Five great watercooler namedrops

If you're seeking some assiduous pampering in quality eco-lodges or up market resorts, you don't have to travel far from home to find some of the best in the world. Daintree Ecolodge & Spa, Qld A visit to this spectacular lodge, ensconced in the heart of North Queensland’s tropical rainforest, is tantamount to going native with a five-star chef and an imaginative eco-architect. You live in a tree house amid lush foliage and, like a bird of the forest, you’re surrounded by canopies of green. And yet, eco-friendly mod cons plus a raft of refined activities have been cleverly trunked into this exclusive world. Many lodge guests favour spa and health therapies and you may also wish to temporarily hand your body over to the lodge’s Director of Tranquillity, who’ll devise a program for your revitalisation. This profoundly pleasurable journey will involve a range of indigenous health therapies, which will hopefully leave you in complete awe of yourself. Alternatively, you can explore the forest on guided tours, cruise the Daintree River or journey to the Great Barrier Reef. Phone: 1800 808 010 Cable Beach Club Resort, WA Ranked as Western Australia’s best-known resort, Cable Beach has the Indian Ocean on its doorstep and the magnificent Kimberleys sprawling behind it. Cable Beach comprises bungalows, villas, luxury suites and studio rooms, and facilities include spa, gym, a range of sporting facilities and first class restaurants. It’s also endowed with numerous original Australian artworks and antiques. Meander its leafy, extensive grounds and you’ll discover that its arresting architecture and design have been inspired by the historic, multicultural diversity of the pearling centre of Broome, which lies just minutes away. If you wish, you can remain contentedly resort-bound for your entire holiday. More active options include riding a camel along the 23-kilometre Cable Beach, joining an historic tour delving into Broome’s colourful heritage or hopping a small plane for a ride over the spectacular Bungle Bungles. Phone: 1800 199 099 Freycinet Lodge, Tas Framed by great buttresses of pink-flecked granite and the deep aquamarines of Great Oyster Bay, this eco-tourism hideaway is discreetly situated amid the superb walks and seascapes of Tasmania’s East Coast. Neat bungalows nestled among trees (some with spas) provide excellent accommodation with low-level environmental impact. As a result, you get nosy neighbours probing around your cabin at night, such as possums, wallabies and owls. Get up early for the hike to one of the world’s most picturesque beaches – Wine Glass Bay. It’s just one of many nearby first-rate walks. You can also whale watch, bird spot and visit the haughty congregations of black swans on nearby Moulting Lagoon. As the dining room and bar in the main lodge offer great vistas over Great Oyster Bay, don’t miss cocktails at sunset for an early evening buzz. Phone: (03) 6257 0101 Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa, NSW Merge five-star luxury with a breathtaking environment, add a classy restaurant, attentive service and 85 Victorian-style guest rooms within spacious gardens and you simply can’t go wrong. Trippers who want spacious, well-appointed accommodation commanding dramatic mountain views should go no further. No wonder this refined retreat is ever popular. It’s a short drive from Sydney and yet, when you’re there on the edge of the magnificent Jamison Valley you could be light years away from the hustle of the Big Smoke. Lilianfels’ highly ranked Darley’s Restaurant attracts gourmets from around Australia and is located in the original Lilianfels property built in 1889. You’ll find indoor and outdoor pools, a spa retreat offering various sophisticated treatments, billiard room, tennis, health club, reading room and mountain bikes. There’s also easy access to the entire gamut of Blue Mountains adventures, which include bush walking, mountain climbing, trout fishing, horse riding and bird watching. Phone: (02) 4780 1200 Peppers Hermitage, SA Plonk in the heart of the Barossa Valley, the Hermitage is only one hour from downtown Adelaide and perfectly located for day trips into this superb wine region. Surrounded by vineyards, the Hermitage resembles a 1900s colonial homestead and comprises 16 luxury suites and rooms. The chef blends Asian and Mediterranean cooking with local produce and the wine list understandably includes the Barossa’s finest squeezings. In-house facilities include an all year solar heated pool and spa, while massage is available on request. As most guests hanker to tour the vineyards and take part in wine tastings, the Hermitage arranges visits to premier vineyards such as Seppelts, Wolf Blass, Orlando, Yalumba and Penfolds. Other options include ballooning, a visit to the Merindah Mohair Farm, Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop and the popular Barossa Farmer’s Market held on Saturdays. Phone: (08) 8562 2722