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Review: Alure Boutique Villas, Stanthorpe

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During a coffee catchup, a friend reveals that while her recent camping holiday was fun, the whole tent setup extravaganza was bothersome, tedious and tiring and perhaps they should have stayed longer to make the effort worthwhile. Days later, I was off to the Granite Belt to experience “glamping”, the answer for those looking for some outdoors action, but without the fuss.

For the uninitiated, glamping is a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping. Enter Alure Boutique Villas luxury tented accommodation in Stanthorpe in the Granite Belt wine region.

Stanthorpe is 2 ½ hour easy drive from Brisbane, making it an ideal weekend getaway.  I’ve always considered myself a city girl, but after a couple of days in the country, I can really see the appeal. A country stay is relaxed, authentic and great value.

Admittedly, glamping offers the city comforts and drags them into the country surrounds, so it’s not a complete culture shock. Alure’s luxury tent is very large, with a front and back verandah complete with outdoor furniture, BBQ & Spa. The tent is made of sturdy canvas with windows to capture the breeze and sliding screen doors to keep out the wildlife.

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Inside, there’s a full kitchen including a complicated looking coffee machine (made simpler by easy to follow instructions for the perfect brew) and some complimentary biscotti from the Barrel Room Cafe. A welcome hamper of continental breakfast has you counting down the hours until morning. There’s home baked bread (you can pre-order your bread and milk selection – how thoughtful) cereal and granola, pastries from local favourite Zest Bakery, Suttons Apple Juice, Bramble Patch preserves and organic honey.  There’s even a minibar, so if you suddenly get a chocolate craving in the wilderness, you can be sated with the minimum of fuss. I’m pleased to report the minibar list is extremely well priced, encouraging you to partake. 

Plan ahead and order in-house meals such as cheese & olive platters for your arrival, freshly prepared restaurant meals or a BBQ pack. For a special occasion opt for a 5-course dinner cooked in the tent by your very own personal chef.

The interior design is lavish, by Brisbane interior designer John Glynn. It evokes a Parisian charm with splashes of red & gold, which is slightly at odds with the natural surroundings but it’s certainly elegant, luxurious and incredibly functional. The tent is so well designed with dividing “walls” partitioning each section to create separate rooms. The kitchen to lounge divide features a 50” plasma TV, excellent sound system to listen to some relaxing tunes and an incredible eco fireplace, for oh so romantic cosy evenings. 

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The four-poster bed in the main area is surrounded by curtains, which can be drawn for further privacy and keeping out the morning light allowing for an indulgent sleep in. It’s absolute silence as you drift off to sleep with just the gentle flapping of the tent canvas to remind you you’re in the great outdoors.

Most people have asked me whether the tent has a bathroom and yes indeed it does. A luxurious bathroom in fact, with double basins, L'Occitane amenities and even a GHD hair straightener, because heaven forbid you have frizzy, curly hair while in the country! There are bathrobes and slippers to pad about the tent in comfort on a chilly night, plus the fluffiest towels warmed by the heated towel rails for a cosy finish.

A stay at Alure Boutique Villas provides a luxurious glamping experience, likely to satisfy any city slicker seeking a little refuge in nature, without the hassle of pitching a tent or forgoing any of life’s luxuries.

Book your glamping escape to Alure Boutique Villas on alluxia.com

The writer, Sally Scott was a guest of Alure Boutique Villas.

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