In my opinion, there is nothing better for the soul than a weekend away in a quaint country town.

Cities are beautifully hectic, but you really can’t find a moment of peace. The beaches are packed, the trains are crammed, even the coastal walks are full of people. It. Is. A. Lot.

I, for one, tend to need a break from the city from time to time, and nothing recharges me like escaping to a luxury lodge surrounded by nature, drinking world-class wine, and eating brilliant food (we all have our things!).

If you’re looking for a rural weekend getaway just a couple of hours from Sydney, I highly recommend Mudgee. It feels worlds away from the city, yet still offers great dining, wineries, and things to do. I promise despite what you may think of the country, you’ll never get bored. In fact, don’t be surprised if you find yourself contemplating giving up the city life and Googling ‘how to buy a winery’ instead.

I’ve been to Mudgee five times now and I’m always pining to go back. Here are my top places to stay, eat, drink, and see.

Accommodation

I take escaping to the country seriously, and as a chronically online girlie, I love booking accommodation that forces me to get off Instagram. On my most recent visit to Mudgee, I stayed at Glenayr Farm, just a short drive from Mudgee’s town centre.

Don’t let the name fool you into thinking you have to rough it — Glenayr Farm isn’t your typical farm stay. Think luxurious villa with a private hot tub overlooking rolling hills. It’s probably the most remote accommodation I’ve ever stayed at, with panoramic views of untouched greenery (we didn’t see another person the entire time we were there), which made it all the more peaceful. They also offer glamping options too.

We spent our time indulging in life’s simple pleasures: soaking in the hot tub with a glass of wine, watching the most beautiful sunsets I’d ever seen, playing endless games of Bananagrams, and spotting kangaroos hopping by. I even slept in (which is a huge deal for me—I was THAT relaxed!).

You know the accommodation is amazing when you don’t want to leave your villa to go wine tasting and dining. Sigh, I just wanted to live in this happy little bubble, disconnected from society, forever.

This villa is definitely intimate and would be perfect for a romantic getaway or a trip with a close friend.

Wining and dining

You simply can’t go to Mudgee without doing a tasting (in my opinion, anyway). It’s the main drawcard. I, for one, can always get around drinking wine and eating cheese while basking in the sunshine.

I’ve done many tastings in Mudgee, but my recent visit to Gilbert Family Wines was a definite standout.

We tried their 2024 winning wines, which was very affordable ($20 per person), and ordered the cheese platter with fresh focaccia and locally grown produce for the perfect pairing (yum!). I loved every single wine, the cheese was brilliant, and the courtyard was the perfect setting to enjoy it all.

Zin House had been on my Mudgee wishlist forever, and it certainly lived up to the hype. While it’s definitely a splurge, this hatted restaurant at Lowe Family Wine Co. is incredible. We had the five-course set menu, which changes seasonally based on the available produce from their gardens. The food features mostly organic ingredients from their kitchen gardens, orchards, and farmland, prepared from scratch using classic techniques. Their seasonal menu, which on the day included a beetroot goat cheese herb and nut roulade, silverbeet pesto fettuccine, szechuan pork and amarena ice cream were paired beautifully with selections from their extensive wine collection.

If you love a unique dining experience, I highly recommend doing their set lunch menu. The food, the venue, and the wine were all outstanding, and it was definitely one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had.

Another restaurant we checked out was Gigi’s, a relatively new addition to the Mudgee food scene. It’s definitely more of a sophisticated dining experience with a chich interior and a focus on share plates, which is one of my favourite ways to dine as I am incredibly indecisive and like to try as many things as possible. We started with warm focaccia and marinated olives, followed by the pork belly and gnocchi. To finish, we had a cheese parfait and chocolate pannacotta donuts — it was delicious.

Activities

Most of my trips to Mudgee revolve around drinking wine, but this time I wanted to take relaxation to a whole new level, so I booked a sauna and float session—and it was the best decision ever.

I went to Jila, which had the most gorgeous interior and relaxing vibe. I love how relaxed saunas make me feel, so booking a private infrared sauna was such a treat.

If you’re unfamiliar with float therapy, you basically just lie in a shallow pool of warm water saturated with Epsom salt, which allows your body to float effortlessly while listening to calming music. The whole experience relaxes your muscles and mind, helping to induce a state of calm that is great for your body and also reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes relaxation.

It was my first time trying float therapy and I can confirm it did all of these things. I was in a state of bliss throughout the float and was much calmer than usual throughout the day.  I will definitely be booking another float again. I’m a huge advocate for self-care and treating yourself, especially when you’re on a mini vacay and this sauna/float combo is the perfect way to do just that. I guarantee you’ll feel SO good afterwards.

Mudgee strikes the perfect balance between rural charm and fun. With so much to see, do, eat and drink it is the perfect weekend away destination. And with its relatively close proximity to Sydney, you better believe I will be back.