Looking for luxury glamping near Brisbane for a romantic weekend away? We recently spent two nights at Riverbank Glamping in Chinchilla, a private adults-only glamping retreat around 3.5 hours from Brisbane in Queensland’s Western Downs.

With just one luxury safari tent overlooking the Condamine River, Riverbank Glamping combines an outdoor bath, fire pit, king-size bed and beautiful country night skies with something that’s becoming surprisingly difficult to find — complete privacy.

And when I say private, I mean it.

There aren’t several glamping tents scattered around the property. You’re the only guests staying here.

In this Riverbank Glamping review, I’ll show you what it’s actually like to stay here, what’s included, what you need to bring, the best time to visit, how long I’d stay and whether I think it’s worth driving from Brisbane.

Riverbank Glamping at a glance

Location: Chinchilla, Western Downs, Queensland
Distance from Brisbane: Around 3.5 hours
Best for: Couples, romantic getaways and stargazing
Accommodation: Private luxury safari tent
Guests: 2 adults
Outdoor bath: Yes
Fire pit: Yes
BBQ: Yes
Air conditioning: Yes
4WD required: No
Recommended stay: 2 nights
Our favourite part: The privacy and night sky

**We were hosted by Riverbank Glamping for this stay. As always, all opinions and experiences shared are our own. This article also contains affiliate links. If you make a booking through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.**

Where is Riverbank Glamping?

Riverbank Glamping is located just outside Chinchilla in Queensland’s Western Downs, approximately 3.5 hours’ drive north-west of Brisbane.

Despite feeling wonderfully secluded once you arrive, you’re actually less than 10 minutes from Chinchilla.

That was something we really liked about the location.

You get the feeling of disappearing into the Queensland countryside without actually being so remote that you’ve got nowhere nearby to grab supplies.

There is a section of gravel road on the way to the property, but you don’t need a 4WD to get there. Just take it easy on the unsealed section and follow the directions you’re provided before arrival.

For anyone searching for a weekend getaway from Brisbane, I’d say the distance is almost ideal for a two-night stay: far enough away to genuinely feel like you’ve gone somewhere, but still achievable for a weekend road trip.

What’s included at Riverbank Glamping

Inside the luxury safari tent you’ll find a king-size bed, private ensuite, kitchenette, reverse-cycle air conditioning and coffee-making facilities.

Outside is where Riverbank really comes into its own.

There’s an elevated deck overlooking the surrounding bushland and river, a BBQ for cooking outside, a fire pit and, of course, the feature you’ll probably notice immediately:

the outdoor bathtub.

So no, you aren’t roughing it.

This is much closer to staying in a secluded boutique cabin — except you’re sleeping beneath canvas with the sounds of the Australian bush around you.

Is Riverbank Glamping good for couples?

Absolutely.

In fact, if you’ve landed on this article while searching for a romantic getaway near Brisbane, this is probably one of the biggest reasons I’d recommend Riverbank.

The accommodation is designed for two adults, and because there’s only one guest tent, you aren’t sharing the glamping area with other couples.

You’ve essentially got:

privacy + outdoor bath + river + fire + huge country sky.

It works particularly well for anniversaries, birthdays, romantic weekends or simply escaping Brisbane for a couple of days.

And I think the privacy is what really sets it apart from some larger glamping properties.

There’s something very different about walking outside in the morning and knowing there aren’t other guests staying in the next tent.

→ PLANNING A ROMANTIC WEEKEND AWAY?

If stargazing is one of the reasons you want to stay at Riverbank Glamping, I’d pay attention to the moon phase when choosing your dates.

For the darkest skies, aim for dates around a new moon, when there is less moonlight brightening the sky.

Of course, astrophotography always comes with one rather large disclaimer:

you need the weather to cooperate.

Cloud can ruin even perfectly planned dates, so there’s never a guarantee.

But if you’re lucky enough to get a clear, dark night here?

Don’t go to bed early.

What should you bring to Riverbank Glamping?

You definitely don’t need camping equipment.

But I would plan your food before arriving.

For a two-night stay, I’d bring:

• Breakfast for both mornings
• BBQ supplies for dinner
• Snacks
• A grazing platter or nibbles
• Wine or your preferred drinks
• Comfortable clothes for relaxing around the property
• Something warm for evenings during the cooler months
• Camera and tripod if you want to photograph the stars

Because Chinchilla is so close, you can easily buy groceries and supplies before checking in.

We had coffee, marshmallows and food to cook on the BBQ during our stay, and having everything there meant we could settle in rather than constantly driving back into town.

That’s exactly how I’d recommend doing it.

How many nights should you stay at Riverbank Glamping?

I’d recommend two nights.

Particularly if you’re travelling from Brisbane.

You could stay for one night, but when you’re driving approximately 3.5 hours each way, I think it would feel unnecessarily rushed.

With two nights, you get an entire day where you aren’t thinking about arriving or leaving.

There’s also another advantage if you’re hoping to experience the night sky:

you get two chances at clear weather instead of one.

For us, that’s a pretty compelling reason on its own.

Best time to visit Riverbank Glamping

Personally, I’d choose the cooler months.

There’s something about country Queensland accommodation that feels especially good when the temperature drops — particularly when you’ve got an outdoor fire pit and a cosy safari tent waiting for you.

If you’re visiting primarily for photography or stargazing, however, I’d choose your dates based on:

moon phase + weather.

Aim for the period surrounding the new moon for darker skies, then keep an eye on cloud forecasts as your stay approaches.

If astrophotography isn’t important to you, you obviously don’t need to plan around the moon at all.

Things to do near Riverbank Glamping and Chinchilla

You can absolutely use Riverbank as a base for exploring Chinchilla and Queensland’s Western Downs.

But there’s something I wish more people would do with accommodation like this:

Don’t over-plan it.

If you’re only staying for two nights, I’d give yourself permission to actually enjoy the property.

I’d structure the weekend roughly like this:

Day 1

Brisbane → Chinchilla → pick up food/drinks → check in → explore the property → outdoor bath → sunset → BBQ → fire → stargazing.

Day 2

Slow breakfast → explore Chinchilla and the surrounding area → return to Riverbank mid-afternoon → relax → sunset → dinner → fire → another night under the stars.

Day 3

Coffee outside → breakfast → slow morning → check out → drive back to Brisbane.

That gives you enough time to see some of the area without turning a relaxing getaway into another packed itinerary.

Is Riverbank Glamping worth the drive from Brisbane?

For us, yes.

But I’d recommend it for a particular type of trip.

If you’re looking for the cheapest accommodation possible while you spend every waking hour sightseeing, this probably isn’t what you’re looking for.

Riverbank Glamping is the experience.

It’s waking up surrounded by river gums.

It’s making coffee and having nowhere you need to be.

It’s spending the afternoon in an outdoor bath.

It’s cooking dinner outside.

It’s sitting beside the fire as the temperature drops.

And if the conditions are right, it’s walking a few metres from your bed and looking up at a sky filled with stars.

That’s what you’re travelling here for.

For couples looking for luxury glamping near Brisbane, a romantic Queensland weekend getaway or simply somewhere different to escape the city for two nights, we’d happily stay here again.

Riverbank Glamping FAQs

How far is Riverbank Glamping from Brisbane?

Riverbank Glamping is around a 3.5-hour drive from Brisbane, making it best suited to a two-night weekend getaway rather than a single overnight stay.

Where is Riverbank Glamping located?

Riverbank Glamping is located near Chinchilla in Queensland’s Western Downs, less than 10 minutes from Chinchilla itself.

Is Riverbank Glamping private?

Yes. One of the biggest advantages of Riverbank Glamping is that there is only one guest tent, so you aren’t sharing the glamping area with other guests.

Is Riverbank Glamping adults only?

Yes. Riverbank Glamping is designed as an adults-only getaway for two guests.

Does Riverbank Glamping have an outdoor bath?

Yes. There is a freestanding outdoor bathtub beside the safari tent surrounded by the property’s bushland setting.

Do you need a 4WD to get to Riverbank Glamping?

No. You don’t need a 4WD, although part of the journey to the property is on an unsealed road, so drive according to the conditions.

Does Riverbank Glamping have air conditioning?

Yes. The safari tent has reverse-cycle air conditioning, which is particularly useful given the temperature changes you can experience in inland Queensland.

Can you cook at Riverbank Glamping?

Yes. There are cooking facilities including a BBQ, so we recommend bringing food with you and cooking at the property rather than leaving for every meal.

Is Riverbank Glamping good for stargazing?

We had fantastic conditions for stargazing during our stay. Being outside Brisbane gives you a much darker environment than you’d experience in the city, although visibility will always depend on the moon, cloud cover and weather conditions.

How long should you stay at Riverbank Glamping?

We recommend two nights, particularly if you’re driving from Brisbane. It gives you a full day to enjoy the property and two opportunities for a clear night if stargazing is important to you.

What should you bring to Riverbank Glamping?

Bring your food, drinks, personal items and appropriate clothing for the season. If you’re interested in astrophotography, definitely bring your camera and tripod.

Our Riverbank Glamping review: the verdict

Riverbank isn’t somewhere I’d book simply because I needed accommodation in Chinchilla.

I’d book it because I wanted to stay at Riverbank.

That’s an important distinction.

The combination of complete privacy, the Condamine River setting, outdoor bath, fire pit and night sky makes the accommodation itself the reason for the trip.

And that’s probably the best compliment I can give it.

If you’re looking for a unique place to stay in Queensland, particularly somewhere you can reach from Brisbane for a two-night escape, Riverbank Glamping is absolutely worth considering.

Just don’t pack your itinerary too tightly.

This is somewhere you’ll want time to actually enjoy.

Book Riverbank Glamping

If you’re ready to plan your own stay, you can check the latest prices and availability for Riverbank Glamping below.

Follow me on Instagram @miastravelmemoirs to see my latest adventures!

Read More on Australia:

• Best Stargazing Accommodation in NSW Australia
• The Perfect East Coast Australia Itinerary: Sydney to Cairns
• Welcome To My New Tiny Home: Living A Minimalist Lifestyle
• Is Orange, NSW worth a visit?
• How to Spend the Ultimate Blue Mountains Weekend Getaway
• The Ultimate (7 Day) Sydney Itinerary
• Hiking the Cape Queen Elizabeth Track to find the Bruny Island Arch
• The Perfect Tasmania Road Trip Itinerary
• The Ultimate Tasmania Bucket List
• A Taste of Africa at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo
• Tips on Visiting the 12 Apostles
• These Photos Prove Why You Should Visit the Yarra Valley