10 NSW & Sydney stays perfect for the solo traveller

Spicers Sangoma Retreat 

Location: Bowen Mountain 

Distance from Sydney: 76km (1hr 15min) 

Why visit: Travelling along Bowen Mountains’ narrow Grandview Lane, the only sign you’ve arrived at Spicers Sangoma Retreat is an imposing iron gate. Wait for it to slide open and pass through for an unmatched experience of luxury. The all-inclusive package offers a la carte breakfast, lunch and degustation dinners from lauded onsite restaurant Amara; and every room has a king-sized bed, a wood stove and an oversized tub. In the morning, have breakfast on your private timber balcony with only the local birds for company. In the evening, return to the communal lounge after a day of bushwalking for an afternoon cocktail with a view.  

What’s nearby: Set out along the walking track for 15 minutes to the Vale of Avoca Lookout, listening for the high, melodic warble of lyrebirds along the way. Or stay on site and book into the spa tent for a massage.   

Price range: $$$ 

Byron Yoga Centre 

Location: Byron Bay 

Distance from Sydney: 765km (8hr) 

Why visit: Tucked away on the verdant outskirts of Byron Bay is a little slice of paradise where the Byron Yoga Centre has welcomed guests to its 12-hectare retreat since 1988. Whether you want to enjoy a solo wellness experience or share the serenity with your fellow retreaters, the centre offers yoga and meditation sessions daily, interspersed with delicious vegetarian meals made from organic produce grown on the property. In your downtime, wander the palm tree-lined walking paths, take a dip in the sun-soaked pool, book a massage or sauna session, or settle in on a shady deck with a good book.  

What’s nearby: Hire a bike and cycle the 1.5km to Byron town centre and soak up life in the buzzy beach spot. Order fish and chips at Fishheads Byron and walk down to the water for dip or visit the Cape Byron Lighthouse. 

Price range: $* 

*The centre operates a pay-what-you-feel model with suggested pricing. 

Jaguar Stay 

Location: Mogo 

Distance from Sydney: 300km (3hr 55min) 

Why visit: With private plunge pools, boutique studio accommodation and starlit fire pits set on a 69-hectare cattle farm, Jaguar Stay’s six one-bedroom villas in Mogo celebrate the magic of taking things slow. Spend mornings on the sunny balcony, eating breakfast with a view of the Great Dividing Range; hire a kayak with Region X for a paddle on the Tomaga River near Batemans Bay; or if you’ve booked the sip and stay package, take the one-minute walk to Foxdog Distillery for a gin tasting. 

What’s nearby: The quiet, sandy stretches and sheltered waters of Tomakin Beach and Broulee Beach are a five-minute drive away.  

Price range: $$ 

Basalt Luxury Accommodation 

Location: Canobolas 

Distance from Sydney: 265km (3hr 40min) 

Why visit: At Basalt Luxury Accommodation you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world. Set among the rolling hills of a Canobolas cherry orchard, the three exquisite studios celebrate the rarity of solitude. With king-sized beds facing floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Orange, free-standing concrete bathtubs and cosy fireplaces, you might not want to venture any further than the gravel path to your personal outdoor firepit. 

What’s nearby: If you’re inspired to travel further afield, make the 15-minute drive to Orange to pick up a pastry or pie at Racine Bakery, hike the 4.5km-return Mount Canobolas Summit Walking Track to reach the highest point in central NSW, or channel your inner Kandinsky and book a private watercolour class with local artist Daniel Cooke. 

Price range: $$ 

Crystalbrook Byron 

Location: Byron Bay 

Distance from Sydney: 765km (8hr) 

Why visit: Walk into the open-air reception at Crystalbrook Byron and feel the slow breeze from the ceiling fans cool you. This resort, nestled in 18 hectares of lush subtropical rainforest, insists on a slower pace. Check into your suite; the only plan is to read on the daybed on the porch, go to early morning yoga in the pavilion or wander down the forest boardwalk, through the gate and out to the sandy expanse of Tallow Beach. 

What’s nearby: Bustling central Byron Bay is just 5km down the road. Borrow a bike from reception and cruise to Main Beach, go horse riding on the sand with Zephyr Horses or paddling with dolphins on a Cape Byron Kayaks tour.  

Price range: $ 

Japanese Bath House 

Location: South Bowenfels 

Distance from Sydney: 140km (2hr 20min) 

Why visit: Japan’s public bathing culture has a home in the Blue Mountains at Japanese Bath House. Sourced from natural hot springs, the baths are spaces of relaxation and quiet reflection. Spend hours dipping between one of the bath house’s many thermal pools, all looking out over Lake Lyell in the valley below. The accommodation is comfortable and pared back – it’s the perfect place to be alone with your thoughts before heading to your onsite massage or a herbal sauna session.   

What’s nearby: If you can tear yourself away from the baths, Hassans Walls Lookout, the highest lookout in the Blue Mountains, is just 20 minutes away.  

Price range: $$ 

Hunter Valley Resort and Farm 

Location: Hunter Valley 

Distance from Sydney: 195km (2hr 10min) 

Why visit: Sometimes solo travel means solitary bushwalks and evenings spent soaking in a bathtub, sipping a crisp chardonnay. And sometimes it means learning a skill and making new mates. Hunter Valley Resort and Farm offers the best of both worlds in Pokolbin. Check in to a quaint cottage room with cathedral ceilings and a relaxing spa tub, then head to an onsite class. At the cooking school, learn how to cook and host a multi-course dinner, make a pizza from scratch, or craft chocolates and desserts. At the wine school you can take a deep dive into the art of making wine with fellow aspiring wine experts.  

What’s nearby: For views as far as the eye can see accompanied by a Champagne breakfast, book a sunrise balloon ride with Balloon Aloft Hunter Valley.  

Price range: $ 

YHA Sydney Harbour 

Location: Sydney 

Distance from Sydney: 2.5km (14min) 

Why visit: Budget accommodation doesn’t normally come with spectacular, panoramic views unless you’re staying at The Rocks’ YHA Sydney Harbour. Keen to make new friends? Drop your bags in your room – single or shared accommodation is available – and head straight for the rooftop bar where you can share a drink with fellow travellers and see the Sydney Opera House, cruise ships docked at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and uninterrupted views of sparkling Sydney Harbour.  

What’s nearby: Food and culture are on your doorstep. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia’s collection, hop on the light rail to Haymarket for comforting Malaysian cooking at Ho Jiak Haymarket, choose a scoop from Gelato Messina Darling Square’s 40 flavours, then catch a ferry at Darling Harbour and head back to home base near Circular Quay. 

Price range: $ 

Halcyon House 

Location: Cabarita Beach 

Distance from Sydney: 800km (8hr 20min) 

Why visit: Halcyon House is a little bit retro-tropical and a little bit maximalist with a big dose of restorative relaxation. The seaside resort has it all: a Swedish sauna and cold plunge, rows of poolside sun loungers shaded by umbrellas, meals at hatted restaurant Paper Daisy and morning yoga on the sandy shores of Cabarita Beach, just footsteps away from the accommodation.  

What’s nearby: Pick up a bottle of Ink Gin for a souvenir at Husk Farm Distillery, then check out the contemporary exhibits at Tweed Regional Museum.  

Price range: $$ 

The Bridge – Bundanon 

Location: Shoalhaven 

Distance from Sydney: 205km (2hr 30min) 

Why visit: An art museum incorporated in the landscape and a wildlife sanctuary on 1,000 hectares, Bundanon is a place like no other. Its onsite accommodation, The Bridge – Bundanon, offers limited stay experience weekends, ideal for the creative at heart. Check in early to an eco-friendly, minimalist room with stunning views of the property before going on a bushwalk through the breathtaking scenery, taking part in a guided art workshop or decompressing on your own. A multi-course, communal feast prepared by the executive chef starts at sundown. The next day, opt in for yoga and breakfast followed by a visit to the museum to take in the extensive collection that includes works by Sidney Nolan and Brett Whiteley. A stay at The Bridge isn’t just about relaxation; the institution gifts two local school children a day learning program at Bundanon with each night booked.  

What’s nearby: Check Bundanon’s website to choose stay dates that coincide with music concerts, or local artist markets.  

Price range: $$ 

Key: 

$ <500 

$$ 501-1000 

$$$ >1000