September 10, 2026 — 4:26pmYou don’t need weeks of annual leave to recharge. From Esperance’s white beaches to Waiheke Island’s wineries, here are five superb five-night getaways.ULURU-KATA TJUTA, NTThe dune pavilion at Longitude 131, Uluru.Tourism & Events NT/George ApostGood for bucket-listers, cultural touristsStay You don’t have to commit to a long holiday to tick off one of Australia’s most iconic destinations, with flights to the red heart of Australia taking just over three hours from Sydney and Melbourne. Located 20 kilometres from Uluru, Ayers Rock Resort offers a range of accommodation to suit every budget, from an outback campground to apartments, a resort-style hotel to luxury glamping. The integrated village has everything you need for a comfortable stay including an IGA supermarket, a medical centre and a servo. For the ultimate views of Uluru – from your bed, no less – treat yourself to a glamorous stay at Australia’s most celebrated luxury camp, Longitude 131°.A bush tucker-inspired buffet under the stars … Sounds of Silence outdoor dining experience.Tourism & Events NT/Helen OrrSign up for the Traveller Deals newsletterGet exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.See + do + eat With 75 different activities, tours and signature experiences on offer, boredom is out of the question at Ayers Rock Resort – it’s no wonder a recent survey revealed 68 per cent of past guests would recommend a stay of at least four nights, while 52 per cent would plan a longer stay next time. While the most popular views of Uluru are enjoyed at sunrise and sunset, the resort has a range of offerings during the day to escape the midday heat, including a Native High Tea at Sails in the Desert, Anangu cultural experiences, guided garden walks and the excellent Gallery of Central Australia (GoCA). Head off early to take in intimate views of the rock on the 10-kilometre base walk; or connect with Country at day break with the immersive Sunrise Journeys, a storytelling and light show that brings a piece of Anangu art to life. It’s at sunset, however, that Uluru and the distant domes of Kata Tjuta are at their most mesmerising, changing colour from russet to amber and purple as day transitions to night. Celebrate the moment with a gourmet hamper at Wintjiri Wiru, a dazzling drone and laser show that combines modern technology with ancient narrative; or join the iconic Sounds of Silence bush tucker-inspired buffet under the stars. End a magical day at Bruce Munro’s evergreen Field of Light display, the huge installation featuring 50,000 glowing lights, now celebrating its 10th year.The immersive Sunrise Journeys, a storytelling and light show that brings a piece of Anangu art to life..Tourism & Events NT/Helen OrrDon’t miss More than just a fine dining experience, Tali Wiru celebrates the majesty of the desert setting as well as the bounty it produces. After toasting sunset over Uluru with bubbles and canapes, this intimate dinner, using native Australian ingredients, takes place on a remote platform located on a red dune under a brilliant celestial canopy. The evening concludes with stargazing and sharing Anangu wisdom around a fire pit.Essentials The best time to visit Uluru is in the cooler months between May and September. Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin all offer direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Ayers Rock Airport, with complimentary shuttles to Ayers Rock Resort. See ayersrockresort.com.au; northernterritory.comBALI, INDONESIAUmana’s cliffside one-bedroom villas are among the most spacious, starting from 403 square metres in size.Good for families seeking spacious luxury; couples after a cliffside hideawayStay Perched high on the limestone cliffs of Ungasan, Umana Bali (an LXR Hotels & Resorts property, Hilton’s independent luxury collection brand) features 72 all-pool villas. Starting at 403 square metres, the entry-category one-bedroom pool villas are among the largest in the region, offering private infinity pools, daybeds, hot tubs, outdoor showers, and generous kitchen and living areas. Designed around the Balinese Tri Hita Karana philosophy of harmony, the cascading resort layout emulates traditional rice paddies (uma) with 180-degree ocean views and direct access to Melasti Beach. Families benefit from multi-bedroom configurations, the Anjali Kids Club, and complimentary dining for children under six.Family-friendly UMA Beach House.A prime sunset perch at Oliverra restaurant in Umana Bali.See + do + eat Umana offers several local-led experiences: observe village life on a guided morning walk through Ungasan village, ending with kopi tubruk (a thick, unfiltered local brew) and bubur mengguling (savoury chicken rice porridge) in a local’s home. Alternatively, skip the temple crowds for an intimate Hindu soul-cleansing ritual led by a local priest (pemangku) inside Batu Pageh temple – a magnificent ancient cliffside cave perched high above the turquoise waters of Green Bowl Beach. Down at Melasti Beach, take a refreshing ocean dip, or lounge poolside at kid-friendly Uma Beach House. As dusk falls, order a cocktail and catch the sunset bonfire at Sundays Beach Club or head to Melasti’s legendary amphitheatre for a striking performance of the kecak fire dance, where a 50-man percussive choir provides a hypnotic vocal backdrop to the Hindu epic Ramayana. When hunger calls, settle in for an Indonesian rijsttafel lunch at Commune Restaurant – an impressive spread of spice-packed regional dishes for about $165 per couple – or clock up more prime sunset viewing and upscale Mediterranean fare at Oliverra. For a livelier shift in pace, Motel Mexicola Uluwatu serves up party vibes alongside terrific Baja-style Mexican dishes cooked over an open asador.A lively change of pace … the new Uluwatu outpost of Motel Mexicola.Don’t miss The 60-minute Indigenous massage at Lohma Spa. Treatments begin with hot pandan bark tea, followed by a traditional “urut” massage that uses deep-muscle compression and rhythmic kneading to melt away joint and muscle stiffness.Essentials The best time to go is during the dry season between May to October. Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas fly direct to Denpasar (Ngurah Rai International Airport) from major Australian capital cities. Umana Bali is a 35-minute drive from the airport, with one-bedroom villas from $1120 a night. Ride-hailing apps Grab and Gojek operate locally for short trips. Australian passport holders require an e-Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) or Visa on Arrival (VOA), costing IDR500,000 ($40). See hilton.com; sundaysbeachclub.com; motelmexicola.info/uluwatu; indonesia.travelESPERANCE, WAEsperance is home to some of the country’s whitest beaches and clearest waters.Good for road trippers, thalassophilesStay Box Hill is a luxe, new off-grid stay offering king beds draped in linen, stone bathtubs and rain showers with antique brass tapware. Large wood-burning fireplaces built into local Spongolite rock are the centrepiece of the identical cabins. Sourced from across the farm and found along WA’s South West coastline, the sedimentary rock is made almost entirely from fossilised sponge skeletons and shells. There’s also a fire pit for stargazing, while a UV water-filter system provides glorious rainwater for bathing and drinking. Plans are in the pipeline for more accommodation.Fireside at off-grid luxury stay Box Hill in Esperance.Dan ParisSee + do + eat One of Australia’s most remote towns is also home to jaw-dropping scenery, including some of the country’s whitest beaches and clearest waters. Hike the rocky coastline, beach-hop along the incredible Great Ocean Drive and visit Insta-famous Lucky Bay. This stunning sweep of beach has what’s said to be Australia’s whitest sand and is equally popular with people as kangaroos. Wharton Beach, ranked third in The World’s 50 Best Beaches 2026, is well worth the 45-minute drive east of Esperance. Hidden in the Duke of Orleans Bay, this secluded beach with its 50 shades of blue water and dazzling white sand is a popular surf sport where wild dolphins are often spotted close to shore. Stop by classic watering hole, Condingup Tavern, afterwards for a glass of local chenin blanc, generous pub grub and warm, country hospitality. In Esperance itself, artisan pastries and sourdough are found at local institution Bread Local. Oysters and champagne or duck a l’orange are on the menu at French-style cafe Bistro Louis while award-winning microbrewery Lucky Bay Brewing serves up craft brews made from locally farmed raw barley and wood-fired pizza.The iconic Wave Rock.Don’t miss It’s roughly 10 steps from your cabin at Box Hill into a chopper for a once-in-a-lifetime Helispirit flight along the spectacular Cape Le Grand coastline. Get an aerial view of Frenchman’s Peak, Lucky Bay and secluded Hammerhead Beach before landing for a charcuterie board picnic and bubbles on the beach. Spot wildlife flying low over some of the 105 islands that make up the Recherche Archipelago on your return to Box Hill. Available December 6 to April 2027.Essentials Esperance is an eight-hour drive from Perth. Stop in Hyden – halfway between Perth and Esperance (335 kilometres) – to see the iconic Wave Rock, a 15-metre-high, 110-metre-long granite phenomenon shaped like a wave. Nearby, explore Hippos Yawn and Aboriginal rock art at Mulka’s Cave. REX flies daily to Esperance from Perth. See boxhillesperance.com.au; visitesperance.com; rex.com.auAUCKLAND-WAIHEKE ISLAND, NEW ZEALANDSecluded beach luxury at Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island.Good for urbanists, food and wine connoisseurs, nature loversStay To its critics, who also include many unimpressed Kiwis who live elsewhere in New Zealand, Auckland is wannabe Sydney. Whatever the case, there’s something with which Sydney simply can’t compete with Auckland, and that is Waiheke Island. Combined, Auckland and Waiheke make a compelling case for a five-nights short break with your time split between the two destinations. Waiheke Island is aboard the breezy 40-minute ferry from New Zealand’s biggest city. Sydney or no Sydney, few cities in the world are blessed with what’s effectively an urban island such as Waiheke, an easy 40-minute ferry from by far New Zealand’s biggest city. In Auckland, stay two or three nights at the new, affordable and centrally located Hotel Indigo and then splurge on the much pricier and exclusive Delamore Lodge on Waiheke for a similar amount of time to make up your five-night trans-Tasman sojourn.A new and affordable city stay … Hotel Indigo Auckland.See + do + eat Auckland has emerged as a capital of cuisine to rival its counterparts across the ditch with one of the drawcards of the 225-room Hotel Indigo Auckland being Bistro Saine, its in-house French-Mediterranean restaurant. If that’s not enough, Auckland’s food scene is right outside the hotel door, including an easy enough stroll away, the impressively revitalised restaurant and bar-rich waterfront precincts of Viaduct Harbour and the Wynyard Quarter. Although Waiheke Island has won fame for its fine wine and restaurants, with two establishments, Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant Tantalus Estate, featuring in the newly released Michelin Guide to New Zealand, there’s so much more to the nature-rich island, including some cool Byron-like villages, beautiful beaches and breathtaking views of the surrounding 4000-square-kilometres Hauraki Gulf.Mudbrick Vineyard at dusk.Don’t miss Beyond the more obvious, albeit outstanding premium wineries, a must-visit, especially for foodies, on Waiheke is Allpress Olive Groves. It’s a spinoff of the well-known Allpress Espresso coffee roastery brand, founded by New Zealander Michael Allpress, that was bought by Japanese beverage behemoth Asahi five years ago. Now Allpress presses olives, too, in an impressive set-up with its own bistro overlooking a grove on the side of a steep green hill.Essentials The best time to visit Auckland, and for that matter, Waiheke, is between the late summer and autumn months of February to April. Air New Zealand operates multiple daily direct flights to Auckland from Sydney and Melbourne. Ferries to Waiheke operate regularly from downtown Auckland. Rooms from $147 at Hotel Indigo Auckland and at Delamore Lodge, $1656 per night including accommodation, transfers to and from the ferry terminal, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, gourmet breakfast and full use of all lodge facilities. See auckland.hotelindigo.com; delamorelodge.com; aucklandnz.com; airnewzealand.com.auFIJIFancy a dip? The newly revitalised main pool deck at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji.Good for tranquillity-seekers, environmentalistsStay Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji, famed for its eco credentials, diving and five-star Bula Kid’s Club reopened in May with expanded family villas, a refreshed Fijian design, and a new ocean-facing fitness centre. Traditional bures have been rethatched and interiors refreshed with traditional materials. It’s the most extensive renovation since the resort, named for Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau) opened in 1995 on Fiji’s second-largest island, Vanua Levu.New five-star resort Vatu Talei (The Jewel) will open late 2026 on perennially popular Denarau Island. The 175-room resort will feature the South Pacific’s biggest pool with direct access from pool rooms and suites, an adults-only rooftop infinity pool, a lazy river, waterslides and themed water zones.An artist’s impression of Vatu Talei, set to open in late 2026.See + do + eat Jewel-shaped reefs, iridescent fish-filled waters, wide smiles, palm-fringed beaches, coral gardens and blazing sunsets await in Fiji. No wonder Australians can’t get enough (Australia is Fiji’s largest source market). Arrive to men in floral shirts serenading you with guitars and ukulele (it starts at immigration), dine with your toes in the sand and lose track of time in a hammock strung between palm trees. Fiji offers more than 330 islands, many uninhabited, including the main island of Viti Levu, the jumping off point for the outer islands. A good way to explore Fiji’s islands in a short time is with a cruise. Blue Lagoon Cruises launched MV Yasawa Princess II earlier this year, a 45-metre catamaran with 22 cabins for up to 44 guests and a shallow draft for remote-island access. South Sea Cruises’ new Yasawa Flyer III, meanwhile, makes it easier for travellers to explore Fiji’s Yasawa group. Or buy a Bula Pass and island-hop your way through the Mamanuca and Yasawa islands.Island-hopping on the newly launched MV Yasawa Princess II.Don’t miss Namana Marine Reserve’s Grand Central Station, is considered one of the world’s top-10 dive sites. Named because of all of the fish that gather on the coral wall to feed, see endangered green and hawksbill turtles, large schools of barracuda, damselfish, parrotfish, bigeye jacks, grouper, surgeon fish, sea snakes, sharks and – if you time it right – migrating bottlenose and spinner dolphins, minke, pilot, sperm and even humpback whales.Essentials Fly direct from Sydney (four hours) and Melbourne (five hours) to Nadi. See fijiresort.com; vatutalei.com; fiji.travel; bluelagooncruises.com; southseacruisesfiji.comContributors: Paul Chai, Jim Darby, Anthony Dennis, Ben Groundwater, Chris Hook, Belinda Jackson, Julietta Jameson, Julie Miller, Sheriden Rhodes, Jane Richards, Katherine Scott, Sue WilliamsFrom our partners