Former glamping tent now reimagined as a remote luxury bush lodge

The place

Sunvale, Turon Gates, New South Wales

Check-in

The outdoor hot tub.

Located on 2500 hectares of tranquil Wiradjuri Country bushland near Capertee, 2½hours from Sydney, Turon Gates has been a popular camping and eco-retreat since it was bought by the Lunoe family in 1972. Over the years, rustic cabins were added along the meandering river and on remote hillsides, capturing sunset views, while in 2018, glamping tents brought the property on-trend.

The latest addition is Sunvale, a luxury off-grid lodge that sleeps eight and is an indulgent getaway for a group of friends or a family with teenage children. Driving and entry directions are provided after booking, so there’s no need to collect keys from the managers, who are a half-hour drive away at the main part of the resort.

The look

Perfect perch for star-gazing.

From sparkling chandeliers that dangle over an oversized dining table to bifold glass doors that open to a 100 square-metre terrace replete with a hot tub, Sunvale elevates the concept of “bush luxury”, offering grandeur and scale while retaining warmth, privacy and an essential connection to nature.

Extensive use of recycled wood and canvas-clad walls hark back to the lodge’s genesis as a supersized glamping tent, while rattan furniture, cabinetry, and four-poster beds from Bali complement Aussie bush design touches such as macramé wall-hangings, a mounted deer skull (impressive antlers still intact) and a central fireplace that ensures you never miss a moment of the ever-changing landscape while warming your toes.

The rooms

The bedrooms have mountain views.

Sunvale accommodates eight in four large bedrooms – two with four-poster king beds swathed in mosquito netting and two with king beds that separate into singles. There’s no bad room, though the ones boasting the mountain views that open onto the deck are for the first-in, best-dressed. Each room has a safari-style canvas wardrobe, a writing desk and air-conditioning; there are also sun loungers for relaxing outside on the terrace.

Two enormous bathrooms service the house, one with a shower, the other with a huge freestanding tub and a separate shower. While there is a 65-inch TV, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, guests are encouraged to switch off and simply enjoy the view and the tapestry of stars as they chill around an outdoor fire pit or in the hot tub.

Food + drink

Turon Gates is a remote property with no restaurants or takeaways within reasonable driving distance, so guests must bring all their own supplies to self-cater. Sunvale has a full kitchen with a chef’s oven and four-burner stove top, three small fridges and a full quota of crockery and cooking utensils, so plan ahead to cook up a feast, enjoying the simple pleasures of a home-cooked meal shared with friends. There is also a barbecue and an outside dining table.

The lodge: plenty of space to kick back with friends.

All Turon Gates guests are gifted with a bottle of resort-labelled wine and some local honey, or stock up on wine from nearby Mudgee cellar doors during a day trip to the wine region.

Out + about

Escape to the country.

If you can drag yourself away from the hot tub, drive to the resort hub 25 minutes away, where you’ll find endless hiking trails, swimming holes in the Turon River, canoeing and gold-panning and trout fishing spots. You can also saddle up for a relaxed horseback ride along the river, looking out for wildlife and enjoying the sounds of nature.

For those wishing to explore further afield, the wine region of Mudgee is just over an hour’s drive from Turon Gates, or explore the magnificent Capertee Valley, the widest canyon in the world that’s one kilometre broader than the Grand Canyon.

Guests must self-cater, but there is a fully equipped kitchen.

Essentials

Accommodation in Sunvale from $1175 a night (two-night minimum). Sleeps eight, adults only, no children aged under 10. Not recommended for those with accessibility issues. See turongates.com

The verdict

An affordable country getaway with a touch of luxe for a group of friends wishing to bond over simple pleasures.

Rating

★★★★½

Highlight

Pull up a camp chair and perfect your fire-lighting skills at the outdoor fire pit, shoot the breeze and sip Mudgee wine as you attempt to identify constellations in the dazzling southern sky.

Lowlight

The omission of a microwave seems curious in an otherwise well-equipped kitchen, considering guests have to bring all supplies from home. My daughter also complained there was no hair dryer – city slickers, huh?

The writer travelled as a guest of Turon Gates.