleasant, the flies weren’t as bad as the summer, and there were green bushes.

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With no internet or cell connection – this camping is the real thing. Never mind that inside the tent is a queen size bed, electricity, and separate tented bathroom with shower and hairdryer. Ok – it’s just about the real thing. Actually, it’s my kind of camping – it’s glamping! This glamping experience was a bit ‘rougher’ than the others I experienced in Australia but there is a reason it’s called glamping… it still was glamorous even though it was out in the middle of nowhere!

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The tent was completely canvas and built on a decked platform. It had 5 zip up windows, electricity, a separate tent bathroom, and evena little back ‘door’ and patio to sit and look out on the scrubby bushes of the dusty, red outback. I didn’t actually spend much time in the tent though as there were a number of communal activities that kept me busy at the camp. It started with drinks by the fire served up by Lily and then we were all ushered to a rustic table. We sat outside under the stars eating canapés of smoked kangaroo, cheese, and avocado. The dinner and dessert were also just as impressive with salad, mashed potatoes, barramundi fish, lamb, and sticky date pudding for dessert. Lily was our entertainment bonding all of us traveling strangers together under the stars. She wore a little black dress while she gracefully placed logs on the fire and served food and stories up in an equal amount.

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The people who live in remote communities always fascinate me. Lily said that shehoards newspaper and magazines because they get one mail delivery a week and one truck comes through the station a week. I found myself doing a little inventory in my head of my backpack trying to remember if I had any old magazines I could give her before I left! Once I retired to my tent after a nightcap of port around the fire, I heard the howling as soon as I lay down to go to sleep. Dingoes. The sound came from my left; it felt as if it was far away. I hoped it was far away. I dozed off for a few hours, however it felt like minutes when I woke up againto more howling. I could also hear a slow whistling hum. I lay there with my mind churning on the whistling sound. What was it? Then I realized it was the wind blowing through the tough, scrubby green brush trees in the outback. I wanted an outback glamping experience, and now I was getting it – complete with a pack of howling dingoes.

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Despite my restless dingo filled night, I had to wake up early the next day for the main reason I came here to Kings Creek Station; the Kings Canyon Rim hike. Our Guide, Graham, pointed out various plant life and trees during the hike – some of which was over 600 years old. He also shared stories about the aboriginal culture from this area. The hike was a total of 6km and it wound around the top of the canyon providing you views over the sheer sandstone cliffs and into the valley 150 m below. The only challenging part of the hike was the initial 10 to 15 minute uphill climb to get to the rim. But it’s worth it as once you get to the top you have 3 more hours of walking and enjoying the lovely views.

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Besides the hike, there’s plenty more to do during a two-night stay in the area. There are camel rides, helicopter rides, ATV rentals, and a small restaurant at the nearby Kings Creek station. The outback doesn’t really have towns – they have stations. The stations (ranches) were the only things really on this land. Kings Creek Station was a camel farm and tourist bus stop. Most of the stations herd cattle and they are normally about 1,000,000 acresand can have upwards of 8,000 to 15,000 head of cattle on them. The areas are so vast that they herd them with helicopters!

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The little station café served up a rather unusual but tasty camel burger as camel meat is a staple out in these parts of the outback. Get the deluxe burger and you’ll find a lettuce, tomato, cheese, onions, fried egg, and a pineapple slice on your burger! After a few nights listening to dingoes, swapping stories by the campfire, sleeping in a tent, hiking, and eating camel burgers – I felt like I had a real outback experience!

Spicers Canopy Scenic Rim Trail: Nature By Day Luxury By Night

I pulled up in my rental car and was greeted by Hanna and James, our guides from Spicers Canopy. James took my bag and whisked it away informing me it would be waiting for me at my tent when we finished our hike. Hanna took me to a truck where she introduced me to my fellow hikers and glampers – 3 women who, like me, were also traveling solo. When you think about luxury lodging, you seldom think about experiencing it solo. You normally save luxury experiences like glamping to be shared with someone. However, you don’t have to save ‘special’ experiences to be shared with someone, if I did, then I’d probably never travel! My time at Spicers Canopy was a great way to experience glamping solo because it wasn’t solely about the resort and luxury, it was about how you got there and the people you were with.

Our hiking guide, Hanna, handed us day backpacks already packed with rain gear, a hat, lunch, snacks, and a camel back water system. This wasn’t just luxury camping, it was luxury hiking too. I wasn’t used to getting this type of pampering when I hiked, but I think I could get used to it! We started up the Scenic Rim Trailhead towards the summit of Mt. Mitchell. Spicers Scenic Rim Trail is located in the Great Dividing Range of Southern Queensland Australia. A region rich in exploration and history, which is a perfect distance from Brisbane for a weekend getaway. We started with a gradual climb through cartoonish looking trees and plants I had never seen before native to Australia. We arrived at the summit in time to eat our packed lunches of wraps and fruit; needed nourishment after the climb.

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As we hiked up Mt. Mitchell you could see the big picture of the day’s hike. James pointed out white dots down in the distant valley, the tents of Spicers Canopy, which would be our camp for the evening. He also pointed out the Spicers Peak Lodge perched on top of a hill across from Spicer’s Peak which would be our end destination on our last day of hiking. As I looked at the Spicers Canopy tents in way off in the distance I was excited at the prospect of a glamping experience after challenging hiking day. After all, the last thing I wanted to do after a challenging 8 mile hike was pitch my own tent, start a fire, and cook myself crappy camp food.

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Seeing the camp gave me the energy to get through the 2nd half of the hike which veered off the nice park maintained trail and into proper bush walking. We followed Hanna and James as they led us through the tall grass and down the steep embankment – we were blazing our own trail now! We passed the time by getting to know each other better swapping stories and personal information making us forget about the miles we were logging. After a few more hours we came up over the ridge and saw our first look at the campsite, which had 10 perfectly placed safari style canvas tents with porches all looking out on Mt. Mitchell. The sun was startingto get low and the camp had a golden glow. Or maybe I was blinded by the golden bubbles handed to me as I arrived at the communal lodge building. Ryan and Finley, the Spicers Canopy chefs, handed me a glass of champagne, welcomed me to the camp, and invited us in to enjoy homemade scones, jam, and cream by the fire. I’m an avid hiker, but this was the most memorable way I have ever finished a day hike. It felt great to take off my boots and daypack and sink into the big couch cushions enjoying the smell of a roaring fire with a glass of bubbly. “I earned this”, I thought to myself!

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The hiking was done and the pampering had just begun. We were shown to our tents where our bags awaited us as well as a big queen bed full of pillows making it look like a marshmallow to sink into. The tents were powered by solar so each had two bedside lamps and one overhead lamp. The bed as well as a lounge chair looked out on Mt. Mitchell. It felt wonderful to think that we had been way up there at the peak earlier in the day. I put on my fluffy white robe and walked to the bathrooms in the communal building that was also home to 3 sleek, modern bathrooms with showers. The hot shower felt wonderful on the chilly evening. (Image – Spicers Canopy 2.jpg)

Soon it was time for canapés and wine served around the fire as the lodge was filling with aromas from Ryan and Finley’s cooking. The kitchen was open which allowed and encouraged everyone to interact. After a day of hiking I had gotten to know my fellow hikers pretty well. This glamping experience was more of a group experience instead of a romantic weekend with privacy. And personally I preferred this as a solo traveler who loves hiking. Part of the fun for me was getting to know my fellow hikers.

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The best part about glamping after a hike is you get to enjoy guilt-free eating! A feast was delivered to the communal table; onion brie tart with balsamic vinegar, coq au vin, and sticky date pudding with ice cream for dessert. Not the typical camping food I am used to. The fire was dying down, my belly was full, and the wine had taken hold, it was time to retire to my tent. The air was crisp outside which quickened my step, however as I stepped up on my porch I glanced up and was stopped in my tracks. The luminous Milky Way was staring back at me with such sharpness I was mesmerized and the chilly night air became an afterthought.

I finally pulled myself away from stargazing and unzipped my tent to fall into my marshmallow bed, exhausted. When I turned down the duvet I found a hot water bottle nestled in my bed – the perfect sleeping companion for this solo glamper on a cold autumn night. In this environment it was easy to get a good night’s sleep so that I could get up and do this all over again with my fellow hikers tomorrow!

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More Information: Spicers Scenic Rim Trail is a new inventive 3 day hike and glamping experience covering approximately 19 miles around the Great Dividing Range Mountains in Southeast Queensland Australia. You glamp for 2 nights at Spicers Canoy and the third night your hike ends at the luxurious Spicers Peak Lodge where the pampering continues surrounded by real walls.

Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris

The amazing thing about glamping is the diversity of locations where you can find it. Take for example Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris. The southern coast of Australia rarely tops bucket lists of exotic places to visit, but maybe it should. Glamping has the ability to make any remote destination a five-star vacation. Let’s take a closer look at Gawler.

It’s a small family business operating nature based tours that’s been in business since 1988. Guides provide experiences in the outback and west coast of South Australia, contrasts, wild beauty and rich fauna. The Gawler Ranges, located about 400 miles northwest of Adelaide on the Eyre Peninsula, is the Australian Outback at its finest.

The diverse terrain changes from semi-desert to arid to eucalypt woodland, while the age old volcanic landscape is spectacular with its gorges and weathered rocky outcrops. In Spring, the desert comes alive with a carpet of wildflowers covering the landscape… and has over a hundred species of birdlife. The colors are vivid and diverse. You will also see a lot of kangaroos and wombats. At the end of summer, the grasslands near Gawler are covered in a thick carpet of wildflowers. The landscape in one word is “dramatic.”

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Gawler’s luxury safari tents are set in the stunning mallee wilderness region of the Gawler Ranges in South Australia. This is perfect for the nature lover who really wants to get away from tourist traps and experience South Australia’s finest scenery and wildlife. The curved-roof design keeps the tents cool by always keeping the air flowing. Interestingly enoug, no vegetation was removed from the camp site. It was designed and built using the natural fire breaks that the trees create for their own protection.

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The camp has a central dining room which is mostly open sided but is closed when the weather is not so perfect. The camp is a wonderful place to relax, walk and observe the nature which lives in harmony with our presence. Recycled materials were used in its construction and furnishing, giving it a tastefully rustic look.

Kangaluna Camp has been developed by its owners from a life time of experience on how to best live in this environment and dry climate. Water is collected from the roofs and is the only water source. Techniques are used for its preservation, and best of all you don’t have to sacrifice showers or flushing toilets.

Learn more about planning your own glamping trip with Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris.