With so many incredible places around the world to visit, you might wonder why Christina and I love sticking so close to home.

The funny thing is, when we’ve been overseas and have made our way home, we’re always impressed with just how good Sydney and NSW stands up against the most beautiful destinations around the world.

And while we’re always on the lookout for our next far-flung adventure (and the opportunity to get some use out of the world’s most expensive passport!), exploring our own backyard never gets boring.

But don’t worry, we’ve still got plenty of stories on some our favourite places like Lake Como.

Where to travel in New South Wales

Let’s follow the compass on our journey round NSW!

Go north

The Hunter Valley

Who guessed I’d start this guide with wine? No, I’m not surprised either! And the Hunter Valley certainly deserves as much credit as it always gets.

The oldest wine region in Australia, the Hunter has some incredible places to visit with astounding countryside and cellar doors to match.

If you don’t believe me, check out these tips on wineries recommended by long-time local and winemaster, Ian ‘Scarbie’ Scarborough of Scarborough Wines fame. These guys make the best Chardonnay you’ll ever taste by the way, and their cellar door experience is incredible.

We have a host of other reasons (not just wine… but mostly!) to visit the Hunter Valley. Check out our other reasons to visit this beautiful part of the state.

Port Stephens

Right next the Hunter Valley on the coast, Port Stephens is still (amazingly) a gem hiding in plain sight and not far from Sydney.

We’ve been coming to this pretty peninsula for years now and know the area well. Not only are there plenty of places to eat and drink, the beaches in Port Stephens are astounding. What better way to unwind after a long lockdown?

Here’s our essential guide to Port Stephens to give you a taste of what you’ll find here.

Maitland

Caught between the Hunter Valley to the south and Newcastle to the east, Maitland has long had the reputation as a ’30-minute town’ – in that it’s half an hour’s drive from both its bookend destinations.

But back in the mid-1800s, Maitland and its even smaller neighbour Morpeth were an epicentre of the colony.

There are still vestiges of those thriving times still to see now, but the real joy of this town isn’t its history; it’s the food.

There are so many remarkable places to eat here, we left after a weekend barely able to fit into our car, let alone our clothes!

Here’s where to eat in Maitland, plus our other stories on this fascinating part of NSW, whose history we’ve all but forgotten.

Byron Bay

Perhaps the biggest punctuation on the northern NSW coastline is Byron Bay. And justly so. Not just the town, but the whole area is brimming with beauty… and superb food.

You’ll find eating here very satisfying with so many venues offering local produce grown and crafted with love.

There’s a whole host of places to try here, as you’ll see from our compilation of where to eat in Byron, but there’s also so much to do here.

And of course, the whole area is so pretty – check out our Postcards story if you don’t believe me. 

Head south

Southern Highlands

Southwest of Wollongong, the Southern Highlands makes for a perfect escape from the city and a wonderful place to get away from the long lockdown.

Each little town in the highlands offers something different, as well as a burgeoning wine-making culture, though all are connected by one wonderful filament of gold: pies.

And every year, the Southern Highlands has Pie Time – a celebration of everything pastry.

Pie Time – a wonderful week in June of pie glory in the Southern ‘Pielands’ – is has this region at its best.

2020’s Pie Time is going virtual, with 1-7 June going for ‘Pie-solation’ celebrations, encouraging Aussies far and wide to pie up at home and share their pastry yarns online with #pietime and #piesolations. 

Berry

On the other side of the mountains to the highlands, this wealthy country town has been a popular stop for motorists for many years – though now the bypass misses Berry, it’s mercifully a lot quieter.

You’ll find pies to die for here too and Mt Hay Retreat up in the hills is a superb place to rest your head.

South Coast and Mollymook

The NSW South Coast has long been a popular haunt for Sydney holidaymakers, and rightly so. It’s absolutely stunning here. Pristine beaches, delightful food options, friendly locals… it’s hard not to like the South Coast.

One of the highlights of our time in the South Coast was when we stayed at Bannisters by the Sea at Mollymook. It’s a pretty little retreat in a quaint little seaside town with the other obvious asset of Rick Stein’s famed restaurant.

This iconic eatery aside, there are so many excellent food options in this part of the Shoalhaven to try. 

Other parts of southern NSW

Our last roadtrip before Covid-19 struck was down through the southern parts of NSW and into Victoria. We had decided to do our own Empty Esky in aid of the terrible bushfires that ravaged so much of the state.

That all seems so long ago now – even though it’s only a few months back as I write this.

It was, however, a blessing, as we were able to experience some amazing parts of the state that hopefully will still be the same the next time we visit.

Places like Batemans Bay and Moruya, Tumut and its wonderful brewery, the bakery at Howlong and Corowa’s distillery – you can find them all detailed here in our Empty Esky story… and you’ll find them all in person as you enjoy the beauty of New South Wales.

Enjoy the Central West

Travelling west of Sydney is such a different experience to going north or south along the coast. The landscape is so different, and the locals even more so.

Orange

One of the first places west of the Blue Mountains we ever visited, Orange is packed with truly superb food and wine. It’s a mountainous area, with a cool climate and high elevation, which makes the produce here even better.

Here’s our essential guide to Orange, NSW to get you started. 

Mudgee

Another wonderful western town that’s even friendlier than Orange and with perhaps even better wine and produce is Mudgee. There’s something about this place that really kept our hearts. We can’t wait to go back.

Here’s a hit list of where we’ll be eating when we go back plus our top tip for where to stay while you’re there. Honestly the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in… and I’m really picky!

The Blue Mountains

Arguably the most famous inland landmark of New South Wales are the Blue Mountains. This little section of the Great Dividing Range, which runs north to south some 3,500km, has so much history and beauty to it.

Here are seven ways to experience the grandeur of this landscape, which we highly recommend if you haven’t been here for a few years (it’s all been updated). And here’s where stay in the Blue Mountains too.

For more of our stories of the Blue Mountains, click here. 

The City

Of course, there’s no need to go too far if you don’t want to – or if you don’t have enough time. Sydney has so much to offer visitors and locals alike. We love a staycation here in the city, and we’ve written so much about our times here.

You’ll find everything from Sydney hotels and restaurants in the city to things to do and places to see.

But if you’re only in town for a short while, here’s what you can do in 24 hours.

And for more ideas for easy Sydney weekend getaways, check out this champion story!

If you’ve got more time on your hands and want to deep-dive into the research, here are more of our stories on places we’ve explored in New South Wales. 

Of course, we haven’t been everywhere in New South Wales… though we’re working on it. We’d love to go west and see what it’s like further inland. The farthest west we’ve been in NSW is Mendooran – a tiny town near Dubbo, where a particularly good whisky is made.

But every town between Sydney and Broken Hill has its story. And there’s time to hear them all.

Do you have a place of priority you want to visit as soon as travel restrictions lift? Tell us in the comments.

The post Where To Go In Australia’s First State – our NSW destination guide appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Right on the shores of Sydney’s waterfront entertainment quarter, Sofitel Darling Harbour is perfectly positioned for a luxe Sydney getaway or – in our case – a romantic staycation.

Darling Harbour is packed with restaurants, bars and fun things to do — from bowling to one of the world’s biggest cinema screens, the aquarium and Wildlife World, not to mention an impressive weekly fireworks display over the water framed by the city and the historic Pyrmont Bridge.

Also within walking distance to the Sofitel Darling Harbour, you’ve got the ever-evolving dining scenes of Chinatown and Thai Town, King Street Wharf and Barangaroo.

But that’s if you even want to leave the comfort of your hotel room, a dilemma we certainly struggle with during our stay!

Where to Stay in Sydney — Sofitel Darling Harbour

Though it’s not the tallest hotel in Sydney (or even in the area for that matter), Sofitel Darling Harbour still has amazing views out over the city and way out to the west — a point that really stands up as the sun sets.

And it’s certainly worth booking a room as high as you can — above level 28 in particular — as this gives you access to Accor’s exclusive club service ‘Millesime’. But more about that later.

Inside our Superior Room

Compact but still very comfortable, especially for our two-night stay, our room is generously furnished and well designed. But it’s the extra features that elevate Sofitel’s rooms to the quality you expect from this internationally renowned hotel group.

The room has all the basics covered: bed, bathroom, table and chairs, but they’re all done with a bit of flex.

The bed is enormous and has a beautifully finished headboard and end-of-bed bench. The bedside furniture is generous and has multi-format power outlets as well as uncomplicated light switches. It might not sound like a big deal, but these last two points are actually so refreshing.

The bathroom not only has a high-powered shower with overhead and angled heads, it also has a beautiful deep-fill bath that looks through the sliding doors to the views of the city. My only gripe about the bathroom is the strongly opaque door to the toilet. More and more hotels seem to think that the greater the opportunity to see your partner on the throne, the more romantic/luxurious/modern the room. This needs to be addressed; any proximity to another human emptying themselves is none of these things!

One little treasure we discover in the bathroom that seems to have gone the way of the dodo in hotels is the amenity kit. Occasionally these days you might get the odd cotton bud or a shower cap, but not in the Sofitel Darling Harbour. Harking back to the good old days, this has to be one of the most comprehensive kits we’ve seen. Toothbrushes, combs, nail files, cotton pads and buds, and even a shaving kit — I’m impressed.

The table and chair in the room are comfortable and well-sized, and the second ‘chair’ is in fact a chase longue that you can recline on and enjoy the views through the entire wall of windows.

There are lots of other little details like the lovely lamps, the fabric textured wardrobe doors and the quaint vignette of old photos on the wall that add to the room’s style.

Mind you, the carpet pattern keeps making me think there’s an electrical cable laying across the floor.

As I’ve mentioned, the views here are outstanding, but there’s another bonus to being on floor 29: we get access to the Millesime club level.

Club Millesime Level, Sofitel Darling Harbour

Right up on the 35th level, Club Millesime — meaning ‘great vintage’ in French — takes up the whole top floor of the Sofitel and offers some of the best views of Sydney.

As well as a full reception (with its own secret stash of Champagne btw!), where you can check in and out without using the ground level concierge at all, there’s a dedicated kitchen here that opens three times a day starting with breakfast.

From 6.30am to 10.30am (11.00am on weekends and public holidays), the complimentary breakfast at Club Millesime offers a wonderful spread of pastries, croissants, in-house jams, fresh-from-the-comb honey and breakfast cereals.

There’s also a full spread of hot buffet options. The bacon is excellent here — a yardstick I mark all hotel breakfasts with. At your table, you can also order a small selection of a la carte items like eggs Benedict and avocado on toast.

Le Gouter and Apero Chic at Club Millesime

In the same way the Italians have aperitivo, le gouter is a traditional snack time in France, replicated in Club Millesime between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

Sit and enjoy tasty sweets, sandwiches and snacks, as well as complimentary hot and soft drinks, while you sit back and take in the view.

As the afternoon leans into evening, Club Millesime offers Apera Chic, a kind of opener before dinner between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

There’s a wide selection of hot morsels available, including garlic prawns, and wagyu and cheese jalapeno spring rolls, you can build your own salad, grab a bit of cake or hit the cheese board. You can also order complimentary beers, wines, spirits and cocktails too.

It’s the perfect opportunity to relax and take in the sunset views over Sydney.

Other Bars And Facilities at Sofitel Darling Harbour

On Level 4 is the infinity pool and sun deck, open to all hotel guests. If you’re not in the mood for a swim, there’s still Le Rivage, the poolside bar (open Thurs-Sun 11am-6pm). And if you fancy something more active or pampering, the hotel gym is here too, right next door to the day spa.

On the ground floor just by reception is the lobby bar Esprit Noir, perfect for a quick drink before dinner and a great rendezvous point if you’re meeting up with friends.

Level 3 is home to the famed Champagne Bar, an elegant late-night venue with superfluous views, cocktails and French-style snacks, and a refined Champagne menu.

Here you can also have your bottle of Champagne ‘sabraged’ — a very cool way of opening the bottle with a swift strike of a sword. It’s a tradition that originated with Napoleon, a way of him celebrating victory in battle.

Perhaps most impressively, Sofitel Darling Harbour is home to one of the exclusive, elusive and very impressive Les Clef d’Or – the Golden Keys Concierge.

Recognisable by their golden crossed keys pin, these guys aren’t like regular concierge people, they’re like X-Men. They know everything that’s going on in the city, they can get you into sold-out shows, they know every bar, restaurant and hidden spot in the area, and they have fingers on every pulse beating.

We met a Golden Keys in Paris and his knowledge was incredible. You can read about it here.

Fine-dining at Sofitel Darling Habour — Atelier by Sofitel

The real crowning glory of Sofitel Darling Harbour, two-Hatted Atelier is an icon in French fine dining in Sydney.

On Level 3 and conveniently close to the Champagne Bar, Atelier sets the scene for a most romantic dinner, and the food and wine make it an occasion to remember. In fact, it feels more like the hotel was built around the restaurant than the other way around.

To get to the restaurant, you go past the kitchen and what seems to be a lot of empty seats, but this area is in fact where breakfast is served for hotel guests without access to the Club Millesime level.

It feels a bit strange going through such a big empty space, but once in the warm, salubrious inner sanctum of the restaurant proper, with its discrete bar and the city lights twinkling through the window, we settle in for a meal to remember.

The kitchen here has a few special tricks up its sleeve. There’s a cabinet specifically for dry ageing duck to superb effect. They also use a charcoal-fired Mibrasa oven for the steaks here, which acts as a combination grill and oven. This specialised Spanish oven sears, cooks and smokes all at the same time.

Needless to say: I’m excited.

In fact, you can read our full review of Atelier here!

Getting to Sofitel Darling Harbour

Being right next to the ICC and in the midst of one of Sydney’s major tourism drawcards means that Sofitel Darling Harbour is really well connected.

Of course, a taxi will bring you to the door, but there are public transport options too.

From Central or the city, the light rail is an easy option and drops you right outside the hotel.

Alternatively, you could walk in from the city across the historic Pyrmont Bridge — the world’s oldest surviving electronic swing bridge — and see Darling Harbour from all sides.

But the nicest way to get there is to catch an F4 ferry to Pyrmont Bay. From there you have the option of walking through Darling Harbour or go one stop on the light rail from Star Casino.

After all, a romantic stay in a hotel of this quality deserves an enjoyable journey to arrive by.

We stayed as media guests of Sofitel Darling Habour, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Where to Wake Up In Sydney — Sofitel Darling Harbour appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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I’ve often wondered why the Central Coast doesn’t hold bigger sway among domestic and international visitors. But with the first major hotel opening in the region for 15 years, I can finally rest easy and worry about something else!

Heralding what’s sure to be some major changes to the region’s profile, the voco Gosford by IHG opened its doors to guests in late 2025.

But it’s not just the 130 rooms across 11 storeys that spell this cultural epiphany for the Central Coast. It’s the rest of the building too.

The voco Gosford sits within the brand new Archibald Precinct, which brings six dining and hospitality options, including an elegant rooftop cocktail bar on the 28th floor with panoramic vistas across the landscape and over Brisbane Waters.

voco Gosford by IHG

As the winding Central Coast Highway twists us down to sea level, our attention moves from the sparkling waters of the bay to the impressive twin towers of the voco Gosford, its distinctive black and white sculpted walls standing taller than any other building in the area.

For now.

Evidence of major construction is poking up all over town, another sign that things here are changing.

The lobby

We’ve timed our drive north to Gosford poorly. We were hoping to pick up a pie from the legendary Shhmoakesy’s Gourmet Pies on the way in, but they run out by lunchtime. Instead, we see if our room’s ready for check-in. Two hours early.

The warmly lit and pleasantly scented lobby is also home to the welcoming Lobby Bar, which doubles up as a cafe during the day. At least we can spend an easy hour there if our room’s not ready.

But we’re in luck; the room’s ready and the friendly reception staff check us in and send us on our happy way. From the lobby, you can also take the stairs at the back to the main dining areas of the precinct. But that’s for later.

The room

Our room is up on the 11th floor, technically the top floor of the hotel. Above that, from 12 to 27, are high-end residential apartments.

The room is also right on the corner of the floor.

And it’s a king suite!

From the front door, a short passageway leads to the enormous bed with a chase and small dining table nearby. The bar fridge and tea caddy is in a cabinet that’s been made to look like a little drinks cart, which is fun.

The TV is tucked into another piece of custom furniture and is — like the bed — huge.

While I’m inspecting the TV and the curtains that cover the windows running the length of the wall, I notice chairs on the narrow balcony outside. I can’t see a door anywhere and jump to the conclusion that this must be a communal balcony. I’m initially outraged.

Then Christina finds the door.

Sliding behind the TV unit, the door opens to a full private balcony that wraps around the corner giving us wonderful views of the town below, the wooded hills and bushland around, and then all the way out to the bay and its coruscating waters.

As we peer down, we can also see the hotel’s rooftop pool and swim-up bar. This is down on the 5th floor — the top of the connecting building between the two towers.

The chairs I spotted — by the way — are ours.

Back in the room, we discover the bathroom behind a door we initially thought was one of those doors that connect to adjoining rooms. This is perhaps the best part of the room, with tactful lighting, a large vanity and luxurious amenities from Apotheke.

And then we see the giant, deep-fill bath tub and the striped tiling that mirrors the exterior walls of this hotel. The tiling continues into the roomy shower with its rippled glass art deco door that glides along on industrial style mechanism of polished brass.

The detail makes the difference

But it’s the details of the suite that give it that comfortable yet elegant edge.

It’s the brass finishes in the bathroom, it’s the (surprisingly satisfying) cyclonic directional flush of the WC, it’s the lush deep pile of the carpet, and best of all it’s the labels on the light switches and the USBs by the bed.

Too many times in too many hotels have we struggled to find the correct light switch, being left either blinded or broken-toed in the middle of the night. The multitude of illumination options here though are clearly signed, removing the guesswork.

If we had any negative points to make, they would be so minor: there are only two bath towels in the room (an easy fix) and the tap is a bit far from the sink, making it awkward to wash your hands and leaving a lot of drips on the vanity (an impossible fix).

Other than that, this room hits all the sweet spots.

The dining options

We’ve mentioned the Lobby Bar and the swim-up Pool Bar but that still leaves four other venues.

The pool bar, by the way, has complicated hours. On paper, its a 10am-8pm option, but in reality, staffing and weather can play a problematic part, so bear that in mind.

Behind the Pool Bar and on dry land, however, is Saltfire. This broad space is — for the moment — only open for breakfast, though this may change in the future. Breakfast is a buffet affair and one that offers the crispiest hash browns on earth. The bacon, though it might not look like it, is the tastiest I’ve had at a hotel buffet.

A big statement, but I’ll stand by it.

Downstairs on the ground floor is Archie’s. Once the Union Hotel, this is now set up to be ‘Gosford’s new local’, and it’s got everything you need for a good old pub and has a big, friendly family vibe.

It also operates as the bar for the two dining options here: Paolo’s Pizzeria and Ironbark.

We find our table at Ironbark and prowl through the menu, all the time glancing over at the dry-ageing cabinet stocked with huge slabs of beef. We’ve heard the tomahawk is excellent here.

The only problem is there are lots of other things catching our eye as we peruse the options. We even debate the pub classics for a while, but in the end settle on a couple of entrees and steaks.

In a way, I wish we’d gone for the burgers or parmies.

Sadly, the steak tartare didn’t really hit the spot for us. It was covered in a strange mayonnaise dressing and — rather than bread or crisps, the kitchen had taken pains to make their own potato sticks that didn’t stay crispy for long enough and weren’t the best vehicle for the tartare.

The steaks came out a bit under-done, which is usually fine by me, but the fat hadn’t rendered properly and the result was quite a sickly scotch fillet.

On the plus side, the portions are enormous. Both our steaks have us beat and we try to finish the side of broccolini, but fail there too. The wine list here also deserves a mention with plenty of NSW options, which we always enjoy seeing.

The glass of Robert Stein Shiraz — a Mudgee favourite of ours — goes down well with all the meat!

The nightcap

Our favourite part of the voco Gosford comes at the end of the night when we step out of the lift on level 28.

Astra, the hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant, is lovely.

With views almost right around the area through windows that have been thrown open to allow the cool evening sea breeze in, Astra is part cocktail bar, part izakaya, offering excellently crafted drinks and carefully sculpted Japanese dishes in a refined, city-style setting.

We’re more than full from dinner, so we skip the menus and find a spot at the long bar. Andy behind the jump mixes us two superb martinis and we chat about the various virtues of gin for a while.

It’s the perfect end to the day and once back in our palatial room, we settle into the ecstatic comfort of our soft bed in deep contentment.

We stayed and dined as guests of voco Gosford by IHG and Archibald Precinct, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Going Voco Loco — a new luxe staycation in the Central Coast, NSW appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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There’s something quietly powerful about legacy in wine — how each vintage, each decision, carries a story from one generation to the next. At Scarborough Wines in the Hunter Valley, that story feels especially alive.

We’re lucky enough to have known and worked with the Scarborough family since 2015.

Established by Ian ‘Scarbie’ Scarborough and his wife Merralea in 1987, Scarborough Wines is now more or less in the hands of the next generation: Sally, her brother Jerome and Jez’s wife Liz Riley.

This triumvirate runs the three pillars of the winery: marketing, winemaking and viticulture respectively.

Since the release of their new premium range Keepers of the Flame, Sally talks to us about the family business and how this new Scarborough wine that both honours tradition and looks to the future at the same time.

Check out the full Keepers of the Flame range, which consists of a Chardonnay, a Shiraz, a Shiraz-Tempranillo and a Shiraz-Viognier.

Jump to our tasting notes of the Keepers of the Flame range at the bottom of this page – click here.

10 Questions With Sally Scarborough of Scarborough Wine Co

1. For readers who might not have visited yet, how would you describe what makes Scarborough Wine Co, and the Hunter Valley more broadly, so special?

From the moment that Scarborough Wine Co started in 1987, my mum and dad (Ian and Merralea Scarborough) had a vision to create somewhere special to enjoy our wines.

Our cellar door was literally an extension of our home (as the original cellar door was firstly our carport, then our first winery) and Merralea prided herself on overdelivering with hospitality when guests sat down to enjoy their tasting, with a small cheese plate on hand. Merralea and Ian always wanted guests to walk away having had an experience like no other in the Hunter and having made some great memories and already thinking about when they can come back!

The Hunter Valley is a great place to visit. It’s hard to beat it for a long weekend of good food and wine. Its natural rural beauty makes it a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of life, yet it has all the conveniences you need. Easy to get around, fabulous accommodation, world class food and an easy drive from Sydney or Newcastle, particularly with the new freeways making the trip really accessible.

For many who have visited us, their trip is often marked by discovering the Yellow Label Chardonnay. Chardonnay has always been the favourite variety for both Mum and Dad, and the distinctive and trustworthy label is what many will recall about their trip to the Hunter Valley. We’ve since expanded the range to try new styles and varieties, but Chardonnay will always be the heart of Scarborough Wine Co.

2. Let’s dive into your Keepers of the Flame series – the name itself is beautiful and quite evocative. Where did that idea come from?

Jerome (my brother), Liz (our brilliant viticulturist and also Jerome’s wife) and I had several conversations over many years about the naming of this range. The concept came from the responsibility we have, as the next Scarborough generation, to carry on our parents’ legacy, but also as stewards of the land.

Mum and Dad started this business from the ground up – it took blood, sweat, and we joke, a lot of Chardonnay, to establish our home and winery in the Hunter Valley, and ‘Keepers of the Flame’ was a great name to reflect that moving to the next generation but maintaining the things that are important.

3. How does this collection differ from your previous releases?

It’s the most premium range of wines we have made and uses distinctive parcels of fruit from our vineyards that we’ve highlighted during the growing season as being something special. Some years it might just be a few rows that look exceptional. Each wine is the ultimate expression of that particular vineyard, in that specific year and the very best fruit of the season.

We started with Chardonnay and this year released several Shiraz wines for the first time from the exceptional 2023 vintage.

What finishes up in the Keepers of the Flame bottle each year depends on what we discover in the vineyard, we’re in the hands of Mother Nature. When it comes to the winemaking of these wines it is a very hands-off process. All the hard work has been done in the vineyard already.

4. Were there any creative risks or experiments in this series? Maybe something you hadn’t tried before in the Scarborough range?

Jerome has had some fun experimenting with the Shiraz range, but it does all start in the vineyard where small parcels are identified. He co-fermented Shiraz with Viognier, and Shiraz with Tempranillo to create some different styles, which are receiving some fantastic reviews from the wine media and customers alike.

The Shiraz-Viognier is a nod to the styles of wine you find in the Rhône Valley, something that we really enjoy. Hunter Valley Shiraz is a style all of its own, medium bodied and savoury, it’s very different from Shiraz around the country. We wanted to build on this distinctiveness with this range.

5. You’ve got such deep roots in Hunter tradition. How do you balance that history with innovation when crafting something new like this?

The Hunter Valley is so steeped in tradition, there are wine businesses that are 5th, 6th generation, so in Hunter Valley terms we are new to it all.

However, the tradition of winemaking here, and listening to the climate and soils. is timeless and understanding how the climates and micro-climates of the Hunter Valley work and that the wines need to be true to the Hunter Valley style, but equally be wines that we know our customers will enjoy.

The customer is always central to our decision making – we ask ourselves, what would they like to drink, how would they drink it, with what food and at what occasions. By answering these questions, we can ensure that we’re not losing sight of who enjoys our wines and whether something new will appeal to them. We always respect our heritage, but we’re also keen to take our customers on a journey if we think they will embrace it.

In some cases, we’re looking to reach a new customer or look at providing options for different ways to enjoy wine.

For example, our wine in a can launched last year. We anticipated they would be enjoyed by a slightly younger customer, looking for a convenient way to drink wine that fits into their lifestyle. They absolutely did, but equally a number of our existing customers loved the cans too as it was a convenient serving size that they could enjoy without the wastage.

We won’t ever compromise on quality and flavour, but it’s important to continue to evolve and try new things so our brand remains relevant. Trial and tasting – getting liquid on lips – is so important with new launches.

6. Working with family in a creative business can be both beautiful and complex. What’s it like collaborating with your family when it comes to big creative or winemaking decisions?

We have been working together in the business since about 1985, but in an official capacity for about the last 23 or 24 years, so we’ve been doing it for a while now.

When it comes to business decisions, it’s about walking a fine line between the nostalgic idea of what our family business was 20 years ago and then balancing that with current commercial decisions.

It can sometimes be difficult to separate, but those decisions can’t be made with your heart on your sleeve. We all want our family business to succeed and thrive so compromise is always needed.

Jerome and I are co-CEOs, but we try and stay in our own lanes when it comes to decision making; Jerome in winemaking and viticulture, while I focus on sales and marketing. But the big decisions are always collaborative.

7. How does it feel, personally, to see the next chapter of Scarborough Wine Co unfolding?

I’m really proud of all we have achieved together. The first ‘Keepers of the Flame’ vintage was 2019 – the year we all want to forget.

It was particularly difficult, not only a global pandemic but also drought and bushfires. The fact that ‘Keepers of the Flame’ came out of that tough time is evidence of our resilience and grit.

8. When you think about legacy – in winemaking, business and family — what does that word mean to you?

Our priority is to leave the land in a better place than we found it.

We have invested a lot of time and money into land management and viticulture. We are members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, and our wines and vineyards are certified as meeting their high standards.

Biodiversity in our vineyards, recycling and composting in our winery and cellar door, solar energy to power our business, so many things that we’re proud of and will continue to improve on.

9. What do you hope wine lovers will feel when they open a bottle from Keepers of the Flame?

We really hope they can feel and taste the care and attention taken to make this wine. We hope it transports them to a time in the Hunter Valley, with the sun on their faces and memories being made.

10. And finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received — in wine or in life — that still guides you today?

Stay true to your values and what you believe in. Don’t be afraid to follow your own path.

Our thanks to Sally Scarborough for sharing her thoughts and experiences.

As Sally talks about Keepers of the Flame, you can feel how much heart is woven into every bottle — a blend of history, intuition and quiet strength. It’s more than just a new wine release; it’s a story of family, of place and of the delicate art of carrying something forward without losing its soul.

You can explore the Keepers of the Flame collection and the rest of the Scarborough Wines range at their Hunter Valley cellar doors or online at scarboroughwine.com.au.

Click here to jump back to the top of the interview.

The post Keeping the Flame — we dive into Scarborough Wines appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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As our wheels crunch over the stones of the driveway, we’re struck by the fact that we’ve only been in the car for 15 minutes since leaving the busy roads around Pokolbin.

It’s not that it’s been a long drive here, or that Broke-Fordwich is particularly difficult to find.

It’s simply that in the quarter of an hour, we’ve noticed the traffic ebb, the countryside open up and our pulses calm. It’s like we’ve crossed some invisible line that slows life down.

The tiny settlement of Broke is not much more than a crossroads west of Pokolbin, and one of those roads leads through its even smaller counterpart Fordwich.

But between them are over a dozen superb little wineries and some truly splendid countryside. This all combines to that faraway feeling we all yearn for when we leave the big smoke.

The car’s engine mutters into silence and we step out to admire our little castle. For the next two nights, our miniature kingdom is before us: Villa Vino.

Other Broke-Fordwich wineries and tiny homes we’ve written about:

– Life on the Farm – Margan Wines

– Long Table Lunch – Whispering Brook

– Lilypad Tiny House, NSW South Coast

Villa Vino at Winmark Wines, Broke-Fordwich

Small, perfectly formed, and surrounded by the vines of Winmark Winery and the rolling hills of Broke-Fordwich, Villa Vino tiny house has everything you’d need for a romantic getaway in the Hunter.

This is indeed a tiny house, though it doesn’t feel like it.

The inside space is barely two metres wide — just enough to house a double bed with space for shelves either side. But it’s long enough to fit hanging space, a little dresser and a chest of drawers, a couple of armchairs and a coffee table.

The furniture and artworks that line the walls is perfectly chosen; it doesn’t feel cramped or cluttered at all.

Dining in Villa Vino Tiny House

At a push, you could use this space as a dining room, but why do that when you have some wonderful al fresco options on your doorstep?

Beyond the pretty white walls of the tiny house, the attached outdoor kitchen-diner is all ours to play with.

And the kitchen is replete.

Not only is there a full gas barbecue, hob and microwave, there’s a gas-fired pizza oven too as well as all the tools we need. Cutlery, crockery, utensils, (actually sharp) chef’s knives, a fridge-freezer and a sink.

What’s more, you’re supplied with everything you need for a solid breakfast: a dozen eggs, beautiful local thick-cut bacon, milk, sourdough, butter, on-vine cherry tomatoes, OJ, granola and fresh fruit are all waiting in the fridge.

There’s also a bottle of the winery’s own Chardonnay and a block of chocolate for you to enjoy.

With solid walls on two sides and protected by a pull-down screen to the north-west, this open-air kitchen is a clever, all-year-round all-weather proposition.

You can either sit at the broad table within the kitchen area or take your dinner down to the fire pit.

As evening comes on, we set the kindling and enjoy the night sky as the flames from our fire warm our hands chilled by the glass of wine.

From the mesmerising fire, we look up into the heavens as the stars come out and the thin crescent of the moon carves a gleaming sickle into the sky.

Bathroom Facilities

Of course, there’s no space for an ensuite inside the tiny house, but the solution is very smart.

From the front door, but still undercover and on the same elevated level as the house, the toilet and shower are in a separate unit to one side. There’s even a storage heater on the wall for those chilly winter mornings.

There’s not a whole lot of space for toiletries in the bathroom though, so you’re better off keeping everything in the house.

Winmark Wines Cellar Door & Gallery

A short walk from the tiny house, down the path and between the vineyards, takes us to Winmark Wine’s cellar door.

Inside, the neat tasting room is even more full of artwork than the tiny house. Our excellent host Milly tells us about a couple of the pieces as she takes us through the wines of Winmark.

Winmark makes only Chardonnay, a perfect and popular varietal for the Hunter Valley generally, and in Broke-Fordwich especially. They have four different ranges on offer here — Rusty’s Run, Expressions, Single Vineyard and Icon 7 2, the latter three all scoring very highly in the Halliday Wine Companion.

We then take a look at Winmark’s art gallery next door, which is packed with impressive works by local artists. The art isn’t restricted to within the four walls of the gallery though.

The winery’s Sculpture Park features large-scale pieces from a range of artists, however, Biosis by David Ball, which was commissioned for the winery, is a clear favourite.

This — the winery, the gallery, the accommodation — is the baby of Danish-born Karin Adcock, who started Winmark in 2016. Karin’s meticulous attention to detail and passion for creativity shines in the cellar door and the gallery.

As for Villa Vino, with the vines of the winery out in front, the sculpted escarpment of Yellow Rock Lookout looming behind, this tiny house is Winmark in a microcosm.

We stayed as media guests of Winmark Wines, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Where to Stay on the Secret Side of The Hunter Valley appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Christina and I love coming to the Hunter Valley. There’s always something new to discover or a much-loved winery to revisit.

This time, we’re lucky to combine both of these things.

We’ve been fans of Audrey Wilkinson wines for a long time and the beautiful, expansive cellar door is always somewhere we stop by when we’re here.

But we’ve never had the chance to try one of the experiences they run here — in particular, the wonderful Picnic Among the Vines.

We start things off with a quick wine-tasting in the bar that also operates as something of a museum to the winery.

The room is full of old wine-making tools and photographs of the Wilkinson family. And behind us are the original cement fermenting vats that Audrey Wilkinson himself crafted in 1897.

These vats were groundbreaking technology at the time and paved the way to a completely new way of making wine.

In front of us, the lush hills of the Hunter Valley countryside roll away to the horizon as we work through some of the winery’s delicious iterations.

Romantic Picnic at Audrey Wilkinson

After the tasting, we’re led outside and down a little path to our private picnic spot. It’s close to the stately homestead of the cellar door — as in about 10m away — but we’re so well hidden, it doesn’t feel like anyone’s around.

Behind a high privet hedge an at the end of the path is what I can only describe as a den. Within the cosy confines of a four-meter tall topiary bush are all the goodies for our picnic.

Squashy cushions and blankets make the space comfortable to relax in while a locally-procured charcuterie spread sits on a low board.

Cured meats, cheeses, char-grilled veggies, olives, salads, dried fruit and even chocolate brownies cover the wooden surface while up on a cut-down wine-barrel table are two fresh baguettes and a bottle of water. And of course our wine.

We recline in our little tree den for a while, feeling like kids again and working our way through the morsels of our picnic.

It’s the perfect cool spot here, within the green shade of our treehouse, but after a while, we decide it’s time for a little sun. We bring the food (and our wine) out to the blanket and chairs set up next to our den, and enjoy the views and warmth of the early spring day.

Sweet Indulgence Dessert Wine Tasting at Audrey Wilkinson

The amount of food is just right for us (we pull open the baguettes and cram them with bits from the board) and so is the timing of the experience. Soon after we’ve downed the last crumb, we’re ushered back to the cellar door for one last treat.

Back in our seats at the bar, we’re led through six of the Audrey Wilkinson dessert wines. Each one is paired scrupulously with a local handmade gourmet chocolate from Cacao Nib.

We’re shown everything from the moscato to the liqueur shiraz. Some of these wines are only available here at the Audrey Wilkinson cellar door.

Perhaps the best part of the tasting is the delicate and decedent Vin de Vie. This wine is sold in elegant sculpted bottles, but for the tasting, ours comes straight from the barrels behind the bar. It not only saves on packaging (these bottles look expensive), it also adds a bit of exclusivity to the experience. And we all love that, don’t we!

More Info About Experiences at Audrey Wilkinson

Under normal circumstances, I’m not a fan of picnics. But the setting, the quality and generosity of the food, and the thoughtfulness of this experience at Audrey Wilkinson is set to change my perceptions.

You can find out more about this Premium Picnic here and also the Sweet Indulgence dessert wines tasting that we did.

There are other experiences you can do here too, like this Under the Hunter Valley Sun – Pasta experience in the vines cooking lesson.

Bookings for all these experiences is essential, especially at weekends.

And if you’re looking for more winery picnics, the one at Heifer Station in Orange is also an amazing experience.

We were hosted as media at Audrey Wilkinson, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Romantic Wine Experiences in the Hunter Valley – private picnic at Audrey Wilkinson appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Christmas in July is a fun, popular pastime for Australia. Our real Christmas is a much hotter, less conventional affair, swapping silly sweaters for shorts and suncream, and the full roast and trimmings for salads and seafood.

So we make up for it by having two Christmases, and the effort some go to in July is truly impressive.

But where can you go for the best mid-year Christmas?

Christmas in July in Orange, NSW

Obviously, for a proper Christmas experience, you want to be somewhere cold, but on the other hand, you don’t want it to be too cold either.

That’s why Orange in NSW is such a great option.

Its high altitude and distance from the sea (Orange sits at around 860m above sea level and is about four hours from Sydney) means Orange gets snow in July, but not too much. Perfect!

Christmas in the Oriana Motel’s Peacock Room restaurant

We’re in Orange for the Oriana’s Christmas in July. This cool, retro motel is owned by the excellent Espen Harbitz. He’s from Norway originally and brings all of his childhood experiences of Christmas to this July experience in one of Orange’s best restaurants.

You can read our full review of the Oriana Motel here.

First, we gather in the garden amid crackling fire pits the staff have set up, and enjoy glasses of Norwegian glogg. This is something like mulled wine but not as sweet, and supercharged with brandy.

We sit by the fire and chat with the other party-goers for a while until we’re called in for dinner.

Inside, we make our way to the Peacock Room, where the restaurant has been transformed. Tables are laden with Christmas decorations, there’s a huge tree in the middle of the room sagging under the weight of lights, tinsel and tasteful baubles.

Everyone gets a fun Christmas hat and a cracker to pull, and the atmosphere is joyous and happy — and not just because of an abundance of glogg!

Christmas Dinner at the Oriana

As is Espen’s way, wine is the priority as we sit down, then plenty of chewy bread and butter to keep us company.

Dinner is served swiftly and efficiently, and what a dinner it is. A feast of juicy turkey, rich roast duck, porchetta with crunchy crackling, sumptuous stuffing, creamy mash, and fresh sprouts and red cabbage.

Not to mention the richest, thickest, tastiest gravy you’ll have.

All the things I miss about a cold Christmas.

With the main course over, we wonder what’s next. The answer: Christmas pudding. Of course it’s Christmas pudding. A dense, rich, dark ball of flavour, accompanied by ramekins of warm custard, whipped cream, and rum and raisin ice cream.

But the final flourish is yet to come.

Soon, Espen is standing next to us with a jug of OP rum and a lighter. He pours the rum over the pudding and sets it afire. Everyone loves a bit of food theatre — especially when it tastes this good!

We leave feeling full and wholly satisfied, just as Christmas should be.

Double Down on Norwegian Winter Vibes

If you want to really go full Scando, Espen has installed a proper Nordic style sauna next to the Oriana’s pool.

Motel guests can use the sauna anytime and all through the year, but in the middle of winter, you can work up a sweat (we got the sauna up over 60°C) then leap into the unheated horrors of the pool for an invigorating cold plunge.

We didn’t see the need to do this last bit as the air temperature was around zero degrees anyway.

Plus Espen had already started pouring the glogg!

The Oriana’s Christmas in July feasts happen every Friday and Saturday night throughout July, but reserve your table quick as this books out fast.

We attended the Christmas in July feast at the Oriana Motel as media, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Where to have Christmas in July — the Oriana Motel, Orange appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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We roll into Orange off the Mitchell Highway, an easy, sub-four-hour drive from Sydney — in spite of the sleet and snow dashing against the windscreen.

It’s always surprising how cold the winter gets in the Central Tablelands.

And at over 800m altitude and so far inland, it’s not just the winter here that comes as a surprise.

Considering its distance from the ocean, the Oriana Motel finds its name from the most unlikely source.

Named after one of the last great steamer cruise ships, the SS Oriana, the motel was built in 1969 with the glamour and luxury of cruising in the 1920s in mind.

In its heyday of the 1970s and ‘80s, the Oriana, and its bar and restaurant were the place to be seen, with soirees and elaborate dinners par for the course. `

However, as they do, things changed and the 1990s saw the motel’s reputation drop to its lowest ebb.

But since 2015, thanks to its new owners, the superlative Espen Harbitz and his late husband Ted Marr, the Oriana is afloat again and packed with charisma.

Using their deep knowledge of hospitality, plus the 30 years of living in Hong Kong and throwing the most incredible parties all over the world, Harbitz and Marr have returned the Oriana to her former glory — perhaps even surpassed it.

Welcome to the Oriana Motel, Orange

Our welcome at the reception is so warm, we forget all about the awful weather we left outside. Reception is also where breakfast happens, but should we need a snack or cup of coffee any time of day, we can help ourselves here.

It’s the first — but not the last — example of the clever generosity you’ll find at the Oriana.

Rooms at the Oriana Motel

There are two types of room at the Oriana. The regular rooms on the ground level have the traditional car space at their front doors and are well appointed with all the trimmings you’d expect from this mid-century-inspired retro motel.

The rooms above reception and the restaurant, however, are in a different league.

Ours — an Oriana King Terrace Suite — looks out onto the shared rooftop terrace, decorated with citrus trees and stylish outdoor furniture.

Inside the room, we find so many clever details and inclusions that show just how good Espen is at running this venue.

It’s the quality of the amenities in the bathroom, it’s the extra-soft gowns, the complimentary snacks in the minibar and fresh fruit in the lounge.

It’s the tea set next to the bed and the multitude of pillow and bedding options, not to mention turn-down chocolates that are actually tasty.

Everything’s well thought through and it pays off.

As for the decor, each of the suites has a different theme. Ours is Africa and the artworks, maps and posters on the walls, all of which come from Espen’s private collection, tell the story.

In fact, most — if not all — of the art around the hotel are items Espen and Ted collected over the years.

Breakfast at the motel

Orange has plenty of great cafes and grocers if you want to grab breakfast outside the motel, but you’d be missing a trick.

Served in the cafe area near reception, breakfast at the Oriana is not included as it often is in hotels. But for only $20, you’re not going to find many places that’ll feed you like this.

There are plenty of options, from Oriana’s special Breakfast Wellness Shots to cereals and yoghurts. There’s even a waffle machine and a selection of toppings.

After that, you can then order eggs bennie, bacon and eggs, or even a cheese soufflé. Why not? You’re here to enjoy yourself!

Dinner at the Oriana

This evening, we start with a cocktail or two in the glamorous Bela Vista Bar and a chat with the inimitable Espen, whose family come from the hotel industry.

When it’s time for our table, we move to the Peacock Room — the Oriana’s much-lauded restaurant and a jewel in the crown of this food-focused town.

We start things off with thinly sliced Nordic cured venison, sweet mustard, cranberries and sourdough melba toast, and a towering double-baked soufflé made with alpine French cheeses.

It’s clear why this restaurant has such a good name in Orange.

The mains come out while we work our way through the exemplary wine list.

I can’t go past the rump cap served on a roasting skewer and which comes with a choice of potato — I go for the gratin.

I love that the kitchen doesn’t ask you to choose béarnaise, red chimichurri and green peppercorn sauces to go with their steaks; instead they give you all three.

Christina’s fish pie and its creamy cheddar mash top is a standout.

We take the dessert recommendation of the creme brûlée, which neither of us needs, but both of us enjoy. And we finish off a couple of local fortifieds that make us want to move here.

The Peacock Room is also where the Oriana hosts its amazing Christmas in July dinners every Friday and Saturday evening throughout July each year. You can see what the event is like here in our full write-up, but believe me when I say it’s an evening to remember.

The Sauna

If the Norwegian flag flying next to the Aussie one at the front gate hasn’t given it away already, the Scandinavian style sauna that Espen has installed by the pool should clear up any doubts as to where he’s from!

This guest-only feature of the motel is right on trend and is a lovely addition, especially in the winter. You can get quite a sweat on in here with temperatures boosting way over 60°C when you spoon water over the hot coals.

There’s even the option to use the pool as a cold plunge afterwards, then warm up by the fire pit. Though with the outside air edging close to zero, we’re in two minds whether a plunge in the pool is really necessary.

But it’s the sense of fun and freedom, the whimsy of things like the sauna at the Oriana that gives you full licence to enjoy yourself. And isn’t that what you want when you go away somewhere?

Every time we come to Orange, we find something that completely captivates us. Oriana, you have our hearts.

We stayed as media guests at the Oriana Motel, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Where to Stay in Orange – a classic revived! appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Cupitt’s Estate is a small but highly-acclaimed family-run winery and brewery in the South Coast of NSW, not far from the rocky shores and sensational beaches of Ulladulla and Mollymook, a few hours’ drive from Sydney.

We first came here on a tip-off from a friend when we stayed at Bannisters years ago. Although a few things have changed — the deck at the back of the cellar door is much bigger and the car park has grown too — the wine, beer and warmest of welcomes are just the same.

Perhaps the biggest difference is the accommodation that’s on offer here now.

Check out our video of Cupitt’s Estate’s accommodation, experiences and dining:

Where to stay at Cupitt’s Estate

Looking out over the estate’s 75 hectares, the Cupitts have built ten beautifully appointed villas. These villas feel more like high-end hotel suites, just without the impersonal corridors and lobby.

Each one is separated from its neighbours and angled in such a way that makes them completely private.

As with a suite, there’s a lounge and dining area, as well as a kitchenette. But what sets these villas apart is the deep-fill bath tub outside on the balcony.

At night, you can enjoy the conflagration of stars overhead from your soak, and in the daytime — if you’re lucky — the estate’s cows will be grazing in the paddock next door.

Our villa comes with a breakfast hamper replete with crusty sourdough, fresh fruit and muesli, and in the fridge is yoghurt and milk.

Instead of the usual coffee pod machine, the Cupitts have supplied clever fold-out coffee bags that sit in your cup and brew.

It’s details like this that shows just how much thought has gone into these villas.

For more of our stories on the South Coast, hotel reviews, restaurants, things to do, click here.

Click here to find great deals on other accommodation around the South Coast.

Down the corridor is the bedroom. Its enormous bed is so comfy, and the soft furnishings and artworks add to that homely yet stylish touch here.

The bathroom’s on the small side, but it has everything you need, including a rainfall shower and high-quality Australian-made bathroom amenities from Leif.

The kitchenette and minibar are well stocked — of course with Cupitt’s wines — but also with premixed cocktails from the winery’s bar. There are even oversized ice cubes in the freezer, a cocktail mixing set and heavy tumblers to give that cocktail bar feel to your drink.

There’s also a basket of goodies in the kitchenette. In particular chocolates from nearby Woodstock are worth a nibble. Staff at the winery also recommend going to the shop in Woodstock to try the chocolate at the source.

Cupitt’s Estate Cellar Door

Beyond the villas, the winery has a beautiful outlook, just perfect for a delicious glass of wine or craft beer, both made right here. The winery has a few small vineyards, but a lot of the wine they make is with grapes from other parts of NSW.

The beer, however, is all made on-site and is as good a reason as the wine to come and visit Cupitt’s.

Wine tastings usually happen at the cellar door in this historic building from 1851. The building was once the creamery of the dairy that stood here.

The family used to make their own cheese, continuing the tradition of the property. It’s a shame they don’t do that anymore, as the cheese was excellent, but it’s a lot of extra work.

While you’re here, don’t forget to sign up to the wine club for discounts on lots of things including wine, beer, dining and accommodation. And first dibs on wine deliveries of course.

Otherwise, you can sign up to the Cupitt’s Wine Club here before you visit.

But we’re having our wine tasting down in the barrel room.

As part of the Tour & Taste experience, we’re tasting wine that’s spent plenty of time in this room already.

When the Cupitts built the winery in 2001, they had the forethought to not only create a beautiful space to grow, make and enjoy wine, but also an underground cellar to store it.

Under the winery itself, more like something you’d find in Europe than on the NSW South Coast, the subterranean barrel cellar is a very special place.

There’s something so magical about drinking wine in a room like this, surrounded by barrels, deep underground.

Dining Options at Cupitt’s Estate

Back top side, we’re ready for dinner. On the deck and in the wine garden, you can enjoy casual dining with pizzas and a range of other tasty plates.

For a more formal meal experience, Cupitt’s has an excellent restaurant with views out over the countryside.

Check out Christina’s stunning food photography!

We start with some fresh oysters with a mignonette, then move through the gears with scallops sautéed in green garlic butter and roasted figs with capocollo and whipped ricotta.

Next to us the sun sets, sparkling off Stony Creek in the distance as it runs into the sea.

For mains, we go for pork rack and grilled rapini, and beautifully tender blistered octopus with charred cavolo nero and a romesco sauce. And a bowl of fries of course.

We share a dessert of caramelised figs, salted hazelnuts and dark chocolate ganache before wandering back to our villa for a blissful night’s sleep.

We were hosted as media guests at Cupitt’s Estate, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

The post Where to Stay on the NSW South Coast — Cupitt’s Estate, Ulladulla appeared first on Mr and Mrs Romance.

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Just a couple of hundred metres from the famous Three Sisters rock formation in Katoomba, Lilianfels Resort and Spa is an icon of Blue Mountains heritage.

This grand old mansion was built as a summer residence by the highly respected Sir Frederick Darley in 1889. The house gets its name from a combination of one of his five daughters, Lilian, who had recently passed away from TB aged just 22, and the German word ‘fels’ meaning ‘high place’.

Over the years, it’s been a summer house to a number of families after the Darleys left for England in 1907. Although the main building of the hotel is a modern addition, the decor and layout is still in keeping with the original house. The feeling of the relaxed sophistication of a bygone era on holiday still remains within the walls.

The flowing entrance and reception that leads through to the bar and Lounge, the wandering halls and corridors, and the grand staircase leading the hotel’s 81 rooms and four suites are all decorated with firm nods to the 19th Century.

Check out our video review of Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa here:

Our Room At Lilianfels

Well-appointed and spacious, our room has that hard-to-achieve quality of combined homely comfort and high-end luxury that many hotels miss. Perhaps it’s the heritage of the place or its unique location.

Perhaps it’s the thoughtful addition of artwork and period furniture or the full-size bath and roomy shower in the marble-clad bathroom. Perhaps it’s the wide windows that open far enough to suggest a surprising faith in guests’ common sense.

Or maybe the beautiful (and expensive) fabric that ensconces both the window frame and the brass and cast iron bedstead.

Either way, the room is the perfect base for a romantic stay in the mountains — especially with the complimentary cheese platter and bottle of Champagne waiting for us on the glass and dark timber table.

Facilities At Lilianfels

As we explore the property, which is surrounded by well-kept gardens and terraces, and whose driveway and entrance is bordered by lawns punctuated by beautiful trees, we discover more about Lilianfels.

I’m excited to see the Billiards Room is home to not a billiards table but a full size snooker table. Sadly this enormous arena (it’s twice the size of a pool table — A3 to A4 paper dimensions) has a large rip in the baize, but it doesn’t stop us having a game.

Two hours later and three beers from the bar, and we finally pot the black. I’d forgotten just how hard snooker is and it was Christina’s first ever game, possibly her last!

– Click here for more of our stories from the Blue Mountains.

– If you’re looking for fun things to do in the area, click here.

– For the best prices on accommodation around the Blue Mountains, click here.

Down another corridor, we find the wellness spa and lavish indoor pool. The offerings here are as you would expect from a five-star resort hotel, but staff here are so incredibly friendly to the point where we almost pull up a seat for a chat.

We also find the Reading Room, though it’s probably the last place I’d want to sit and read. If there’s any point in this hotel that probably needs a bit of work, it’s this room.

The lighting is overly bright and cold, the seats lack that squashy armchair feel you’d hope and the titles of some of the books hark back a little too firmly to imperial times of colonisation for our palate.

We take a walk in the gardens and discover the outdoor pool. Here, the ‘resort’ part of Lilianfels Resort and Spa comes into play.

Dining Options At Lilianfels

This is really where Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa excels.

Of course, Darley’s — the hotel’s multi-hatted restaurant — is where you want to be. Not only does the food here surpass anything anywhere in the area, it’s also in the original summer house that Sir Darley built in the late 1800s.

Sadly, we’re here on the days when Darley’s is shut — it’s open Tuesday to Saturday — but thankfully this isn’t the only food string to Lilianfels’ dining bow.

Echoes Rooftop Restaurant and Bar

As the sun sets, we enjoy the view of the escarpment from Echoes, Lilianfels’ other fine-dining restaurant. The food here is superb and it has to be to keep our attention from the incredible views as night falls.

Things kick off with amuse bouche of house-made sourdough and two butters — a regular salted butter and a cafe de Paris style curried butter with apricots and pine nuts, and chicken croquettes with spices chilli mayo.

I opt for the beef tartare with a difference: a quail egg yolk sits on the freshly diced meat that has a sprinkle of crushed roasted peanuts instead of the usual capers. And instead of toast, the dish is served with crispy plantain, which I think is brilliant. I love plantain.

Christina opts for the cured trout and Yamba prawns with crunchy greens and trout roe. It’s fresh, light and packed with flavour.

For mains, we have the char-grilled wagyu with grilled mushroom and asparagus, and seared five-spice duck breast with charred sesame cucumber and zucchini flower.

We finish by sharing a signature Seasonal Berry Tart — a pistachio cream, frangipane raspberry sorbet masterpiece with fresh strawberries and blueberries artfully crowning the ensemble.

The Lounge

On the far side of the hotel from reception, and cleverly just past the beckoning hand of the handsome art deco lobby bar, The Lounge is Lilianfels’ casual dining spot.

Comfy armchairs and sofas (which would work well in the Reading Room by the way) fill the space as well as elegant high-backed dining settings, and the open fire to one side create a salubrious and relaxing atmosphere.

High tea is available in the afternoons here, and dinner is open until 9.30pm.

Our shared entree of burrata on a caprese salad is fresh yet satisfying, and Christina’s braised beef short rib with heirloom carrots and creamy mash is to die for. My wagyu cheeseburger is a little underdone, but I don’t mind. I love a challenge and the flavours are all there.

We’re also joined by the hotel’s mascot Sir Fred. Named after Sir Frederick Darley, whose house this was originally, this cuddly teddy keeps guests company and entertains the kids. What an honour to have him at our table.

Breakfast at the Orangery

In the morning, breakfast at the interestingly named Orangery sets us up for a day of exploring. I have no idea why it’s called the Orangery or what an orangery is, but the breakfast here is excellent. They even have a pikelet machine here that deposits freshly made pancakes onto your plate at will!

How Close Is Echo Point?

From Lilianfels to Echo Point, the purpose-built viewing platform to enjoy the Three Sisters in all their glory, you can walk down the road if you like.

But thanks to a staff tip-off, taking the little path and staircase behind the hotel, we’re treated to not only some wonderful views from Lady Darley Lookout, but also a much easier way down to the point.

The way from there along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk is also much nicer than the road. It brings you right to the feet — or maybe midriff — of the impressive pinnacles that the legend of the local Darug people say are three sisters Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo.

The sisters were turned to stone by a witchdoctor to keep them safe from three marauding brothers from another tribe. The witchdoctor planned to turn them back into women when the attack was over, but he was killed before he could reverse the spell, and so the sisters remain here forever.

From the Three Sisters, there are many walks you can do that thread throughout the aptly named Megalong Valley, but we just explore the way up to the side of these great monoliths, then head back to the comfort of our hotel.

Besides, the cicadas are out in force today; it’s a cacophony that only cold beer can sooth!

We stayed at Lilianfels Resort and Spa as media guests, but our experiences and opinions remain our own.

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