We’ve all dreamed of it. A quiet escape in the country where only the sunrise and sunset determine the schedule. A place to switch off at the end of a busy working week and resurface refreshed and ready for the next. A place where family, friends and fun come first…and phones definitely don’t!

Whether it’s sipping wine by a crackling fire, bathing under a blanket of stars, long hikes in the bush or occasionally emerging from a book to take in the view, the ultimate escape is one tailored to how you unwind.

We’ve helped hundreds of Aussies turn this dream into a reality, so we know how achievable it can be – and we’ve gathered some top tips along the way. So read on, because we’ve put together all the ingredients for the perfect weekender right here…and you might find it’s surprisingly within reach!

First things first – where?

It might be a cliché, but the ideal escape is all about location, location, location.

If you’re leaving the city limits behind for a few days, the perfect weekender needs to be accessible but with a complete change of pace, scenery and lifestyle. A short drive, but a million miles away from it all.

Unwinding for some means long hikes through rugged bush; for others, lazy afternoons on a secluded beach. Adventurers might seek out spots for kayaking, horse riding, rock climbing or mountain biking. Foodies may consider one of Australia’s many wonderful wine regions.

You’ll also want to choose a region that suits your lifestyle and interests – one that you’ll enjoy returning to time and time again, offering different experiences as seasons change.

We’re definitely ‘the lucky country’ – our landscape is diverse, our climate variable and our adventures varied.There’s somewhere for everyone. To get you started, here are a few of our top picks:

Wine Country

There are so many to choose from. But our favourites are McLaren Vale, Hunter Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Margaret River, where cosy cellar doors and tasty local produce are just the beginning. Offering long alfresco lunches in summer and wine tasting by a crackling fire in winter, some of these regions are also a stone’s throw from spectacular coastline. The best of all worlds, all year round.

Bush Retreat

We love Kangaroo Valley, the Blue Mountains, and the Adelaide Hills, where getting back to nature is the main event. Perfect for digitally detoxing, these destinations replace screens with misty mornings, forest trails and local wildlife for those wishing to take it easy. Cool in summer, and cosy in winter with scenic drives, quaint towns and bushwalking, these regions offer plenty to explore when relaxing gets too much.

Coastal Calm

South Coast NSW or the Fleurieu Peninsula in SA are two of our picks for scenery, salty air and a slower pace. Long, lazy sun-drenched afternoons under the summer sun and exhilarating beach walks on windy winter days, there’s an array of year-round activities to enjoy, from swimming and surfing to whale watching and coastal hikes.

Alpine Altitude

Who doesn’t love the Snowy Mountains, Southern Highlands or Victoria’s High Country for winter getaways and summer respite? The air is crisp and clean, the views are breathtaking and year-round you can choose to relax, get active, or a mix of both. A winter wonderland for snow sports and curling up by the fire; in summer, a playground for hiking, fishing or mountain biking – embrace complete relaxation or choose your own adventure.

Outback Adventure

Huge skies, wide open spaces, rocky landscapes and a disconnect from ‘civilisation’, the outback is the ultimate getaway from it all. And it doesn’t get more iconic than the Flinders Ranges with its vast, rugged terrain popular for 4WDing and hiking by day, incredible stargazing by night, and rarely seen flora and fauna. For a softer ‘edge of outback’ experience, we recommend Mudgee, where similar wide-open spaces, big skies and stunning scenery blend with a civilised country vibe.

Personally, we’re choosing the Hunter region of NSW for our dream Cedarspan weekender. This region truly has it all – a thriving wine and food culture, varied natural beauty from bush to plains to mountains, and a relaxed pace of life. With plenty to explore, a temperate climate, and big open skies, it offers everything we need to switch off and recharge. And best of all, it’s just a short drive from Sydney.

If you need more help choosing the right block, you can read our Rural Land Buying Guide.

Getting Started

So, you’ve chosen the region that appeals to you most and is an easy drive on a Friday evening. You’ve bought a block of land. Now the fun really begins: building your ideal retreat.

After almost 50 years of helping Aussies build their dream, you could say we’ve learned a thing or two about how to design and build a weekender that feels great year-round. So, we’ve put together our top tips for creating a retreat that’s low-fuss, high-comfort, and made for making memories – one that we’d proudly build ourselves.

Build For All Seasons

First, we’ve got to get practical.

A well-designed and built weekender is just as comfortable in the depths of winter as it is in the height of summer. You can create a retreat that is warm in July, cool in January, and a joy to be in all year round – but only if you get the foundations right from the very beginning. With the right design and build, you’ll have a place that’s energy-efficient, inexpensive to maintain, and always inviting.

Here are some things to consider:

Passive heating: Orient your building and windows to soak up the low winter sun. A northern aspect means natural warmth, with less need to rely on heating.

Shade: Add a verandah to the north side to provide shelter from the high summer sun. Strategically plant deciduous trees for dappled, leafy shade in summer and light in winter.

Cross-ventilation: Select and position doors and windows to capture gully breezes, allowing air to flow freely.

Insulation: Make sure your building includes (or can accommodate) quality insulation in the walls, ceilings, and, for alpine regions, under the floor. This will keep things cool in summer, warm in winter and costs down.

Cosy corners: Design for moments of comfort and relaxation. A chair in a sunny nook is perfect for curling up with a book in the low winter rays. In summer, that same spot can be used to catch a cool breeze through an open window and enjoy a refreshing drink.

Just like Lincoln and Yasmin’s cleverly designed luxury barn weekender, our Hunter Region weekender will be built for year-round comfort. Expansive doors and windows will capture the warmth of the low sun – our favourite spot for a morning coffee or an afternoon read as golden light streams in. A deep covered verandah will be essential for summer entertaining, while providing weather protection through every season. We’ll take full advantage of those cooling valley breezes on hot summer evenings, simply by throwing open the many windows and letting the air flow through. And with the region’s variable climate, we want to be cosy during those chilly winter wine-tasting weekends and comfortable when the summer heat kicks in. That’s why we’ll add high-quality insulation to our Cedarspan’s generous wall cavities to support the well-insulated Colorbond roof overhead.

Include an Outdoor Fire Pit or Indoor Wood Heater

An absolute non-negotiable…in our opinion.

There’s something about a crackling fire that is instantly grounding – comforting, nostalgic and a little bit magical. It creates a natural gathering point, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere that turns any space – inside or out – into a true retreat.

Indoors: The heart of the home

Inside, a wood fire is the heart of the home. But it isn’t just about keeping warm – although few things beat its steady, radiant heat on a cold winter’s night. Everyone is drawn to the warm glow, crackling logs and deeply relaxing ambience. Whether you’re curled up in front of it with a good book, enjoying a glass of wine with friends or having a quiet conversation with your partner, you can be sure that the flicker of firelight has a way of deepening the moment.

We can just imagine this while nestled into St Clements Cottage in Oberon, especially on one of their snowy, winter days.

Outdoors: Connection under the stars

A fire pit under a big country sky makes an event out of any evening. Sitting in a circle of warmth on a cool evening under the stars is the ultimate setting for making memories and creating connections. As nature’s TV, it provides a focal point for socialising, sharing stories, and late night ‘deep and meaningfuls’. There’s really nothing quite like toasting marshmallows on a clear night, listening to the sounds of the bush and forgetting the world beyond the flames.

Personally, we think having both, like The Cabin at Rocklee Grove, offers the best of both worlds!

So that’s what we’re adding to our dream escape. A slow-combustion wood stove will anchor our main living space – we’ll stay toasty on those cool Hunter Valley evenings while filling the room with the aroma of the wood-fired bread baking on it. Outside, we’ll position our fire pit to capture sweeping valley views, and arrange a circle of seating where we can gather with friends and family and share a bottle of local wine under the night sky.

Add a Window Seat

Create a spot where time stands still.

Chances are your weekender’s site comes with a wonderful outlook – frame it with a big picture window and then enjoy it to the full with a built-in window seat.

If you position it to capture the morning sun, you can enjoy a slow start to the day with a coffee and the view. Layer it with throws and cushions for a luxurious afternoon nap – it could even double as a sleeping space for extra guests. Build a small bookcase next to it, and you’ve created a private, light-filled library with the ultimate reading corner. Designed intentionally, a window seat becomes the focal point and heart of your retreat.

We helped Maren and David create a custom bay window for their poolside guest retreat, and it’s a work of art. With the Hunter region offering stunning scenery at every turn, we’re definitely incorporating something similar in ours. Our weekend rituals will revolve around this spot: morning coffee while watching the mist lift off the vines, afternoons spent leafing through wine guides or immersed in a good novel, and with some deep cushions and throw rugs, it will be irresistible for a nap following a cellar door visit or two.

Install an Outdoor Bath or Hot Tub

Indulge and luxuriate.

We’re not talking a huge, marble-tiled bathroom with gold taps and a stack of fluffy towels. In our opinion, the simplest and most indulgent luxury of all is bathing under the open sky.

An outdoor bath on the deck invites a long, lingering wallow on a slow afternoon. A simple alfresco shower offers an invigorating rinse after a bushwalk, and a hot tub is the perfect way to soak away the day’s adventures and relax any aching muscles.

Position your bath, tub or shower to be enjoyed while taking in the view, under a canopy of stars or facing the sunset. Create privacy with plants and screening and enjoy the simple pleasure of outdoor bathing.

We’re taking inspiration from this coastal Cedarspan barn conversion and planning to include a luxurious private outdoor bath. Arriving on a Friday night, there’s no better way to kickstart a relaxing weekend than soaking away the stress of the week under the evening sky. After a long hike through one of the region’s beautiful national parks, we’ll rinse off the dust under our outdoor shower, then slip into the hot tub to soothe any aching muscles and truly unwind.

Keep It Low Maintenance

Relax – really!

A weekender shouldn’t be another home to clean, maintain and manage. By making the right choices at the start, you can create a retreat where work stops and relaxation starts.

Materials

Choose smart, low-fuss materials when building. Opt for a cladding that requires minimal upkeep – our favourite for this is eco-hardwood – either board and batten or natural vertical – which can simply be left to weather. If you prefer a more ‘polished’ look, apply a high-quality UV-resistant, hardwearing exterior paint, and you can forget about recoats for years to come.

If you don’t want to spend every spring recoating your deck, opting for hardwood, rather than pine, is the best choice. This too can be left to weather naturally, greying off beautifully to look perfect for its environment, while remaining durable, sturdy…and low maintenance.

Colorbond® roofing is built for Australian conditions and will stand strong for generations with little more than occasional leaf removal to keep it looking good and working hard. And aluminium doors and windows will never warp, rot or require repainting – just an occasional wipe down will keep them looking pristine.

Landscaping

Skip the gardening and ditch the lawnmower. Hardscape with decking, gravel or paving, not lawn. Native plants are drought-tolerant and self-sufficient – no weekends spent pruning, no irrigation system to run.

After all, the beauty of a weekender is the ability to lock and leave, then return and relax. It’s where the weekend begins and the to-do list gets forgotten.

Peter’s bushland accommodation shows exactly how smart material choices pay off, and we’ll be doing the same. Our eco-hardwood board and batten cladding will weather to a perfect silver-grey, blend with the”Woodland Grey” Colorbond roofing and require virtually no upkeep. Our hardwood deck will also grey naturally over time – no weekend painting to interrupt our relaxation! Around our retreat, we’ll plant some native trees and shrubs. They’ll look after themselves, thrive in the local climate and help us feel fully immersed in our surroundings.

Go Off-Grid (Optional, but Worth It)

Disconnect – completely!

A growing number of people are choosing to go fully off-grid for their weekenders – and not just for environmental reasons. With technology and digital demands infiltrating every corner of our lives, the opportunity to disconnect from it all – completely – is very appealing. And in many remote or rural areas, it’s the simplest and most cost-effective option, avoiding expensive and sometimes difficult connections to town infrastructure.

But it’s not roughing it. These days, a well-planned off-grid set-up can be just as sophisticated and comfortable as any mains infrastructure.

The basics are:

Power: Solar panels with battery storage are affordable and effective for providing clean, reliable power

Waste: Enviro-septic systems are simple, readily available solutions, and composting toilets are growing in popularity

Water: Rainwater tanks are a must for capturing and storing your own water supply – make sure your building has gutters to help facilitate this.

Cooking: That indoor fire we discussed earlier? Make it a slow combustion wood stove, and you can also use it for cooking! Alternatively, LPG gas is quick, cheap, easy and will go far when servicing your gas stove or barbecue. And there’s nothing quite like damper or jacket potatoes cooked over the campfire.

Connectivity: While you may want to disconnect completely, a satellite internet system is simple to set up…just in case of emergencies, of course.

This self-sustainable Cedarspan has all the off-grid bells and whistles and absolutely no compromise on mod cons. It’s exactly the kind of set-up that we’ll be adding to our own weekender, because for us, sustainability is a must. Solar panels will provide the little electricity we’ll need – after all, we’re switching off completely, and sunsets, morning rays, and firelight take care of the rest. Our rainwater tanks will be connected to the gutters of our Cedarspan so those precious seasonal rains can provide for all of our water needs.

Storage Tips You Might Want to Consider

Storage – or lack of it – can make or break a space.

And when you’re heading away for weekends, you don’t want to pack and prepare for every trip. You just want to grab your keys and go. Thoughtful storage allows you to keep clutter to a minimum, everything you need ready when you arrive, and your focus on relaxing.

A loft space is the simplest way to store everything you need while keeping the living space free. Use it to store a spare mattress or camp bed for unexpected visitors or extra guests. Keep seasonal equipment tucked away when not needed, or even a spare Christmas tree.

Outdoor storage – whether it’s a small shed or a lockable storage box – is ideal for outdoor gear like bikes, kayaks, beach toys or surfboards. Safe, secure and accessible…without cluttering the verandah.

Adding a small mudroom or enclosed entry keeps dirt out of the main living space, containing muddy boots after winter hikes, or sandy towels after sunny beach days.

And our big tip? Hooks! They’re so handy for everything from towels, coats, hats, bags and keys.

Meg’s coastal holiday home is a great example of how useful loft and storage space are. We’ll be following her example and adding generous loft space at each end of our weekender so we never need to worry about bringing a thing! Our window seat will have built-in storage underneath – that way, throw rugs are ready for naptime when we are! A combined mudroom and laundry will keep things clean – after a long winter walk, we can kick off our muddy hiking boots and pop our wet clothes straight in the machine. Our bikes will stay secure in a lockable shed, and we’ll keep a weatherproof storage box on the deck stocked with towels for the hot tub and blankets for cold nights around the fire. Oh, and of course, there’ll be hooks everywhere!

Stop Dreaming, Start Building

Whether your idea of the perfect weekend involves food and wine, mountain bikes, bush hikes, swimming, surfing, sailing or doing absolutely nothing at all, building it right from the start makes it easier to enjoy. The simpler it is, the better. Think less about big builds and more about thoughtful touches that let you switch off, slow down, and soak it all in. Choose a good location, design for comfort in every season, and include just enough luxuries to make it feel special and different from your day-to-day.

We’ve been planning our perfect weekender alongside you, but honestly, we think it might already exist right here!

It doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be hard. At Greenspan, we create flexible, prefab buildings that make ideal weekenders – designed for scenic spots, difficult sites, fast installation and a low-fuss lifestyle.

If you’re ready to stop dreaming and start making it happen, we’re only a phone call away.