The best destinations for a three-night short holiday

Having a long weekend or a few nights away mid-week? Three nights is enough to get your further afield to some of Australia’s finest regions.

ORANGE, NSW

Good for epicurians and outdoorsy types.

Exploring Balmoral Vineyard during Orange FOOD week.

Stay Located in the centre of town, the gracious Yallungah Boutique Hotel (formerly the Byng Street Boutique Hotel) is a historic, circa 1896 homestead, beautifully restored with 22 rooms and suites fusing bold colour blocking and a contemporary art collection with heritage features.

See + do + eat Frosty winters with the whisper of snow, spring blossoms and blazing autumn foliage is what draws travellers in search of seasonal aesthetics to Orange. And it’s those temperature extremes, along with the rich, volcanic soils of Mount Canobolas, that contribute to the quality of its cold climate wines, with more than 80 vineyards producing acclaimed chardonnays, pinot noirs and sparkling wines. Dine among the vines at the chef-hatted Printhie, pairing its award-winning bubbles with freshly shucked oysters from a custom-built tank; or take a behind-the-scenes tour at Halliday Dark Horse winners ChaLou Wines to learn about their innovative approach to winemaking. Slip through the back gate of Yallungah to discover the one-stop regional wine cellar Ferment; or shop for eclectic furnishings at Jumbled or Dirty Janes. Continue your exploration of local flavours after hours at the coolest little wine bar in the west, Hey Rosey.

Don’t miss Orange FOOD Week, held over 10 days in March, celebrates the bounty of the region, with signature events including Sampson Street Long Lunch, the moveable Forage feast, a night market and a three-day food train tour.

Essentials Orange is a 3½-hour drive from Sydney. Flights are also available with Qantas and Rex. See yallungahhotelorange.com.au; orangefoodweek.com.au; printhiewines.com.au; chalouwines.com.au; orangewinecentre.com.au; jumbledonline.com; dirtyjanes.com; heyrosey.au; orange360.com.au

GREAT SOUTHERN TRAIN, ADELAIDE TO BRISBANE, SA/QLD/NSW

Good for train buffs; slow travel devotees.

The Great Southern crossing Boambee Creek on the NSW coast.

Stay Choose from three cabin classes aboard the legendary Great Southern (The Ghan morphs into the Great Southern when outback summers get too hot). Two single bunks convert into a lounge by day along with a private ensuite bathroom in Gold class while twin cabins with elevated amenities and ensuite are on offer in Gold Premium. Platinum cabins are the pick: offering almost double the space of gold twin cabins. By day, watch scenery from rolling green hills to golden wheat fields unfold through double windows; by night, sleep soundly in soft linens and satin eye masks.

See + do + eat Chase summer along the east coast between Brisbane and Adelaide with a Great Southern three-night rail journey. Departing Brisbane, sip your way through the Hunter Valley’s historic vineyards, explore Port Stephens’ dolphin-filled bays. Onwards through regional Victoria and Melbourne, your journey, with all-inclusive fine dining and beverages onboard, culminates in Adelaide.

Don’t miss Canapes and sundowners at Charlesworth Bay in Coffs Harbour before sitting down to an outdoor feast of local produce and fresh seafood paired with premium wines.

Essentials From $3690 a person for a three-night/four-day journey from Brisbane to Adelaide. See journeybeyond.com

HIGH COUNTRY, VIC

Good for leafers; gourmands.

The view from the top – looking over the Alpine Valleys from Mount Buffalo.

Stay Sure, this beloved and tourism-dependent region of Victoria has endured some tough times recently, but do consider it when the time is right. The BIG4 Tasman Holiday Park in Bright offers cosy accommodation ranging from less to luxe, including secluded spots for caravan and RV parking. Located on the Ovens River and just a few steps from town, it’s also a starting point for many of the town’s best hikes. Book a classic cabin overlooking the river or one of the new shipping-container-style alpine villas. They come with a private deck and feature electric flame fires, cosy textiles, hotel-style amenities, free Wi-Fi and sleek ensuites.

See + do + eat Cycle the local rail trails that take you past vineyards and through pretty towns from Bright all the way to Beechworth. Head up to Mount Buffalo for rocky hikes, stupendous views and to admire the still graceful Mount Buffalo Chalet or take a slow and winding drive up to Dinner Plain. You won’t go hungry – scale the culinary heights at Michael Ryan’s Provenance in Beechworth or settle in for a cosy pub meal at the Wandiligong pub or Tanswell’s in Beechworth. Local bakeries, cellar doors and breweries round out the excellent dining options.

Don’t miss Haut Hutt’s wood-fired sauna is strategically located in a Porepunkah paddock, so you can relax while admiring the sublime views of Mount Buffalo.

Essentials Victoria’s High Country is a 2½-hour drive from Melbourne on the Hume Highway. Fly from Sydney to Albury Airport or travel by train from Sydney or Melbourne. See victoriashighcountry.com.au; big4.com.au; theprovenance.com.au; wandipub.com.au; tanswellshotel.com.au; hauthutt.com.au

KING ISLAND, TAS

Good for nature enthusiasts; solitude lovers.

In the tub at Kittawa Retreat, King Island.

Stay Perched on King Island’s rugged coastline, experience off-grid luxury at Kittawa Lodge. Set on 39 hectares of untouched coastal landscape, take in windswept vistas from two standalone lodges or the brand new two-bedroom Kittawa Retreat. All offer hand-crafted furniture, Cultiver linen, wood-burning fireplaces, rain showers and deep soaking tubs. Access to a private cellar and hot tub with Southern Ocean vistas are highlights of the new retreat.

See + do + eat Browse shops, cafes and galleries in the township of Currie, enjoy cheese tasting at King Island Dairy, sink an ale or two at King Island Brewhouse or play a round on world-class golf courses. King Island’s rolling green hills and crystal-clear waters are home to some of the world’s best beef, dairy and seafood.

Don’t miss Join Kittawa Lodge’s private guided tour of King Island’s southern coast, exploring calcified forests and the wild and pristine coastline, from $495 for two, including drinks and snacks.
Essentials Regional Express flies from Melbourne and Burnie (Tasmania) to King Island. King Island Airlines flies daily from Moorabbin Airport, while Sharp Airlines flies from Essendon Fields Airport. See kittawalodge.com; kingislanddairy.com; rex.com.au; sharpairlines.com; kingisland.org.au

TAMWORTH, BIG SKY COUNTRY, NSW

Good for country music fans; star gazing

Getting in tune at Tamworth’s guitar museum.

Stay Tamworth’s reborn Powerhouse Hotel by Rydges, on the site where electricity was first brought to Australia, offers 81 elegant rooms and suites, an outdoor pool and spa, and the renowned Workshop Kitchen. Its seasonal menu includes locally sourced wood-fire beef from nearby Jack’s Creek. Nature and stargazing more your thing? Stay in one of eight sustainable Star Gazer Tents at the new Wilderluxe Lake Keepit.

See + do + eat Beyond the guitars and cowboy boots, Tamworth offers artisan boutiques, single origin brews at bustling cafes, including Hissy Fits or Camp Grounds, and a nine-metre-high Skywalk and flying fox at Bicentennial Park. Grab a box of bao buns, rice paper rolls and beef noodle salad from Miss Juju’s and head for Oxley Lookout for a picnic with the town spread before you. See country music greats in the Gallery of Stars, Wax Museum alongside the new National Guitar Museum. Be sure to drive to Uralla too, for a pub lunch at the newly restored Bolt Inn, featuring a menu by consultant chef Justin North.

Don’t miss A cooking class with the Martha Stewart of Big Sky Country, Jan Dircks, at Carroll Gap Farmhouse.

Essentials Tamworth is a five-hour drive, six-hour XPT train journey or 40-minute direct flight from Sydney. See rydges.com; jackscreek.com.au; wilderluxe.com.au; missjuju.com.au; collection.tamworthregionalgallery.com.au; nationalguitarmuseum.com; theboltinn.com; tamworthregion.com.au;

MUDGEE, NSW

Good for nature lovers, wine buffs.

Admiring Ganguddy-Dunns Swamp, Mudgee.

Stay With Mudgee’s cellar doors concentrated around the township, centralised accommodation such as the new Clairfield Hotel offers a chic and convenient choice, complete with its own wellness studio. But if nature’s siren-song is irresistible, there’s nothing more seductive than eco-glamping at Sierra Escape, where canvas walls, outdoor tubs and fire-pits under a starry sky provide complete immersion in the rolling landscape.

See + do + eat The Mudgee wine experience stands apart in its intimacy, with each label telling the story of the land and its maker. Learn about winemaker David Lowe’s journey as he navigates climate change on a personalised tour at Lowe Family Wines; or take a masterclass at De Beaurepaire Wines. Pair wine tasting with great food at Robert Stein, where produce from the neighbouring farm features on the menu of Pipeclay Pumphouse; or indulge in a weekend feast at one of regional NSW’s most beloved paddock-to-plate restaurants, Zin House. In town, take a leisurely breakfast at Alby & Esthers; while the Zin magic continues with delectable pastries from Althea by Zin bakery. The local art scene is well represented at Mudgee Arts Precinct, flanked by a sculpture walk along the river.

Stay Storytelling is at the heart of the freshly renovated Littlebourne – a convict-built homestead dating to 1830 – with characters from its chequered past infused into a stylish, contemporary makeover. Finer details elevate six oversized suites – ensuites with freestanding iron tubs, period furniture swathed with quality linens, cosy reading nooks – while a pavilion-style lounge, formal dining room and billiards room entice guests to mingle. Other historic options for group getaways include elegant Yarras Homestead and the Central West’s first European structures at Lawsons Estate on Macquarie Farm.

See + do + eat While a spin around Mount Panorama’s racing circuit (a public road, but be warned – lurking highway patrols will curb leadfooted enthusiasm!) entices some, Bathurst is evolving beyond a once-a-year destination for petrol heads. A handful of boutique wineries, a distillery and craft brewery flag a burgeoning beverage scene; while new restaurants Bootleg and Norma Jean have caught the attention of foodies. Meanwhile, follow back-road trails to discover old-school pubs with elevated food offerings, led by chef Matt Moran’s Rockley Pub. Soak up the baronial Scottish grandeur of Abercrombie House, a new addition of a basement coffee shop and gallery inviting visitors to linger beyond a self-guided tour; or enjoy a refined tea service at Bake, Table and Tea, with a choice of 50 teas on the cafe menu.

Don’t miss Follow the Oberon trail from Bathurst to Essington Park, where chef Simmone Logue leads weekend cooking and creative workshops in a restored woolshed.

Essentials A 2½-hour drive from Sydney brings you to the rural serenity of the Bathurst region. See bathurstandbackroads.com.au; littlebourne.com.au; yarrashomestead.com.au; lawsonestate.com.au; therockleypub.com.au; abercrombiehouse.com.au; baketableandtea.com.au; essingtonpark.com

Contributors: Justine Costigan, Jim Darby, Belinda Jackson, Julie Miller, Jane Reddy, Sheriden Rhodes, Jane Richards, Craig Tansley and Sue Williams.

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