Glamping is effortless camping: roll up, unpack your favourite cocktails and your canvas-covered dreams are only moments away.

Glamping is camping’s answer to having your cake and eating it too, all the magic of falling asleep under canvas, none of the tent pegs, air mattresses or 2am arguments about whose job it was to pack the mallet.

The Barrington Coast has developed a genuine glamping scene in recent years, so here’s the pick of it, split into standalone retreats built purely for the glamping experience, and holiday parks that have added a glamping option alongside their regular sites.

Standalone glamping retreats

These properties exist purely for the glamping experience itself, no regular campsites competing for the view.

Myall River Camp, Hawks Nest is a serene, sustainable riverside retreat a short stroll from white sand and Myall Lakes National Park, offering everything from picturesque campsites through to rustic tiny homes and proper safari style glamping tents. It picked up Gold at the North Coast Tourism Awards for its glamping offering, worth a look at what all the fuss is about.

Crowdy Bay Eco Resort, Crowdy Head is the newest addition to the scene, eco glamping where you can walk barefoot from your deck to the resort pool to the uncrowded beach at Crowdy Bay, all surrounded by national park.

Amaroo Escape, near Gloucester is strictly adults only, a luxury eco glamping retreat on 180 hectares along the Manning River. Each tent comes with a king bed, custom kitchenette and a properly indulgent ensuite, the kind of place built for couples wanting to switch off completely.

LilyPonds Retreat, near Bulahdelah sits at the foot of the Ghin-Doo-Ee National Park on 12 hectares, fully powered and fully serviced tents with ensuite bathrooms. Bushwalking, swimming and a spa make it an easy place to properly unwind for a few days.

Kings Creek Retreat, Krambach takes glamping in a country western direction, American style tipis, a bunk cabin and vintage vans, built for groups of 10 to 30 rather than couples. Fully equipped kitchen, games room, pool, walking trails and a wood fired pizza oven make it more small group getaway than romantic retreat.

Glamping options in popular holiday parks

If you’d rather have a glamping tent as your base while everyone else in your group camps or caravans nearby, these full-amenities holiday parks have you covered. Here the glamping options are thoughtful add-ons, rather than the whole reason the property exists.

Tiona Holiday Park, Tiona has taken glamping upward, quite literally, with treehouse glamping tents set three metres off the ground amongst cabbage palm rainforest by Wallis Lake.

Big4 River Myall Holiday Resort, Bulahdelah offers luxury glamping tents overlooking the river, deep bath or double shower included, along with your own private barbecue for cooking up local produce.

NRMA Forster Tuncurry Holiday Park, Tuncurry proves glamping doesn’t need isolation, affordable safari style tents set around tropical gardens with a deck overlooking the lap pool. These sleep up to four, making them a solid option for families wanting a bit of extra comfort without leaving the kids’ favourite holiday park behind.

Know a glamping location that belongs on this list? Get in touch, we’re always adding to it.