From hidden homesteads to Sydney staycations and stunning seaside escapes, there are plenty of ways to relax in NSW.
Linger on Mona Farm Homestead's Palladian-style bridge for platypus-spotting.
Mona Farm Homestead
140 Little River Rd, Braidwood; (02) 8001 6182; monafarm.com.au
Mona Farm Homestead is an art lover's haven.
THE LOCATION A historic 50-hectare estate outside Braidwood, an hour’s drive east of Canberra towards Batemans Bay.
THE PLACE Owner Belinda Pulver and husband, former rugby union boss Bill Pulver, bought the property for $5 million in 2018 and are transforming it into a luxurious farm-stay accommodating up to 45 guests. Up and running now are the original five-bedroom 1853 homestead and 1903 coach house, with four more heritage buildings to open at the site in 2020.
THE EXPERIENCE This is an art lover’s haven, with an impressive collection of contemporary works by local and international artists, including two pieces by noted US sculptor Peter Lundberg. Garden lovers will adore the enchanting flower-strewn, century-old elm woodlands – all too easy to get lost in. It’s set to be a popular wedding spot, with a 200-guest reception venue on site.
DON’T MISS Crossing the Palladian-style bridge over the platypus-inhabited lake for a knockout sunset view.
FROM $2500 a night for the homestead, including breakfast; two-night minimum stay. - Sue Wallace
Salt at Shoal Bay.Credit: The Muse Collective
Salt at Shoal Bay
83 Shoal Bay Rd, Shoal Bay; 1300 679 559; saltatshoalbay.com.au
THE LOCATION This beautiful beach house is opposite one of Port Stephens’ most spectacular stretches of beach, about 2½ hours’ drive from Sydney and 30 minutes from Newcastle airport.
THE PLACE Built from the shell of a two-storey, 1970s beach shack, Salt at Shoal Bay is the epitome of coastal luxe. It’s divided into two self-contained levels (each sleeping 11) plus there’s a third freestanding cottage which sleeps six. Calming neutral hues abound.
THE EXPERIENCE Spend your weekend barefoot with salt in your hair and family and friends by your side. Days are punctuated by swims, beach walks, barbecues and sundowners. The enormous windows capture the sunrise, while skylights allow for star-gazing while lying in bed (with built-in blinds for sleep-ins).
DON’T MISS After you hike to the top of nearby Tomaree Mountain, reward yourself with a jug of sangria and a wood-fired pizza on the deck of the Shoal Bay Country Club.
FROM $570 a night; two-night minimum stay. - Sheriden Rhodes
Spicers Guesthouse Hunter Valley
57 Ekerts Rd, Pokolbin; 1300 590 075; spicersretreats.com
Spicers Guesthouse in the Hunter Valley.
THE LOCATION This recently redone Hamptons-meets-Napa luxury guesthouse, a short drive from Pokolbin, is ensconced in bushland but also tantalisingly close to local vineyards.
THE PLACE Rooms are spacious, light, and bathed in white and neutrals, with designer touches. The enormous bath is a highlight.
THE EXPERIENCE This building is a focal point, with its guest wings fanning out from the central homestead. You can borrow tennis racquets from reception, enjoy wine tasting at the “wine wall”, or eat at the excellent Eremo restaurant, which serves modern Italian. The guesthouse caters to couples escaping the city and the kids. We do spot children during our stay, but their parents look as though they envy us – sans kids.
DON’T MISS Borrow an electric bicycle to enjoy a false yet satisfying confidence in your cardiovascular fitness as you soar along the nearby bush roads. Soak in the open-air spa next to the pool with sheer bush views.
FROM $329 a night; two-night minimum stay. - Jacqueline Maley
Wynola at Boomerang Beach
147 Boomerang Dr, Boomerang Beach; 0436 332 245; uniquestaysauz.com.au
THE LOCATION This grande dame, with her spectacular wraparound verandah, turns heads at her new home opposite the rolling surf of Boomerang Beach, 3½ hours’ drive north of Sydney.
Wynola at Boomerang Beach.
THE PLACE Wynola is a four-bedroom, two-bathroom 1920s Queenslander, transported from Brisbane and given a new lease of life in this seaside hamlet popular with visitors from Sydney and Newcastle. After an extensive renovation, the home offers an abundance of natural light and charm. Soaring ceilings, leadlight windows and elaborate fretwork meld with contemporary coastal hues and upscale touches.
THE EXPERIENCE Sleeping up to nine guests, this is a great place to holiday with a group of family and friends. Everyone will gravitate to the breezy verandah when the weather’s fair. Cook up a feast, go for a surf and then wash off in the outdoor heated shower. Gather at sunset with a glass of wine by the firepit under a string of lights.
DON’T MISS Take a long soak in the vintage claw-foot cast-iron bathtub, and, of course, don’t go home without taking a dip at nearby Elizabeth Beach.
FROM $400 a night; two-night minimum stay. - Sheriden Rhodes
Sierra Escape
1345 Lower Piambong Rd, Piambong; 0438 945 197; sierraescape.com.au
Sierra Escape in Piambong.
THE LOCATION This glamping property is on 113 hectares of rolling countryside, 20 minutes’ drive north of Mudgee, four hours north-west of Sydney. The final 6½ kilometres are on dirt road.
THE PLACE Three all-weather, elevated canvas tents offer different tiers of luxury, relying on tank water and solar panels. Two tents have a deck bathtub and barbecue. Inside is a wood fireplace, a king bed and a kitchenette, bathroom and change room. Bathrobes, goodies from local producers, and a mini Bose speaker are nice touches. Fly-screens and zip-up walls provide breeze control and insulation.
THE EXPERIENCE It’s a bit remote if you plan to spend time driving around the district’s wineries or dining out, so why not stay put? Deploy a swag fireside or outside in the sunshine with a book and local wine. Tip: there is one power-point, so leave hair gadgets at home. Ask about an “in-tent” massage or a bush tucker meal to be cooked for you.
DON’T MISS A bath on the private deck, any time of the year.
FROM $350 a night; two- and three-night minimum stays. - Philippa Coates
Circa 1928
588 Dean St, Albury; (02) 6082 9476; circahotels.com
Circa 1928 in Albury.
THE LOCATION Albury’s former Commonwealth Bank, built in 1928, is now home to a spa and two luxury suites, 3½ hours’ drive from Melbourne and six hours from Sydney.
THE PLACE The heritage-listed art deco facade is an Albury landmark. Five spa treatment rooms are on street level, along with a retail area and art gallery. The contemporary Dean and Stanley Suites upstairs are named after the streets below.
THE EXPERIENCE The spacious Dean Suite features a Pro Hart on the wall – he started life the same year as the building. A freestanding hand-beaten copper bath stands under a vivid stained-glass window in the grey and black tiled bathroom, along with the original bank manager’s personal vault. Andy Warhol, also born in 1928, features in the other suite. Butler service is included, with a nightcap delivered to your room as well as breakfast, which arrives on a vintage trolley.
DON’T MISS A spa treatment. The price includes a $100 credit for your first treatment, and 20 per cent discount on any further bookings. A yoga or Pilates session at nearby MVE Studio is also covered.
FROM $500 a night, with inclusions. - Sue Wallace
Bannisters’ Rick Stein restaurant is the hotel’s biggest drawcard.Credit: David Griffen
Bannisters Port Stephens
147 Soldiers Point Rd, Soldiers Point; (02) 4919 3800; bannisters.com.au
THE LOCATION The owners of Bannisters by the Sea at Mollymook on the NSW South Coast have transformed a tired ’60s-era Port Stephens hotel into a coastal-chic retreat. It’s an easy 2½-hour drive from Sydney, or a half-hour drive from Newcastle airport.
THE PLACE Set amid beautiful bushland and overlooking a small strip of beach, most of the 78 rooms, including suites and a penthouse, offer water views. (The family rooms have a bushland outlook only.) The retro exterior has been preserved, while the rooms have been given a simple coastal makeover. The terrace bar and sleek infinity pool beckon with plenty of day beds.
THE EXPERIENCE Bannisters’ Rick Stein restaurant is the hotel’s biggest drawcard. A delicious, seafood-laden menu and impeccable service are likely to have you booking again. Ask for a table with a leather booth.
DON’T MISS Reserve your restaurant table early and don’t miss the impressive breakfast.
FROM $240 a night. - Anne Hyland
Warramba
Capertee Valley, Greater Blue Mountains; 0402 468 048; warramba.com.au
Warramba in Capertee Valley has been carefully restored by TV personality Edwina Bartholomew and husband Neil Varcoe.Credit: Tatjana Plitt
THE LOCATION This gorgeous homestead sits on 40 hectares of regenerated farmland in the middle of the dramatic Capertee Valley, three hours’ drive west of Sydney and one hour
from Mudgee.
THE PLACE The 1890s farmhouse has been carefully restored by TV personality Edwina Bartholomew and husband Neil Varcoe with the help of Melbourne-based interior designers, Studio Esteta. The result is modern country luxury, with soft-toned linens, leather, natural woods and jugs of native flora ensconced in white walls with big shuttered windows framing expansive country views.
THE EXPERIENCE The drive through the soaring cliffs of the Capertee Valley is worth the trip alone. Fight over the three available king-sized beds, sprawl out in the luxurious living areas and then draw a bath and enjoy the sensational sunset views. Design-loving friends and young professionals looking to escape city living will adore it.
DON’T MISS Feed the friendly Scottish Highland cattle and then keep your eyes peeled for eastern long-necked turtles at the river.
FROM $350 a night. - Bevan Shields
Barrenjoey House
1108 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach; (02) 9974 4001; barrenjoeyhouse.com.au
THE LOCATION
Bang in the heart of Palm Beach, Barrenjoey House is an hour’s drive north of downtown Sydney.
Barrenjoey House at Palm Beach.Credit: Charis Perkins
THE PLACE This lovely country-style homestead has been a restaurant since 1923. Current owners, the Boathouse Group, recently transformed its upper level into seven guestrooms, linked by an open terrace and a cosy communal lounge. Rooms are small but for the penthouse, tucked into the eaves with all the charm of creaking floorboards, a very comfy king-size bed and two dormer windows overlooking Pittwater.
THE EXPERIENCE What do you mean, you don’t have a beach house in Palmy? You do now, complete with whitewashed floorboards, potted palms, scatter cushions and shell mirrors. The ground-floor restaurant is blooming with fresh flowers, leafy lampshades and huge clam shells piled high with citrus fruit, with an Only-in-Palm-Beach menu that covers prawn cocktails, caviar, crisp flatbread pizza, classy fish and chips and Bolly by the glass.
DON’T MISS Walking over the hill and along the golden sands of the peninsula to the Barrenjoey Head Lighthouse (1.6 kilometres). Drop into The Boathouse or the little Boathouse Bakery on the way back for freshly baked pastries and excellent Single O coffee – and live the dream.
FROM $350 a night. - Jill Dupleix
Little Albion
21 Little Albion St, Surry Hills; (02) 8029 7900; crystalbrookcollection.com
THE LOCATION A commanding red-brick 1903 heritage school convent on a peaceful rise in buzzing Surry Hills.
Little Albion in Surry Hills.
THE PLACE A extensive 2018 refurb updated the style of this upscale guesthouse with inspiration drawn from the 1920s and the ’70s. Whether you opt for a Suite or the Sweet, the Master or Big Albion, the Cosy or the Crash Pad, there are options for everyone. You can even rent The House – all 35 rooms, with hosts at your beck and call. (One great feature: pet-friendly rooms on the ground floor.)
THE EXPERIENCE The rooms, hallways and staircases are a brilliant hodgepodge of Chevron oak, Greek marble and Moroccan tile. The art collection – including oil portraits of Sydney identities such as brothel owner Tilly Devine – add playful verve. It’s all curated by noted photographer Nicholas Samartis.
DON’T MISS The generous communal breakfast (flaky croissants, handmade granola, fresh squeezed OJ, etc), along with the self-serve honour bar stocked with top-shelf bottles. Mix a cocktail, head to the rooftop, sip, relax, repeat.
FROM $310 a night, including breakfast. - Konrad Marshall
Belisi Farmstay
1103 Oura Rd, Wagga Wagga; 0421 277 717; belisi.com.au
The Belisi Farmstay near Wagga Wagga.
THE LOCATION Belisi is a modern country retreat on working farmland 15 minutes’ drive north-east of Wagga Wagga, boasting incredible views over the Great Dividing Range.
THE PLACE The two-bedroom cottage is built from recycled shipping containers and sleeps up to six, with a master bedroom and smaller second bedroom featuring two bunk beds. There’s a compact, well-appointed kitchen and lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing those country views to take centre stage.
THE EXPERIENCE A soak in the deep stone bath is a must – FYI, it’s one-way glass. Sign up for a trail ride, or organise a massage, yoga session, art class or Indigenous culture experience. Take a stroll along the property’s 30-minute walking track or stretch out on a sun lounge and revel in the fresh air. Local produce can be pre-ordered and breakfast includes home-made muesli.
DON’T MISS Get in touch with your rural side by toasting marshmallows beside the firepit, collecting eggs from the chook shed or feeding the horses at the on-site horse riding school.
FROM $290 a night including breakfast. - Sue Wallace
The Baxley Bondi
44 Flood St, Bondi; (02) 9388 0895; thebaxleybondi.com
The Baxley Bondi.
THE LOCATION This 30-room guesthouse is on a quiet, leafy street, adjacent to a bustling shopping strip and a 15-minute (downhill) walk to Bondi Beach.
THE PLACE Once a gloomy 1960s boarding house, the building was given a major Hamptons-inspired refit in 2018. Now it’s a clean, light-filled, white-walled, raffia-rugged, relaxing and ambient space.
THE EXPERIENCE The smallish rooms are set across two levels, and the majority make use of shared bathrooms – though these feature premium amenities and rainfall shower-heads. There are more expensive rooms with en suites. There’s also a welcoming concierge and shared lounge. The Baxley is luxury on a budget. It caters to creative corporates or adventurers hoping to sink into their environs and “live like a local”, filling a gap in the market for a well-curated stay without the price tag.
DON’T MISS The stroll to Bondi Beach is well worth it, but save some energy for the return (uphill) hike. You’re also within easy reach via public transport of the SCG or CBD – it’s a great launching place for an exploration of Sydney.
FROM $99 a night. - Konrad Marshall
TO READ WHILE YOU’RE HERE by Nicole Abadee
Books to read while in NSW.
Kristina Olsson’s 2018 novel, Shell, will help you appreciate the Sydney Opera House’s beauty. It’s an homage to the intrinsic value of art and a lament for the petty politics that pitted architect Jørn Utzon against his political masters. For an understanding of the NSW frontier wars, try Kate Grenville’s 2005 novel The Secret River; the story of a fateful attempt by a former convict and his family to claim land that’s already occupied by Indigenous Australians. Delia Falconer’s 2010 memoir, Sydney, is a finely crafted tribute dealing with the city’s dark side as well as its “staggering beauty”.
Looking for escapes further afield? We have you covered: VIC, ACT, QLD, TAS, WA, SA, NT
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