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The most indulgent Mudgee glamping spots

For those who love the great outdoors, just from a reasonable distance and with a little luxury, these stunning Mudgee glampsites are the best of both worlds.

Immersion in nature needn’t require being rough-and-ready. If you love the idea of syncing with the landscape, but prefer to do so from a position of comfort, these incredible glamping spots nestled in the most jaw-dropping locations around the Mudgee region will have you clicking ‘book’ in seconds.

From the ultra-luxe to the laidback, and most with some kind of outdoor bathing set-up, these glampsites unzip the canvas to reveal a refined way to camp.

Evamor Valley

Evamor Valley eco tents
Relax into nature, with all your creature comforts.

Elevate the idea of camping at Evamor Valley , where six luxury eco tents ensure immersion in nature from a comfortable and slightly pampered distance. Each adults-only tent is positioned to take in a different vantage of bushland beauty, from a misty sunrise to treescapes around the property’s dam.

Settle on the deck to soak up the scents and sounds of nature or retreat within to relish the plush, king-size bed. A generously proportioned ensuite and heating make it extra comfortable. Mudgee is only minutes away, but there’s plenty to occupy you on the 34-hectare farm, such as enjoying strolls by the river or dam and slipping into your outdoor hot tub.

Address: 109 Tinja Lane, Mudgee

Blue Wren Farm

Blue Wren Farm Glamping tent
Sleep amongst vineyards and cherry orchards.

Set amongst vineyards and cherry orchards, Blue Wren Farm offers five glamping tents with uninterrupted rural sunset views, just minutes from the centre of Mudgee.

Each tent is equipped with a private bathroom stocked with premium Salus products, a bar fridge, kettle, Nespresso machine and a selection of T2 teas and split system air conditioning. On the bedding side, expect a comfy queen bed made with premium linens and electric blankets for winter.

Of course, if you need a little extra space or luxe, you can always opt for Blue Wren Farm’s on-site self-contained farmhouse, for up to ten guests.

Hideaway Domes

Hideaway Domes Mudgee under the starry night sky
Sleep beneath the stars. (Image: Destination NSW)

A minimal footprint stay in a striking geodesic, solar-powered dome , this little ball of luxury is positioned for pondering the sky. If you’re after a couples retreat away from the intrusion of the daily hustle and bustle, this bush-set beauty places the endless and ever-changing horizon within reach.

There’s no wifi or television, but who needs it when you have the pantomime of celestial beings above you and panoramic views wrapping around you. You will, however, find hot water in your private ensuite, as well as a queen-size bed, kitchenette, indoor fireplace and outdoor fire-pit. Set on a 1000-acre property, ‘Belbourie’, you’ll feel away entirely from it all, but you’ll only be 15 minutes from Mudgee.

Address: Details are emailed upon booking.

Glenayr Farm Mudgee

tents of glenayr farm mudgee on a misty morning
Simplicity is beauty here. (Image: Glenayr Farm)

Set on an idyllic working sheep and cattle farm 25 minutes from Mudgee, a stay in one of the four bell tents at Glenayr Farm bridges the gap between camping and cabin. While the tents may not have all the amenities other glampsites do, they’re stylishly comfortable with queen beds and lovely linens, an outdoor table and hot water bottle, as well as other small luxuries.

You’re welcome to book one or all of the tents and share the communal area, which includes hot showers and change rooms, a modern kitchen, a lounge and games room, and a hot tub (for an additional $100). If your group spills out of the four tents, you can also book the bunkhouse, which sleeps up to 16 people.

Address: 1257 Windeyer Road, Windeyer

Piambong Tops

Piambong Tops glamping mudgee
Get off-grid in country style.

An architecturally designed cabin tucked into a hillside at the top of a ridge in the middle of a picturesque rural property, yet only 20 minutes from town? Book us in. Taking design inspiration from original Australian shearer’s quarters, Piambong Tops offers rugged luxury. Add high-end finishes and designer touches to its rustic look. Then top it off with a full bathroom, kitchenette, queen bedroom and living room (which can be converted to a second bedroom).

Spend your days relaxing with a good book and maybe some morning yoga, or lace up your boots and explore the creek and rock formations around you.

Wildnest Farmstay

tent at Wildnest Farmstay mudgee region
Soak in views over the widest canyon in the world.

Folded into the achingly beautiful Capertee Valley –  which happens to be the widest canyon in the world – the glamping experience at Wildnest Farmstay enables guests to hastily abandon any tethers to daily life. It’s easy to do amid the astonishingly vast and sweeping landscape, as well as the country chic stylings of the tents that gaze beyond to the dramatic escarpment of Pantones Crown.

Complete with a king-size bed, a slow-combustion fireplace, a bathroom, a kitchen and an outdoor bathtub on the deck, it’s a diversion into nature, gilt with a touch of bush luxury.

Address: 1800 Glen Davis Road, Capertree

Sierra Escape

Sierra Escape Elouera Tiny House mudgee
Sierra Escape has added a unique tiny house to its glamping options. (Image: Sierra Escape)

Balancing raw bush beauty with luxury, Sierra Escape invites guests to meditate on the magnanimity of nature while relishing creature comforts. Perched on a 113-hectare property, there’s ample room to roam the undulating paddocks.

Choose from one of five well-appointed safari tents, or the newer tiny home option (all fit two people). In each tent, you’ll find an indoor and an outdoor bath, a fireplace and fire pit, a king-size bed and a kitchenette. The tiny home, dubbed Elouera, is crafted from a shipping container to create something truly special. It adds all the same luxuries of the tents, plus magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows to soak up the view and a designer kitchen.

If you’d like to swing from nature to nurture, you can book an in-tent massage or, for more hedonistic pursuits, spend the day wine-tasting in the Mudgee region before returning to your deck to relish your favourite new bottle.

Address: 1345 Lower Piambong Road, Piambong

Bubbletent Australia

woman in outdoor bathtub at Bubbletent Australia Capertee Valley
RElax in your outdoor wood-fired bathtub. (Image: Destination NSW)

The double-XL beauty of the New South Wales landscape is ripe for ogling at the five domes of Bubbletent Australia . Each tent is lofty enough to feel as though you could almost touch the night sky. Bring the heavens into sharper focus with the telescope provided or, during the day, watch the wildlife of the Capertree Valley using the in-tent binoculars.

You can star-gaze from the warmth of your cosy bed with the translucent tent offering 24-hour screenings of the sky. Each bubble is complete with an outdoor wood-fired bathtub and hot shower, a firepit and, happily, an inside toilet, but you’ll need to bring all your food and drink for your stay, including water.

While located in the Mudgee region, you’ll find these tents on a property named Bubbleland, which sits halfway between Mudgee and the picturesque town of Lithgow.

Address: Details are emailed upon booking.

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 guide to a summer staycation in Sydney

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom
Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar
Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of  Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining
Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks
Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby
Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden
Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

a show at Theatre Royal
Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.