10 places around Australia where the best view is from the loo

There are few simple pleasures in life quite like private time atop a ceramic throne overlooking Australia’s inimitable landscape.

Bathrooms can make or break a trip. If a bathroom’s too cramped and crowded, your toiletries will have to stay trapped in their black nylon travel case, with the tiny string of dental floss rarely seeing the light of day. If it’s too grubby, you’ll be wearing hiking shoes in the shower for hygiene purposes.

A great bathroom on a holiday is spacious, well-lit and clean, but a perfect bathroom contains a toilet with a vantage point to outshine most tourist destinations. So, to truly experience Australia from a unique perspective, here are 10 spectacular loos that offer even better views.

1. Park Hyatt Sydney, NSW

Let’s start with a classic view in a classic hotel: the Sydney Suite in the Park Hyatt Sydney.

Every day, hundreds of eager tourists flock to The Rocks for a glimpse of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but little do they know there’s a shortcut hiding in plain sight. A stay at the Sydney Suite offers a close and personal peek at the famous bridge, with its sturdy structure filling the entire bathroom window.

Stay in the Park Hyatt Sydney for a glimpse of the Harbour Bridge.

There’s no need to bring a book or a shampoo bottle to the toot when you can marvel at a moving painting of a historic Australian landmark. Squint and you might be able to spy bold tourists scaling the frame. Not to fret though, they can’t see you.

Peek at the famous bridge from your bathroom window.

2. Longitude 131°, Yulara, NT

In keeping with the ‘Australian landmark’ theme, Longitude 131° offers the most enviable toilet experience found Down Under, depending on the traveller’s preference for natural versus manmade landmarks.

Settle into Longitude 131°. (Image: Tourism NT/George Apostolidis)

Longitude 131°’s Dune Pavilion boasts a bathroom with floor-to-ceiling windows aimed directly at Uluṟu. Theoretically speaking, guests could remain perched on the loo for 24 hours to witness the monolith complete its evolution from shades of purple to deep reds and oranges. Alternate between the toilet and the tub and it could be the most relaxing and picturesque holiday you’ve had without leaving the bathroom.

Get comfy and watch the landscape change from the loo. (Image: Tourism NT/George Apostolidis)

3. Jamala Wildlife Lodge, Canberra, ACT

Arguably the most intriguing loo with a view comes courtesy of Jamala Wildlife Lodge, a collection of abodes built in the thick of the National Zoo and Aquarium. Opt to stay in the Jungle Bungalows and a surprise awaits in the luxurious bathroom. A reinforced glass window separates the bathroom occupant and lions, tigers and bears as they go about their animal business unawares.

You and the tigers will soon know each other very well.

Jamala Wildlife Lodge has taken the phrase ‘be at one with nature’ and turned it into an entire package. Not many people can say they’ve shared an intimate bathroom moment with one of nature’s beautiful predators, so this might be the only chance to do so.

Share an intimate bathroom moment with the wildlife at Jamala Wildlife Lodge.

4. Reefsuites, Whitsundays, Qld

More bathrooms should come fully equipped with aquariums solely for the soothing factor. Should you venture to the Great Barrier Reef, prepare to be soothed to oblivion as you answer nature’s call while floating deep below the surface.

Prepare to be soothed as you answer nature’s call while floating deep below the surface.

Reefsuites is Australia’s first underwater accommodation where nearly every single wall of the room is adorned with a window peeping out to the ocean. Once you spy sharks and sea creatures cruising through the water as you reach for the toilet paper, there’s no going back to a regular bathroom.

Watch the marine life while you do your thing.

5. Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, Vic

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins is somewhat of an oddity in the ‘toilets with a view’ space, as it has two contenders for the top spot.

Marvel at the city skyline from the loo in Sofitel Melbourne On Collins.

The first is the conventional option located in the Imperial Suite on the uppermost floor. As one of the most expensive hotel rooms in Melbourne, it’s an expensive route if you’re going solely for the bathroom views but it does have the perk of coming with all the luxuries found in a penthouse room.

The Imperial Suite has incredible views over Melbourne.

The second alternative is budget-friendly and accessible to most, found in the Sofitel’s public restroom on level 35. Overlooking the MCG, it’s unlikely you’ll find better seats to Richmond versus Collingwood unless you actually paid for a ticket to the match. The public restroom itself is cleaned to perfection and contains floor-to-ceiling windows that aren’t a common feature in Melbourne’s CBD.

The infamous level 35 bathroom is a sight to behold.

6. Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, WA

The two deepest connections you can make are waiting for you at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef. The team behind this eco-friendly, luxury accommodation is determined to help you bond with nature and understand our impact on it more, while the second connection made will be to the quaint toilet and the bathroom’s minimalist design.

Sal Salis lies in a remote beachfront location on Ningaloo Reef.

Few holidays feel like a reprieve from the world these days but leave your phone in your room and you’ll certainly feel serene as you’re enjoying a canape with like-minded, eco-conscious travellers. Perhaps you can strike up a conversation by commenting on the views from the toilet.

Go completely off-grid at Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef.

7. Mona Pavilions, Tas

An adventure to Hobart is always going to entail a healthy dose of eye-opening culture and breathtaking sights, and you’d never think both of those could be found in the bathroom.

Stay in a work of art at Mona Pavilions. (Image: Brett Boardman)

The architecturally mesmerising Mona Pavilions are an offshoot of the world-renowned Mona Museum, where you can stay in rooms named after influential Australian architects, the walls lined with artwork from the Mona collection. It’s in the Arthur room, however, that you’ll find a toilet overlooking the stunning River Derwent. Stay in a work of art while overlooking Mother Nature’s work of art – Mona strikes again.

Take in the views of the River Derwent while doing your business.

8. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, NT

For travellers who aren’t staying at Longitude 131° or just happen to be passing through, head to the public toilets in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and feast your eyes on the bulbous red cluster of rocks that are Kata Tjuṯa (also known as The Olgas).

Marvel at the spectacular rock formation of Kata Tjuṯa from the loo. (Image: Tourism NT/Tourism Australia)

The toilets offer an intriguing look at Kata Tjuṯa, so the chances of friends and family taking similar photos of the same natural phenomena are incredibly low.

Head to the public toilets in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

9. Daintree Wilderness Lodge, Qld

Deep in the rainforest on Kuku Yalanji country is the Daintree Wilderness Lodge, a sustainability-focused resort and one of the best Daintree stays, where you’ll find a lavatory among the trees.

The lodge is situated in a distinct area between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, meaning there’s a rare opportunity to go boardwalking through the lush green leaves or swimming off Cape Tribulation on the same weekend.

Go boardwalking through the lush green leaves. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

But the focus is the toilet, and Daintree Wilderness Lodge’s bathrooms have sensational views of the magical rainforest that encases the accommodation. Plan a trip around a rainy weekend and the pitter-patter of rain on the window will make the bathroom experience unforgettable.

Soak up sensational views of the rainforest from the comfort of your bathroom. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

10. Alkina Lodge, Great Ocean Road, Vic

This one’s for the stargazers. Nestled in a secluded hilltop and the closest luxury accommodation to the Twelve Apostles, Alkina Lodge is made up of three separate suites that are specifically positioned to have maximum privacy.

Stargaze in private at Alkina Lodge.

The design of these fancy living quarters allows for unobstructed views of the sky from the bathroom, and as the Alkina Lodge is located far from any potential light pollution, toilet-perchers are all but guaranteed unrivalled star-spotting. Look out at the night sky and try to decipher Orion’s Belt while surrounded by the creature comforts of soap and face towels.

Take in views of the sky from the bathroom.