10 cosy Blue Mountains cabins to escape to now

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Cosy retreats don’t get more idyllic than these cabins in the Blue Mountains.

Regardless of the season, a cabin in the Blue Mountains will provide a perfect change of scene. Now you’ve scoped out which town you’d like to stay in, here are some of our favourite Blue Mountains cabin options to rent when you need to escape the city to a nature-ensconced retreat.

1. Cuyong Cottage, Katoomba

This charming Federation cottage has a modern, minimalist interior with all-white and wood décor, pretty stained glass windows and French doors that open onto a flower-filled garden. The home offers space for six adults, has a back porch for barbecues and offers all the amenities you’d expect from a Superhost. If you love to cook, Cuyong Cottage has a dreamy kitchen and vegetable garden. As well as being within a cooee of Katoomba’s Echo Point, the cottage is within walking distance of restaurants, bars and pubs.

This charming Cuyong cottage.

2. MontPierre Mountain Cottage in Kurrajong Heights

This is one of the most character-filled Blue Mountains’ cabins we’ve seen on Airbnb. It’s a riot of colour and personality that is at once quirky, comfortable and cosy. Enter through an antique garden gate to access MontPierre Mountain Cottage, which is tucked away in the picturesque village of Kurrajong Heights. Outside, you’ll find a wood-fired pizza oven, day bed, outdoor bathtub and private guest terrace with regional views.

MontPierre-Mountain-Cottage
This is one of the most character-filled Blue Mountains’ cabins.

3. Eco Woolshed, Blackheath

This rustic Eco Woolshed cabin manages to avoid cringy Australiana tchotchkes even though it has accents that have a distinctly Aussie twang. For instance, although there’s an inordinate amount of corrugated iron and timber in use, the architecturally designed eco cabins still manage to be bright and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows that open out onto a deck with dreamy views. There are just two eco cabins on the 100-hectare property, which looks out over the blue-hued mountains and bony escarpment that backdrops Blackheath.

Eco Woolshed cabin
Eco Woolshed cabin manages to avoid cringy Australiana tchotchkes.

4. Piccolino, Wolgan Valley

Although it’s tiny in stature, Piccolino punches above its weight in terms of its location and amenities. In fact, the private retreat maximises its footprint by squeezing in as much amenity as it can into a small space, which encourages guests to focus on those expansive bush views. Proximity to local attractions is another draw as the property is near to a glow worm tunnel, Newnes Ruins and ancient Indigenous rock art at Mayingu Marragu. The artfully styled tiny house has a fire pit and more than 40 hectares of land to explore on foot or by bike.

Piccolino
Piccolino punches above its weight.

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5. The Dream Cabin

The Dream Cabin looks like it might have been designed by Dr. Seuss. Blending corrugated iron with polished concrete and rustic timber beams, the whimsical light-filled cabin also features a hanging chair and ceiling festooned with fairy lights. The Dream Cabin has an outside shower and separate bath house with a hot tub and views over Bowen’s Creek Gorge from the lofted bedroom, which is accessed via a ladder. Enjoy a walk to Bowen’s Creek or kick off your shoes and curl up by the fireplace.

The Dream Cabin is Dr Seuss’ fantasy.

6. Cooee Cottage, Katoomba

Cooee Cottage is the definition of dinky. And if we were to judge it on its exterior alone, the diminutive dwelling with wrap-around verandah would be given a gold star. The 112-year-old weatherboard residence looks like it has been dipped in Dulux Emerald Delight, a colour that is coded complimentary to the surrounding greenery. The Katoomba cottage is in a quiet setting not far from the train station and town centre and the option to light a fire in cooler weather is a welcome extra. It’s a very homey vibe indeed.

Cooee Cottage
Cooee Cottage is the definition of dinky.

7. Logan Brae Retreats, Megalong Valley

The Machinery Shed on the Shipley Plateau regularly ranks in the Top 3 most wish-listed Airbnbs in Australia.

The Machinery Shed regularly ranks in the Top 3 most wish-listed Airbnbs in Australia.
The Machinery Shed regularly ranks in the Top 3 most wish-listed Airbnbs in Australia.

As one of four luxury accommodation options at Logan Brae Retreats, one of the biggest selling points of the tastefully restored machinery shed is its eye-catching design followed by the fact it’s located on a 100-year-old working apple orchard. Fight for who gets first dibs on the outdoor treetop tub, which is hidden amid the trees and the perfect place to unwind.

Lounge area inside Machinery Shed at Logan Brae Retreats Blue Mountains
Take in your surroundings from the comfort of the lounge.

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8. Cloud Parade, Katoomba

This Katoomba house is blessed with great natural light. But the real bonus at Cloud Parade is the view over the Three Sisters and Mt Solitary. The designer home, which is set on a bony ridge of the iconic escarpment, is also in the flight path of passing clouds. Pick up a copy of The Cloud Collector’s Handbook so you have an excuse to stay glued to the lounge near the fireplace in the living room to identify every cloud that floats by and tick them off your checklist. Extra points are awarded for anoraks who spot the oh-so-rare mammatus.

Cloud Parade.
Natural light at Cloud Parade.

9. Nungaroo Cottage, Bilpin

Grab your nearest flannelette-clad faux lumberjack and make them earn their stripes by chopping firewood for the combustion fire that is at the heart of this classic timber slab mountain retreat. Guests keen to relax indoors can crawl into the lofted bed at Nungaroo Cottage which is encircled by cool-climate gardens and quiet bushland. The owners of Nungaroo Cottage are Bilpin’s very own Dr Dolittles and there is all manner of animals — including rescue horses and donkeys – that will give you a sneak peek of the rural idyll.

Nungaroo Cottage
Life at Nungaroo Cottage.

10. The Hilltop Cabin, Kanimbla Valley

Be the envy of all your friends by being the first to book a weekend in The Hilltop Cabin , which has flung open its doors from its lofty position on the highest point of the Kanimbla Valley.

View of the pool deck at The Hilltop Cabin, Kanimbla Valley
Slip into your private mineral healing plunge pool to watch the sunset.

Picture this: a private mineral healing plunge pool off the cabin deck; a cargo net hammock to wallow in; a stone bath with sweeping views and an open fire.

The stone bath at The Hilltop Cabin, Kanimbla Valley
Soak up the views and the relaxing vibes in the stone bath.

The cabin is modelled on a traditional American log cabin, albeit with luxurious touches. Use the cabin as a base to explore the landscape which is home to kangaroos, wombats, and wallabies.

Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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8 ways to discover a new side of Port Stephens

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

    You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

    All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

    1. Stockton Sand Dunes

    Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

    Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

    Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape.
    Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

    2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

    A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

    History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

    Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens.
    Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

    3. Watch out for whales

    You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

    And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

    A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface.
    Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

    4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

    Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary  to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

    Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

    Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile
    See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

    5. Diving Port Stephens

    Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

    Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

    At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

    A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure.
    Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

    6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

    Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

    Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

    Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay.
    Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

    7. Fish the estuaries

    Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

    If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

    three men fishing on a boat in port stephens
    Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

    8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

    With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

    Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

    Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

    A plate of fresh oysters.
    Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .