The constant rain that has engulfed the eastern coast of NSW didn't put a dampener on our excitement to escape the chaos of our inner-city lives for a weekend. Especially since we were lucky enough to stay in this luxuriously converted church, which dates back to the 1800s.

Despite the gloomy weather, we threw our bags and camera gear in the car on Friday afternoon and found our way through the lower half of the Blue Mountains to the heart of Kurrajong Heights. With relentless rain on arrival, the weather had us feeling low but that changed as soon as we walked inside the church. I was blown away, and the attention to detail made the church even more special. From locally baked bread and pastries provided as a courtesy, to ear plugs for those who are light sleepers and plenty of firewood to keep the fireplace going, every detail was taken care of.

Despite the never-ending rainstorm, we chose a the right moments to explore the region beyond the church, including Bilpin, where Pie in the Sky and Bilpin Cider are musts. We spent most of our time in the church, either by the fireplace with a good book or in the kitchen cooking up a storm. We had everything we needed and more for our wet, weekend stay. I left feeling recharged and grateful to have stayed at this fantastic place, and can't wait to return once the rain has eased.