It truly doesn’t take much for the desire to run away to the countryside, the mountains, or really any isolated corner of the earth to trickle into my brain. This fantasy is especially prevalent in the winter months, when the days are decidedly shorter, and the air seems to bite with a spiteful bitterness that makes the commute to work just that much harder.
While I know, deep down, that I probably couldn’t survive without the amenities and ease that city life provides, I also know that my craving for disconnection and slowing down will never go away. So, I’ve resolved to find ways to satiate this desire, and luckily for me, isolation and comfort are not mutually exclusive when it comes to getaways in Australia.
Just two hours outside of Sydney, in the heart of the Blue Mountains’ Blackheath, sits a 100-year-old apple orchard overlooking the Kanimbla escarpments: Logan Brae Orchard. Tucked away in this farm, between apple trees and panoramic views, is a secluded mid-century stay at The Machinery Shed.
While it’s easily the perfect stay for couples, creatives, and solo-travellers, I’d also recommend taking your best friend and having one of the most delectable girls’ trips imaginable. Normalise romantic getaways with your friends!
Read on to see how my dreams of slow and secluded living came true in New South Wales’ Kanimbla Valley…
Entering paradise
Now, when I say secluded, I really mean a winding five-minute drive from Blackheath’s town centre. However, once you pass through the rustic metal gates of the Logan Brae Orchard, it sure feels like an isolated escape. Driving down a gravel path and passing a sign labelled ‘chicken crossing’ (adorable), we were promptly greeted, as expected, by the orchard’s fluffy receptionist, Lottie – the resident Maremma livestock guardian dog who lives full-time on the property.
After a wave and a mandatory petting, our car rolled towards a panoramic view that I truly did not expect; the kind that leaves you lost for words.
So, we did just that. We let our words get lost and took a moment to stare silently out into the vast expanse of Kanimbla Valley before unlocking the doors to our holiday home.
Our amazement only grew as we stepped inside the open-plan living area that was The Machinery Shed.
The sight was enough to promptly turn us into excited toddlers let loose at the park (mind you, there were literal swings inside).
Adorned with fairy lights on the ceiling and mid-century modern décor on the floor, the space also included a fully-stocked fireplace, and a luxurious bathroom with views of the bushland.
Then, there’s the sauna, treetop bath, and outdoor firepit – with marshmallows, rugs, and equipment provided – and a balcony with views I wish I could wake up to every day.
Oh, and did I mention the king-size bed with 100% bamboo sheets that gave me the best sleep of my life? Yeah, it’s safe to say my friend and I never wanted to leave.
The welcome only got warmer after discovering Asia, the host, had left us a gift basket of goodies, including ‘Little Giant’ pinot gris and local treats ranging from gluten-free pancake and waffle batter and rocky road to salted caramel jam and organic muesli. When flicking through the instructions for our stay, we were encouraged to explore the grounds, pick any produce we liked from the vegetable garden, and take any eggs that may have been laid from the property’s chicken coop.
Spoilt for choice
Luckily for us, our good friend grew up nearby in Katoomba and had sent us a long list of Blackheath recommendations to try if we were so compelled to leave our winter oasis. The host also left a wonderful roadmap of all the best spots to wine and dine in town, with everything from the revamped pub, New Ivanhoe Hotel, to the little wine bar, Frankie & Mo’s, on the list.
After a delicious feed, our night ended by our freshly stoked fire with glasses of gifted pinot gris in hand, chocolate only an arm’s reach away, and a period drama streaming on the TV (The Other Bennet Sister, of course). My dream date.
The perfect stay for the slowest of days
As mentioned, I’m a firm believer in slowing down, and boy, did we do just that.
For our first and only full day in the orchard, we resolved to start it quite late into the morning, waking up at an hour reminiscent of my teenage years. After making coffee in the supplied Breville coffee maker (heaven, I know), we cooked breakfast with our freshly picked ingredients from the veggie patch, put on the fire, and read on armchairs that you could fall asleep in.
To reward ourselves for our lazy morning, we went to the Old Vic in town, a two-story antique store that’s open almost every day of the year, and is filled to the brim with knick-knacks, clothing, records, books, and homewares for everyone’s tastes. Then, we strolled through the first and second-hand bookstores owned and operated by Gleebooks, which, for someone who loves getting lost in shelves of books, was the perfect way to spend an afternoon.
While there’s not much I love more than a small town, the knowledge that a brand-new sauna awaited us at home was enough to cut our trip down the road short. As someone who has never been in a sauna before, this was the perfect TLC to calm my already over-rested body. The sauna came with a clear instructions-for-use video, alongside robes, salts, towels, and slip-on shoes. Perched to the right of the Airbnb, the sauna had glass doors overlooking the valley below and boasted a clean and modern design that felt welcoming and safe, particularly for first-timers like ourselves.
Our last evening at the orchard was not dissimilar to our first. We spent it by the fire — our bellies full of wine, cheese, and woodfired pizza, and our hearts grateful for the experience.
Australia’s bushland will always have a special place in my heart
I’ve been incredibly lucky to explore quite a few corners of the world. However, no matter where I’ve travelled, I find nothing quite compares to Australia’s landscape – and this stay reminded me why.
As a lover of bush walks and hikes, and with family scattered across South Gippsland in Victoria and Manning Valley in New South Wales, I’m almost certain I’m biased. However, if you need convincing, I’d place this little corner of the earth high on your hit list.
Will I realistically run away to the countryside at this stage in my life? No. But, it was sure wonderful to play pretend for two warm, winter nights.
You can book The Machinery Shed on Airbnb.
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