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BLUE MOUNTAINS, AUSTRALIA: Come happy hour—the ideal part of any working day—the afternoon sun patters the rolling paddocks below me. Here, at a secluded hilltop cabin deep in Kanimbla Valley, a glass of buttery Chardonnay becomes the perfect 5pm accompaniment to the property’s panoramic vistas.
Welcome to Logan Brae Retreats, a sprawling estate with four modern and rustic accommodation options: The Machinery Shed, The Lodge, The Woodlands Cabin and The Hilltop Cabin. Chalk it up to sitting pretty atop the highest point of the Valley, the latter is by far this editor’s favourite. And in the early hours of the morning, just as daylight breaks, one really begins to understand the altitude of this cabin. You can quite literally sip on your coffee while looking out over the clouds blanketing the escarpment below. The air is fresh and crisp and all is dead quiet save for a chirping bird or a stray wallaby hopping through the grass reeds.
While I visited in mid-June—a time when city slickers flock to the Blue Mountains to huddle around a fireplace with a glass of vino and a Jenga stack—this Hilltop Cabin makes a strong case for a summer retreat, too. For instance, the design of the solar-heated, mineral water plunge pool—with its cactus and pebbles surrounds—gives a Nevada vibe. Forget the Blue Mountains, you could quite easily be in Blue Diamond, a hamlet just outside of Las Vegas. An adjoining cargo net hammock is perfect for reading a good book in the sunshine, and no matter the season, you can reserve a private masseuse to set up a table on the deck.
Inside, the real romance begins. The modern, open-plan studio cabin has a huge king bed, a double shower and Cheminees Philippe fireplace. The wood-panelled ceiling, a stone mosaic feature wall and a terracotta leather sofa continue the desert motif while three Akubras and a stock whip are a deft reminder that you’re definitely still in Australia. Notably, the living room extends into a sunroom with a freestanding stone bathtub that looks out over the mountains. It’s probably the most indulgent soak I’ve experienced.
An antidote to busy city life, time is all but a construct at The Hilltop Cabin. If you are thinking of a romantic rendezvous in the Blue Mountains, make it this one.
Getting there
A 90-minute drive from Sydney, Kanimbla Valley is located in the heart of the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains. For the journey, I was lucky enough to road test the new Lexus LBX Sports Luxury AWD. A reimagining of the city SUV, its zippy enough to navigate Sydney’s multi-lanes, albeit feels incredibly luxurious on the open road (read: its heated seats and steering wheel were ideal for zero degree temperatures in the Blue Mountains). The car’s multimedia and navigation systems were super easy to use, too, and when I made a pit-stop in Katoomba for lunch, the LBX even parked itself with the push of two buttons which enabled its Advanced Park Feature. Impressive!
Places To Visit
Twenty minutes down the road from the property is Blackheath which is home to some excellent culinary fare. Ahead of your trip, make a booking at Mediterranean inspired restaurant and wine bar Ates. The kitchen is led by former Tetsuya and Rockpool chef William Cowan-Lunn and dishes are cooked in a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven. Directly across the road is a homely, father-and-son-owned natural wine bar and bottle shop called Frankie’s & Mo’s. It’s garnering a fair bit of buzz online and the dinner menu is also impressive.
If you find yourself in Blackheath during Apple Season (March to July), you must visit Logan Brae’s 100-year-old Apple Orchard and pick up a famous apple pie to cook in your cabin.
Drive 40-minute from The Hilltop Cabin into Katoomba, and you’ll find the famous Three Sisters walk. There’s also some great restaurants and wine bars here. I liked Elysian, Side B Vinyl Bar, and The Bowery. Go to Leura Gourmet Café and Deli to pick up wine and cheese.
The Details
The Hilltop Cabin at Logan Brae Retreats
43 Megalong Road, Kanimbla NSW
Ph: 0421 959 758
[email protected]
Visit Logan Bay Retreats’ website here.
Book via AirBnB here.
Logan Brae Retreats’ host, Asia, a renowned expert in the Airbnb and accommodation industry, has just released her first book Masterclass, which teaches the others the secrets of art of crafting spaces which captivate guests and drive bookings. Check it out here.
