Weekends away from Sydney with the family are wonderful, but so are weekends away without the kids. I cannot tell a lie, I love child-free escapes.
I have to admit that I have only had this pleasure rarely, but an upcoming trip to the Blue Mountains got me thinking about all the beautiful places one can go to leave behind domestic life. Also how joyful and refreshing these short expeditions can be.
The main list below has lots of hotels, some are pretty expensive. But let’s start with ideas that cost less.
Stay with friends or family
Beg a spare room and go to visit friends and family. Let them know that you are there to have adult time and offer to help them with the house and family on a different visit. Tell them that, yes, you ARE using their home as a hotel then go out and do exactly what you fancy.
Go camping
This is not something we have done a lot of, but there are heaps of great places to visit with your tent. Check out this post for ideas on where to go:
Best Camping Spots In and Around Sydney
Camping Guide to NSW: best books
Holiday Park Cabins
Yes, they will be full of families, but there are some gorgeous holiday parks around where you can stay in cabins pretty economically. Here are some ideas:
Ocean Beach Holiday Park at Umina
Hotels For Parents’ Escapes
Head west over the Blue Mountains to the beautiful Central West town of Orange and stay at this delightful hotel which combines history with modern luxury. Visit the local restaurants and wineries, and check out the cool shops of Orange then come back to comfort and interesting artworks, plus a gourmet breakfast which is included.
Opening up again in September 2020, this charming retro chic B+B offers comfort and luxury to its guests, plus the expert advice of hosts Steve and Kate, my friends of 25+ years.
There are so many beautiful beaches, walks and views around Jervis Bay. It's a wonderful place to escape to if you love nature. You can explore the bay by boat, and try snorkelling and diving trips. Check out the whale watching trips and dolphin trips too.
Stay at the Fairmont when in the Blue Mountains and head straight to the spa after a vigorous mountain walk.
The review here is family-centred but it lists all the facilities and shows you some of the views from this wonderful resort hotel. Make your life easy but heading here to relax.
Within Sydney itself, so just a short drive away, is the very serene and beautiful Billabong Retreat. Come here for yoga and meditation retreats where you will have plenty of free time to read, laze in a bath, swim and chat. The food is amazing. I stayed here by myself but it would make a really restorative escape with my husband or with friends.
Just north of Sydney is this pretty island which is a bit of a hidden secret. The ferry journey is short, there's just one cafe on the island and you need to take food. But as a place to do little and recharge, it is sublime.
Wolgan Valley is an incredibly beautiful and luxurious (and expensive) 6 star resort in the Blue Mountains. It really is a wonderful spot, ideal for special birthdays and anniversaries. The good news is that once you get there, almost everything is included.
My husband and I rarely got away when our kids were small, but one time we could have them looked after for two nights so we went to Wolgan Valley. It costs what a week in Fiji or Queensland would have, but we came back super refreshed.
If you do not mind a long drive then how about a stay at Lake Crackenback in the Snowy Mountains. Ski in winter, mountain bike and walk in summer and visit the local distillery any time of year.
This would be too far for me to go for a weekend, but would be great for a few days away.
I hope that you find something here that will work for you.
Every parent and carer deserves a regular break… easy to say but hard to do. I find that just planning a trip is uplifting and it’s great to have something to look forward to. So we can all plan our weekends away for later on this year or even next year and enjoy the anticipation as much as the escape itself.
Have you had a wonderful parents’ escape somewhere?
Can you share any gems in the comments?
Happy planning!
Here’s a view from Sublime Point in the Blue Mountains, very close to the Fairmont Resort, just to get you inspired.