Ready for a change of scenery but don’t want to travel far? The best weekend escapes in NSW are all about switching off, slowing down and seeing somewhere new.
New South Wales is home to a plethora of peaceful pockets that will transport you worlds away from reality. Spanning boutique farms and city staycations to national park adventures, these NSW weekend trips provide the perfect excuse to press pause.
A quaint farmhouse getaway in the Hunter Valley
Wallaringa Farm makes for a cosy weekend just 90 minutes from Sydney. (Credit: Laura Grzelak)
What? Slow the pace and reconnect surrounded by nature at Wallaringa Farm’s luxury farmhouse in the Hunter Valley.
Tell me more: If you’ve ever dreamed of relocating to the country, this is the house for you. The three-bedroom property sits on a 303-hectare working cattle farm. Instead of a TV, you’ll find the indoor wood-burning fireplace is focal point to the open-plan living area, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing an altogether better view than your latest Netflix binge. Pop on a record, start cooking in the chef’s kitchen and make your way to the outside firepit at sunset with a generous pour of red from local Boydell’s Cellar Door.
A road trip through the Clarence Valley
Visit the stunning Yamba Ocean Pool. (Credit: Destination NSW)
What? A river town, a ferry crossing and oysters worth the drive.
Tell me more: Base yourself in Grafton before venturing through the valley to Yamba, where its famed ocean pool sits below the landmark Pacific Hotel and the Wednesday farmers’ market draws growers from across this Northern Rivers region. Catch the historic MV Mirigini across to Iluka, a sleepy fishing village at the river mouth, for rainforest walks at a gentle pace. All this make the Clarence Valley one of the best weekend escapes in NSW.
A luxe pontoon stay on Sydney’s Pittwater
Lilypad Palm Beach is moored on Pittwater. (Credit: Lilypad/@_jampal)
The pontoon stay is all about soaking up the slow moments. (Credit: Lilypad/@_jampal)
What? Lilypad Palm Beach is an all-inclusive luxury floating villa moored on Pittwater in Sydney/Warrane’s Northern Beaches.
Tell me more: Arrive by chauffeured tender boat or seaplane for a taste of life on the water. The champagne is chilled, seafood platter waiting and fridge stocked for dinner and breakfast. The architecturally designed, split-level villa caters to every whim: on deck, find an infrared sauna, outdoor shower, barbecue and entertainment area; inside, a fireplace, smart TV, kitchen and loft-style king bedroom. All that’s left to do is watch the sun set and moon rise over the water and let yourself float away – metaphorically speaking.
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A waterfall-chasing adventure on the Barrington Coast
Ellenborough Fallas are a dream for hikers. (Credit: Destination NSW)
What? Waterfalls, lakes and empty beaches are all within cooee of each other on the Barrington Coast.
Tell me more: Get active in Barrington Tops National Park, and visit Ellenborough Falls – the tallest single-drop waterfall in the state, with a lookout for every fitness level, tumbling 200 metres. Paddle the mangrove-lined Myall River with Lazy Paddles, then finish at the coast, where Bennetts Head offers prime whale-watching throughout winter and spring.
Stargazing in NSW’s Big Sky Country
Wilderluxe’s Gilay Lounge provides front-row seats to the stars above Big Sky Country.
What? The elevation and lack of light pollution at Lake Keepit, between Gunnedah and Tamworth, make it one of the best places for stargazing in Australia.
Tell me more: Stay in a Star Tent at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit with a retractable skydom where Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters threads Dreaming stories into the astronomy experience over dinner. Kayak the lake by day, then roll into Tamworth for dinner and drinks at Hopscotch Restaurant & Bar.
A gourmet road trip through the Southern Highlands
A drive through the Southern Highlands reveals scenic pastures.
Stop in for top drops at Bendooley Estate. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Peppers Manor House has beehives onsite. (Credit: Elizabeth Whitehead)
What? Get a taste of the good life on a Southern Highlands road trip with stops in Mittagong, Berrima and Sutton Forest.
Tell me more: After soaking views of cow-dotted paddocks and rolling hills from the car, start with a guided the Mittagong Mushroom Tunnel then explore the historic country town of Berrima, which is all sandstone buildings, bakeries and little country stores. Check into Peppers Manor House and sample honey straight from the hive at its onsite beehives or head to Bendooley Estate to enjoy a glass of pinot by a crackling fire – sure to convince you you’ve found one of the top weekend escapes in NSW.
Sydney’s ultimate wildlife stay
The Wildlife Retreat at Taronga is a family-friendly escape in Sydney.(Credit: Tourism Australia)
What? Expect to spot koalas curled up in the gum tree outside your Animal View Room at Sydney/Warrane’s harbourside Wildlife Retreat at Taronga.
Tell me more: Five low timber lodges make up the 62-room eco retreat, which is built around a sanctuary for native Australian animals on Cammeraigal Country. A stay includes after-hours access to the zoo, a guided night walk through the native animal habitat and dinner at Me-Gal.
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A nature break in Narooma, far South Coast
Hop on a guided snorkel tour with Underwater Safaris. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Mix retro-chic with incredible views at The Whale.
Slurp your way through the Narooma Oyster Festival. (Credit: Destination NSW)
What? The laid-back town of Narooma, an hour south of Batemans Bay, will have you regretting not visiting sooner.
Tell me more: Blessed with crystalline waters, resident seals, world-class mountain biking and oysters so fresh they’ll win over even the staunchest sceptics, Narooma has long been cherished by adventure seekers and foodies alike. Now – with the reopening of retro stay The Whale – it’s catching the eyes of design lovers, too.
A food-focused weekend in the Riverina
Linger in Griffith for the fantastic food. (Credit: Visit Griffith)
What? Griffith lies at the heart of the Riverina region, NSW’s largest food bowl.
Tell me more: More than 60 per cent of Griffith’s residents claim Italian heritage, which the town celebrates during the annual Taste of Griffith festival in August. Calabria Family Wines pours durif and Montepulciano at its cellar door, while Zecca transforms Riverina wheat into delectable handmade pasta. Close out a weekend at Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, rolling cannoli since 1952.
A South Coast sojourn in Milton and Mollymook
Linger longer in Mollymook. (Credit: Destination NSW)
What? Affectionately known as Milly and Molly, the South Coast towns of Milton and Mollymook present a two-for-one treat for weekenders, close enough to easily flit between.
Tell me more: The best weekend escapes in NSW favour flavour as well as scenic delights, and this trip is no different. You can sample the chic shopping and cafes along the main thoroughfare of Milton, before heading through rolling green countryside to the beaches and whale watching spots of Mollymook. Enjoy the waterfront glam of Bannisters Mollymook and fresh seafood at Rick Stein at Bannisters, the on-site restaurant co-owned by the celebrity chef.
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Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and...
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship...
Katie Carlin is Australian Traveller's Head of Content and when she’s not travelling or behind her computer, she’s hosting a dinner party (likely cooking an Alison Roman recipe), at brunch, working on extending her running k’s, or has her nose...
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and...
This winter, these secret Sydney harbour suites are the staycation we’ve been looking for.
Whether it’s the crisscrossing ferries or the white sails of the Opera House rising out of blue depths, Australia’s biggest city lives for its harbour. But while locals might glance at that watery expanse on their daily commute across the Bridge, it can still be hard to truly connect with Sydney’s maritime soul. The secret: seeing the harbour eye-to-eye, right at water level. And what better place to submerge yourself in that energy than sleeping there? That’s where Pier One Sydney Harbour comes in (and with new all-inclusive bed and breakfast benefits, there’s even more to love).
All-inclusive VIP benefits
Book in for the all-inclusive VIP treatment.
The hard truth is that it will be very difficult to tear yourself away from your ultra-luxurious harbour home-away-from-home to explore the city. If you want to make leaving even harder, opt for Pier One’s all-inclusive VIP treatment.
The Bed and Breakfast with Suite Benefits package turns up the volume on what is already the ultimate staycation, with complimentary valet parking, daily breakfast for two and turndown service. The biggest perk? Enjoy a bottle of French champagne every day during your whole stay
Pier One Sydney Harbour
Step into a piece of history with all the modern comforts. (Credit: Dave Wheeler)
The five-star Pier One Sydney Harbour is quite literally old Sydney through and through. Built on what was once a working cargo wharf and the passenger terminal for those heading to the North Shore before the bridge was constructed, the heritage building sits right between the tangle of cobblestones, pubs and alleyways of The Rocks and the historic docking zone of Walsh Bay – at the centre of the city’s old sea trade.
If knowing the hotel’s history isn’t enough to get your sea-longing going, the interior design certainly will. As soon as you step up to the concierge desk in the lobby of the restored building – which underwent a $15 million redevelopment in 2019 – you’re immersed in Sydney’s seafaring tale. Weathered wood panelling and white marble floors surround you, while loop lighting installations hover above the bar island just beyond, ringed with stools ready for intimate, martini-tinted conversations. Steel rivets and timber beams speak to its past, and glass-walled views anchor you firmly in the present-day life on the harbour.
Pier One Suites
Enjoy incredible views from your suite.
Across the 189 rooms and suites built on and over the water, the maritime theme continues. Sculptural aged brass fittings, exposed girders, colour schemes that evoke shifting currents, and mirrors that reflect ripples that – depending on your booking – sit just metres from your pillow.
United on theme yet unique in set-up, each room or suite is different. On the ground floor, dog-friendly rooms with direct access to the pier are all prepped for pampered pups, while others have views and even balconies overlooking Walsh Bay, the Bridge and the Harbour.
But the 19 suites step things up even more. Gaze out through floor-to-ceiling windows, or get even closer. Your private balcony is made for sipping a Nespresso coffee on as the sun comes up – or soaking in the bathtub of the Admiral Suite on the deck, a drink from the locally stocked mini bar in hand. This mini bar was recently completely transformed, so you have more Aussie favourites to choose from, including alcohol and snacks.
Dining at Pier One
Settle in for an afternoon of good drinks and views.
Once you’re checked in, start your afternoon with a spritz at PIER BAR – or arrive by boat via the private pontoon if the occasion calls for it – and settle into one of the cabanas. Weekdays bring Happy Hour (or ‘sunset hour’ at Pier One); weekends bring the DJs. After an even sweeter experience? The Everyday Creamery and Matcha Kiosk is slinging mango and vanilla soft serve – classic and those spiked with Midori and gin alike.
PIER Dining is an ode to contemporary Australian flavours across the terrace, pier and dining room. On its seafood-leaning menu are Sydney rock oysters from Merimbula, potato scallops with salmon roe and crème fraîche, chicken with melting sundried tomato butter, vodka rigatoni with Shark Bay prawns. And the ‘Pierlova’ – that’s pavlova with chocolate, dulce de leche and banana is worth saving room for. Make sure to ask for the wine list – it’s 100 per cent Australian drops.
Around town
Explore the neighbourhood during your stay. (Credit: Destination NSW)
If you’re strong enough to polish off just one last pastry from the breakfast buffet and walk out the door, we applaud you. Luna Park across the harbour beckons with its wide grin, while a glance upward might spur you to climb the Bridge’s famous iron arches. The Opera House – just across Circular Quay from the Museum of Contemporary Art – sings out for a concert.
You’ll want to book ahead for those hot-ticket performances at Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Dance Company, just a few minutes’ walk south of the hotel. Ten minutes further brings you to the waterfront bars, restaurants and clubs of Barangaroo, or the karaoke, gardens and dim sum of Chinatown further afield.
Keep the mellow of your weekend getaway going with a stop at Barangaroo Reserve, watching the yachts go by – all before returning for that Sydney sundowner at Pier One.
