Short weekend getaways from Sydney

It may be a diminutive country town, but Bowral is buzzing with restaurants, cafés and some of the most beautiful vintage stores in the state. Plus it’s got Biota Dining and Rooms: enough said.

Head to the chief city in the Blue Mountains for heritage-listed restaurants, spa resorts, steep cable car rides and late lunches in Leura.

This region is seemingly comprised entirely of national parks, white sand beaches, biodynamic farmland and little seaside towns. 

From wild national parks and epic beaches to slices of suburbia, the Central Coast is Sydney's sprawling, sometimes strange and sometimes charming northern cousin.

Plan a long weekend in the Hunter Valley with our guide to where to eat, drink, stay and play in Pokolbin.

Canberra used to be the punchline of jokes: known only for porn, politicians and legal fireworks. Now there are far more stimulating things happening outside the adult shops than on their shelves. Canberra in the twenty-teens boasts hipper hotels than Sydney, excellent cafés, some of the best galleries and museums in the country.

Winter is here whether you like it or not – so rather than complain about it – embrace it with awesome scenery and snowy fun.

Head west to the fertile plains, where wine is plentiful, people are friendly and winter frosts mean fresh black truffles on menus everywhere.

Things have changed in the Port since your parents dragged you there on a family holiday: a combination of seachange-type entrepreneurs and the realisation that having a location equidistant from Sydney and Brisbane may provide certain advantages.

A relaxed, rural uni town that's fast emerging as a proper food and wine destination. Plus: Australia's very own dinosaur!