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THE EXPERIENCE Since opening in February 2025, The Eve has firmly established itself as the centrepiece of Wunderlich Lane, a buzzy new restaurant and retail hub. On the hotel’s rooftop is a 20-metre swimming pool surrounded by palm trees and umbrellas. Handily, there’s also a Mexican restaurant and bar, making it possible to loll with a margarita in hand. DON’T MISS For a warm blast of community spirit, head to the Saturday morning farmers’ market at Carriageworks, the old railway workshops at nearby Eveleigh. FROM $519 a night. Jane Cadzow Sofitel Sydney Wentworth 61-101 Phillip St, Sydney; (02) 9228 9188 THE LOCATION An institution in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, the Sofitel Wentworth is just a short walk from well-known sites such as The Domain, Royal Botanic Gardens, Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay and The Rocks. THE PLACE When it was opened in 1966 by Qantas, the Wentworth hotel was a big, brash spot in town, catering to the glamorous jetset of the day. Rebranded as Sofitel in 2002, the iconic 486-room hotel became the premier destination for visiting royalty and touring musicians, not to mention puffed-up politicians. But the overall air here now is more elevated, courtesy of a $70 million refurbishment that was unveiled in late 2024. THE EXPERIENCE In the shared spaces, the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is all clean lines, bronze and granite, and staff greeting guests with a perfect, curling Gallic “bonjour”. In the rooms, the feeling is more serene, with plush fabrics, soft sculptural forms and glowing timber, except inside the smooth marble bathroom, with its illuminated make-up mirror and Balmain Paris amenities. DON’T MISS The lobby of the revamped Wentworth packs a hospitality one-two punch, starting at Bar Tilda – where the wattleseed old-fashioned cocktail is a standout – alongside luxury restaurant Tilda, where the snapper crudo and bread-and-butter service are a delight. FROM $305 a night.Konrad Marshall Wilderluxe Lake Keepit Keepit Dam Rd, Keepit; (02) 4072 2013 THE LOCATION Lake Keepit, or “the beach” as it’s dubbed locally, is found in Big Sky Country about 40 minutes’ drive from Tamworth and five hours from Sydney. THE PLACE Boutique hotel meets glamping at this plush bush retreat set over the serene lake. The eight climate-controlled Star Tents (named after stars in Kamilaroi language) have king-size beds, kitchenettes, full-size en suites, Hunter amenities and artworks by local Indigenous artist, Letitia Barty. From your private deck, take in the lake and sunsets over the undulating Great Dividing Range. THE EXPERIENCE Watch synchronised pelicans from your egg-shaped outdoor bath, play boardgames in the communal Gilay Lounge and spot grazing kangaroos and wallabies. Come sundown, learn about the land’s ancient stories around the campfire and use telescopes to gaze at the night sky. Celestial viewing continues via skylights positioned above the bed, best enjoyed to a soundtrack of star-themed vinyl spun on Crosley record players. DON’T MISS Hone your cooking skills with former home economics teacher Jan Dircks, or sit down to some of her superb country cooking at nearby Carroll Gap Farmhouse. FROM $550 a night; two-night minimum stay. Sheriden Rhodes The Barn Scone 610 Waverley Rd, Gundy; 0477 178 060 EV charging THE LOCATION You’ll find The Barn in a secluded plot within the 405-hectare Kitchwin Hills Stud in Gundy – a 3.5-hour drive from Sydney, and 35 minutes from Scone, Australia’s “Horse Capital”. THE PLACE Surrounded by landscaped gardens, this is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom architect-designed house with serious wow factor – from the glass sliding doors offering brilliant views over lush paddocks to the cathedral ceiling in the open-plan kitchen/dining/lounge. The house can sleep up to 14 people, given one bedroom has eight bunks. Another bedroom has a king bed and two others are furnished with queens. If the kids or your friends get annoying, shove them out back in the games room with the 140-centimetre TV. THE EXPERIENCE The Barn is a winner if you’re craving lavish country vibes; the house, and the owners’ hospitality, are impossible to fault. The Beefmaster Deluxe barbecue on the large timber deck will impress discerning steak chefs, while the firepit, 10-metre swimming pool, jacuzzi and surround-sound system keep the party going. This is thoroughbred country – the fresh air feels like a filter change for your lungs, and the 360-degree scenery delivers unbridled joy as you watch champion broodmares graze peacefully while their foals frolic. DON’T MISS Dine at The Cottage in Scone, and enjoy a few pints at Gundy’s Linga Longa Inn. FROM $1000 a night; two-night minimum stay. Fiona Carruthers The Clairfield Hotel 1 Sydney Rd, Mudgee; (02) 6372 1122 EV charging THE LOCATION Three-and-a-half hours from Sydney, in the Cudegong River Valley of Central West NSW, lies Mudgee, known for wine, gourmet food and boutique stays. The Clairfield Hotel is on the edge of town. THE PLACE This once-humble motor inn entices a new generation of roadtrippers to pull up to its 56 luxury rooms and suites in cream and muted-green hues (a nod to Mudgee’s eucalypts). On offer are queen through to family-size rooms (sleeping five) with smart TVs, Reuben Hills coffee, La Gaia amenities and linen bathrobes. Suites sleep between two to four, and have pillow-top king-size beds, round soaking tubs and rain showers. THE EXPERIENCE Meander along Mudgee’s wide streets en route to coffee in the vine-covered courtyard at Alby and Esther’s. Elevated pub nosh is found at local hotels The Paragon or The Oriental, along with live music, meat-tray raffles and karaoke. Back at the Clairfield, while away an afternoon beneath striped umbrellas by the heated pool (with adjoining steam room and gym) or reset with an infrared sauna and float at the Clairfield’s intimate wellness studio, Jila. It’s not far, when happy hour beckons, to the hotel’s blush-pink marble bar, which tempts with $8 G&Ts. Totter over to onsite restaurant Gigi’s afterwards for executive chef Sam Potter’s signatureslow-roasted lamb shoulder. DON’T MISS Meet thoroughbreds and sample wines named after winning racehorses at Gooree Park’s new cellar door, housed in converted stables. FROM $250 a night. Sheriden Rhodes Yeates Wines 138 Craigmoor Rd, Eurunderee; 0490 859 428 THE LOCATION Just outside Mudgee, this picturesque family-owned and run vineyard is at the heart of the region’s “golden triangle”, within walking, cycling and driving distance from neighbouring wineries. THE PLACE Drink in views of some of Mudgee’s oldest (and most famous) vines from two luxurious self-contained spaces. The Gate House (a stylish tiny house) sits adjacent to a sleek cellar door with a cosy loft bedroom and bathroom, kitchen and living space with a wood fireplace downstairs. Above the cellar door, the Vine Loft’s private deck offers expansive vineyard views. Both one-bedroom spaces offer king-size beds with Hale Mercantile linen, Hunter amenities and minibars stocked with Yeates’ wines and local beer. THE EXPERIENCE Explore the 11.5-hectare property with its rows of old vines, and watch kangaroos gather by the pond at dusk. Cosy up by the firepit with a glass of red and get acquainted with Tipsy, the resident golden retriever. There’s a Nespresso machine, but you can’t beat hot cinnamon doughnuts and coffee from Old Wheels Grind nearby. DON’T MISS Book a guided tasting of small-batch wines with cattle-farmer-turned-viticulturalist Sandy Yeates, who expounds on the vineyard’s history as Rosemount, and its flagship wine, Mountain Blue. FROM $350 a night; two-night minimum stay. Sheriden Rhodes The Russell Boutique Hotel 143A George St, The Rocks, Sydney; (02) 9241 3543 THE LOCATION Sitting a stone’s throw from Circular Quay at the foot of The Rocks in central Sydney, the waterfront setting isn’t just a draw, but a majorselling point. THE PLACE Once the site of a convict hospital, The Russell has been a hotel by one name or another since 1887, and you feel that history in the red-brick bones of the George Street building, which is a rabbit warren of quirky steps and corridors, mimicking the crooked sandstone streetscape outside. If that makes it sound more antique than boutique, fear not. A major refurbishment left no element un-luxed, from fabricated steel railings and plush carpet to hexagonal tiles in bathrooms. THE EXPERIENCE With attentive staff and service, a night here feels like a stay in an upper-crust boarding house – and in that style, a few rooms share bathrooms, though most are en suite. Stepping down the grand staircase for a complimentary breakfast in Bistro 1828 or popping next door for a pint at the Fortune of War (Sydney’s oldest pub) is to be embraced by place and time. DON’T MISS Take a morning jog/walk, starting across the street in First Fleet Park. Head north, follow the water’s edge underneath the Harbour Bridge and into Barangaroo Park. Head back and you’ve kicked off your day with four spectacular kilometres. FROM $300 a night; two-night minimum stay during select periods. Konrad Marshall Adina Town Hall Sydney 511 Kent St, Sydney; (02) 9274 0000 THE LOCATION Deep in the heart of Sydney’s CBD next to Town Hall Station, this apartment hotel is within easy walking distance of – or a short train-ride away from – many of the city’s top attractions. THE PLACE Adina Town Hall comprises 144 newly refurbished studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments over 26 storeys. There’s 24-hour reception, on-site parking, a heated pool and well-equipped gym. Eye-openingly affordable, it’s a great option for Sydneysiders wanting a city “staycay” or for visiting out-of-towners. THE EXPERIENCE Brenton Smith, a hotel specialist at Bates Smart (his projects include the award-winning Little National Hotel Sydney) wanted guests to feel as if their room was giving them a giant hug on arrival. The “home away from home” vibe starts in the lobby-cum-living room with its terrazzo flooring, curved leather banquette, low round stools and nubbly upholstery in warm, autumnal tones. The “soft geometry” continues into the rooms upstairs with cosy circular rugs, curvy modular furniture and diaphanous light-filtering drapes. A Sunday morning spent savouring breakfast at a sun-soaked table in the embrace of a floor-to-ceiling bay window, book in hand as cathedral bells tumble across the still-quiet city, feels miraculous. DON’T MISS Regent Place, less than a minute away, is a labyrinthine jumble of super-cute, Labubu-stuffed, Japanese and Korean boutiques and eateries. FROM $389 a night. Sharon Bradley Marina Resort 33 Magnus St, Nelson Bay; (02) 4981 4400 THE LOCATION This reimagined resort overlooks d’Albora Marina Nelson Bay (hence its name), about three hours’ drive from Sydney and 30 minutes from Newcastle (Williamtown) Airport. THE PLACE Originally built in the ’80s on one of Port Stephens’ most prominent sites, this once red-brick motel is now a swish coastal escape after a Doma do-over (the hospitality group that includes Little National hotels in its portfolio). The 48 minimalist, light-filled rooms and suites feature neutral interiors, low-set daybeds, king-size beds, Cultiver linen throws, travertine tiled bathrooms and teak ceiling fans. Topped by replica neon signage, the five-storey building (to be flanked by two towers in stage two and three) offers far-reaching bay views. THE EXPERIENCE Swanky seaside dining and white sand beaches lapped by turquoise waters are at your doorstep. Take an early-morning trek up Tomaree Head, followed by a dip at Zenith Beach. Reward yourself with brunch on the sun-drenched deck of local favourite, The Little Nel. Back beside the 25-metre pool, with its Miami-meets-Palm-Springs vibe, nab a cabana and while away the afternoon. As the sun sinks, head for your private balcony or terrace with a glass of bubbles from the smart lobby bar (complimentary with some stays). DON’T MISS Shared plates of saganaki, souvla, whole snapper and slow-cooked lamb shoulder at Atmos restaurant, overlooking Shoal Bay’s shores. FROM $188 a night. Sheriden Rhodes Mister Brooks on Brown 23 Brown St, Newcastle; 0421 045 435 THE LOCATION Found on the side of one of inner-city Newcastle’s steepest streets, Mister Brooks on Brown is within steady-as-you-go steps downhill to the CBD’s top food and wine, cultural and recreational attractions. THE PLACE This meticulously restored three-storey Victorian Gothic mansion is named in honour of Thomas Brooks, one of Newcastle’s early mayors, who once resided there. Old Tom would probably be a tad stunned by the confident gelato-toned colour scheme chosen by the latest owners for their revival of his erstwhile abode, but modern-day interior-design devotees will doubtless approve. THE EXPERIENCE The once near-derelict house now sleeps up to 12 guests across six generously-sized and snazzily-decorated king bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living spaces, an al fresco terrace and even a plunge pool. Each bathroom features fashionable Australian-made LEIF products. Check out Newcastle’s evolution – from steelmaking town to foodie hotspot – as exemplified by Arno Deli, a teeny, though authentic, Florence-inspired paninoteca open for breakfast or lunch. For a more substantial feed, book the nearby hatted Bistro Penny, inside an exquisite former Edwardian-era bank, now dishing Gallic-inspired woodfired modern cuisine. DON’T MISS The heritage-listed and recently restored early 20th-century Newcastle Ocean Baths not only exude Jeffrey Smart vibes, you can also spot occasional whales, dolphins and seabirds (including the endangered beach stone curlew) from them. FROM $995 a night; minimum two-night stay, three to five nights during peak periods. Anthony Dennis Osborn House Forest Lodges 96 Osborn Ave, Bundanoon; (02) 4883 6027 EV charging THE LOCATION Bundanoon is just under 90 minutes’ drive south of Sydney (not to be confused with Bundanon, the public art museum, 73 kilometres away). With a quaint train station, established gardens and older housing stock, it’s peak Southern Highlands. THE PLACE Built in 1892 by George and Dinah Osborn, the property has been a guest house at various times over its lifespan. In 2022, it was revamped by new owners who hired former Soho House design director Linda Boronkay to imbue it with rustic charm via log fires, chunky rugs, and wood-panelled walls. There are 15 rooms in the old home and 12 stand-alone Forest Lodges overlooking Morton National Park, each featuring a king bed, outdoor bathtub, fireplace, lounge area, bathroom with double shower heads and largely complimentary mini bar. There’s also a 25-metre pool and a spa for massages, facials and the like (book ahead). THE EXPERIENCE The bathtub on our Forest Lodge balcony is enticing but even more so is the Forest Bathing Deck, added in late 2024 and available to Forest Lodge guests in 45-minute slots. Move between the sauna, hot tub and cold plunge pool, set among tall trees in which birds twitter. Leave your phone in your room and revel in the serenity. DON’T MISS Dine on chicken, steak, corn on the cob and other delights cooked over an open fire at the Latin American-themed in-house restaurant, Fire Kitchen. FROM $899 a night; two- and three-night-minimum stays across certain times. Katrina Strickland Peppers Hunter Valley 1 Claret Ash Dr, Pokolbin; (02) 4998 2222 THE LOCATION This newly-badged Peppers property, in the small community of Rothbury in Hunter Valley wine country, is less than two-and-a-half hours’ drive up the motorway north of Sydney. THE PLACE Peppers Hunter Valley, formerly a Grand Mercure, is as much about swigging as it is swinging (the golfing kind). It is, after all, adjacent to a prestigious 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed golf course, a centrepiece feature of The Vintage, an ever-expanding residential and hospitality estate. Each of Peppers Hunter Valley’s 31 family-friendly and recently-refurbished one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments include a spacious lounge and dining area, fully-equipped kitchen, laundry, gas fire, private balcony and even the odd lock-up garage for the inevitable SUV. THE EXPERIENCE Whether it’s a case of “fore!” or pour, there’s something here to suit most tastes and interests, with The Vintage precinct surrounded by wineries, including Bimbadgen Estate and Tempus Two. Across the street from the apartments is Peppers’ convivial Nineteen drinking hole, as it were, overlooking the links, with Mezze, a new and somewhat less casual Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar, next door. DON’T MISS Good Food Guide hatted and listed restaurants abound in the wider area. The unpretentious Bistro Molines at Mount View is a 20-minute scenic drive from Peppers Hunter Valley, and is a touch of the south of France in NSW. FROM $499 a night. Anthony Dennis 220 Beach Rd, Batehaven; (02) 4404 1559 Pet-friendly THE LOCATION Reach this stylish stay after four hours’ drive south from Sydney to the heart of Australia’s oyster coast, opposite Corrigans Beach Reserve. THE PLACE A former ’80s motel, the chic sister property to similarly successful South Coast motel revamp, The Isla, has been recast with a sense of retro fun and a slew of hotel-worthy mod cons. The seven two-bedroom suites, designed by local studio Clay Interiors, feature modern kitchens, bold dual-toned walls, plush pink sofas, works by Sydney artist Dan Rushford and maroon-striped awnings that immediately put you in a good mood. Some have private courtyards and ocean views. There are laundry facilities and a communal barbecue area. THE EXPERIENCE It’s the self-sufficient beach holiday of the future: the contactless check-in, user-friendly guest app for purchasing in-room snack-bar items, smart TV with casting, and fast Wi-Fi. More importantly, the property lies in the heart of the Eurobodalla region, so you’re spoiled for spectacular beaches, snorkelling trails, ancient walking tracks and Sydney Rock oysters. Between swims, rinse off in the outdoor shower and relax in the yard with a complimentary cuppa; St Ali coffee pods and T2 tea are provided. DON’T MISS Make The Oyster Shed on Wray your first port of call for a fresh haul harvested straight off the farm on the Clyde River. FROM $250 a night. Katherine Scott Get more short-break inspiration from Good Weekend‘s 2025 52 Weekends Away round-up: From a mudbrick hut to a tranquil harbourside B&B – 17 perfect getaways in VictoriaFrom farm stays to island escapes – 5 perfect Queensland getaways‘More Med than Rotto’: 4 of the best weekend getaways in Western Australia right nowAn hour from Adelaide, you can wake up to giraffes outside your window: great escapes in SA, Tasmania and NT For more travel inspiration, visit our Traveller section To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page atThe Sydney Morning Herald,The Age andBrisbane Times.
