My 30th is coming up and I've been trying to work out what I want to do. I think I'm going to take the opportunity for some respite and just go away for the weekend with DH. But I don't know where.

If you could just up and leave and go away for a mid-winter weekend escape to relax, where in Australia would you go?

DH and I are going to Peppers in Bowral for a long winter weekend, looks very nice! Otherwise, there was also an amazing Eco resort near the blue mountains - cant remember the name but price wise it was about $1500 each for a long weekend. If price is no object, we definitely would have gone there

Bunker Bay / Eagle Bay in Naturaliste, WA.

I'm assuming budget isn't an issue, lol?

Port Douglas or Magnetic Island for me.

An island for sure. Somewhere isolated and luxurious.
Lizard Island.
Might have to be 3 nights though

If I were just going for the weekend, I would pick somewhere local. I wouldn't want to waste my time flying or travelling too far. Usually we pick somewhere where we can go to a fantastic restaurant

The Kimberley's in WA I have always wanted to go.

I have been to Uluru and it's majestic and I loved it.

There is an Eco resort approx 45 minutes west of Katoomba called "Eagle View Escape". It's pricey but oh so worth it.

http://www.eagleview.com.au/

It's built underground on the side of a hill and the view is magical. The way it's been built no one can see into your room. It's totally private. Temperature controlled showers, gas log fire. They even have a restaurant. Yummy food too.

I proposed to DH there.

Tassie

I would absolutely go to Tasmania, to MONA, and to drink a sh*tload of Tas fizz and other wine.. plus I would go to Bruny island and gobble all the cheese.

I've always wanted to go to Bedarra Island.

http://www.bedarra.com.au

This

Thanks for the ideas.

Price is obviously a consideration, but I'm just trying to get ideas. I was originally going to go to sydney for the weekend to see my big bro but have decided not to. Not that i don't love my bro and want to hang with him, but if I'm going away for the weekend, I want to recharge my batteries rather than spend the whole time partying.

Tasmania!

If I didn't mind travelling (probably on the Fri and Mon to maximize my weekend), I'd go to the Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island. Quiet, peaceful, luxurious. Perfect for recharging batteries.

In a nice little cottage in the wilderness of Tasmania.

Yes to Tassie!

I would stay at Cradle Mountain Lodge - so beautiful and cozy in the cold weather and they have an amazing dayspa as well.

The Lake House at Daylesford.

http://www.lakehouse.com.au/

Karijini National Park. I'd stay at the eco retreat, not that flash but still - its a beautiful, breathtaking part of the world.

It depends on whether you were happy to spend much time flying.

I would love to go back to the Kimberly's but it would take a while to fly from the East Coast there and if time was an issue it may not work.

An island would be my next choice

If it was just going to be DH and I then Lord Howe Island, if we were taking the kids Central Australia and going to the Kimberleys etc

ETA: I just realized you said weekend, Lord Howe for DH and I still but otherwise Tassie with the kids

In winter?

My favourite would be Cradle Mountain in Tasmania.

Somewhere on the water so DH and I could go out for a dive whenever we want without having to run around organising babysitters... South West Rocks so we could dive Fish Rock Cave, or Central Coast so we could dive on the ex HMAS Adelaide. If money wasn't an issue, and we had 3 days, I would go somewhere in FNQ. We went to Cairns a couple of months ago, and it was beautiful, but it rained literally the whole time we were there (it was the weekend that there was a tornado in Townsville), so I want to go back when it's not in the wet season!

Karajini. Or Port Douglas.

An island Although I'd be negotiating more than a weekend with the babysitters

Enjoy your weekend away - you deserve it

This for us as well. Plus somewhere there are no children allowed

Oh yes, Lord Howe Island, Capella Lodge what an awesome place. DH and I spent 4 blissful days there pre-kids.

I think a remote island would be wonderful for me, but as you are already in Queensland I think you need to change things up a bit and stay somewhere cooler. Maybe the Barossa Valley in SA? Wine tasting by day, snuggling near on open fire at night.

You could also have a weekend in Melbourne! Plenty of shopping and eating to be done here. Just make sure you stay somewhere very decadent so that you can enjoy just lazing about in your hotel.

If $ was no object etc, probably somewhere with snow (none of us have seen/experienced snow)

But other than that.... Monkey Mia would be warm and you can see the dolphins....

A long weekend, I'd go to Melbourne! Otherwise somewhere closer to cut travel time...maybe Margaret River or Freo.

To the pp who suggested the Kimberley, it's well worth a visit but would be wasted on a weekend, you need at leat a few weeks to appreciate the beauty of the Kimberley. Plus it's a huge area which requires travel time in between 'specific sights'.

I agree with Lucy E I was going to suggest the Southern Ocean Lodge at Kangaroo Island we were there over New Years and it's spectacular!

I've talked DH into taking a half day on the Friday and Monday off. So, 3 nights away.

So, is there a budget we can work with?

Close to home I would pick the Mouses House at Springbrook - just love their chalets in the rainforest! Total relaxation...

Further afield (and expense obviously) I would head to Tasmania - Cradle Mountain!

Depends where you are ... I work in hotels so I'm a little picky, but these places (in Vic) are spectacular!!
http://www.kudosvillas.com.au/

Damn you all, now I want a weekend away!

I'd probably go to ... Tassie. I haven't been there yet.

either:

somewhere to thaw out - Noosa
somewhere to sit by the fire and drink good wine - Barossa Valley

Broome.

Pearl purchase mandatory!

Melbourne. At the Westin.

Easy, Port Douglas...

This is a great thread! When dh and I need to go,away we usually stay at Tower estate in the hunter valley. However, that is pretty local for us. It looks as though Tasmania is the next trip though!

Definitely this. All that fresh air and communing with nature, but in luxury, would really do it for me.

I'd go to one of the Whitsunday Islands or Port Douglas.

If it was just for the weekend then Melbourne. I would do lots of shopping

ETA: Cradle Mountain is lovely but obviously living in Tassie I'd choose somewhere outside my own State

My dream place would be Tasmania in winter. I want my girls to see and experience the snow, even just once....one day.

Lynn

Definately makepeace Island, you're worth it

http://www.makepeaceisland.com/

Thank you for this suggestion. I am now only looking at places that are child free. DH wants to go abroad, but if he's only taking a day and a half off work, I don't think it's worth it. I'm mostly looking around the gold coast hinterland, northern nsw or the sunshine coast hinterland areas now so we don't waste too much time traveling.

Thanks for the awesome suggestions!

That looks awesome, but way out of the budget!!

Spicers Cloverly Estate is on the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Spicers Peak Lodge is in the Scenic Rim.

Both have deals on Wotif.

If your DH wants to go o/s, Fiji is just 3.5hrs out of Brisbane. Get an evening flight and you kinda 'save' travel time. Even though there are lots of good accommodation deals, I find the airfares cancels out most of the savings.

I'm thinking something like this....

http://www.ccrr.com.au/accommodation/glass..._bungalows.html

Or

http://www.wollumbinpalms.com.au/home.php

Not sure if DH will agree on the price, but I figure what we can save on airfares we can spend on accommodation...