Camping, Cockatoo IslandCredit: Destination NSW
Camp in style within the city limits.
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You don’t even need to leave Sydney to enjoy some of New South Wales’s top glamping experiences. Stock up on marshmallows and camp out in style at these memorable locations within the city limits.
Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
Putting you front and centre on iconic Sydney Harbour, Cockatoo Island’s glamping experience is one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets. The historic island — a former convict penal establishment — is just a 10-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay and has a variety of accommodation options, including deluxe glamping. You’ll arrive to a pre-erected tent with toiletries, bedding and cooler box, and have access to hot showers and a communal camp kitchen with 10 barbecue areas, fridges, microwaves and a boiling water system. Upgrade to the deluxe waterfront package for million-dollar views.
What to bring: Bring your own food or order barbecue and breakfast packs from the island café, Societé Overboard. Don’t forget cooking utensils, cutlery and plates.
Need to know: There are strict alcohol rules on Cockatoo Island — you cannot bring your own alcohol but you can purchase takeaway alcohol from Societé Overboard if you’re a Cockatoo Island guest, or enjoy a drink at the Marina Café and Bar or Societé Overboard.
Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Family relaxing and roasting marshmallows at their Cockatoo Island waterfront campsite.
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Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Family relaxing and roasting marshmallows at their Cockatoo Island waterfront campsite.
Taronga Zoo, Mosman
Did you know you can glamp inside Sydney’s Taronga Zoo? On the zoo’s unforgettable Roar and Snore experience, you’ll stay in a safari-style tent, enjoy a gourmet feast under the stars and have up close and personal experiences with the exotic and native animals in the zoo. The Roar and Snore itinerary involves a twilight walk through Taronga Zoo once it’s closed to general visitors, canapes and welcome drinks, a delicious dinner, and an after-dinner safari.
Wake up at sunrise to the roar of a lion, perhaps, and the stunning backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge across the harbour from your North Shore location. Before breakfast, you’ll head off on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. After checking out, you’re free to explore the zoo for the rest of the day. Each tent has a double bed, a single pop-up trundle bed and there’s an on-site amenities block with hot showers.
What to bring: Camera, toiletries, closed-toed shoes (no sandals, thongs or heels), wet-weather gear (Roar and Snore is an all-weather program).
Need to know: All meals and drinks are supplied by the zoo. If you have any special dietary requirements, special needs or peculiar requests, let Taronga Zoo know and they will see what they can do. Roar and Snore has mobility-restricted access facilities.
Roar and Snore, Taronga Zoo Sydney Credit: Taronga Zoo
Roar and Snore tents at Taronga Zoo Sydney overlooking Sydney Harbour.
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Roar and Snore, Taronga Zoo Sydney Credit: Taronga Zoo
Roar and Snore tents at Taronga Zoo Sydney overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Tandara, Lane Cove National Park
For a luxe camping weekend without the road trip, Tandara is nestled in Lane Cove National Park, just a 20-minute drive from Sydney’s city centre. The safari-style tent in Lane Cove Holiday Park is secluded from the rest of the campground and made for those who enjoy their creature comforts.
There’s a luxe king-size bed, a stunning bathroom with deep tub and a smart sound system, which pumps tunes through speakers tucked into the garden. For nature lovers there is myriad wildlife to observe, such as eastern water dragons, kookaburras and sulphur-crested cockatoos. If you want to do something other than relax with a glass of wine in your natural hideaway, you can canoe or kayak on the Lane Cove River. Come evening, cook up a barbecue feast on your private deck.
What to bring: Hiking boots, food supplies, and your own bike to explore local cycling trails (bike hire is also available).
Need to know: There’s only one glamping tent, so book early. Tandara also has a no smoking and no children policy, and there is limited phone reception in Lane Cove National Park. Unplug and enjoy!
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Sierra Escape, PiambongCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a morning coffee from their luxury glamping tent at Sierra Escape, Piambong near Mudgee.
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Make your downtime as memorable as your gastronomic experiences in the Mudgee wine region, a 3.5-hour drive or 45-minute flight from Sydney, by choosing one of these unique places to stay. Nest in repurposed heritage buildings in the pretty namesake town, pamper yourself with a luxury escape, or relax at a winery stay in the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Lap up subtle luxury
After a glorious day of wine tastings, retreat to the urban oasis of Perry Street Hotel, in the heart of town, to recharge before a night of more gourmet reveries. Revitalise with a soak in the bathtub in your suite in the beautifully renovated 19th-century Mechanics Institute building and feel yourself unwind amid the serene and textured interiors.
After a great night’s sleep, take the five-minute drive to The Cellar by Gilbert, where you’ll be inspired by the passion of fifth-generation winemaker Simon Gilbert and his son Will to create beautifully crafted modern wines with a nod to their heritage. Book ahead to indulge in a wine flight in the elegant tasting room or settle in for a leisurely afternoon in the backyard with some tasty snacks.
Travel back in time
Soak up the atmosphere in the centre of town at the 160-year-old Cobb & Co Court Boutique Hotel, a surviving treasure from Mudgee’s early settlement. Picture the arrival of a stagecoach as you glance down from your balcony at the cobbled courtyard, before admiring the vintage fixtures adorning your room. Cobb & Co is mere steps away from some of the town’s excellent dining options, from breakfast pastries at Market Street Café to dinner at Eltons wine bar.
Rest up in a worker’s cottage
Imagine town life in the late 1850s at The Tannery, a two-bedroom bungalow in the heart of Mudgee. The early Victorian home retains much of the natural charm of its former life as cosy accommodation for local workers. Stoke the open fire, take a seat on the back verandah with a cup of tea and admire the garden, or head straight to Alby & Esthers to mingle with locals over breakfast. Tucked down a laneway in a welcoming courtyard, this popular cafe is renowned for its tasty jaffles.
Hide away in a vineyard
Rekindle your romance just steps away from a cellar door in the quaint two-bedroom Winemaker’s Cottage, which was the Burnbrae winemaking family’s home in the 1960s and has been carefully restored in country minimalist style. Revel in the peaceful surroundings with your loved one before strolling over to the Burnbrae Wines cellar door to maintain the magical spell with the winery’s storybook-inspired labels and glorious blends. Vinestay by Yeats Wines is another local accommodation, set among the Yeates Wines vines.
Lowe Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Lowe Wines, Mudgee.
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Lowe Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Lowe Wines, Mudgee.
Burnbrae Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over the scenic grounds of Burnbrae Wines, Mudgee.
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Burnbrae Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over the scenic grounds of Burnbrae Wines, Mudgee.
Take over a big country home
Reconnect with family and friends in the comfort of a renovated 1916 stone house at Leaning Oak, on the fringes of Mudgee. The restoration has stayed true to the soul of the building while adding modern luxury across four bedrooms and a study sleeping up to 12 guests. Kids will love the outdoor saltwater pool and pizza oven, while creative cooks will adore the large French-style kitchen of this authentic country home – time your visit with the Mudgee Farmers’ Market to stock up on fresh produce.
Combine luxury with a farm stay
Light the wood fire and snuggle up in a welcoming cottage with stylish interiors and local art on the walls or step out of your oversized homestead to meet fellow travellers around communal fire pits at Peppertree Hill, a collection of self-contained luxury accommodation options on the outskirts of Mudgee.
You won’t have to travel far to feast on seasonal local dishes. At nearby Pipeclay Pumphouse, on the estate of family-run Robert Stein Vineyard & Farm, treat yourself to a delicious lunch or dinner that places local meat, herbs and vegetables front and centre.
Indulge in an ultra-glamping experience
Lose yourself in the views of rolling hills deep in Mudgee wine country at the adults-only Sierra Escape, a breathtaking property on 280 acres with five-star tents to help you escape from the world for a while. Soak up the serenity in your glamping hut’s freestanding bathtub and be sure to order a local meats and cheese platter ahead of your booking – it’ll be waiting for you in your tent when you arrive.
Savour a five-star country estate
Celebrate your big family event — a wedding, perhaps? — at Evanslea, located along the Cudgegong River. Surround yourself with pretty, landscaped gardens as you gather your favourite people in a four-bedroom house with a shared swimming pool and fire pit. Or hide away from the world in one of Evanslea’s romantic cottages, after picking up some organic and biodynamic wine and delicious takeaway platters from the nearby Lowe Family Wine Co.
Take your time heading home
On your way back to Sydney, stop in at the heritage village of Rylstone, a 45-minute drive east of Mudgee, to feast on dumplings and sip Chinese tea at 29 Nine 99 yum cha restaurant, or taste French-style wines at De Beaurepaire Wines while soaking up sweeping vineyard views. Linger at The Little Lady at Naked Lady Wines, an minimalist tiny cabin for two on a boutique vineyard, or gather a group of friends for a memory-making reunion at Wollemi Retreat, a thoughtfully designed haven that sleeps up to 10 in luxury across a house and two cabins.
Sierra Escape, Mudgee Credit: Sierra Escape Mudgee
Elouera, a luxury tiny house at Sierra Escape in Mudgee. Meticulously crafted from a shipping container and offering unparalleled views.
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Sierra Escape, Mudgee Credit: Sierra Escape Mudgee
Elouera, a luxury tiny house at Sierra Escape in Mudgee. Meticulously crafted from a shipping container and offering unparalleled views.
De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone.
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De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone.