Camping is a wonderful idea — reconnecting with nature, surrounding yourself with peace and quiet, and breathing in fresh, non-city air. It's the perfect escape from urban life. But, the logistics of camping take a lot of work. Packing all that stuff, then unpacking all that stuff. Erecting the tent and praying that the thin synthetic material is enough to protect you from an impending storm or the swarming mosquitoes out to get your blood. Thankfully, glamping, the luxurious older sister of that activity, provides a classy alternative to simply roughing it outdoors. Combining nature's beauty with the mod cons and comfort of a hotel means you can have your wilderness experience... and that goose-feather down quilt, too. Check out the best places to go glamping in Victoria (just a short drive from Melbourne) for when you want to reconnect with nature but still be properly comfortable. Recommended reads: The Best Glamping Sites in Australia The Best Hotels in Melbourne The Best Spas in Melbourne The Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Australia The Best Natural Hot Springs in Victoria [caption id="attachment_647578" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] Balgownie Estate, Bendigo Spend your next weekender sipping top-notch wines on an outdoor lounge on your own private deck and soaking up sunset-flooded rural views — all smack-bang in the middle of lush vineyards at Balgownie Estate. The winery's large collection of tents are kitted out with rugs, lighting, furnishings, air-con, tea and coffee, and bar fridges. There are three tent types on offer at this Victorian glamping site — choose between the Bell Tent, the Bell Tent Twin and the Safari Tent — the latter of which is probably bigger than your CBD apartment, boasting a four-poster queen-sized bed, ensuite and kitchenette. Happy Glamper, Mornington Peninsula This is a really unique glamping experience: you pick your own campsite along Victoria's Mornington Peninsula and the Happy Glamper team will set everything up for you right there. Arriving before you, they'll install one of their large canvas tents — which comes with a bed, lounge chairs, board games, magazines and a spread of other things. And when you're done, they'll pack it all down and clean up — lush. The mobile glamping company even helps with big gatherings — if you make a big, multi-tent booking, the team's willing to go far beyond their usual patch in the Mornington Peninsula. Either head to a beachside campground or a block of private land, and your bespoke experience will appear. The fine print? You'll need to book your campsite separately — either find your own or opt for one of the recommended sites. The Peninsula Hot Springs, Fingal The Peninsula Hot Springs' latest addition is a series of luxury glamping tents, allowing visitors to spend the night onsite, mere steps from the geothermal baths, saunas, pools and other wellness offerings. The Victoria glamping retreat is a classy affair, with the tents nestled amongst the natural environment, boasting thermally-heated concrete floors, custom-made furniture and beds decked out in plush linens. Guests are treated to private ensuites and walk-in robes, complimentary breakfast, and access to the precinct's many wellness experiences. All that's left to decide is how much pampering can you fit into a weekend. Slumber Safari, Werribee Open Range Zoo Does a rhino get bed hair? Are giraffes grumpy in the morning? What does a lion eat for breakfast? Spend a night in your safari-styled tent at the Werribee Open Range Zoo and find out all of these niggling questions that no amount of Googling can ever answer. The zoo's overnight Slumber Safari experience will have you hanging with the wildlife, enjoying all the creature comforts of a luxury lodge complete with comfy bed and private bathroom. Also included are delicious snacks, dinner, a safari tour, animal encounters aplenty, some complimentary bubbly and two full days of zoo access. Plus, a hot brekkie the next morning on your own private deck. [caption id="attachment_792422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Shannyn Higgins Photography[/caption] Cosy Tents, Daylesford Goose down quilt? Check. Bose speakers? Check. Barbecue, esky and communal fire pit for adventurous campfire cooking? Check. Stunning views across Hepburn Shire? Check, check, check. The Cosy Tents glamping retreat is the perfect weekend getaway to explore the smorgasbord of gourmet food, wineries and award-winning restaurants in the region. Oh, and it's located heavenly close to Daylesford, aka one of the spa capitals of Australia. At this glamping sites near Melbourne, choose from a wide range of bell tents in various sizes, all set with ample distance between them, but close enough to create a little glamping community, too. There's also a swag of different add-ons and packages you can choose from to amp up your getaway, including Netflix movies and loaded brekkie boxes. Pebble Point, Great Ocean Road The Twelve Apostles is a must-see when touring The Great Ocean Road. But few people know about the hidden glamping site located behind these cliff tops and rock formations. There are six safari tents at Pebble Point, which may not look out over the ocean but offer do offer countryside views that are nothing to gawk at. Besides, they're super close to the beaches situated at the end of the Great Ocean Walk. Rooms come with king beds, ensuite bathrooms and access to the communal kitchen area and barbecue site. But keep in mind: the tents aren't heated. It can get fairly cold on the Victorian coast in winter, so be sure to bring your thermals and woolly jumpers. The beauty of these comfortable-yet-simple glamping tents is that you won't be breaking the bank, while still getting all the best bits of sleeping amongst Australia's unique wildlife and natural scenery. When it comes to the best glamping in Victoria, Pebble Point is right up there. [caption id="attachment_734997" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Visit Victoria[/caption] The Inverloch Glamping Co, Inverloch Book into one of The Inverloch Glamping Co's luxury bell tents and you can spend the night sleeping under the stars, just a quick hop from the beach. The company's eco-resort and glamping site features both cosy beach cabins and a range of luxury bell tents, as well as a communal camp kitchen overlooking the ocean. The tents make for a stylish, comfy beach escape, boasting queen-sized beds, heating/cooling systems, USB ports and speakers. There's some primo stargazing to be done out here, and the region is brimming with hiking trails, cycling tracks and scores of other nature opportunities. BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park, Castlemaine Castlemaine is only getting better with age, as day-trippers increasingly venture out to the Goldfields region — halfway between Bendigo and Daylesford — throughout the year. And the Gardens Holiday Park has been a popular place to stay for many years — whether it's people parking up their caravans at powered sites, setting up tents in the campground or booking out a small studio. These can be great for those on a budget, but if you want to stay in the area with a little more luxury, you can also book one of the crew's glamping accommodations. Here, you'll find a six-person safari tent, three neighbouring two-person bell tents, plus a two-person glamtainer which is basically a converted shipping container. All of these sites give you privacy as well as access to all the barbecues, pizza oven and coworking space. Top Images: Peninsula Hot Springs
