Just a couple of hours from Sydney, the picturesque drive to Ashwood Aframe is an adventure in itself. We caught the free 24/7 car ferry crossing the Hawkesbury River where the road then meanders through the MacDonald Valley. We crossed heritage bridges, passed through farmlands & even spotted a friendly roadside camel to welcome us into the region!

Pulling up to the Ashwood gates, we were greeted with a magnificent view of our home for the next two nights. Towering sandstone cliffs set the backdrop with the Aframe perched on the bank of the river, completely private and secluded. We had stocked up on groceries on our way and were eager to spend our time soaking in the beauty of this private property and disconnecting from the outside world.

Entering the Aframe it was clear the time and love that had gone into building such a unique place. Two giant bathtubs had us tossing up whether to soak in the inside bath or outdoor bath on the deck first. With lavender bubble bath and herbal bath salts we couldn’t go wrong with either!

Our mornings were spent taking it slow, watching the morning mist roll over the cliffs. During the day we packed a picnic basket and headed along the river to explore the property, we took our dog for a swim and relaxed on the private sandbank for hours.

Although we could have happily spent the entire time on the property, we took a trip into the nearby village of St. Albans for a hearty pub meal at the Settlers Arms Inn - absolutely delish! - and wandered around the quiet streets admiring the towns heritage buildings.

Night time was truly special, soaking in the outdoor bath, while spotting shooting stars. We forgot the outside world existing for a few days and that’s exactly why we came to Ashwood Aframe, to disconnect, unwind and spend quality, undisturbed time together as a family. It’s 100% worth the drive!