Five luxury weekend escapes near Sydney

Do you feel like being pampered? For those who live in Sydney or anyone who wants to get out and see the surrounding countryside there are plenty of unique and very luxurious accommodation options. Here are our pick of some of Sydney’s best escapes - none are cheap, but all are spectacular.

With around 7000 acres of private reserve to explore, Emirates One&Only isn’t just a luxury resort it’s more like an Australian safari lodge. The landscape in the Wolgan Valley in the Blue Mountains is rugged and beautiful and all yours to explore by walking, on horseback or on mountain bike. The private villas feature their own swimming pools, double-sided fireplaces, awe-inspiring views, while locally sourced, sustainable cuisine is offered at the main restaurant, the more informal Country Kitchen or Valley Bar and Terrace. A true country getaway with undeniable Australian luxury.

Imagine floating on a pontoon moored close to Palm Beach, sipping a glass of wine, enjoying a private sauna and taking a dip in the ocean. Returning to your hotel room doesn’t sound too enticing, but what if your room was right where you were on the water? Welcome to Lilypad, a two-story escape that redefines floating luxury. Beautifully decorated in neutral colours, stocked with food and wine and loaded with spa products, it’s the perfect retreat for two. Explore nearby beaches in Lilypad’s private tender (no boat licence required), then watch the sun go down from your water-based pad.

“Architect designed” takes on a whole new significance when that architect is the late Harry Seidler. His most iconic creation is undoubtedly the Seidler House and it can be yours to stay in. The four-bedroom pavilion floats above a leafy gorge and is anchored to the sandstone cliffs, so the views through floor-to-ceiling glass are amazing. It has a pool, spacious decks and 150 acres of land, including a garden, and two kilometres of riverfront to explore. You couldn’t design a better getaway for up to eight people.

Just getting to this riverfront retreat is an adventure with a boat trip along the Hawkesbury River from the Mooney Mooney boat ramp the only way in. Marramarra Lodge features 14 residences including bungalows and permanent tents ranged above the river. Each has a wide deck, beautiful views and sumptuous bathrooms for the ultimate in relaxation. The restaurant in the main lodge provides the included breakfasts and degustation dinners, you can explore the river by kayak or SUP or just relax and enjoy the serenity.

Goonoo Goonoo Station is worth the few hours drive from Sydney. Dating back to the mid-1800s this working cattle farm (pronounced “gunna-ganoo”) has been re-imagined as a luxury rural resort with current owners, Tamworth’s Haggerty family, renovating the workers’ cottages, shearers’ quarters and other buildings into a picturesque whole. The shearer’s quarters are luxuriously decked out with marble bathrooms while retaining wide verandas and a country ambience, while the spectacular Glasshouse Restaurant forms a modern counterpoint. Only the lowing of cattle disturbs the peace of this stunning rural getaway.

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