Soak it up in these five outdoor baths this weekend
One way to recuperate after a long, satisfying drive is to sit back and soak in a nice, warm bath.And while hot springs and hydrotherapy centres have their place, nothing really matches a good old fashioned bath tub. Do such things really exist? You betcha, and here are five favourites.
Thalia Haven, Oyster Bay, Tasmania
Meander up the east coast of Tassie and you’ll come to Great Oyster Bay. It’s a lovely place, but if you’ve booked into Thalia Haven you’re in for a real treat. The whole house – or rather, a central building surrounded by separate sleeping pavilions – could be yours and its sweeping sea views, roaring log fire and peaceful calm are seductive. Even better, the expansive deck overlooking the bay has its own bathtub in which you can put your feet up, soak in the scenery, and maybe post a selfie to your beloved workmates back in the office.
Kingsford Homestead, Barossa Valley, South Australia
Kingsford is an elegant homestead built in 1856, featured in the TV series
and today is an exclusive accommodation for up to 14 guests. The honey-coloured stone walls, rustic shearing shed and sumptuous suites are one thing, but the claw-foot bath nestled in a private corner of the property is truly beguiling. There’s room for two, and as you’re on the edge of the Barossa Valley finding a bottle of wine to enjoy isn’t difficult at all.Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Canberra
Yes, we promised outdoor bathing experiences but Jamala is the exception and for very good reasons. If this wildlife lodge didn’t have lovely indoor baths in its Jungle Bungalows, you might well be sharing them with a brown bear or a tiger. Just a wall of glass separates guests from the animals so you can sit in the living room and watch the lions, cheetahs or others (depending on the bungalow) or enjoy the bath with some large critter only metres away. It’s not an experience for the faint-hearted, but definitely not forgettable either.
Kinnon & Co, Longreach, Queensland
If you’ve made it as far as Longreach in outback Queensland you’ll probably need some reviving from the heat and a soak in one of Kinnon and Co’s gorgeous claw-foot baths out on the timber deck is just the ticket. The tubs are shared between the heritage Homestead Stables and rustic Pioneer Slab Huts (so don’t forget to wear swimmers!) and are perfect for cooling off during the day, or watching those brilliant outback stars at night.
Grey Gardens, Chewton, Victoria
Chewton isn’t far from Castlemaine and an easy 80-minute drive northwest of Melbourne. For somewhere to stay that’s stylish, secluded and seductive Grey Gardens fits the bill. The two-bedroom house’s interior is kitted out with a mixture of the modern, the retro and the industrial and it all works brilliantly. Outside there’s a help-yourself veggie patch and overlooking that, a country-style tub that invites you to sit and soak, watch the kangaroos and let your worries slip away.
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