We decided to have a Christmas getaway from Sydney. After searching high and low for some months for a reasonable option we settled on Spicers Retreat in the Blue Mountains (about 10 k’s from Richmond) when we saw an offer in the AmEx Platinum magazine offering 2 bottles of Krug if you stayed 2 or more nights. The following month there was another offer in the same magazine for 15% off so we called and they gave us that discount as well as the 2 bottles of Krug.
Friday December 23
We left Sydney at 10am wanting to beat the traffic - this was a good idea as the traffic was heavy but moving - I’m sure it became chaotic later in the day. As result we arrived at Spicers a bit earlier than planned - 11:30am - we were warmly greeted by Sam, the chef, and Wendy, the manager. While they were getting organised they “plied” us with a whole bottle of Veuve Cliquot. Around 1:00pm we had a delicious lunch then returned to our amazing bush retreat - very luxurious. As it turned out we were the only guests on Friday - amazing considering it was a major holiday weekend. There are only 7 suites and they will be almost full from tomorrow.
We spent the afternoon lazing about - then in the late afternoon we went to the pool for a dip. The cloudy morning had given way to a wonderful sunny arvo - high 20’s - perfect.
For dinner we had a 5 course degustation dinner with matching wines - excellent. Very full and tired we headed off to bed.
Saturday - Christmas Eve
We had a bit of a sleep in as there was no rush since breakfast was only served from 8:30am. I got up at 7:30 and had a very relaxing Nespresso sitting on our deck - even the kookaburras had a sleep in - they only started laughing around 8am. It was a fresh morning - around 20C but a hot day was forecast - could get to 30C.
We had a nice breakfast sitting outside at the main lodge - then asked Wendy if we could have a ‘sticky beak’ at the other suites - they are all different but each excellent in their own way.
We did a bit of a walk later in the morning at a nearby national park. Back at the lodge we had lunch then whiled away the afternoon finishing off with a late afternoon swim. Just as we finished the mother of all thunderstorms moved in with rain etc. When we went for dinner there was a partial power failure but the chef still managed to pump out another 4 course degustation menu.
Sunday - Christmas Day
Sometime between 3 and 4 am there was a full power outage so when we got up around 7:30am there was no power and alas no Nespresso. Fortunately the power came back on around 8am so we had a relaxing coffee on our deck enjoying the early morning sunshine as the previous night’s storm had passed.
Breakfast was from 9am (due to a revised Christmas meal schedule) - we were the only ones that early - everyone else seemed to be having a sleep in. After brekkie we drove to Kurrajong for a look around - naturally everything was closed and it was very quite. Lunch was scheduled for 1-3pm but when we arrived at 1pm we were the only guests - others straggled in - service was slow (by design) and we only left at 3:45pm - it was siesta time followed by another late afternoon splash in the pool. The weather continued to be hot and sunny - high 20’s at least.
We had a late dinner (8pm) - a light cold buffet only - thank goodness - then it was off to bed.
Monday - Boxing Day
We awoke to yet another wonderful sunny and warm day - heading for a high around 30C. We had brekkie around 9am and Wendy came around to greet us and let us know that we could stay as late was we wanted as no one was moving into our suite that day. So instead of heading off after brekkie we opted to laze about, have a final swim then head off closer to 1pm.