Overview
In a year that's seen us all pondering holidays close to home, the New South Wales National Parks department has just gifted the state's residents with a trio of new reasons to book a local trip. Perhaps you feel like heading north and enjoying a coastal getaway? Maybe you'd rather go south and roam around the bushland? Either way, there are now three refurbished cottages across both spots ready and waiting for reservations.
The first — and perhaps the one you'll be instantly enthusiastic about with the weather warming up — is Davies Cottage, which is located in Myall Lakes National Park on the mid north coast. It was built back in the 50s, on the eastern headland at Seals Rock village, and boasts views out over Boat Beach and Sugarloaf Bay. Here, you can vacation in a group of up to six, and spend plenty of time sitting on the timber deck and staring out at the water. The self-contained abode also comes with an outdoor barbecue and sun lounge chairs — or, for when you'd rather relax inside, a fully equipped kitchen and an open-plan living space.
In terms of things to do, you'll be less than a kilometre from Sugarloaf Lighthouse. Or, you can indulge in a bit of dolphin-spotting at Lighthouse Beach or wander through Treachery Headland. Drive over to Wallingat National Park and/or Booti Booti National Park, and you'll find more places to bushwalk, more lookouts and more beaches.
Davies Cottage via Brent Mail, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
The second two refurbed places to stay are located in Kosciuszko National Park, in the Thredbo-Perisher area. It mightn't be ski season at present, but the Creel Bay cottages are open year-round in the Snowy Mountains region. Both — Creel Retreat and Creel View — are surrounded by eucalypt woodland, and boast views over Lake Jindabyne. Three-bedroom abodes that can sleep six guests each, and feature new kitchens and bathrooms, large outdoor decks and barbecues, they're actually former staff lodges that have been repurposed.
On the agenda here: peering over the lake and up at the mountains, and, in winter, using it as a base to get to Perisher Valley (which is less than a 30-minute drive away) and hit the snow. In summer, you can take a bushwalk via the nearby waterfall, through the Main Range or along the Mount Kosciuszko Summit. On Lake Jindabyne, you can also fish, paddle and boat — while the Thredbo Valley Track is also ten minutes away by car.
Creel Bay cottages via Murray Vanderveer, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
If you're eager to kick back by the sea, Davies Cottage's rates start at $1400 — for a seven-night stay (which is the minimum booking period) for up to six people. For those who'd rather a mountain trip, the Creel Bay cottages start at $265 per night, with a two-night minimum stay.
Both Davies Cottage and the Creel Bay cottages are now available for bookings. For more information, or to make a reservation, head to the Davies Cottage and Creel Bay cottages pages on the NSW National Parks website.
Top images: Davies Cottage via Brent Mail, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment; Creek Bay cottages via Murray Vanderveer, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.