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.
*Created in partnership with our friends at Marriott Bonvoy
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
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
Melbourne Laneways
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.
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.
Central Sydney
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.
View Four Points by Sheraton Sydney
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.
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!
Canberra
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
Here are just a few highlights of a Marriott Bonvoy wedding:
- Personalised wedding & honeymoon planning
- Earn loyalty points throughout your wedding, bridal shower, or high tea
- Redeem points during your hens or bucks party
- Use points for your dream destination honeymoon
- Special offers for anniversary dinners after your wedding
- Access VIP experiences through Marriott Bonvoy Moments
- Exclusive member rates
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