19 of the best winter stays in NSW

Wilga Station, Bathurst 

Set on an enormous working sheep farm, Wilga Station takes country luxe to new levels. There are two accommodation options on the property, both crafted from repurposed materials (where possible). The Farmers Hut is a romantic getaway for two overlooking rolling green hills; and The Shearers Hall is a rustic-luxe retreat for groups of up to 10 that honours the wool-rich heritage of the building. Rug up and head out for a morning walk along misty trails, toast marshmallows by the fire, snuggle up with a bottle of wine and tuck into your complimentary hamper of local produce for breakfast   

Distance from Sydney: 3 hours by car 

Wilga Station, Evans Plains

Moss Manor, Moss Vale 

Once the council chambers and mayoral residence, Moss Manor’s 1890s heritage informs the grand accommodation experience it now offers. Elegance and extravagance trickle into every detail in the eight luxuriously appointed suites. The crisp Southern Highlands climate makes the solid marble bath of the Sophia suite a mighty inviting proposition, while the two-course breakfast, afternoon tea on arrival (including cake) and locally roasted coffee are the cherry on top.  

Distance from Sydney: 1.5 hours by car 

Moss Manor, Moss Vale - Credit: Moss Manor

Scribbly Farm, High Range  

Escape the cold and witness all of winter’s magic from the comfort of a premium bush dome at Scribbly Farm. The transparent dome gives you a front-row seat to views of untamed nature, while the skylight above puts you at the gateway to the galaxy. Designed to sleep two, in king or twin-single bed configurations, the domes offer a getaway with a difference – plus, the log-burning fire amps up the toasty factor.  

Distance from Sydney: 1.5 hours by car 

Scribbly Farm Premium Dome Bush Retreat - Credit: Bodhi Photography 2023

Osborn House, Bundanoon 

No two rooms are the same at Osborn House. The common thread that links them all is a dedication to simple-yet-elegant style. Your suite might feature a plush four-poster bed to curl up in, an open fireplace or even an outdoor tub for an invigorating soak. The hotel’s welcoming lobby has a lodge feel and offers award-winning local wine by the fire – the perfect end to a day spent exploring the countryside or luxuriating in the hotel’s spa and sauna. Speaking of fire, from March to November, Osborn House hosts monthly Fire Feasts, where the Argentinian asado is used to grill up all manner of local meats and vegetables over the open flame. 

Distance from Sydney: 1 hour 40 minutes by car 

Osborn House, Southern Highlands

Aframe, Kangaroo Valley 

Winter is a time to slow down, reset, reflect and reconnect with the ones we love. And off-grid Aframe was designed with this ethos in mind. Echoing the beauty of the Australian landscape, the property features recycled building materials throughout, from native hardwood floors to 150-year-old terracotta tiles. Spend days bushwalking along nearby trails or kayaking down the beautiful Kangaroo River, then soak weary limbs in the outdoor, woodfired hot tub – there’s a fire to cosy up beside when you finally head inside.

Distance from Sydney: 2 hours by car  

Aframe Kangaroo Valley, Kangaroo Valley - Credit: Hayley Rafton Photography

Broger’s End, Kangaroo Valley  

If you’re keen to take the group chat into real life, book the seven beds of The Shed at Broger’s End – a converted farm machinery shed that has been lovingly transformed using reclaimed materials. Every bed in this rustic beauty has been fitted with an electric blanket to keep the Kangaroo Valley nights as comfy as possible, and the woodfired pizza oven means that dinners are both social and toasty. Rug up and have a yarn around the fire pit or soak away your stress in the outdoor bathtub. If you’re after a more intimate escape, you’ll also find the sweet wisteria-covered converted milking shed that sleeps two – outdoor bathtub included.     

Distance from Sydney: 2 hours by car 

Broger's End, Kangaroo Valley - Credit: Broger's End

Carawirry Forest Escape, Hunter Valley 

Just four cottages share 100 hectares of pristine wilderness at Carawirry, a Hunter Valley retreat where you’re totally immersed in nature, with much of the cabins’ furniture crafted using timber sourced within the local forest. Each of the options comes with different perks: perhaps an open fire, maybe a two-tub ‘bathhouse’ or a double rainfall shower. Sit by a crackling fire, opt in for an alfresco yoga session, have an artisanal grazing box delivered to your door or doze off with an in-cottage massage.   

Distance from Sydney: 3 hours by car 

Carawirry Forest Escape, Main Creek - Credit: Carawirry Forest Escape

Cedars Mount View, Hunter Valley 

Fancy a helicopter transfer to the vineyards or to a cabin in the middle of the forest? Cedars Mount View can make it happen. This peaceful and private adults-only stay is a short drive (or chopper flight) from the wineries and restaurants of the Hunter but it feels totally isolated from any other human activity. Each of Cedars’ five luxury villas are also isolated from each other, so you’ll feel like you have the property to yourself. Craft your dreamy experience by selecting from spa and/or outdoor bathtubs, bedroom skylights for super-cosy stargazing, dual showers, a bespoke window-side daybed or something from the menu of indulgence packages offered. 

Distance from Sydney: 3 hours by car  

Cedars Mount View, Hunter Valley - Credit: Hunter Valley Visitor Centre

Kimo Estate, Riverina 

Covering a whopping 2,800 hectares on the outskirts of Gundagai, Kimo Estate offers a range of stylish accommodation crafted and curated with sustainability at the core. On this working sheep and cattle farm, you can check into the reimagined Shearers Quarters, with space to sleep 12 and an authentic outhouse; A-frame eco-huts ideal for couples (who won’t mind the woodfired hot tub and hot outdoor shower), or quaint workers’ cottages with fenced yards so you can bring your pet. 

Distance from Sydney: 4 hours by car 

Kimo Estate, The Riverina - Credit: Matt Beaver

Nimbo Fork, Snowy Valleys 

At the northern end of the Kosciuszko National Park, you’ll find Nimbo Fork – 12 cottages and suites overlooking the Tumut River. Misty winter mornings make way for blue-sky days – all the better for spotting a platypus as you stroll along the banks of the river. Find big bathtubs and fireplaces in prime position to take in the scenery, while the dining room by Three Blue Ducks showcases paddock-to-plate menu, with a lounge bar that has a similar local focus.  

Distance from Sydney: 4 hours by car 

Nimbo Fork, Snowy Valleys

Kyah Hotel, Blue Mountains 

The Kyah extends an invitation to indulge for those en route to the expansive wilderness of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. A playfully reimagined and renovated 1970s motel, The Kyah incorporates retro fixtures with Palm Springs-inspired and Art Deco details. Think: pastel hues, cacti cameos, cool curves and velvet touches that make for a cheering balm to cold winter days. The indoor and outdoor fireplaces, hot tub, and woodfired sauna are part of the cosy winter appeal.   

Distance from Sydney: 1.5 hours by car 

Kyah Hotel, Blackheath - Credit: Steven Woodburn

Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain   

Seamlessly integrated into the landscape, Spicers Sangoma Retreat offers a mountain escape with a distinct style. Eight private suites are prime for year-round indulgence, though the muted colour palette warmed with timber accents feel designed for winter resets. From deep baths to plush fabrics and log-burning fireplaces, every detail of this all-inclusive accommodation is considered – so get comfy and enjoy the valley-view vistas from floor-to-ceiling windows. Then, enjoy the crisp winter air as you tackle the spectacular hikes of the Blue Mountains or warm up with a massage in the spa tent (complete with chandelier) – couples options are available.  Plus, any Spicers stay includes meals at the in-house restaurant Amara, hatted for its location, service and a minimalist execution of local produce.

Distance from Sydney: 1.5 hours by car 

Spicers Sangoma Retreat, Bowen Mountain

Bangalay Luxury Villas, Shoalhaven Heads 

These 15 self-contained luxury villas with one-bed and two-bed options put you in prime position to enjoy the natural beauty of the region’s beaches and bushwalks or tee off at the Shoalhaven Heads Golf Course. Sun-drenched north-facing decks, under-floor bathroom heating and fireplaces in every villa take the chill out of mid-year stays, and the complete kitchen setup means you can whip up your favourite winter warmers. If you’re travelling with friends, Anglesea by Bangalay is the property’s eight-person converted fisherman’s shack with pet-friendly perks. Wherever you stay, aim for a plunge in the pool or the ocean for ice bath-style invigoration, followed by warming up in front of your fire.   

Distance from Sydney: 2 hours by car 

Bangalay Luxury Villas - Credit: Phil Winterton | Bangalay Luxury Villas Pty Ltd

Linnaeus Collection, Berry 

The Linneaus Collection offers a range of uber-luxe stays in and around Berry that sleep up to 24 people. Moraea Farm, for example, is a five-bedroom farmhouse – its wrap-around verandahs, high ceilings, timber floors and exposed brick walls spelling an Insta-worthy stay for the 12 people it sleeps (who won’t mind the pizza oven and fire pit either). There’s also the Rubus Residences, three side-by-side houses that each sleep eight and have an indoor fireplace – the heated outdoor pool will draw you all together on a blue-sky winter day.  
 
Distance from Sydney: 2 hours by car 

Moraea Farm Berry by Linnaeus Collection - Credit: Linnaeus Collection

Yallungah Boutique Hotel, Orange  

The history-rich walls of Yallungah Boutique Hotel, an 1896 building now vibrantly restored, are home to 22 rooms filled with character. If the bold palette of the suites doesn’t warm you to the core, a hot chocolate by the fire in the Guest Lounge will do the trick. Before you head out to explore the charming region, fuel up with the hotel’s popular two-course breakfast.     

Distance from Sydney: 3.5 hours by car 

Yallungah Boutique Hotel, Byng Street in Orange - Credit: Aaron Evans

Sierra Escape, Mudgee  

Deep in Mudgee wine country, Sierra Escape offers spacious accommodation that turns up the luxury dial on glamping. Discover wooden floors and plush beds inside and freestanding bathtubs outside so you can soak up the views of the rolling hills surrounding you. While you’re there, hear the sounds of nature mix with the crackle of an open fire, sip wine as the sun goes down, then wake up to pastures full of kangaroos, deer, wallabies and all manner of birds. What a way to start the day.     

Distance from Sydney: 4 hours by car 

Sierra Escape, Mudgee

Mona Farm, Braidwood 

This sprawling property offers seven stunning historic guest houses to choose from. The Shearer’s Quarters features two wood-burning fireplaces, a Japanese-inspired bathhouse and a heated spa. Bigger groups may be won over by the slow-combustion fireplace inside and the fire pit outside of the 12-person Coach House. Regardless of where you stay, every option offers access to the 50 hectares of award-winning gardens with their accompanying sculptures, plus an opportunity to tour the property with the farm manager.  

Distance from Sydney: 3 hours by car 

Mona Farm, Braidwood

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit, Keepit 

How does stargazing from a king-size bed sound? At Wilderluxe Lake Keepit, search the skies through your skydome from the comfort of your fully insulated, air-conditioned tent. On one night of a stay here, you’ll be invited to the Big Sky Dreaming dinner, featuring the screening of an immersive film curated by local stargazer Uncle Len Waters. You’ll also enjoy an outdoor bathtub on the deck of your tent, perfectly situated to take in the views of the lake in front, and a barbecue to help you cook up whatever you’re craving (there’s also a larger communal kitchen to make use of). Alternatively, ask the team to whip up a gourmet hamper so you can picnic lakeside.  

Distance from Sydney: 5.5 hours by car 

Wilderluxe Lake Keepit - Credit: Reflections Holidays

Into The Wild Escapes, all over NSW 

Get off grid with an Into the Wild Escapes tiny home. These petite retreats are made for winter hibernating as they’re secluded in nature, often complete with campfires, and sometimes without reception. If an outdoor bathtub is a must-have for you, you’ll find options that deliver via Tiny Lola in Jervis Bay, or Tiny Maggie in Mudgee that has two outdoor baths sitting side by side on the deck. If you’re looking for an extra snuggle buddy to stay warm, you can bring your pet to some locations.  

Tiny Lola, Into The Wild Escapes - Credit: Danielle Nieuwendyk | Into The Wild Escapes