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52 Weekends Away: Australia’s great escapes of 2021
New horizons beckon, divine new destinations are ready to be discovered. Whether you’re longing to go back to nature or go forth into foodie heaven and hardcore indulgence, here are 52 ways to celebrate that release from captivity.
Ooralba Estate captures the big Kangaroo Valley views.Credit: Robert Walsh
AS we emerge from lockdown it’s time to start planning those cheeky mini-breaks, the ones that fortify us for the run up to Christmas and the long summer months beyond. Not only because they’re fun – and boy, aren’t they delicious? – but because the mostly independent owner-operators who pour themselves into making their weekend offerings so attractive are desperate for our custom. That’s all the excuse you need. Hop to it!
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
Visitors will find Scandinavian cosiness at Rosthwaite Farm’s Hideout Cabins in the Southern Highlands.Credit: Guy Williment
Whether you’re looking to reconnect with nature, wind down at a luxury city stay or head on a coastal adventure, there are plenty of ways to soak in the picturesque landscapes of NSW and the ACT.
Victoria
Nagambie’s Mitchelton Airstream Hotel offers an adults-only glamping set-up with all the attributes of a boutique hotel.
From panoramic views and cosy country breaks, to culture-rich towns and cool city living, there’s plenty to explore as Victoria begins to open once more.
Queensland
In the Gold Coast hinterland, Hazelwood Estate has added destination dining and luxury stays to its repertoire.
Retro motels, city escapes, glamping, luxury accommodation on a wagyu cattle farm and glamping … Queensland always has something for everyone.
South Australia
At McLaren Vale’s CABN X, kick back with local bubbles to watch the sun set over the vineyards before retreating to star-gaze through the “moon roof” over the bed.
Get the sense of the faraway in off-grid wilderness and historic accommodation – or get close to the action at Adelaide’s sports and cultural establishments.
Tasmania
There are two lodges at King Island’s Kittawa Lodge, both positioned for cinematic ocean and sunset views.Credit: Adam Gibson
The Apple Isle beckons with rustic charm, historic buildings and spectacular scenery – as well as innovative design to make the most of it all.
Western Australia and Northern Territory
Barn Hives in Yallingup is an ideal base for exploring the Margaret River region’s food and wine scene.Credit: Bianca Kate Photography
Behind the cover
The Road to Nowhere (2021) by Guido Maestri
The Road to Nowhere (2021) by Guido Maestri. Credit: Oil on linen, 183cm x 153cm. Photography by Mim Stirling. artist represented by Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane and Yavuz Gallery, Sydney
From Guido: “I spent my childhood in Mudgee in regional NSW, and was asked to hold the inaugural exhibition at the town’s new gallery, the Mudgee Arts Precinct. I’ve been returning to paint there for a decade, and started this series of large-scale works en plein air by the Cudgegong River.
When lockdown hit, I was forced to finish them in my Sydney studio, where they became infused with memory and imagination. This particular painting was inspired by Brett Whiteley’s famous depictions of the road to Bathurst, which include a stretch of bitumen I have driven countless times. If you take the long way around, as I often do, it is also the road to Mudgee.”
Stories from Homedale by Guido Maestri is on at the Mudgee Arts Precinct until January 9.
To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.
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