If your idea of a honeymoon includes fresh air, wide open landscapes and a little adventure between the relaxation, you’re in the right place. As part of our Alfresco Issue, Lisa Perkovic is rounding up resorts where nature isn’t just the backdrop, it’s part of the experience. Think cliffside hot tubs, sunrise adventures, outdoor gyms and wild outback luxury.

Are you the couple that craves fresh air? Or perhaps there’s just one of you that can’t sit still within four walls on the weekend? That’s certainly the case for my hubby and I! I’m up with the early birds, desperate to get as far away from the desk as I can. And he is happy watching the world go by, at least until lunchtime.

Photograph via The Scarlet Hotel

On holiday we’ve found a happy medium – alfresco adventures where I can get amongst it, and my hubby can still have a sleep in. Here’s a few hotels and holidays where nature is right on our doorstep.

Photograph via The Scarlet Hotel

Cornwall – Scarlet Hotel

Have you ever been in a natural swimming pool? The Scarlet Hotel’s reed-filled mossy-floored swimming pool looks straight out to the Cornish coast. The water is clear and clean, thanks to the living reed bed. It’s fresh too, sitting at around 17.5 degrees celcius. The sea breeze adds a bit of extra zing. Yes, there’s a gorgeous heated indoor pool, but this outdoor experience is the whole reason we’ve driven five hours from London.

Photograph via The Scarlet Hotel

Fresh air, fresh water, plus a luxury hotel is a winning combination. The hotel is famous for its spa, and I spend a few hours flitting between the most fabulous open air barrel hot tubs, the outdoor saunas and the pools. The English sun even comes out to play, but the wild Cliffside’s and rough English seas are almost even more exciting in the rain. Once you’ve had your fill outside, retreat indoors where hanging sleep pods, steam rooms and saunas await.

Photograph via The Scarlet Hotel

The Mediterranean – EXPLORA 1

There’s one easy way to see Europe without spending hours of the day in the car or train, and that’s aboard a cruise ship. Explora Journeys ships EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II spend the European summer slipping between ports like Portofino, Barcelona, Paros and Bodrum.

Photograph via Explora Journeys 

Each day we dock somewhere new before 9am, so you can be up and off exploring before the Europeans finish their espressos. But even before that, on our seven day sailing from Istanbul to Athens, we make the most of the alfresco offerings aboard. Like all cruise ships, there’s a well-equipped gym, but what sets the EXPLORA I apart is the outdoor exercise equipment.

Photograph via Explora Journeys 

On our first day I join an outdoor bootcamp, earning my pancakes with laps around the running track, time on the bike and some weights and squats, all with the big beautiful sea as our backdrop. Then there’s the sports deck, where each day we take Pickle Ball lessons straight after breakfast.

Photograph via Explora Journeys 

Late afternoons we find time to try out the open-air heated plunge pools lining the sides of the top decks. Yes, there’s restaurants, bars, entertainment, and even shops inside, but we spend most of our time soaking up the sea breeze.

Photograph via Wilson Archer for Mt Mulligan Lodge 

The Outback – Mt. Mulligan Lodge

The red dust of Australia’s outback isn’t as far away as you might think. Especially when you’re on a helicopter out of Cairns.

Photograph via Elise Hassey for Mt Mulligan Lodge 

Within 35 minutes we see the mighty Mount Mulligan rising up, and in its shadow lies a lush billabong dotted with glamping tents, villas, and the main lodge of this five-star outback retreat. Plus there’s the dark and moody infinity pool, where it feels like you’re going to swim straight into the water lilies of the billabong beyond. We spend three adventurous nights out in the bush at Mt. Mulligan Lodge, riding ATVs out to the abandoned mine site this region is famous for, kayaking and fishing on the billabong, hiking, and even tubing along a nearby river. Best of all is the afternoon spent on the verandah of our Outback Suite, soaking up the bush from the bliss of a big bath tub made from a corrugated iron water tank. Now this is alfresco Australia at its best.

Photograph via The Rambler Co for Mt Mulligan Lodge 

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About Lisa Perkovic: Lisa has spent the past decade travelling the world writing for Australia’s leading newspapers, magazines, and blogs about all things travel. Her own honeymoon was her pièce de résistance – an epic journey to the Maldives and South Africa. Now she loves nothing more than sharing destinations and tips to help other newlyweds work out how to have the honeymoon of their dreams.