A weekend of wellness in Mudgee

Ease into the weekend with a slow drive into town, windows down, playlist on. Check in to your retreat – maybe it’s Zensi Retreat. This is a purpose-built haven where everything from the food to the daily schedule is designed to help you exhale. With guided yoga and breathwork, nourishing seasonal meals and tranquil spaces to simply rest, this is the kind of place that brings your nervous system all the way back to calm.

Thinking about outdoor tubs and endless views that invite you to do absolutely nothing? The eco-luxe glamping tents and stunning villas at Sierra Escape offer the indulgence of a boutique hotel – king-sized beds, rain showers and wood fireplaces, all wrapped in the quiet magic of the bush. You can even add on a massage, a private yoga session, or a bottle of bubbles to toast your arrival.

Perhaps one of the architecturally designed Hideaway Domes is calling you. Tucked quietly into native bushland, here mornings begin with birdsong and evenings are for sitting by the fire, wrapped in a blanket and silence. No screens, no stress, just stars.

Once you’ve had a moment to settle in and soak up the view, it’s time for dinner – and Gigi’s is the perfect way to begin. Located at the Clairfield Hotel, this regional restaurant champions paddock-to-plate dining in the most authentic way. Head Chef Sam Potter is passionate about keeping things simple - beautiful fresh produce prepared with care.

If the stars align and you’re in town on the third Saturday of the month, head to the Mudgee Farmers’ Market. It’s one of the best in NSW, not just for its produce – though the small-batch sourdough, wild honey, native spice blends and herbal teas are standouts – but for the sense of community. You’ll meet the farmers, the bakers, the brewers and the cheesemakers, all happy to share a story or a recipe. It’s a reminder that nourishment begins with connection – to the land, to each other, to the season.

Or, start your morning the way Mudgee mornings were made for – with yoga or breathwork on the deck, sun gently warming your skin. Craving something a little wilder? Lace up your boots and head out to Putta Bucca Wetlands, a peaceful haven just outside town where birdlife is abundant and the walking trails invite you to pause, watch and breathe it all in.

For a creative (and nourishing!) boost, The Little Cooking School is the perfect place to roll up your sleeves and get a little messy. Whether it’s making gnocchi from scratch, baking hot cross buns, or enjoying an Italian feast, these hands-on workshops are as therapeutic as they are fun. There’s something special about losing yourself in the cooking process – and the end result is delicious.

Let the afternoon roll gently into a wander along the Mudgee Sculpture Walk, where contemporary artworks are tucked into the landscape beside the Cudgegong River. It’s a slow, meditative walk – one that invites reflection, appreciation and quiet delight.

A Saturday well spent.

Sleep in. Or don’t. Just let the morning unfold as it wants to – coffee in hand, wrapped in something cosy, gazing out over golden hills that seem to stretch forever. With no schedule and no rush, you can savour the quiet, letting the stillness settle in your bones one last time.

For one last delicious meal before you leave town, The Zin House restaurant, overlooking the organic and biodynamic Lowe vineyard and farm, is open for lunch Friday to Monday, and for dinner Friday and Saturday.

Prefer to finish your weekend with a little more movement? Take one last hike (or your first, depending on how you spent your Saturday) through Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, where the crisp morning air, sandstone formations and wide-open skies invite you to breathe deeply and soak it all in.

However you choose to spend your last moments in Mudgee, one thing is certain – you’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer and deeply restored. The kind of feeling that doesn’t fade the minute you get home. The kind that stays with you – soft, steady and just beneath the surface – ready to carry you gently into the week ahead.