Sometimes you need a staycation. A getaway close to home that feels like a shift in pace, surrounded by open views, fresh air and the kind of greenery you wish you could take home with you. The Blue Mountains holds that atmosphere, and Logan Brae Orchards captures it with a clarity that stays with you.
A hidden gem in the hills of Blackheath, perched on the ridge beside an apple orchard, sits The Machinery Shed. The award-winning Airbnb has the character of a true mountain retreat and the comfort you want for a slow weekend. It is the sort of place you book for a reset and remember long after you leave.
And if you’re feeling lucky, we’re giving one reader the chance to experience a solo reset at Logan Brae. Entries close December 11. Enter here.
Read on for everything worth doing, seeing and savouring during a weekend at Logan Brae.
Stay
The Machinery Shed sits inside a century-old apple orchard on the edge of the Kanimbla escarpment, and you feel that history from the moment you arrive. The building mixes industrial and mid-century design with timber throughout, and a full wall of glass doors and windows that frame the view of the mountains ahead.
Walking inside, the fairy lights across the ceiling, the soft furnishings, the indoor plants and the open floorplan stopped me in my tracks. It felt like a real oasis, set up with everything you could need. There’s a TV with Netflix and Stan, board games for slow afternoons, and excellent wifi, which I ended up relying on while I logged on to get a little work done.
The fireplace became our anchor after sunset. We spent both nights sitting around it, talking through the day and toasting marshmallows like we were far further from home than we actually were. In the mornings, I took my coffee outside and sat in the hanging chair, taking in the view before we planned anything at all.
Do
A walk through the orchard is a must – even out of season, it’s beautiful. The rows of apple trees stretch out in every direction, and the nets above them give the whole place a unique glow when the light comes through.
One must also make the very short walk downhill and through the gate to find the outdoor bath perched on a deck with the most incredible view I’ve ever had from a tub. I stayed until the water went cold.
When we wanted to explore beyond the property, we took the car out for a slow drive around the Blue Mountains. Blackheath and Katoomba – each spot has its own lookouts and winding roads, and half the fun is pulling over whenever something catches your eye.
Eat
Food ended up being one of the nicest parts of the stay because everything felt easy. We stopped at Harris Farm before the drive up and stocked the basics – bread, fruit, snacks and a few things to throw together for grazing in the afternoon. Once we arrived, we set it all out in the living area and picked at it while settling in.
Breakfast was our slowest moment each day. The kitchen is fully set up, so we made pancakes and eggs from the free range chickens (so cute) and sat by the window with the mountains right there in front of us. When I wanted something quick, I’d grab tea or a coffee from the Breville machine (one of my favourite parts of the stay).
One evening, we drove to The New Ivanhoe Hotel in Blackheath and ordered arancini, barramundi and a parmi. It hit the mark after a day of walking, lounging and working online. And of course, the marshmallows by the fire became a nightly ritual. Simple, but it worked perfectly with the pace of the stay.
Take
I kept my packing light for this trip, and it ended up being all I needed. A book was essential for slow moments on the deck, and sunglasses stayed in reach the whole weekend. A beach-style tote was surprisingly handy too, even though we weren’t anywhere near the beach.
I packed swimmers and thongs for the outdoor bath, which turned out to be the right call once we found it perched above the valley. SPF was another must – the sun is strong up there, even when it doesn’t feel like it. I brought my laptop to get a bit of work done during the day (thank you, wifi). A jumper was useful at night when the temperature dropped.
The rest was already waiting for us: robes, kitchen basics, bedding, tea, coffee. You really don’t need much more than your own essentials for a weekend here.
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Image: airbnb
