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“To travel is to live.” Hans Christian Anderson
With exploration always top of mind, at LITTLE URCHIN we find inspiration in Australia's rugged wilderness and also in the exceptional experiences created by talented Australian people.
With a love of adventure and the outdoors, comes a passion to protect the natural world. So rather than a feverish dash around the continent, we're focusing on fewer, better things -- high quality experiences, natural wonder and always, always experiences that are unique to the land they are created in.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” Mark Twain.
In this spirit, we’ve curated a list of Australian getaways that are anything but ordinary. Our list is by no means exhaustive, but captures a sense of what's "out there" if we choose to discover it.
Uluru needs no introduction, being so central to Australia’s indigenous culture and one of our country’s most recognisable landmarks. One glimpse of this towering beauty on approach leaves no doubt in the mind of the beholder that this is a sacred place. Based in the heart of Australia’s red centre, Uluru is thought to have begun forming 550 million years ago. That fact alone is awe-inspiring, and then there’s the abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings – not to mention the stunning colour palate that appears to change at different times of the day and year. If you haven’t yet made the pilgrimage, what are you waiting for?
Visit Parks Australia for more information.
Roaring winds, a dramatic coastline, and the unique opportunity to rent an entire island for yourself, Satellite Island is a to die for Tasmanian hideaway in the heart of the magnificent D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Your accommodation can only be reached by private boat from nearby Bruny Island, located off Tasmania’s south coast – and being Australia’s island state, you are literally bunking down on an island off an island off an island! Mind-bending mapping aside, this place is cherished for its silence (there are no shops, roads, other guests or Wi-Fi); for toe-tingling details, like the fact you can shuck oysters right off its rocks and fall asleep to lapping waves outside your door; and for its thoughtful design. Owners, Kate and Will Alstergren, renovated the accommodation in 2013, creating a luxury-meets-practical style so perfect for the place it is located.
Explore Satellite Island.
Australia truly does deserve its reputation as one of the best beach destinations, and the north coast of New South Wales is no exception. Surf, sun, good food, and great times are promised with a trip to Halcyon House, located at Cabarita Beach.
An interior lover’s design porn, Halcyon House’s striking look and feel is thanks to Brisbane interior designer Anna Spiro of Black & Spiro. Elaborate, luxurious, and whimsical, a stay here is most certainly indulgent – and most likely distinct to anywhere you have been before.
There’s no need to leave the boutique hotel. Its applauded restaurant Paper Daisy, in-house spa, designer pool and the surf of nearby Cabarita Beach make it more than enough for a visit … but then you’d be missing out on some of the region’s best attractions, like hikes around Byron Bay, a feast at Fleet in Brunswick Heads (Gourmet Traveller’s regional restaurant of the Year), or a day out in the Byron Hinterland and its storybook small towns.
Better book in a week! Visit Halcyon House.
Giant turtles on your doorstep, skies crowded with stars, and – of course – a stunning coral cay, Heron Island is a nature-lover’s paradise. Not as prominent island as its northern Barrier Reef counterparts, this natural beauty is arguably better off for it.
There are no buildings taller than the tree line. And you won’t bump into any day-trippers, because the reef is reserved exclusively for guests on the island. There is no WiFi or phone reception, something that is beginning to be viewed as a benefit in our modern, tuned-on lives.
The accommodation cannot claim to be the most luxurious in the region, but then again, there’s something charming about its simplicity. Nature is the star attraction here.
Visit the Great Barrier Reef.
Whoever thought up the absurd concept of glamping?
The joys of camping come from having unwashed hair, badly cooked food and a million contraptions to help you achieve very mundane things – like washing your hands or getting ready for bed … Don’t they?
Inspired by their African Safari travels, the people at Paperbark Camp (Jeremy and Irena Hutchings) recognised long ago that there was a unique attraction to escaping to the great outdoors without the inconveniences and all that gear! So they created an unusual retreat, where all the freedoms of camping are applauded (think sweeping, starry skies; crickets to sing you to sleep; and the scents of the Australian bush) minus the messy bits.
It’s magical tent living, with an award-winning restaurant and sustainable philosophy set on the peaceful, pristine coastline of Jervis Bay – a sure recipe to steal even the most committed camper’s heart.
Visit Paperbark Camp.
Not just anyone can afford the mammoth undertaking of restoring a nineteenth century heritage-listed pastoral village. So we should be thankful to Goonoo Goonoo Station’s owners, Simon and Sarah Haggerty, who have made a firm commitment to capture the stories of this working property’s 185-year history and the hundreds of families who have lived on and worked its lands.
The entire Goonoo Goonoo Station is heritage listed and careful attention has been given to each of its seven buildings over its four-year restoration. The result is a stunning rural getaway, where guests can enjoy all the regular luxuries of boutique accommodation – beautifully presented accommodation, architecturally designed and award-winning restaurant, heated swimming pool, and tennis court – as well as explore the ins and outs of a true working rural property.
Visit Goonoo Goonoo Station.
The postcard said "wish you were here!" So may we be as bold as to suggest you take LITTLE URCHIN with you on your next holiday?
Our products are tailor-made for adventurous souls ... completely suitable for human use (do not contain any UV absorbers, titanium dioxide, parabens, synthetic preservatives or synthetic fragrances) and won't damage the marine and other natural environments you love to explore.
LITTLE URCHIN provides high protection from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays while being 3-hours water resistant and offering essential skin protection.
Bon voyage! Shop now.
