TIME TO GET AWAY

TRAVEL

Head to these beautiful hideaways in regional Australia on your next holiday.

VICTORIA Salt Creek Cottage

Nicknamed ‘Salty’, this cottage in Dunkeld is the perfect winter escape. Take a revitalising walk in the Grampians National Park and then retreat back into the cosy interior of this artfully decorated cottage, where you feel cocooned from the cold. There are two bedrooms and a full kitchen for you to cook up a feast, or stroll down to the nearby Royal Mail Hotel. To book, visit saltcreekcottage.com.au

Omaroo

The name ‘Omaroo’ was derived from an Aboriginal term meaning ‘beautiful view’, and this two-bedroom getaway definitely delivers. Floor-toceiling glass sliding doors along one side of the open-plan living, dining and kitchen area frame the surrounding countryside. The doors lead out onto a deck, so you can further enjoy the view, or snuggle up inside on one of the inviting sofas near the wood heater. The house is filled with vintage furniture and there are two queen beds. To book, visit airbnb.com.au and search Glenlyon, Victoria.

NSW Nu Leaf Retreat

With the retreat’s 10 rooms, you can book the entire place for a girls’ weekend away, indulging in on-site massages and facials. Or spend the school holidays with extended family and watch as the kids enjoy the space and jump in and out of the indoor pool. If you’re in need of a reset, sign up for a retreat, complete with yoga, expert nutrition advice and healthy meals. Perhaps just get away with your partner and enjoy wine tasting and evenings by the fire. The beauty of Nu Leaf Retreat in the Hunter Valley is that it can be whatever you need to be. 647 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin, NSW. To book, telephone (02) 6574 7170 or visit nuleafretreat.com.au

The Byng Street Boutique Hotel

There’s nothing quite like a trip to Orange in NSW with its wineries, restaurants and picturesque surrounding villages. Book into one of the 22 beautifully appointed rooms at the historic Byng Street Boutique Hotel and explore. 62 Byng St, Orange. To book, telephone (02) 5317 8200 or visit byngstreethotel.com.au >

Retreat back into the cosy interior of this artfully decorated cottage, where you feel cocooned from the cold.

QUEENSLAND Hillview Dairy

When owner Simone Williams decided to restore the 100-yearold dairy on her property in the Currumbin Valley, she was meticulous. All the original hand-sawn timber sourced from local forests was used in the refurbishment. The result is a charmingly rustic one-bedroom off-grid retreat overlooking Mt Tallebudgera. Make sure to have a soak under the stars in the outdoor tub. To book, visit airbnb.com.au and search Currumbin Valley, Queensland.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Ningaloo Bed and Breakfast

Because it’s near the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, you can come to Ningaloo Bed and Breakfast to get back to nature. At this time of the year, you’ll see manta rays, whalesharks and humpbacks with their calves. Plan a trip in January and you might be lucky enough to witness baby turtles hatching. 29 Preston St, Exmouth. To book, telephone (08) 9949 2293 or visit ningaloobedandbreakfast.com.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Almerta Station

Third-generation farmer Paddy Rowe and his wife, Shane, run between 5000 and 8000 sheep on 15,400 hectares at Almerta Station in the Flinders Ranges, north of Adelaide. They also offer accommodation in the shearers’ quarters, so you can have an authentic farm-stay experience, or choose from one of the 13 secluded bush campsites. 235 Almerta Rd, Yanyarrie. To book, telephone (08) 8658 9076 or visit almertastation.com.au >

The name ‘Omaroo’ is derived from the Aboriginal for ‘beautiful view’ – and this retreat duly delivers.

Boydell’s safari tent in East Gresford, NSW, has a king-size bed and copper bath. FACING PAGE A night’s stay includes dinner, wine and breakfast, and you’ll get to meet Buddy, the kelpie. To book, visit boydells.com.au

A classic weatherboard house, Salt Creek Cottage is located in historic Dunkeld, Victoria. FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP Dark walls add to the feeling of warmth in the cosy living area at Salt Creek Cottage; a collection of vintage artworks; wallpaper lines the walls in one of the bedrooms.

Omaroo in Glenlyon, Victoria, is an architecturally designed two-bedroom, two-bathroom retreat surrounded by peaceful countryside. The wood heater warms the open-plan living and dining area.