Treat your mum to the mother’s day she deserves

Spoil mum this Mother’s Day with a weekend away. Ranging from luxury stays in vineyards to family holidays that keep the kids busy or a relaxing break blissfully doing nothing, here are eight trip ideas that will pamper mum.

Take mum on a Northern Beaches luxury escape and enjoy gorgeous scenic walking tracks, delicious dining and a waterfront stay. Settle in at Jonah’s at Whale Beach, then explore nearby Palm Beach on the spectacular Barrenjoey Lighthouse walking track. Afterwards, treat mum to oysters and champagne at Bert’s Bar & Brasserie in Newport. For a true luxury experience, charter Sydney Seaplanes to transfer you and mum between the Northern Beaches and Rose Bay, near the city.

Visit: jonahs.com.au

Spend the Mother’s Day weekend on the Gold Coast where you’ll find more than 70 kilometres of golden sand with waves to catch, sun to soak and plenty of seaside restaurants. Celebrate with lunch at Frida Sol, which serves Mexican fare such as chorizo croquettes and beef empanadas, before heading to a theme park with the kids. Wet’n’Wild, Australia’s biggest water park, has adrenaline-pumping waterslides, or if mum wants to relax, she can laze by the giant wave pool. Out of town, take a hike through the lush rainforest of the Gold Coast Hinterland. Treat mum to a stay at the Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences where she can indulge in a spa treatment or enjoy a cocktail at the hotel’s Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats.

Visit: hiltonsurfersparadise.com.au

Just a 15-minute drive away from Adelaide, the beautifully restored Mount Lofty House in the Adelaide Hills is set on seven hectares of native and English-style rose gardens. Take mum for a turn around the grounds before a meal at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant. Visit the Gate Keeper’s Day Spa for a massage, facial or a foot rub. If mum is feeling a bit active, she can play a round of golf or visit some of the local sites. It’s the weekend to recharge mum.

Visit: mtloftyhouse.com.au

Celebrate Mother’s Day atop Australia’s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko. Adventurous mums can enjoy outdoor activities such as fly-fishing, mountain biking, bushwalking and hiking. Stay at the chic cabins at The Eastern in Thredbo, take a scenic chairlift ride on the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift, and ride through untouched bushland with Thredbo Valley Horse Riding. After, celebrate with a glass of sparkling over a Mother’s Day lunch at Cascades Restaurant. Alternatively, plan ahead for winter and take mum cross-country skiing or snowshoeing through the pretty alpine terrain.

Visit: theeasternthredbovillage.com

If mum loves a bit of history, head to Port Arthur in Tasmania which is rich in history, culture and heritage. It’s one of 11 locations that make up the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites and is within walking distance from the lovely NRMA Holiday Park. Accommodation includes cabins or villas, or if mum is feeling adventurous, there are some lovely glamping options. Rent a car, pack a picnic and spend half a day hiking the 7.7-kilometre Crescent Bay Track to Mount Bowen, which boasts beautiful wildflowers. For lunch, stop by Port Arthur Lavender where the kids can try some of the lovely aromatic lavender ice-cream.

Visit: nrmaparksandresorts.com.au

Red Hill in Victoria is one of Australia’s premier wine regions and just a two-hour drive from Ballarat and about four hours from Warrnambool. There are some lovely places to stay, including Polperro, which offers well-appointed studio apartments overlooking the vineyards with spa. And treat mum to a long lunch at Ten Minutes by Tractor. The restaurant focuses on seasonal and local produce, paired with the winery’s best vintages.

Visit: polperrowines.com.au

You’ll be mum’s favourite when you take her to the sunny Tweed on NSW’s North Coast. From uncrowded beaches to sub-tropical rainforest, the region is a natural paradise. Relax by the pool at Halcyon House at Cabarita Beach and rejuvenate with a massage at the spa. Take a kayak cruise along the Rous River Canoe Trail with Tweed Escapes or snorkel with sea turtles at nearby Cook Island with Watersports Guru.

Visit: halcyonhouse.com.au

Spend quality time with mum on one of NSW’s greatest road trips – the Mighty Murray River Drive. This road trip revolves around the river – from the country towns

it sustains to the golf courses and wineries it waters. Your stops might include tastings at Corowa Whisky and Chocolate, a ride on a historic paddlesteamer in Moama, and a visit to World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park.

Visit: visitnsw.com