The best two-night getaway spots within three hours' drive from Sydney
Here are some of the best destinations for a two-night escape, according to a travel industry expert
Jimmys Beach, NSW
Just under three hours north of Sydney, Jimmys Beach feels like a little slice of paradise. It's one of those places where you can really do whatever feels right on the day. You might spend the morning out on a paddleboard or kayaking around the water, then head off on a walk to explore the area a bit further. Or maybe you just want to throw down a towel, grab a good book, and completely switch off in the sun.
Kiama, NSW
Famous for its spectacular blowhole and stunning coastal walks, Kiama offers a charming seaside escape just under two hours from Sydney. Watch the blowhole put on its striking show (from a safe distance) and explore the stunning Kiama Coastal Walk that stretches all the way to Gerringong. Enjoy fresh seafood, explore the vibrant town centre, or simply soak up the ocean breeze. It's the perfect mix of adventure and laid-back charm.
Hunter Valley, NSW
Under three hours from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest wine region, and a paradise for food and wine lovers. Spend your days joining wine tastings at iconic cellar doors like Tyrrell's or Brokenwood, then enjoy gourmet food at one of the many farm-to-table restaurants. Don't forget to stroll through the beautiful Hunter Valley Gardens, where themed landscapes and seasonal displays make for a relaxing afternoon.
Lake Glenbawn, NSW
About three hours from Sydney, Lake Glenbawn is a beautiful inland retreat, perfect for anyone who loves a mix of water sports and wide-open countryside. Spend the day fishing or hire a boat to explore hidden coves around the lake. In the evening, gather around the campfire and enjoy some stargazing under the wide country sky. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, unplug, and come back feeling totally refreshed.
Hawks Nest, NSW
A stone's throw from Jimmys Beach, Hawks Nest is a relaxed coastal spot that feels worlds away from the city. Start your morning with a peaceful walk along Bennett's Beach, it's often quiet and you might even catch dolphins cruising by. Afterwards, head over to nearby Tea Gardens for a laid-back meal or a coffee by the river. It's the kind of place where you can really switch off and slow down, and you'll probably leave wondering why you don't come here more often.
Blue Mountains, NSW
Approximately two hours from Sydney, the Blue Mountains offer stunning natural beauty, with dramatic cliffs and lush rainforests. Snap a photo at Echo Point lookout for an epic view of the Three Sisters, or explore Scenic World 's cableway and boardwalks for a different perspective of the rainforest and towering cliffs. Spend your days hiking or browsing quaint mountain villages, then cosy up by a fire in the evening. It's the ultimate mix of adventure and relaxation.
Bowral, NSW
Nestled in the Southern Highlands, Bowral is known for its beautiful gardens, boutique shops, and cosy cafes, perfect for a laid-back country weekend. Visit Corbett Gardens (especially stunning during Tulip Time in spring) or explore Dirty Janes for antique and vintage treasures. Grab a coffee and cake at one of Bowral's many welcoming cafes and wander through local produce markets and scenic walking trails – it's all about enjoying the slower pace and country charm.
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Time Out
20 hours ago
- Time Out
The best two-night getaway spots within three hours' drive from Sydney
You don't always need a Euro trip to feel recharged – sometimes, two nights away from the bustle of the city is all it takes for a re-set. In fact, according to research from Reflections Holidays, 57 per cent of Aussies say that shorter, local trips help them unwind better than a lengthy overseas holiday. And thankfully, there are hundreds of truly magical places to stay within a few hours drive from Sydney. We've got our own favourite weekend getaways close to the city, but thought we'd ask camping expert Nick Baker (CEO of Reflections Holiday) to share his top picks too. Read on for Nick's top seven picks for a two-night escape from Sydney – each spot is less than three hours from the CBD. Here are some of the best destinations for a two-night escape, according to a travel industry expert Jimmys Beach, NSW Just under three hours north of Sydney, Jimmys Beach feels like a little slice of paradise. It's one of those places where you can really do whatever feels right on the day. You might spend the morning out on a paddleboard or kayaking around the water, then head off on a walk to explore the area a bit further. Or maybe you just want to throw down a towel, grab a good book, and completely switch off in the sun. Kiama, NSW Famous for its spectacular blowhole and stunning coastal walks, Kiama offers a charming seaside escape just under two hours from Sydney. Watch the blowhole put on its striking show (from a safe distance) and explore the stunning Kiama Coastal Walk that stretches all the way to Gerringong. Enjoy fresh seafood, explore the vibrant town centre, or simply soak up the ocean breeze. It's the perfect mix of adventure and laid-back charm. Hunter Valley, NSW Under three hours from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest wine region, and a paradise for food and wine lovers. Spend your days joining wine tastings at iconic cellar doors like Tyrrell's or Brokenwood, then enjoy gourmet food at one of the many farm-to-table restaurants. Don't forget to stroll through the beautiful Hunter Valley Gardens, where themed landscapes and seasonal displays make for a relaxing afternoon. Lake Glenbawn, NSW About three hours from Sydney, Lake Glenbawn is a beautiful inland retreat, perfect for anyone who loves a mix of water sports and wide-open countryside. Spend the day fishing or hire a boat to explore hidden coves around the lake. In the evening, gather around the campfire and enjoy some stargazing under the wide country sky. It's the kind of place where you can slow down, unplug, and come back feeling totally refreshed. Hawks Nest, NSW A stone's throw from Jimmys Beach, Hawks Nest is a relaxed coastal spot that feels worlds away from the city. Start your morning with a peaceful walk along Bennett's Beach, it's often quiet and you might even catch dolphins cruising by. Afterwards, head over to nearby Tea Gardens for a laid-back meal or a coffee by the river. It's the kind of place where you can really switch off and slow down, and you'll probably leave wondering why you don't come here more often. Blue Mountains, NSW Approximately two hours from Sydney, the Blue Mountains offer stunning natural beauty, with dramatic cliffs and lush rainforests. Snap a photo at Echo Point lookout for an epic view of the Three Sisters, or explore Scenic World 's cableway and boardwalks for a different perspective of the rainforest and towering cliffs. Spend your days hiking or browsing quaint mountain villages, then cosy up by a fire in the evening. It's the ultimate mix of adventure and relaxation. Bowral, NSW Nestled in the Southern Highlands, Bowral is known for its beautiful gardens, boutique shops, and cosy cafes, perfect for a laid-back country weekend. Visit Corbett Gardens (especially stunning during Tulip Time in spring) or explore Dirty Janes for antique and vintage treasures. Grab a coffee and cake at one of Bowral's many welcoming cafes and wander through local produce markets and scenic walking trails – it's all about enjoying the slower pace and country charm.
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Inside underground town where families live in dugouts to escape brutal 55C heat
A mum has opened up about what it's really like to live in a remote underground town, where extreme heat has driven an entire community into "dugouts". Originally from Stuttgart, Germany, Sabrina Troisi, 38, now lives in Coober Pedy, a striking South Australian town with baking desert temperatures. The scorching heat reaches 55C in the shade, meaning residents are more comfortable in homes dug beneath the earth. Along with husband, Nick, son, Thomas, 14, and daughter, Leah, 13, Sabrina lives in a unique $277,000 (£132,000) property carved into the side of a hill. The unusual family home, concealed about four metres beneath the rocks, boasts two living rooms, two bathrooms, and a pool, plus an indoor and outdoor spa. Sabrina's office is even deeper underground, around six metres further into the hillside. Office manager Sabrina, who works at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, explained: "Walking into our house is just walking into a hill, basically." In a town of some 1,600 residents, approximately 60 per cent of Coober Pedy's population lives in dugouts carved into the area's signature soft gypsum-rich sandstone, which can maintain its shape without any need for additional structural support. Sabrina, who originally trained as a childcare educator in her home country, first locked eyes with her now-hubby Nick during her gap year in Australia, where he acted as her tour guide. The pair fell in love, and Sabrina also fell for the "charming environment" of Coober Pedy, where the couple settled in 2013. She said: "We had friends in Coober Pedy and wanted to move away. We used to travel through it a lot, up and down the highway, and it's just got a charming environment most of the year. Underground is just fascinating, so we thought, Coober Pedy was 100 per cent the place for us." And at £132,000, Sabrina's one-of-a-kind home is far more affordable than the average Adelaide property, which can set buyers back an average of $796,000 (£382,000). The mum-of-two shared: "It's much cheaper to live underground than above ground. It's cheaper because you don't need to heat or cool the rooms, and you just need lights inside. "It's also much cheaper to rent or purchase dugouts because the roof is already there, you just tunnel into the hill to make a building." Although some of the distinctive homes can be machine-dug in two months, others can take far longer. Sabrina revealed: "I have seen people digging for 10 years." For Sabrina, the best part about underground life has to be the peace and quiet. She said: "There's no outside noise. When you shut the door, everything disappears. It's completely dark, completely quiet, perfect for sleeping. I love sleeping underground. "I wake up in the morning without windows, so you don't actually look out the windows and see what the weather is like, like any other person. "But you assume it's normally nice weather in Coober Pedy, so there's not much rain here. We get maybe five to 10 rain events a year. So you can probably leave your umbrella at home." Sabrina is so used to the town's serene way of life that she now finds city breaks to be far too hectic. She admitted: "When I go on holiday, I'm actually exhausted from the busy, busy streets of Adelaide or streets of a bigger town because I'm so used to the quietness of Coober Pedy." However, although there are plenty of upsides, the dust and the maintenance work required can present challenges. She warned: "If you don't seal the walls regularly, it gets quite dusty because you are inside a hill. "Otherwise, you have got the crumbles from the ceiling dropping into your soup when you are at the dinner table. And that gets quite annoying. You do want to varnish the walls, and it does rub off, so you need to do it regularly." Although many would imagine life underground to be rather dark, Sabrina and her family make sure to get plenty of sunshine and fresh air. The mum-of-two noted: "It's normally sunshine outside, so if you want your vitamin D intake, it's normally just 10 minutes a day, so it's not impossible. "We do go for walks and we have got a garden. However, when you have a garden, you have to pay for water, which is quite expensive in Coober Pedy, so a lot of people actually use the shower and the laundry water." Now, teenagers, Sabrina's kids were toddlers when they made the move to Coober Pedy, and can barely remember what it was like to live above the ground. She said: "When we go on holiday and stay in hotels, they notice every little noise, roosters, planes, anything. Underground, you don't hear a thing." Coober Pedy is undoubtedly remote, with the closest town being more than 400 miles away. Residents have to drive long distances to access essential services such as banks, vets and hairdressers. However, the close-knit community spirit suits Sabrina and her family. According to Sabrina: "It's very relaxed. Everything's five minutes away. No traffic lights, not many cars." Once, when her dog got sick, Sabrina found herself needing to make a 650km visit to see a vet. When she posted on Facebook about this, a kindly neighbour offered to drive. This, Sabrina claims, is not unusual for this "very welcoming town" where "everyone helps each other". Even though there are certainly hurdles when it comes to this way of living, Sabrina wouldn't have it any other way. Shunning the chaos of the big city, Sabrina reflected: "If we ever moved, I'd want to live somewhere quiet. Not busy like Adelaide or London." However, as much as she loves it, Sabrina isn't convinced that underground living could catch on on a wider scale. She continued: "It could be a solution for global warming in other parts of the world. But the thing is, when you don't have the right material, like we do, you have to build structures. I don't think it's the future unless they really find a way of doing it."
The Independent
04-07-2025
- The Independent
The sleeper train holiday to Cornwall that doesn't cost the Earth
The knock grows louder, momentarily disorientating me from a deep sleep. It's pitch black, the room sways, and a polite voice quietly shouts, 'breakfast'. Opening the door, Nick, Great Western Railway 's hospitality manager, greets me with a smile and a tray crammed with pastries and coffee. Wobbling back to bed, I fumble around to open the blind and as it rattles up the window, a stream of golden sunlight rushes into my cabin. Squinting at the Cornish hills gliding by, I focus on nonchalant cows munching lush green grass and buttercups. Eight hours before, I had boarded GWR's Night Riviera sleeper train at London Paddington, beneath the gaze of its famous bear. Victorian arches glowed orange and the diesel engine hum created a nostalgic atmosphere until overexcited passengers bundled clumsily into their cabins. That liveliness extended into the restaurant car where a young family stocked up on biscuits, while retired Swedish women on holiday shared a table with young builders heading home. Over a nightcap, train enthusiast Howard Peach told me 'there's nothing quite like going to bed in one place, and waking in another'. As the train lurched out of the station, I tucked myself between a fluffy duvet and soft mattress, swaddling me into slumber. It hadn't been a perfect sleep with squealing brakes and occasional bumps, yet each disturbance left me inquisitive about my location. Now, the train slows, St Michael's Mount rises out of the bay, and dog walkers fling tennis balls across the endless beach. As I cheerfully sip my black coffee, we halt in the seaside town of Penzance. It's ten years since I last drove to Cornwall, frustrated by the traffic I was contributing to. Overtourism has left litter on the beaches, butchers replaced by beachwear boutiques, and a lack of affordable housing caused by under-utilised holiday lets. It's little wonder there is rising resentment toward tourists, yet 15 per cent of Cornwall's economy is directly attributable to tourism. So, I'm here to understand how I can tweak my holiday so that my trip is both fun and supports local communities. Starting at Penzance Bus Station, I hop aboard the 1A in search of top attractions and hidden coves. Only running every hour or two, it teaches me to slow down, although the driver counters this by careering down narrow lanes. Sycamore branches clonk windows and roadside foxgloves and ferns are sent into a dancing frenzy. My top-deck position provides far-reaching views of tin mine chimneys and pre-historic stone circles, scattered between villages and farms. Within an hour, I reach Porthcurno village and walk smugly past the beach's car park queue. At the Minack Theatre, I marvel at the ingenuity of its creator, Rowena Cade, who carved its terraces into granite cliffs. As the wind buffets tall blue echium flower stems in its sub-tropical garden, I wonder how tonight's performance of Les Miserables will fare. Instead of descending to Porthcurno's crowded beach, I follow the South West Coastal Path curling around rugged cliffs, among a tapestry of wildflowers, including pompom-like pink thrift bobbing with the wind. The soundtrack of wrens and robins is interrupted by the laughter of three burly hikers with overgrown beards and oversized backpacks. Only a fifteen-minute hike from Porthcurno and the panorama across the bay of Pedn Vounder feels otherworldly. Low cloud hangs over the craggy rock peninsula of Treryn Dinas that commands the crystal-clear, turquoise waters and golden sand banks. The final scramble down puts some off, meaning I am alone apart from a swimmer and a seagull with sights on my cheese sandwich. As the tide recedes, rock pools shrink and anemones retract their tentacles. My breathing slows to the rhythm of the waves and I catch myself nodding off. I jump up to take a ten-minute walk uphill to Treen village, replenishing calories with a cheeky hot chocolate at Fork + Fort, before catching the bus to Penzance Youth Hostel. Walking along the babbling Larriggan River under a tunnel of maple trees, I'm greeted by a grand Georgian mansion. Small children run from the campsite into the ornate lounge to play Buckaroo, while a couple plan their hike on an oversized map. Having upgraded to a luxurious bell tent with cosy beds and a wood-burning stove, I make a well-earned cup of tea in the self-catering kitchen and sit outside listening to chiffchaffs. After the check-in rush, Chris Nelson, the hostel's manager, explains that 'the joy of youth hostels comes from their special locations and multiple social spaces, where different groups can mix and children can wander freely'. Over the following days, I feel that community with families, couples, and solo travellers sharing food, stories from day trips, and advice on attractions, hiking trails, and the best fish and chips (Fraser's on Penzance seafront, if you're interested). Given the Cornish housing crisis, staying in a holiday let was never an option, but I'm curious about the impact of my youth hostel stay. Chris proudly declares: 'I employ all local people, we stock Cornish beers and we encourage guests to seek out independent cafes and businesses.' I'm keen to do my bit and visit Truro's bi-weekly farmers' market to sample Cornwall's finest foods. I'm pleasantly surprised to find a broad range; from locally-reared pork to cheeses, to wildflower honey and sea salt harvested on the Lizard peninsula. I relish listening to producers talk passionately about their food and its history. Nick Dymond of St. Piran's Pork and the Market's Vice-Chair says: 'A lot of food lovers stay in self-catering accommodation and the first thing they want to do is buy food, so this market is the obvious place.' Nick mentions that food tours and experiences are planned 'so people can visit, select fresh meat and products, and have them cooked'. He tells me: 'We see a large part of the market's role as being educational for both tourists and locals.' But he adds that he wishes more tourists would travel mindfully and 'not abandon their environmental mindsets on holiday'. As I squeeze a wedge of Cornish Trelawny into my overladen bags, I ask the owner of Tin Coast Cheese, Debbie Shephard, what she thinks tourists could do to have a positive impact. She has one simple message: 'Buy local.' I live by these principles throughout my holiday, treating myself to tasty products from Penzance's bakeries, groceries, and health food shops that line Causeway Head. Travelling by bus to St Michael's Mount, Geevor Tin Mine, St. Ives, and Land's End connects me with locals – many curious about my visit, but also eager to share how vital these services are for everyday life, from grocery trips to hospital appointments. As I return to London, there is one final treat aboard GWR's Pullman Dining Experience. Twice daily, a normal train carriage is transformed with white tablecloths, silverware, and attentive staff, serving freshly cooked meals including Oxfordshire fillet steak and Cornish Yarg cheese. As the train whizzes by people ambling on Dawlish beach, I celebrate my trip with a glass of Cornish Tarquin gin and tonic, reflecting how my choices to travel with impact have led to a more enjoyable and meaningful holiday. I've swapped Sainsbury's Cheddar for Cornish Trelawny, a bland holiday rental for a Georgian mansion and friendly community, and – as the train runs alongside the M5 – a traffic jam for a magnificent fine-dining experience. Getting there and back GWR's Night Riviera sleeper train service ( runs six times a week between London Paddington and Penzance and takes around eight hours. Super off-peak return tickets cost £150 and a single cabin from £69. Accessible cabins are available too. GWR's Pullman Dining Experience is taken on either the 13:15 or 18:16 from Plymouth to Paddington and costs £38 for 2 courses and £46 for 3 courses. If you are travelling in standard class, speak to the restaurant manager when you board, if you're in first class you can reserve up to an hour before departure. Getting around Where to stay Penzance Youth Hostel ( has a range of accommodation including shared bedrooms (from £20 per night), private rooms (from £35 single, £45 double and £55 family rooms) and premium bell tents (from £100 per night).
