Seven self-indulgent long-weekend luxury escapes

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Megan Arkinstall finds seven long-weekend ideas to take you away from it all so you can indulge in, well, pure indulgence.

1. Glide on water in the Top End: Kakadu National Park, NT

Bamurru Plains coined the term ‘wild bush luxury’ to describe their accommodation; a down-to-earth camp with a focus on fine details, designed to draw your attention to the surrounding environment rather than the distractions of modern life. There are a host of activities to get you out and about to explore the wildlife, but we recommend starting with a morning glide on the wetlands on board a fan-propelled airboat (specially for shallow waters) – a unique way to view the birdlife native to the area. At night, retreat back to camp for a hearty meal cooked with local ingredients, before falling into a deep sleep to the sounds of Kakadu silence: croaking frogs and local owls. Sounds like a bloody good long weekend to us.

 

Location: Bamurru Plains is a three-hour drive or 20-minute flight from Darwin. Swim Creek Station near Point Stuart in the Mary River Region, 10 kilometres from Kakadu National Park’s western boundary; 1300 790 561; bamurruplains.com

2. Create a work of art in your own studio: Swansea, Tas

Two kilometres up a dirt road brings you to the secluded and stunning Rocky Hills Retreat. Set on 250 acres of dry bush, the house overlooks a valley and out towards Maria Island. Have a bath on the deck and watch the sun go down, or awaken your inner artist in the fully-equipped on-site art studio. In here you’ll find tools to draw, paint, sculpt and knit… the possibilities are endless.

 

Location: Rocky Hills Retreat is 1.5 hours from Hobart. 11901 Tasman Highway, Rocky Hills, Swansea; 1300 361 136; rockyhillsretreat.com.au

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3. Take a private seaplane to a secluded getaway: Whale Beach, NSW

Jonah’s boutique hotel, on Whale Beach just north of Sydney, offers an idyllic getaway without really getting away at all. Kick back on your private balcony and simply admire the 180-degree views of the ocean… and imagine previous guests Sir Anthony Hopkins, Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger doing the same. To really knock your socks off, we recommend arriving in style by private sea plane – you can transfer direct from Sydney’s Rose Bay, as part of a hotel package including a three-course dinner at their hatted restaurant and brekky. Now that’s how a long weekend should be spent (if you’re comfortable with spending, that is).

 

Location: Jonah’s is a 50-minute drive from Sydney or 20 minutes by seaplane. 69 Bynya Road, Whale Beach, Sydney; 02 9974 5599; jonahs.com.au

4. Soak it up on a private rooftop spa: Noosa, QLD

Perched on the highest point of Noosa’s Sunshine Beach Esplanade is a not-so-average retreat, complete with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, media room, billiards room, pool and yes, a rooftop spa overlooking the Coral Sea. Turn on the bubbles, pour some bubbles and toast to the Queensland winter sun with a few of your favourite friends, before a barbecue on the deck. Winter warming at its best.

 

Location: The Beach Shack is two hours north of Brisbane. 19 The Esplanade, Sunshine Beach, Noosa. Book through R&W Noosa Holidays; 07 5448 0966; rwnoosaholidays.com.au

5. Retreat to a weekend of relaxation and pampering: Byron Bay, NSW

Sometimes, the best kind of indulgence is a break from indulgence. Whether you want to detox, de-stress, lose weight or simply gain some peace, the sprawling hinterland of Byron Bay, home to Olivia Newtown-John’s eco-retreat Gaia, is a beautiful place to do it. With activities like yoga, tai chi, meditation, body balance, cooking classes, art and sculpture classes, and a multi-award winning day spa – your mind, body and spirit are covered. Leave your mobile phone at home… we dare you.

 

Location: Gaia Retreat & Spa is two hours south of Brisbane. 933 Fernleigh Road, Brooklet; 02 6687 1216; gaiaretreat.com.au

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6. Luxury beyond words in a picture worth a thousand: Wolgan Valley, NSW

Brush up on your photography skills and capture the beauty of Wolgan Valley with a guided photography tour. The six-star Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort is a beautiful 4000-acre property with 40 luxury suites boasting a private pool and terrace, and double-sided fireplaces (no wonder it was voted number five in AT’s 100 Incredible Travel Secrets). Step out from behind the lens to enjoy the other onsite activities including hiking, mountain biking, 4WD tours and horse riding. Then return home with your stunning photos to prove that yes, you were indeed at Wolgan Valley. Lucky you.

 

Location: Wolgan Valley is a three-hour drive from Sydney. 2600 Wolgan Road, Wolgan Valley, Lithgow; 02 6350 1800; wolganvalley.com

7. Take a bush bath: Barossa Valley, SA

An elegant country manor located on a 225-acre estate… sounds like an idyllic place to rejuvenate. And what better way to do that than running yourself a soothing bath and soaking to the sound of silence in the middle of the bush? (Yes, it fits two.) The all-inclusive two-night stay at Kingsford Homestead includes drinks and canapés served on the verandah as the sun goes down, cooked breakfast, complimentary wines from the cellar, a five-course degustation one night and a three-course dinner the other. The 1856 homestead may look familiar: it was the previous home to McLeod’s Daughters, but now it can be yours.

 

Location: Kingsford Homestead is 45 minutes from Adelaide. Kingsford Road, Kingsford; 08 8524 8120; kingsfordhomestead.com.au

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5 of the best Sunshine Coast day trips

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

    When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

    Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba, where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

    1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

    Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

    Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

    Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

    All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

    woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
    Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

    2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

    Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

    Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park. Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

    Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards. Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery.

    Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

    woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery
    Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

    3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

    Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

    Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

    Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores. Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

    aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek
    Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

    4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

    Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

    Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

    Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House, then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

    Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

    exterior of Husk Distillers
    Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

    5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

    Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

    Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

    Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

    Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

    End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

    view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland
    Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

    Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.