7 Financially Smart Ways to Spend Your Honeymoon in Australia

Wine, beaches or rugged terrain? Your honeymoon doesn’t have to take place overseas for you to enjoy an exotic, luxurious good time.

The natural diversity of Australia offers a range of choices for honeymooners who’d rather spend their special holiday doing something, rather than wasting time getting there on an airplane.

Read on for some tips on where to go, what to do, and how to spend, for a romantic, memorable honeymoon in Australia.

Get Adventurous at Kakadu National Park

If you and your beau love getting outdoors and are planning on taking your honeymoon in the dry months of May to October, Kakadu National Park is nothing short of spectacular. Lest you be worried about roughing it on your honeymoon, you’ll be happy to note that Kakadu National Park has options for luxury accommodation as well.

While you can visit the park any time of year, many of the most beautiful tracks are impassable due to flooding during the monsoon months. If you visit when it’s dry, you’ll be able to take advantage of ranger-guided tours and catch glimpses of a greater variety of wildlife, which also take cover when the weather is foul.

On the UNESCO World Heritage list for its grandeur, size and cultural significance to the Aboriginal traditional owners of the Kakadu, the national park is one of the Northern Territory’s top tourist attractions.

Taste Luxury in the Barrosa Valley

Wine and dine with your new husband or wife in the Barrosa Valley, one of Australia’s top wine regions. The valley’s hotels and restaurants are ideal for long evenings of soulful conversation. Then, spend playful afternoons exploring farmer’s markets or contemplating at museums and historical sites. And, since it’s only 60 kilometers from Adelaide, you can check out that city too if you choose.

Explore the Kimberley

Base yourself in the beach paradise of Broome and explore the wilds of the Kimberley with your new spouse. One of Western Australia’s best getaways, the Kimberley offers a variety of activities for newlyweds. Whether you want to relax on Cable Beach in Broome — to calm down from an over-the-top wedding perhaps? — or try out adventure sports to test your limits as a couple, you can find both here.

Lose Yourselves in Melbourne

If small country towns and national parks make you yawn, enjoy an urban honeymoon with a trip to Melbourne, Australia’s cultural heart. Sink into the anonymity of city life and enjoy going to shows, catching up over lengthy afternoons in city coffee shops, and browsing quirky markets. Documenting your honeymoon will be fun and easy, because there’s so much to take pictures of in the city. Snap photos on city trams and seek out Victorian architecture for the best backdrops. Melbourne will let you celebrate your new union in style.

Seek Thredbos Thrills

Crave an Alpine retreat for your honeymoon? Save some cash for your next holiday by visiting Thredbo instead. In the winter, you can learn to ski or snowboard in the morning and spend cozy evenings bundled up in the lodge warming each others toes. In summer, the mountains’ fresh air will invigorate you as you go on guided walks and talk about the future.

Head South to Cradle Mountain

One of Australia’s most romantic destinations for honeymooners, Cradle Mountain can be your cradle of love. This getaway in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area serves as a pristine backdrop to your finalized nuptials. Horseback riding and quad big are fine in the spring and fall, while indoor pursuits are best in the winter.

Check In to a Spa With Your Spouse

And, if a destination honeymoon doesn’t seem like the right answer for you and your special someone, let the professionals at a spa pamper you silly for a few hours. Massages, facials, and dietary treatments will emphasize the fresh start you’re making in life with your new spouse. All of Australia’s large cities boast spas with excellent reviews; call around to some in the city nearest you to work out a honeymoon package. Some even have couples’ rooms for just this purpose.

About the Author

Lee Drake is a blogger who is planning to marry his girlfriend of three years in New Zealand this summer. After the ceremony, they’re planning a romantic trip to Cradle Mountain.

Photo Credit: 123RF