From the team behind Sierra Escape Mudgee, this serene new bathhouse promises a restorative blend of heat, cold and calm.
Sydney’s North Shore is about to welcome a new sanctuary of calm. Escape Bathhouse , the latest venture from Cam and Tasch D’Arcy, creators of the award-winning Sierra Escape Mudgee, officially opened on 25 October, in the beautifully restored, heritage-listed Seymour Building in Chatswood.
Escape Bathhouse is Sydney’s newest bathhouse.
Spanning 320 square metres across two levels, the Spanish Mission–style building has been transformed into a modern wellness haven. The two-hour hydrothermal circuit blends a 37°C mineral pool and 10–12°C ice baths for contrast therapy that boosts circulation and recovery. Guests can unwind further in the infrared sauna and steam room, or pause at the Placebo Bar, a no-alcohol space serving mineral-rich sips and herbal tonics between sessions.
Beyond the bathhouse experience, Escape also offers a range of restorative treatments. Its signature ritual, Nunyara, meaning “to be made well again", is a two-hour ceremony including breathwork by Rory Warnock, a full-body exfoliation, hot-stone massage, and rose-quartz facial rollers to restore balance and connection.
Escape also offers a range of restorative treatments.
Relax in the 37°C
mineral pool.
The sauna helps deepen detoxification,
Clear your soul in the steam room.
Escape is becoming a modern wellness sanctuary.
This marks one of the first bathhouses of its kind on Sydney’s North Shore – and a major shift for the area’s wellness scene. The founders, Cam and Tasch D’Arcy, say the project is a natural evolution of their mission to create restorative spaces.
“After the success of Sierra Escape, we knew we wanted to bring that experience to a broader audience," Tasch says. “The North Shore is the perfect location for us to create a sanctuary where wellness and connection are at the forefront."
Prices start at $75.
Prices start at $75 for a two-hour session from Tuesday to Thursday, or $99 for Friday to Sunday and public holidays, offering a luxurious yet accessible entry point into Sydney’s growing bathhouse culture. And just like at Sierra Escape, the atmosphere here is everything.
The interior design of the bathhouse blends modern luxury with serene, nature-inspired elements to create a calming urban retreat. Designed entirely by Tasch – the creative force behind Sierra Escape’s aesthetic – the space features soft curves, arched windows, warm natural materials and muted earthy tones. It feels both refined and deeply restorative. And one thing’s certain: wellness is heating up north of the bridge.
We got the first look at Escape Bathhouse, which brings a restorative blend of heat, ice and calm to a beautifully restored heritage building in the city's north, from the team behind Sierra Escape Mudgee.
Address: 989 Pacific Highway, Chatswood, NSW
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.
When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.
Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.
From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.
The Tweed
In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.
Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .
Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)
The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.
Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.
End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.
Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.
Blue Mountains
The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.
For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.
Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.
Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)
Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.
Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.
Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.
End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)
Southern Highlands
Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.
Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.
When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.
Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)
Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.
Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.
Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.
Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.
Penrith
Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.
For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.
Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)
Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.
