As you get older life seems to get more complicated and never seems to slow down which is why it’s important to take time out to relax and to reconnect with your closest girlfriends, something that if you drill down is actually imperative to both our mental and physical health. So in the name of science, it’s time you planned that girls weekend and get out of town...or at least out of the house for a night.
Here are our top picks for an ultimate girls' weekend, now treat yo’ self:
Do A Winery Tour… In New Zealand
If you’re located on the east coast of Australia hop over to Auckland for the weekend and get a taste of some of the country’s finest tipples. The wineries of Kumeu just north-west of Auckland date back to the 1930s when wine families of Croatian origin established winemaking in the area.
Those same families are still working in the area today and a tour of the Matua Valley Wines and surrounding area will offer up some of New Zealand’s most celebrated wines.
Winery in the Kumeu region of Auckland. Photo: Getty Images
An Arty Exploration… In Hobart
Start your Saturday in Hobart with a stroll through the famous Salamanca Market before checking out the beautiful heritage architecture in the nearby Battery Point, including the historic Government House with its city-centre paddock complete with grazing cows.
Continue the arty theme by checking ahead of time to see what’s on at the Salamanca Arts Centre for all manner of art, crafts, musical and theatrical events. The piece de la resistance of your trip should be the Musueum of Old and New Art which will take up at least half a day when including the ferry trip but this institution has so much to see and explore you might want to make a day of it.
A Hotel Slumber Party… In Your Home City
When you can’t escape for a whole weekend but getting around to a girl’s weekend away has been on the calendar almost all year, then the next best thing is a glamorous girly sleepover staycation.
Throw on your best pjs (or better yet order some matching ones), order too much room service and bring along plenty of bubbly. Then, settle into some silly board games to get the ball rolling before watching a romantic chick flick, or just settle into some much needed gossip.
Check out some more weekend inspiration...
A Foodie's Long Weekend In Auckland
Backyard Breaks: The Best Weekend Getaways In NSW
A Spa Weekend… In Bali
If you’re on the west coast of Australia then you can’t go past a quick trip to Bali for some much needed R&R. As one of Seminyak’s original and largest villa compounds, The Villas Hotel & Spa offer a complete retreat right in the heart of one of Bali’s most exciting precincts.
Your own private villa features its own swimming pool, tropical garden and spacious living areas for the epitome of a relaxed lifestyle. You can even have your own chef available to prepare dinner or a BBQ in the privacy of your villa. Now that is what you call THE ultimate girl’s weekend.
Picture you and your friends exploring the beautiful Balinese Temples. Photo: Getty Images
A Road Trip... To Bowral
Sydneysiders can escape to the Southern Highlands for a dose of fresh country air without having to leave behind their creature comforts like organic brunch and thrift shopping. The largest of the Southern Highlands’ towns is just an hour and a half away by car and boasts numerous restaurants, cafes and some of the state’s best vintage clothing and furniture stores.
For the nature lover, there’s the collection of limestone caves known as the Wombeyan Caves to explore. Not to be missed of course is the Centennial Vineyards for a spot of day drinking.
Learning To Surf… In Byron Bay
The best spot in Byron Bay to enjoy the smell of some coconut-y surf wax is at the Pass, where the long consistent right-hand point break caters to both pro surfers and all the newbies.
The Pass is also a great place to finish off a long day of surfing with a relaxing sunset walk to Main beach, for its spectacular dusk sky behind the crag of Wollumbin (formerly Mount Warning) and the surrounding hinterland.
Silhouetted surfers at sunset in Byron Bay. Photo: Getty Images
