The Sanctuary at Marion Bay: Inside Bayside Glamping's luxury couples retreat on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula
- Jun 21
- 3 min read
The Sanctuary at Marion Bay sits on a stretch of idyllic coastline at the foot of South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.
It’s a private retreat “designed exclusively for couples seeking space, seclusion, and a luxurious connection to nature”.
Only minutes from Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park - and with room for more than two - there’s nothing quite like it.
But to understand The Sanctuary, you need to understand how it came to exist at all.
Tiffany was three when she fell in love with the place her family called home.
And, despite later living in Adelaide and then a long stint in Sydney as she began her own journey in life, that love was always bringing her back.
It’s that love, and a yearning for a place where times slows down, that’s at the heart of Bayside Glamping.
First it was just a side hustle, while she was working as an assistant accountant in the Harbour City.
A glamping tent on dad George’s property back home.
That’s glamorous camping, if didn’t know. For people that want to camp, but don’t actually want to camp.
“I loved camping growing up, but not the effort that came with it,” Tiffany laughs.
“I wanted to create something that gave people that connection to nature, but with comfort.
“An ‘upgrade your camping experience’ feel, designed especially for couples.”
But then it was time to come home for real.
Not just to Adelaide. Not just to Marion Bay, either.
Home to her old bedroom in George’s house, with the father-daughter duo embarking on an ambitious project of building another house on the property – albeit a tiny one.
Not just small, it’s called Tiny House – Bayside Glamping’s second unique accommodation in Marion Bay.
This one is located on a friend's 50-acre property just outside of town.
Each step a lesson absorbed and carried forward.
And The Sanctuary - the group’s third offering which opened in April 2025 after 18 months - is where everything learned along the way finally came together.
We’re not just talking hotel-style comfort blending perfectly with a Wabi-Sabi design that features reclaimed materials and earthy textures, either.
“Around the same time, my now-partner Luke, who grew up in nearby Corny Point, also moved back home,” Tiffany recalls.
“We’d known each other since primary school and before long our paths crossed again. “
Tiffany, Luke and their son own the land where The Sanctuary is and live on it now, too.
The one-bedroom property really was crafted by the people who love this place most.
Luke and George – a retired carpenter – took care of the build, Luke did the landscaping and Tiffany worked alongside Homes by Penny Crompton, who was charge of the styling and selections.
A family building something beautiful together in a place they call home.
There's a particular quality that comes from that kind of care – and it’s obvious.
Reclaimed materials and honest textures sit alongside king beds dressed in premium linens.
A bathroom “designed to feel like an outdoor experience while remaining sheltered from the elements” is a highlight.
Again, for those who want an outdoor shower but don’t actually want to shower outdoors – which is, surely, most people.
And three decks that capture the bay's light from the morning coffee through to sundown.
"The connection to nature, the Wabi-Sabi textures, and the feeling of space are the heroes of the design,” Tiffany says.
They managed a budget that blew out by knowing exactly where quality mattered most, making resourceful decisions elsewhere, and receiving a tourism grant that helped bring the vision fully to life.
"Think about the experience, not just the build," Tiffany says for others considering a similar project
“‘What will your guests feel when they walk in?’ The small details matter just as much as the big ones."
Those details are everywhere at The Sanctuary.
“Everything was considered from a guest perspective,” she continues.
“From the king bed and premium linens, to the way the light moves through the space, to little touches like local wine, beers, and a DIY pancake kit.
“It’s about creating moments, not just a place to stay.”
She’s right.
It's a place designed to slow people down. To offer exactly the kind of unhurried, restorative experience that raw coastline, open acreage, and a family's genuine love for their patch can create.
"It's not just accommodation, it's an experience," Tiffany says.
"A chance to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy a part of South Australia that still feels untouched."
Marion Bay hasn't changed all that much since Tiffany was three.
And now, thanks to the little girl who came home with a vision, visitors from across the country can experience exactly why that’s the whole point.
Where slow stays meet local love is how Bayside Glamping proudly describe their accommodation.
And it’s true. In a place that built love, it is love that built this place.
Photography: Bayside Glamping
Words: Jordan Pinto
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