Hotel profile: Seclusions Blue Mountains

Lara PiconeBy Lara Picone
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Lean into country style at Seclusions Blue Mountains, where cosy timber cabins are purpose-built to encourage romantic notions.

A farm stay to coax out inner romantics, this beautiful property on the edge of the Blue Mountains eases tensions with its open vistas of gently plunging valleys, pastoral fields and blue-hued peaks beyond. As a popular wedding venue, Seclusions is a place for love to take its next big step and, as a couples’ weekend retreat, to find its spark again. While there’s more than enough to do, the best thing to do is, in fact, not much at all.

Location

Embrace agrarian beauty on the fringe of the Blue Mountains here. Tucked into the lush and rolling hills of the Seven Valleys with eyes on Mount Walker and Lake Lyell, just 15 minutes from the township of Lithgow, this cabin-style retreat set on eight hectares is undeniably angled toward weddings, but also makes a cosy escape for couples.

an aerial view of Seclusions Blue Mountains
The lure of the outdoors beckons you. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

Vistas of undulating pastures dotted with cows and whispering, towering pines hedging the property ensure a serene setting to exhale deeply in the fresh mountain air. Weddings and cabin stays are booked exclusively so they don’t collide, which means you won’t end up being kept awake by an enthusiastic wedding party stomping out the ‘Nutbush City Limits’ late into the night.

an aerial view of the scenery at Seclusions Blue Mountains
Soak in the scenery. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

Style and character

Sweet timber cabins are all your tiny home dreams brought to life with private decks angled to watch the soft, bush-covered hills beyond. Idyllic and bucolic, the country charm here ramps up to an adorableness overload but doesn’t feel contrived. The property has a vast settler history dating back to 1868 with some of the original buildings still standing to provide photogenic backdrops for newlyweds or repurposed to house events.

the Seclusions Blue Mountains signage
Check into the rustic and charming Seclusions Blue Mountains. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

Facilities

As a wedding venue, Seclusions has plenty of beautiful places to tie the knot and continue the celebrations, from gardens to historic buildings and modern spaces.

The purpose-built, 150-capacity Pavilion is the place to hold a reception, The Boat Shed with its indoor/outdoor design is used for canapes and dancing, while the Amphitheatre has been designed as the ceremony space.

There’s also a firepit for after-dark gatherings and a vintage caravan bar. If you’re not here for nuptials, or even if you are, you’ll find a tennis court and swimming pool to enjoy, as well as resident wildlife, alpacas and highland cows to befriend.

a cow grazing in the field from a distance at Seclusions Blue Mountains
Be surrounded by trees and undulating pastures. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

Rooms

There are six beautifully styled cabins to settle into, each with its own kitchenette, gas log fire, verandah and accompanying panoramic views.

a look inside one of the cabin rooms in Seclusions Blue Mountains
Settle into your beautifully styled cabin. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

There’s no wi-fi, but you can find analogue entertainment in the form of in-cabin board games, books and magazines. The cabin ensuites have a two-person spa bath, robes and luxe bathing products, should romance need a little help to kick into gear.

a rustic bedroom at Seclusions Blue Mountains
Feel the romance at Seclusions. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

Food and drink

For weddings, Seclusions can help you to secure catering, otherwise, there’s no restaurant onsite, but you can choose to purchase a selection of hampers for DIY meals. There are four breakfast boxes to choose from, as well as an antipasto box, a barbecue hamper box, fondue for two and a movie night box. Failing that, you can always take the 15-minute drive to Lithgow to pick up provisions or dine out.

the living space inside Seclusions Blue Mountains
Sweet timber cabins are all your tiny home dreams brought to life. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

Experiences

The experience at Seclusions is, aside from weddings, all about disconnecting from the every day and reconnecting with your significant other. Your entertainment is largely in your own hands. However, beyond the property’s pine-hemmed boundary, there are nearby towns and attractions to discover, such as historic Lithgow, bushwalks, and canoeing in Lake Lyell.

the surrounding landscapes at Seclusions Blue Mountains
Explore the property during your stay. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

You can take the 45-minute drive to Oberon’s Mayfield Garden to wander the exquisitely tendered greens or enjoy lunch at the restaurant. Seclusions also host occasional events, should you like to organise a group experience, such as a yoga retreat, workshop or birthday celebration.

the veranda at Seclusions Blue Mountains
Seclusions Blue Mountains is a serene retreat away from the crowds. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

Access for guests with disabilities?

There’s one accessible cabin with a separate bath and shower, and a ramp. If you’re visiting for a wedding, most of the venue spaces are fully accessible or largely accessible.

Family-friendly?

That’s a no for human children, as Seclusions is an adults-only retreat. However, when it comes to your fur family, dogs are allowed to participate in weddings (when chaperoned) but must adhere to the property guidelines and won’t be able to stay in the cabin with you. Beyond your dog trotting down the aisle, Seclusions is not pet-friendly, largely on account of their beloved farm animals.

cows grazing in the filed at Seclusions Blue Mountains
Find cows grazing in the paddocks. (Image: Daniel Griffiths photography & Hillary Cam photography)

Details

There is a two-night minimum stay, while public holidays and long weekends usually have a three- to four-night minimum stay.

Address: Seclusions, 209 Martins Rd, Rydal via Lake Lyell, NSW

Contact: (02) 6355 6300

Cost: Weekday rates start at $315 per night; weekend rates start at $345 per night.

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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Your first look at Australia’s brand-new luxury camp

    Kate BettesBy Kate Bettes
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    The heavens take centre stage at this Outback NSW glamping lodge.

    Crane your neck. Look up. If it’s nighttime in a major Australian city, you might see a faint dusting of stars. Now imagine yourself out in the bush. Here, those stars aren’t just scattered dots – instead, they’re smudged across the sky in endless, glittering streaks. Welcome to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit , a new glamping lodge in one of the most picturesque corners of outback NSW.

    Between its eight stargazing tents, Gilay Guest Lounge, and shared tales of the Dreamtime night sky, this retreat is designed to exist in harmony with the breathtaking lake and surrounding landscape. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know.

    Bathed in warm light, a couple watches the sun dip beyond the horizon.
    Watch the sky melt into magic at Wilderluxe.

    Getting to Wilderluxe Lake Keepit

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit is in the NSW Northern Tablelands, bordered by the Great Dividing Range. The lake itself is hard to miss: this mammoth body of water is two-thirds the size of Sydney Harbour.

    Just 40 minutes from Tamworth and close to Gunnedah, it’s on the inland route between Sydney and Byron Bay. Drive or take one of the daily flights to Tamworth’s airport.

    Aerial view of Wilderluxe.
    Let vast waters and towering ranges set the scene for your escape.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit rooms

    Don’t settle for a paltry room when you can sleep directly under the cosmos. Wilderluxe offers eight domed ‘Star Tents’ , all named after Aboriginal sky stories – like Djirri Djirri, the sacred messenger bird, Baiame, the Sky Father and great creator, and Dhinawan, the Emu in the Sky constellation.

    On a clear night, use your tent’s retractable roof for gazing above or wander to the outdoor bathtub on your private deck to soak under the night sky. No need to go anywhere. You can stay put come evening with a kitchenette inside and a gas barbecue on the deck.

    A couple gazes up at a sky ablaze with stars at Wilderluxe.
    Sleep beneath the stars.

    Style and character

    When it comes to aesthetics, Wilderluxe Lake Keepit stays on trend. The encampment blends with its surroundings, building up layers of minimalist visuals that mirror the ever-changing curves of the water.

    Earthy tones, natural materials and timber finishes also anchor the retreat in its bushland surrounds. It’s enough to deepen the sense of calm you’ll experience as you drive off-grid, and this is only heightened as you spot kangaroos grazing at dawn or hear the chatter of native birds by the lake.

    The dreamy sunset at Wilderluxe.
    Go off-grid in style at Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit dining

    ‘Dinner and a show’ hits differently with the property’s Big Sky dinner experience . Hosted in the Gilay Lounge, enjoy complimentary drinks and a grazing table with the host, followed by a screening of Big Sky Dreaming, a film produced exclusively for Wilderluxe guests in which Kamilaroi storyteller Uncle Len Waters narrates tales of the Dreaming above.

    Once your imagination has been fed, it’s time to take a seat fireside for a glass of Australian port and a serving of s’mores.

    Keen to explore the wider area? Staff can provide barbecue and picnic hampers, stuffed with regional meats, cheeses and organic local fare.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit facilities

    While you could very well spend all your time in your tent, sometimes it’s time to hit pause on the celestial show. Instead, make your way up to the Gilay Guest Lounge, where you can relax on the deck overlooking the lake or the outdoor fire pits. It’s a great way to unwind and clink glasses with other stargazers.

    The Gilay Lounge with the view of the lake.
    Unwind by the fire and raise a glass at Gilay Lounge.

    Wilderluxe Lake Keepit experiences

    No need to turn nocturnal; when the sun rises, there are still plenty of ways to touch the sky.

    Lake Keepit hosted the 2020 Women’s World Gliding Championships, and it’s one of the best places in Australia to stretch your wings. The local Soaring Club operates year-round, meaning you can book a gliding experience any day of the year – or opt for a scenic flight to take in the vast beauty from above.

    Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground? There are plenty of walking and cycling trails in and around the area. Luckily, bikes are part of the Wilderluxe package. All you have to do is ask a staff member for their favourite route, throw a picnic onto the back and cycle off into the great beyond.

    Alternatively, nab a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) or kayak and head out onto the lake. Or, if you’re feeling lucky, borrow a fishing rod and try your chances.

    A person kayaking through serene waters.
    Paddle into peace.

    The details

    A two-night minimum twin-share accommodation package includes Big Sky dinner and drinks experience, plus daily continental breakfast. As well as access to leisure equipment including mountain bikes, kayaks, SUPs and fishing gear.

    The interiors of the glamping tent.
    Let nature restore you, while luxury takes care of the rest.

    Start planning your outback glamping adventure at wilderluxe.com.au.