Out Of Town
Palm Beach. Cityslickers love a trip to the oh-so hi-so ‘Palmie’ peninsula; get there by seaplane, or rent a racy sports car, it’s only an hour away (see V. Useful for both). Staying? For top-end beach houses / contemporaryhotels. com.au / min two nights / is choice. Or, for weekly rentals, look under the Northern Beaches on Airbnb / airbnb.com. If you prefer not to self-cater, stay at perfectly perched aerie Jonah’s / 69 Bynya Rd / Whale Beach / 9974 5599 / jonahs.com.au / for sparkling ocean views, bright rooms and nice seafood. The surf at Palm Beach is wicked, as is the lunch at The Boathouse / Barrenjoey Boathouse / Governor Phillip Park / 9974 5440 / daily / theboathousepb.com.au / the pier-perched sis to she of the same name in Shelly Beach (see Brekkie). For shorefire shopping there’s funky fash at Bow Wow / 1093 Barrenjoey Rd / 9974 1762 / daily / bow-wow.com.au / design decor at neighbouring Palm Beach Home / #1105 / 9974 2117 / Tue-sat / palmbeachhome.com.au / or dip down to Mark Tuckey / 303 Barrenjoey Rd / Newport / 9997 4222 / daily / marktuckey.com.au / for simple, sophisti, handmade timber furny. Back in Palmie, walk to the lighthouse through the National Park or take a ferry from the wharf to Mackerel Beach and just chillax.
Blue Mountains. Drive an hour for a cosy winter weekend of antique shops, tea rooms and rocky, alpine aspects. Ride the steep side on the Scenic Railway / Katoomba / 4780 0200 / scenicworld.com.au / or glide between cliffs on the glassy Skyway cable car. The town of Leura is pretty, Blackheath is less twee. Stay at deco stagger-rama mamma Hydro Majestic / 4782 6885 / hydromajestic.com.au / with five restos and a top high tea, quirky Old Leura Dairy / 4782 0700 / oldleuradairy. com.au, or retreat to Emirates One&only Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa / 6350 1800 / wolganvalley.oneandonlyresorts.com. Amid the bloomin’ marv Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is Tomah Restaurant / Bells Line of Rd / Bilpin / 0421 552 746 / bluemountainsbotanicgarden.com.au / for perf patch-to-plates, or cottage luncher Solitary / 90 Cliff Dr / Leura Falls / 4782 1164 / solitary.com.au / and Ashcrofts / 18 Govetts Leap Rd /Blackheath / 4787 8297 / ashcrofts.com / Lunch Fri-sun, dinner Thu-sun / are foodie faves. For house rentals see / bluemts.com.au
Hunter Valley. This famous wine region is 90 mins drive north and can be done in a day. Staying? Try mod Tonic / 4930 9999 / tonichotel.com.au / no kids, or Cypress Lakes Resort / 4993 1555 / cypresslakes.com.au / for fine fairways, or Golden Door Health Retreat Elysia / goldendoor.com.au. Lunch at Esca Bimbadgen / 4998 4666 / bimbadgen.com.au. Wineries: Lake’s Folly / 4998 7507 / lakesfolly.com.au; Tempus Two / 4993 3999 / tempustwo.com.au, with Hunter Valley Smelly Cheese Shop / 4998 6960; and De Bortoli / debortoli.com.au. Cheers!
Pretty Beach House. Dreamy pavilions with tree-dappled pools and fine Italian sups above an aptly monikered cove. High View Rd / Pretty Beach / Bouddi Peninsula / 4360 1933 / pretty beachhouse.com
Q Station. Former quarantine depot is leper no more with simple rooms, glam bush/harbour vistas + activities galore. Nth Head Scenic Dr / Manly / 9466 1500 / 30 min. from city / qstation.com.au
Cottage Point Inn. Fly or drive to Cowan Creek, dine on the lovely waterside deck, then stay in one of the apartments. 2 Anderson Place / Cottage Point / 9456 1011 / cottagepointinn.com.au / Sydney Seaplanes offer a package here (see V. Useful).