Retreat to the mountains: 10 stays in Blackheath and surrounds

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From covetable cabins to contemporary hotels, you’ll find the mountain retreat of your long weekend dreams in Blackheath.

Blackheath is the artful heartbeat of the Blue Mountains. Hemmed by spectacular World-Heritage wilderness, where hikes criss-cross bushland and heart-swelling vistas routinely gob-smack visitors, the eclectic town isn’t short on creativity. Here and in the surrounding towns, you’ll find sleek eateries, curated boutiques and galleries, and chic places to stay. From bohemian abodes to design-led cabins and polished hotels, Blackheath accommodation is as surprising as it is diverse.

1. Kyah Boutique Hotel

Best for: Grown-up escapes in ambient elegance.

$$$$

With three wings, each named after one of the Three Sisters, there’s ample space to exhale in refined style at Kyah. Guests are spread out across 46 rooms and suites, and when they’re not exploring the doorstop wilderness of the national park, they may dine at the applauded onsite restaurant and bar, Blaq, enjoy a hot tub and sauna, or have a hit of tennis within the grounds.

the bedroom at Kyah Boutique Hotel, Blackheath
The chic Kyah Boutique Hotel is accented with pastels and earthy tones. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

With a backstory that includes the revitalisation of a worn-out former motel, Kyah has invigorated both the building and Blackheath with design-led luxury.

a close-up of the bed at Kyah Boutique Hotel, Blackheath
The former 1970s motel is now an ultra-chic Palm Springs-inspired hotel. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

2. Parklands Country Gardens

Best for: Garden enthusiasts and quiet stays.

$$$

Twenty-eight acres of meticulously maintained gardens imbues this sprawling country estate with a European grandeur, thanks to the property’s founder, John Pope, a 1900s-era department store mogul with a deep appreciation for greenery.

the Parklands Country Gardens in Blackheath
Be surrounded by lush greenery at Parklands Country Gardens.

These days, Parklands welcomes guests with loft rooms and garden suites, and a beautiful day spa. While there’s no restaurant onsite, you can enjoy bed and breakfast packages.

the living room with a fireplace at Parklands Country Gardens in Blackheath
Get cosy by the fireplace at Parklands Country Gardens.

3. Bubbletent Australia, Capertree Valley

Best for: Romance under a night sky.

$$$$

If the idea of you and your significant other, sweeping dramatic views and no one else around sounds ideal, but you’re not exactly one for camping, then this unique stay less than an hour from Blackheath is going to be your thing.

overlooking Capertee Valley at Bubbletent Australia
Marvel at the panoramic views of Capertee Valley. (Image: Mayumi Iwasaki)

Poised for magnificent scenes across the Capertree Valley, the three bubbletents, Leo, Virgo and Cancer, are luxe, transparent abodes complete with floating beds, flushing toilets and outdoor, woodfired bathtubs.

a woman relaxing in a bathtub overlooking Capertee Valley at Bubbletent Australia
An outdoor tub with a view is the holy grail of remote accommodation experiences. (Image: Destination NSW)

Watch the sun slip below the valley in a fiery finally before the moon ascends and you peep at those luminous constellations through the telescope provided.

a couple relaxing at Bubbletent Australia at night
Sleep under the stars at Bubbletent Australia. (Image: Destination NSW)

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4. Turon Gates Eco Retreat

Best for: Going bush with mates or kids.

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A little under an hour from Blackheath, this Capertree Valley stay provides a stylishly rustic hideout from everyday life. Here, you can take up residence in a self-contained log cabin, glamping tent or campsite and tune into the frequency of bush life complete with birdsong and cicadas.

the Turon Gates Eco Retreat in Capertree Valley
Hear the birds sing from your self-contained log cabin.

It’s all about chilled vibes, but if you feel particularly energetic, you can also try fishing, horse riding or commandeering a canoe to explore the river.

the Eagles Nest accommodation at Turon Gates Eco Retreat, Capertree Valley
Turon Gates Eco Retreat is completely off-grid.

5. Wollemi Love Cabins, Bilpin and Mt Tomah

Best for: Anyone up for a left-of-centre stay or keen for Lord of the Rings role play.

$$$

Full of wood-carved quirk, this collection of cabins set in two locations (both under an hour from Blackheath), are fantastical and fabulous. From the almost-bonkers Enchanted Cave to the canopy-perched Treehouse, the vast Wollemi House and the intriguing Dream Cabin complete with a secret doorway leading to a hidden room, these out-there abodes are not for those who seek extreme minimalism, but with the bush on show as the undisputed star, anyone can appreciate these tributes to the natural surroundings. 

6. Wondernest

Best for: Mini-breaking design boffins and sophisticated escapes.

$$$$

Tucked into the mountain village, this Blackheath abode is acutely stylish and infinitely pinable to your mood board. With dark exteriors beautifully contrasted with frosted foliage come winter, this timber cottage is a serene, white-and-wood study in contemporary cabin living.

the Wondernest cabin in Blackheath
Opt for a contemporary cabin stay at Wondernest.

The two-bedroom chalet has a fully-equipped kitchen, outdoor deck with garden and bush views, Instagrammable window box, and fireplace, not to mention oodles of design cred.

a look inside Wondernest accommodation with windows and balcony
Capture the views from this humble abode.

7. Casa Mia, Blackheath

Best for: Small, outdoorsy families
$$$

Cosy times prevail at this two-bedroom wood cabin in Blackheath. Contemporary and luxe with a mountain sensibility, this light-filled stay is kept warm in winter with a wood-burning fire and double-glazing on the generously proportioned windows. With a well-appointed kitchen, barbecue and laundry, there’s everything you need to settle into a bush-fringed way of life.

sunlight reflecting through the windows at Casa Mia, Blackheath
Check into the bright and airy Casa Mia.

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8. The Machinery Shed at Logan Brae Orchards

Best for: Romantic interludes.
$$$$

This farm stay planted in a working apple orchard brings a New York loft-style to a vast former shed. Sleek kitchen, picturesque outdoor bath, floor-to-almost-ceiling windows and a hard-working fireplace that roars into action to warm the open-plan space, all make this chic barn difficult to leave. Bewitching views of the beautiful Kanimbla Escarpment double down on the need to book a return stay immediately.

the exterior of The Machinery Shed at Logan Brae Orchards
The Machinery Shed is set on the grounds of a 100-year-old working apple orchard.

9. Mt Kanimbla Wilderness Experience

Best for: The one-bedroom cabins are honeymoon-perfect, while the four-bedroom Lodge suits sophisticated gatherings away and special events.
$$$$

Views from inside Hilltop Cabin Kanimbla near Blackheath
It doesn’t get more bush-luxe than this.

Just half an hour from Blackheath village is a trio of stays with eyes to Mount Kanimbla. The Lodge, the Hilltop Cabin and the Woodland Cabin are all soothingly contemporary with Australian-accented mountain style.

View from the bath at Hilltop cabin at Logan Brae
Picture yourself in the stone bath at Hilltop Cabin.

With each escape featuring its own mineral plunge pool and wood-burning fireplace, these bush-luxe lodgings are magical year-round.

the pool with a sun lounger and scenic views in the background at The Lodge, Blackheath
Relax on a sun lounger at The Lodge.

10. Little Black Cabin

Best for: Incredible views in a design-led cabin.

$$$

Your ultimate cabin goals are realised at this architecturally stunning 120-year-old cottage with captivating views of the Megalong Valley and Escarpment. Bushwalks and Blackheath’s hub are only steps away, but you’ll feel entirely and happily untethered from regular life in this tranquil setting.

the Little Black Cabin surrounded by trees in Blackheath
The 120-year-old Little Black Cabin offers a serene spot to stay.

Vast windows to perch in, high-quality and textural tones and finishes, and a tender nod to the buildings heritage make this cabin an award-winning and covetable stay.

a woman sitting by the window at the Little Black Cabin, Blackheath
Take in the breathtaking vistas at Little Black Cabin.
Find more incredible stays read our guide to Blue Mountains accommodation.

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Lara Picone
Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
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The secret Sydney suite life: a luxury under-the-radar stay right on the harbour

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    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

    Who Is Elijah Amenities at Pier One Sydney Harbour
    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

    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

    Pier One Sydney Harbour admiral suite
    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

    Pier Bar Pier One Sydney Harbour
    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

    luna park, sydney opera house and sydney harbour bridge
    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.

    Ready to make that Pier One stay a reality? Book the ultimate Sydney staycation at pieronesydneyharbour.com.au