Escape to the hinterland

By CHARLOTTE GARDNER

There’s nothing quite like packing up the car and heading down the highway after a busy week. For two nights, I stayed tucked away in a beautiful part of Northern New South Wales at the stunning La Rocher Eco Retreat, a true hidden gem and the perfect place to escape to in the cooler months – or anytime, really. By the time my friend and I reached our room, we immediately felt relaxed, and it took all of two seconds to pop on the fire and a fluffy bathrobe and pour a glass (or two!) of red – how’s the serenity?

La Rocher has uninterrupted views of the surrounding forest, rolling hills, and the iconic Mount Warning. The spacious and cosy villas nestled into the foothills of the mountain really ensure that wherever you are on the property, you are fully immersed in nature. We arrived just before sunset and as you can imagine the views were just mesmerising.

The Rocher family, that own and operate the eco retreat, are extremely welcoming and hospitable and have equipped the rooms with all the amenities you may need for a comfortable stay. We were equally impressed with their efforts around sustainability.

We spent the two days unwinding and resetting, driving through the lush surrounds, wildlife watching, sunbaking, reading, and tucking into delicious eats. We were also keen to explore the neighbouring towns and hit the pavements for the best wine, cheese, and local produce. All in all, it was a relaxing getaway like none other and exactly what this city girl needed!

@LAROCHERECORETREAT