Parklands Country Garden and Lodges in Blackheath offers comfortable respite

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Parklands Country Garden and Lodges in Blackheath offers comfortable respite

Parklands Country Garden and Lodges, Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW.

Parklands Country Garden and Lodges, Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW.

THE REVIEW

HIGHLIGHT: So much serenity.

LOWLIGHT: The TV is on the same wall as the bedhead and I can't watch it in bed.

Our rating: 4 stars

TripAdvisor rating: 4.5 stars

THE PLACE

Parklands Country Garden and Lodges, Blackheath, Blue Mountains, NSW

THE LOCATION

Peace, quiet and a wind chill to get the attention of the brassiest of brass monkeys are my rewards for tackling the two-hour trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. Dusk is falling and the dying light plays with the leaves of the evergreen trees and the barren branches of their hoary, deciduous counterparts. No wonder this pretty part of the world is an artist's Nirvana. Parklands is a two minutes from the "CBD" of Blackheath, 20 minutes beyond Katoomba.

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THE SPACE

Parklands is a boutique hotel collection of 28 rooms in seven free-standing buildings, comprised of ground floor "garden suites" and top-floor "loft rooms". There's plenty of open space and manicured gardens around the buildings and a lake and some seriously majestic trees at the bottom of the property. There's also a day spa on site for even more serenity.

THE ROOM

My garden suite is a really a lounge room with a bed. Three chairs and a sofa surround a coffee table in a modern, open-plan design, warmed by a wall-mounted space heater. Neutral and muted chocolate tones, stylish window coverings and a painting of a forest floor complete a classy look. The en suite is spacious except for the vanity, which is tiny and splashes me with every use of the tap. My open balcony has a table and two chairs and is a lovely spot when in sunshine.

THE FOOD

The restaurant serves breakfast only – continental and/or five cooked options – in a sun-soaked conservatory. My Gourmet Escape package includes dinner at Wintergarden restaurant at the Hydro Majestic, 15 minutes down the road at Medlow Bath. There is a wood-panelled, high-ceilinged, velvety opulence to the art deco Wintergarden and it is well patronised on this chilly Monday night. The three-course meal includes entree and dessert tasting plates with three morsels on each and I choose a wagyu tenderloin as the main. Every bite – and the service – is excellent.

STEPPING OUT

Your first stop has to be the spectacular Govetts Leap Lookout just down the road, where a sliver of waterfall breaks free from near the top of the ridge and tumbles 180 metres into the valley below, often creating its own rainbow. Charles Darwin made the trek here in 1836, just five years after Blackheath's first building – The Scotch Thistle Inn – was erected. An original staircase from the inn is preserved in the present day Gardners Inn Hotel. Blackheath's charming art deco Victory Theatre, a 1915 heritage building that was once the home of "Blackheath Talkies", now houses a funky cafe and permanent antique fair, including an enormous collection of jewellery.

THE VERDICT

Parklands is a peaceful escape from the city, a chilled-out (especially in winter) oasis ideal for a romantic getaway and for those who don't need room service or a full amenities hotel. Comfortable, quiet and a great base from which to explore the Blue Mountains.

ESSENTIALS

132 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath, NSW. Rooms from $259; Gourmet Getaway package from $509 (midweek) and $609 (weekend). Other packages available. Phone 02 4787 7211. See parklands.com.au

Mal Chenu travelled at his own expense.

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