5 Popular Australian Destinations for Your Wedding, Honeymoon, Hens, or Bucks

Planning your Australian honeymoon, destination wedding, or a hens/bucks party that feels like a getaway? Check out these 5 popular Aussie spots.

Australian honeymoon destinations range far and wide, from the luxury beach resorts of the Gold Coast and Port Douglas to the bustling city centres of Sydney and Melbourne. Likewise, these same popular destinations double as romantic wedding locations and fun spots for a hens or bucks party.

Below, we’ve included our favourite local hotels and resorts in each location, along with a few ideas to kickstart your planning.

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*Created in partnership with our friends at Marriott Bonvoy

Gold Coast

Beachfront Wedding at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is particularly popular as an Australian honeymoon destination or wedding location and this venue sets the scene to perfection, though it’s also a gorgeous location to spend a hen’s weekend away with your bride tribe. When five-star meets the beauty of the beach, you know you’re on a wedding winner.

What to do

Explore 57 km of pristine coastline
Adrenaline adventures on and off the water
Roam the Gold Coast Hinterland and local wineries
Private boat tour at sunset
Take flight with hot air ballooning followed by a champagne breakfast

Where to stay

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast

2020 winner of the ABIA Best Resort/Hotel Wedding Reception Venue Award & 2020 Winner of the Brides Choice Awards for Best Resort Wedding Venue
Luxury, 5-star accommodation in 6 hectares of lagoons and tropical gardens
Direct beachfront access and swim-up pool bar
Earn Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points throughout your stay
Booking Tip: Book the resorts Villas if you’re staying with a group for your destination Hens Party, or the Premium Ocean View room for your honeymoon or destination wedding

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JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa

Luxury, plush accommodation in Surfers Paradise, surrounded by tropical palms and swimming holes
Various beautiful wedding ceremony sites on the waterfront
The award-winning culinary team creates bespoke menus for weddings
Earn Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points throughout your stay
Full-service spa menu includes body wraps, massages, mani/pedis, and everything you need for the perfect pre-wedding prep or hens weekend relaxation

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Melbourne Laneways

Photo of Melbourne Laneways by Eerik Sandstrom

Melbourne’s famous laneways in the heart of the CBD offer a particularly popular Australian honeymoon destination for couples looking to either adventure around the city centre or tack on a few extra days of luxury after their urban wedding. It’s also a great go-to zone if you and your bridesmaids or groomsmen want to be in the bed of the action for your hens or bucks party.

What to do

Shop, dine, and graffiti gaze in the famous laneways of Flinders Lane, Hosiers Lane, Degraves Street, and Tattersalls Lane
Splurge on an extravagant multi-course dinner at one of Melbourne’s 78 hatted restaurants
Museum hop between the National Gallery of Victoria and ACMI at Fed Square
Gather with your bridesmaids and groomsmen at W Melbourne’s gold-adorned indoor rooftop pool
See a show at a local theatre, comedy hall, or concert venue
Jump on a hot air balloon ride over the city at dawn

Where to stay

Melbourne Marriott Hotel

5-star hotel in central Melbourne, within walking distance to Flinders Lane and many other local attractions for a bucks, hens, honeymoon, or destination wedding weekend
Beautiful, contemporary ballroom overlooking Melbourne’s iconic Exhibition Street
On-site bar and lounge, Elements Lounge, is perfect for pre-outing cocktails before your hens or bucks celebration
Located in the heart of the Theatre District, this property is a lovely retreat for couples looking for an arts-centric honeymoon destination in Melbourne
Earn Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points throughout your stay
Booking Tip: The Courtyard Room provides two double beds and a private courtyard so you and your closest friends will have plenty of space to room around while getting ready for your Melbourne CBD wedding.

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The Westin Melbourne

Luxury five-star accommodation on prestigious Collins Street
Located just steps from St Paul’s Cathedral, this city reception venue is a classic pick for the quintessential Melbourne wedding
Flexible event spaces include the Library and the elegant Wine Room
Stylish location for bridal showers with high tea party packages available
Earn Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points throughout your stay
Booking tip: With its 91sqm floorplan and views across Melbourne, the Regent Suite offers an elegant setting for pre-event celebrations or wedding night accommodation.

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Central Sydney

Central Sydney wedding, Photo by The Evoke Company

Sydney proves one of Australia’s most popular urban wedding destinations, city honeymoon spots, and a bustling centre for a hens or bucks night out on the town. Why? This sprawling landscape has all the makings of the perfect entertainment hotspot — trendy restaurants and bars, beautiful harbours and beaches, world-famous markets, hundreds of festivals and music venues, and more. Not only is it a great place for hosting a wild party, but it’s a travel destination that rivals some of the world’s top cities.

What to do

Visit Sydney’s famous Royal Botanic Gardens along the harbour
Dine any of Sydney’s 68 hatted restaurants
Enjoy a show at the famous Sydney Opera House
Hop on a ferry to Manly Beach
Explore Chinatown’s night markets
Hire a private yacht for cruising Sydney Harbour with your bucks or hens crew

Where to stay

Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park

Fantastic, convenient Chippendale location, and overlooking St Benedict’s Church
The Private Terrace is beautiful for an urban wedding reception
Tailored dining experiences, and modern private event spaces
Easy access to popular honeymoon, hens and bucks party destinations in Kensington Street / Spice Alley, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Sydney CBD, The Rocks, and Darling Harbour
Earn Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points throughout your stay
Booking Tip: The Bellerive Suite is perfect for getting ready on your wedding day or crashing overnight for a honeymoon, bucks or hens party — it includes a king bed, sofa bed, dining area, lounge space, and a spa bath.

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Pier One Sydney Harbour

Private events and weddings enjoy the use of a harbourside pier with unbeatable waterfront views, an open-air marquee, or a modern indoor event space with panoramic harbour views
Incredible location on Sydney Harbour with easy access to Sydney’s top tourist attractions, including Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay, The Rocks
Dine and drink with your wedding party while overlooking views of Sydney Harbour before, during, or after your wedding festivities
Bespoke wedding menu creation and highly customised events
Earn Marriott Bonvoy points throughout your stay
Booking Tip: The Harbour View Balcony Suites are simply stunning places to wake on your wedding morning, during your honeymoon, or with your pals during a hens or bucks weekend. Harbour views, a locally curated minibar, plush king size bed, and everything you need for the luxurious overnight stay to mark a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

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Port Douglas

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas

The ultimate Great Barrier Reef outpost, Port Douglas is certainly a contender amongst Australian honeymoon destinations as the most popular spot. Not only is this area a gorgeous launchpad for adventures along the reef, but it’s also conveniently located to dozens of beautiful beaches, tropical rainforests, and a bevy of national parks. In short, it’s an adventure enthusiast’s ideal wedding destination and honeymoon dream-come-true.

What to do

Sunbathe on Four Mile Beach
Scuba or snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
Explore the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation
Enjoy an Aboriginal cultural experience
Go whitewater rafting on the Barron River

Where to stay

Sheraton Grand Mirage, Port Douglas

Sprawling 5-star luxury resort on Four Mile Beach, tucked between lagoons and tropical palms
Series of 9 saltwater lagoon pools
18-hole golf course designed by five times British Open winner Peter Thomson
Unrivalled beachfront wedding location with options to celebrate in the tropical gardens, Crystal Chapel, or glamorous Ballroom
Personalised wedding and honeymoon planning to suit your vision
Earn Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points throughout your stay
Booking Tip: The resort’s open-plan villas include up to 4 bedrooms, making them ideal for sharing if you’re travelling with a group for your hens or bucks. Also highly recommended for getting ready on your wedding day!

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Canberra

Photo by Natasha Larsen Photography

Canberra mightn’t be the first place you think of as an Australian honeymoon destination, but its famous museums, artisan markets, and fantastic restaurants make it an easy place to spend a few days relaxing and exploring. Likewise, all the cultural attractions lend well to entertaining a crowd during your bucks, hens, or weekend-long wedding.

What to do

Visit the National Botanic Gardens
Take a tour of Canberra’s many local microbreweries
Sail around Lake Burley Griffin at sunset
Participate in a local cooking class
Go museum-hopping in the city centre
Wander to the top of Mount Ainslie for views across Canberra

Where to stay

Midnight Hotel, Autograph Collection

Stylish, boutique-style accommodation in Canberra’s popular Braddon suburb
Gorgeous setting for a design-forward wedding in the light-filled Conservatory, oasis-like Atrium, or chic Midnight Bar
Thoughtfully curated, personalised menus for weddings and private events
Easy access to the city’s best bars and restaurants — perfect stomping grounds for a bucks or hens party
Complete wellness centre includes a sleek, indoor 20m lap pool, sauna, state-of-the-art gym, and a pool deck with private cabanas
Earn Marriott Bonvoy loyalty points throughout your stay