See Sydney, Australia’s glamorous capital of glamour, in serious style before camping in a luxury swag (that’s a roll up camp bed to you and me) in mountains scattered with wildlife and valleys oozing with wine. We have found a way to refresh the trodden path. Read on for our new take on Sydney and its rich surrounding countryside.

Bird’s eye view

Stay at the uber-hip hotel The Establishment, and after a breezy climb to the summit of Sydney Harbour Bridge (yes, a climb: altitude gives you the best views) and a private tour of the Opera House we’ll dash you across the bay in a water taxi to meet your seaplane. Once boarded, you’ll fly up north to seriously glamorous Cowan Creek for a slap-up lunch – Sydney’s best-kept secret.

Cocooned by the 15,000-hectare Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Cowan Creek is the premier mooring spot amongst the local sailors. Arrive at The Cottage Point Inn and sit back at your pre-booked deck-top table and devour some modern Aussie tucker with exquisite wines. Oven roasted jewfish anyone?

Swag it up in the blue mountains

You’ve seen our favourite parts of the city: now for some fresh air in the Blue Mountains (which are, interestingly, blue from the oil of the eucalyptus trees growing there). Take a two-hour drive in your pre-arranged hire car for wild bush luxury at its best. Here you’ll be glamping (glam-camping) under the stars: sleeping in a deluxe version of a traditional Australian ‘swag’.

To carry on the luxurious Australian experience, we’ll arrange for a local safari guide to take you on a bush walk and a drift down Wolldonlilly River in a canoe, with a chance to spot the ever-elusive platypus. Feeling a little more adventurous? We’ll arrange a 4WD safari to take you along the barely used trails, and finish off with a well-deserved bush BBQ: a truly authentic off-road experience.

Hunter valley vineyards

What goes up must come down. A smooth four-hour spin will take you down the mountains to Hunter Valley, to unwind with a glass of wine. This is the birthplace of Australian wine, famous for its sublime Semillon and Shiraz varieties.

Hole up in Tower Lodge: enveloped by acres of vineyards and lavished with antique furniture. Once settled in, why not tee off at the resorts own 18-hole golf course, or take a dip in the heated outdoor pool? With over 80 vineyards to visit nearby (that’s a lot of wine to taste) you may want someone else to drive. Panic not: we’ll arrange for an experienced winemaker to be your skipper and guide you for the whole day on a private tour of the Hunter wine region. Before returning back to Sydney, end your stay at Hunter Valley floating across the horizon in a hot air balloon accompanied with a glass of local Australian sparkling wine. Perfect.

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