Best winter weekend escape: The hidden Blue Mountains valley that marks the perfect Sydney escape

I’ve always been skeptical of people who say that when they go to certain places or destinations, time feels like it slows down.

But last weekend, in the depths of winter, parenting, working and marathon training, I finally got the respite my body had clearly been craving.

On the outskirts of Sydney, beyond the iconic Three Sisters, lies a pocket of the Blue Mountains I’d never heard of or explored: Mount Kanimbla.

Situated in the western Blue Mountains of New South Wales, roughly a two-hour drive from Sydney and rising nearly 700 meters above sea level, it overlooks the wide-open, misty expanses of the Kanimbla Valley and offers a secluded, tranquil alternative to busy tourist hubs like Leura and Katoomba.

As we pulled into Mt Kanimbla Retreats late on a Friday afternoon, I knew we were in for 48 hours of a treat.

Mt Kanimbla Retreats is a hidden-away hideway comprising three separate, self-contained luxury properties.

Set on 36 acres with front-row views to one of Australia’s most awe-inspiring landscapes, each property promises misty escarpments, deep valleys, and untouched wilderness stretch as far as the eye can see.

Visiting with my sister and her family, we stayed in the largest option of the three: The Lodge, which features four bedrooms and a sofa bed, and can sleep up to 10 guests in total.

As soon as you set foot in The Lodge , you feel instantly more relaxed.

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living space offer panoramic views of the mountains (no cars! No people!), while the cosy fireplaces in each living area of the space, along with the endless shelves of books, mean that you instantly feel away from the rush and hustle.

A stay at Mt Kanimbla Retreats means you can do as much or as little as you like.

On the property (which we barely left), there is plenty to do for kids and adults alike.

From the outdoor pool (which although unheated was extremely popular with my water-loving four-year-old daughter), to the picture-perfect outdoor bath, barbecue, chicken coop for fresh eggs and firepit, it’s easy to spend much of the weekend outside without even having to move far.

We found ourselves showing my family the major Blue Mountains sites on the way down on Friday and then not really leaving the property on the Saturday, save for a walk from the house around the valley.