Love Under the Stars: Most Romantic Camping Escapes Revealed

Mar 1

If romance is less champagne in the city and more slow mornings, crackling fires and outdoor baths beneath the stars, you’re not alone.

Camping platform Hipcamp has revealed Australia’s most romantic camping and glamping stays – and NSW has claimed both first and second place in the national top 10.

The rankings were drawn from an analysis of 471,662 global reviews over the past two years, including 166,294 from Australia. Using what Hipcamp calls a ‘Relative Romance Rating’ – a per-review score based on romance-related language – listings were ranked according to how often guests referenced milestones, privacy, connection and those little luxuries that make a weekend feel special.

And it turns out, love thrives in the bush.

Lyrebirds Nest

Taking out the number one spot was Lyrebirds Nest (Penrose, NSW), located halfway between Sydney and Canberra.

The quiet bush cabin was described by Hipcamp as having:

"Forest views, a wood stove and the kind of 'do nothing' setting that makes it easy to reconnect. Spend your days wandering through the olive grove, dipping into the spring-fed lake and warming up in the on-site sauna, then end the evening by the firepit under a sky full of stars."

BAJIMBA Eco Camping and Farm Stay

In second place was BAJIMBA Eco Camping and Farm Stay (Sandy Flat, NSW). Located high up in the Northern Tablelands near Mt Bajimba, Hipcamp said:

"This is glamping that still feels properly wild - bell tent stays with sweeping views, plus bookable add-ons like a steam sauna and wood-fired hot tub. Arrive before sunset if you can - it’s part of the ritual here."

Crystal Creek Rainforest Treehouse

In seventh place was Crystal Creek Rainforest Treehouse (Upper Crystal Creek, NSW) in the Tweed Shire just a short drive from Byron. This rainforest hideaway on 53 acres was described by Hipcamp as featuring:

"Forest, meadows, rolling hills and crystal-clear creeks - built for guests who want to disconnect and sink into nature. The treehouse sits in a rainforest pocket with water nearby and a soundtrack of birds, frogs and running creek: equal parts whimsical and restorative."

The Rise of Slow Romance

What unites the top 10 isn’t extravagance – it’s privacy, immersion and intentional simplicity. Outdoor baths. Wood-fired heat. Star-heavy skies. Spaces designed for slowing down rather than showing off.

For many of us on the coast, this kind of romantic escape isn’t about going far. It’s about going deeper into nature, into quiet and into each other’s company.

And if the data tells us anything, it’s that Australia’s most romantic moments are happening not in five-star lobbies – but under canvas, beside creeks and around firepits.