Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

Splendid new destination resort on a 4,000-acre former cattle ranch, three hours northwest of Sydney in the Blue Mountains of the Great Dividing Range. Forty colonial-style bungalows come with screened verandas, corrugated metal roofs and private heated plunge pools. Interiors make extensive use of local materials and provide leather wing chairs and sofas grouped around gas-burning fireplaces. Bedrooms offer four-poster beds; stylish, slate-faced baths are equipped with separate tubs and showers. Main homestead contains two excellent restaurants serving contemporary Australian cuisine. Other amenities include a heated swimming pool and a first-rate spa. Full daily schedule of activities includes horseback riding, hikes and four-wheel-drive “safaris.” Overall, this fine property provides a memorable taste of the Australian great outdoors within easy reach of Sydney. No children under age 8.