Weekend getaways
★★★★★
Hotel reviews
Perfect score for this luxe NSW wine country gem
Hunter Valley newcomer Villa Alaia makes one of the strongest cases for staying indoors we’ve seen.
- by Katherine Scott
Opinion
Tips & advice
Being travel planner for a group holiday is a pain. It just got easier
A group trip with friends resulted in me doing months of research, messy text threads, payment chasing and answering the same questions over and over. Relief is here.
- by Katherine Scott
The scenic coastal spot that punches above its small-town weight
Midway between the Gold Coast and Sydney, Port Macquarie is shrugging off its “God’s waiting room” label.
- by Sheriden Rhodes
★★★★½
Hotel reviews
Former NSW jillaroo camp is now an oasis between beach and bush
This Spanish Mission-style boutique hotel on NSW’s South Coast has undergone a renovation while respecting its 1970s roots.
- by Riley Wilson
Kids driving diggers? Australia’s newest theme park is mind-blowing
Dig IT bills itself as Australia’s first digger park for kids. You read correctly: kids get to drive real-life earth-moving equipment.
- by Ben Groundwater
This upgraded retreat now mixes wellness with indulgence
An ice bath and sauna to play at virtue between visits to local cellar doors? Oh, yes, you can “do you” at this Hunter Valley retreat.
- by Katherine Scott
Six must-see astronomical sites in NSW
There are many ways to take in the star-spangled universe from rural Australia, but these are surely some of the most dazzling.
- by Brian Johnston
Opinion
Opinion
If Australians value our cities, why aren’t we holidaying in them?
There’s something about staying in a hotel rather than your house that feels like a holiday, even in your own city.
- by Lee Tulloch
Four-day mini-breaks that are actually mega memorable
It’s not the length but what you do with it when it comes to a great holiday, and these short domestic and overseas trips are fab – and, crucially, fuss-free.
- by Sheriden Rhodes
Australia’s best (and easiest) short breaks under three days
The key to short-break success is not returning more exhausted than before you left, and these two- and three-day trips promise dual adventure and relaxation.
- by Sheriden Rhodes
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/topic/weekend-getaways-l6b