A few days of escaping to regional New South Wales just may be what you need for a self care retreat…but on your terms. No set times for group activities or obligations, just your time to switch off and reset. Allow me to take you inside 3 days spent in beautiful Mudgee as a self curated, self care retreat.
DAY ONE: SYDNEY TO MUDGEE
Mudgee is 3.5-4 hours drive out of Sydney with an easy, scenic route through the Blue Mountains. Stopping in the Blue Mountains is incredibly tempting and of course if more daylight hours allow, strolling through Leura or hiking in the bush an amazing activity to kick things off, but if a short stay in regional NSW is all you have, then hook into the quiet town of Lawson. Here you’ll find Black Cockatoo Bakery serving up delicious pastries, bread and coffee, for a mid morning pit stop.
From Lawson continue onto Mudgee and aim for a lunch arrival, checking in to The Clairfield Hotel. Nestled on the tranquil edge of Mudgee’s town centre, The Clairfield Hotel offers a sanctuary for those seeking a harmonious blend of luxury and wellness. With its thoughtfully curated amenities, including the state-of-the-art Jila Wellness spa, a fully equipped gym, steam room, and a heated swimming pool, The Clairfield provides an ideal setting for a rejuvenating self-care retreat.
From the moment you arrive, The Clairfield envelops you in an atmosphere of calm and sophistication. The hotel’s design seamlessly integrates modern aesthetics with natural elements, creating spaces that allow you to switch off, relax and restore. The heated swimming pool, surrounded by chic lounge chairs and striped umbrellas, invites guests to unwind and soak in the quiet, country ambiance. An outdoor fireplace by the pool welcomes you by night, with a cup of herbal tea… naturally.
(Image : Entry foyer at The Clairfield Hotel, Mudgee, NSW)
(Image: Luxury king room at The Clairfield Hotel, Mudgee, NSW)
If you’re ready for a lunchtime bite amongst the vines then head to Blue Wren Vineyard for a delicious meal at The Barn. Early week (Monday-Wednesday) most restaurants in the wineries are closed. The Barn is one of few open of a Monday, serving up fresh local produce, artfully and with wholesome twists.
(Image: Roasted beetroot, smoked labneh, dukkah and micro greens, The Barn)
An afternoon walk through Mudgee’s Lawson Park, looping down past the river and up toward local’s favourite The Corner Store is a gentle way to move after lunch, and grab a warm afternoon cup of tea or hot chocolate. The Corner Store offers an array of local artisanal goods such as honey, coffee, local packaged sweets, biltong (a great option for those who love a protein charged snack) and hand crafted relishes, to take with home to your people.
A steam room session in your afternoon-evening, no-obligation activities alternating with pool plunges, is a delightful way to begin dipping your toes, quite literally, into the wellbeing side of The Clairfield Hotel, before an evening for you to own as you please. For me, this entailed an evening strong yoga flow class at Good Culture Club (Perry St, Mudgee), helping me to drop right into my body and breath, followed by a soul hugging meal at Gigi’s Mudgee (located inside The Clairfield Hotel).
(Image: Steam room at The Clairfield Hotel)
(Image: Gigi’s Mudgee, Ricotta Gnocchi)
(Image : The Clairfield Hotel, Mudgee, by night)
(Image : by the outdoor fireplace at The Clairfield Hotel, Mudgee)
DAY TWO: MUDGEE SELF CARE RETREAT
For those ready to incorporate physical activity, The Clairfield Hotel gym offers a range of equipment to cater to various programmes and fitness routines. Kept in pristine condition and with fresh, morning, country light, flowing in, it’s an energising offering to kick start to the day. And, with zero obligations in your day otherwise, you can spend as little or as long as you wish training. Post-workout, jump back into the steam room to relax muscles and gently detoxify the body, before diving into a delicious nourishing breakfast at Gigi’s.
(Image : Gym at The Clairfield Hotel)
The breakfast offering at Gigi’s in The Clairfield Hotel is vibrant and diverse. Guests can break-fast with dishes such as the chai spiced porridge with poached pear and blood orange, or heartier options, plus dishes tailored to your preference. Each thoughtfully prepared to delight the palate. The restaurant’s commitment to quality and flavour ensures that every meal contributes to the overall sense of well-being whilst at The Clairfield.
(Image : Gigi’s Restaurant, at The Clairfield Hotel)
(Image : Green breakfast bowl, at Gigi’s Restaurant)
Book into Jila for a float and/or sauna experience mid morning, or split the experience, with one per day as you wish. The float therapy rooms at Jila offer a unique experience of weightlessness, allowing the mind and body to enter a state of deep calm. This therapy is known to reduce stress, alleviate pain, and improve sleep quality, making it a cornerstone of a retreat experience. Jila is beautifully designed to cocoon and nourish you. Whether a morning or afternoon session in Jila, it’s not to be missed and the only offering of its kind in Mudgee.
When you’re ready to move into your next phase of the day, take a drive and explore local Mudgee. The township is quaint and offers a number of excellent cafes for coffee and lunch. Millbrie’s and Alby and Ester’s are both favourites to locals with delicious dishes served in cosy environments.
If a book in bed calls you back to The Clairfield, lean into what feels best for you in that moment. Alternatively, if an afternoon of sun and a local drop is part of the appeal to Mudgee then a number of winery cellar doors will welcome you. Peterson’s Wines a family-owned winery, has a history rooted in the Hunter Valley but expanded to Mudgee in the mid-1990s and has an expansive vineyard set against the backdrop of rolling hills around Mudgee. For me, an afternoon tasting of local reds on a crisp, sun filled Winter day, was all part of the well rounded experience of a self care retreat and a beautiful way to set up for an evening of big flavours for dinner at Gigi’s.
(Image : Peterson’s Wines, Mudgee)
(Image: Jacqueline at Peterson’s Wines, Mudgee)
(Image: The vines at Peterson’s Wines, Mudgee)
In my opinion, no retreat is complete without delicious cuisine, and Gigi’s Restaurant at The Clairfield exceeds all expectations. Embracing a farm-to-table philosophy, Gigi’s showcases the best of Mudgee’s local produce in its inventive Australian cuisine. With a warming fire as the centrepiece of Gigi’s it’s the perfect dinner location to sink into after a day of self care and fresh country air. Whilst the dinner menu of course changes with the seasons and, no doubt, avail of local produce, I cannot recommend enough the melt in your mouth experience of the beef cheeks (served on my occasion at Gigi’s with a wet polenta).
DAY THREE: MUDGEE SELF CARE RETREAT
A heavenly sleep in, followed by a brisk walk into Mudgee to pick up some baked goods at Althea by Zin, to take travelling home should be on the list. Famous for its sourdough bread and selection of cakes, Althea has elevated Mudgee’s baked offering. Not to be missed are the canele – an infusion of custard into a light sweet pastry like bread, an absolute delight.
Follow your morning movement with a steam or pool plunge and breakfast at Gigi’s, before checkout and one final treatment at The Clairfield to invigorate your body and mind before heading home.
Jila Wellness is at the heart of The Clairfield Hotel’s wellbeing offerings, with both float tank and infrared saunas. The infrared saunas at Jila differ from traditional saunas however, by warming the body from the inside out, promoting effective detoxification and relaxation. Enhanced with Chromotherapy, a light therapy that balances the body’s energy, each session leaves guests feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.
And with that, it’s time to pack up, say farewell and close this beautiful self care retreat. Leaving feeling refreshed, relaxed, reconnected and ready for home.
The Clairfield Hotel in Mudgee offers more than just accommodation; it provides a holistic environment where guests can focus on their well-being. With its comprehensive wellness facilities, serene ambiance, and exquisite dining options, The Clairfield stands as a premier destination for those seeking a restorative retreat.
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*As a reader and subscriber to Brown Paper Nutrition, The Clairfield is offering 10% off all accomodation booked using code JACQ10 until 17 November 2025. (Not to be used with any other already discounted/sale prices). All guests of The Clairfield will be entitled to 15% off spa treatments at JILA Wellness. *
