The 10 best places for a three-day short break

2. THE PLACE East Hotel, Canberra, ACT

GOOD FOR … Families, food and wine, culture

WHY WE LOVE IT The 140-room, contemporary hotel is at the edge of the Parliamentary Triangle, but is a great choice for families. The East two-bedroom apartments interconnect to the Kids Cubby, kitted out with bunks, bean bags, kid-sized furniture and an Xbox360, as well as full kitchens, and sleeping up to five. Laid-back Joe's Bar is a cocktail hang named after the owners' dad, and taps into his Italian heritage. Beside it is Muse restaurant and bookshop, with intriguing titles, a great wine list and a $10 lucky-dip book box.

STEPPING OUT Dress up like the Queen, fly an Iroquois helicopter, build a time-travelling robot or see life through the many eyes of a spider: Canberra is great for tots and teens. Put the National Museum, the War Memorial, Old Parliament House and Questacon on the list. Australia's best playground is at the National Arboretum and Patissez, birthplace of the freakshake, is just down the road.

MAKE IT HAPPEN Doubles from $179. See easthotel.com.au.

3. THE PLACE Elements of Byron, Byron Bay, NSW

GOOD FOR … Beach-lovers, food and wine, shopping

WHY WE LOVE IT This recently opened 20-hectare spread, with a pool that's an event in itself and subtly luxurious villas all featuring big egg-shaped baths, has not only already hit the perfect barefoot luxury note, it's maintained a sense of connection to its stunning surroundings. Guests wake up to a cacophonous bird call – there's a sanctuary right next door. All night, you hear the waves crash from the famous easterly coastline just past the fence. And you only have to walk out the gate and onto the sand to see Byron's iconic lighthouse, feel that squeaky white sand underfoot and chat with a friendly Byron local, who chances are, will wish you the peace and good vibes for which the area is renowned.

STEPPING OUT For a lively night in town without Byron Bay's boozy backpacker business, landmark venue The Balcony, is now under the deft hand of chef Sean Connolly. Otherwise, head to bijou Bangalow for boutique dining and shopping, Lennox Head for surf and a fabulous meal at Foam Lennox with its terrific water view, and the cute hinterland village of Federal for local life.

MAKE IT HAPPEN Villas start from $380 a night, including "Farmers Market Continental Breakfast" for two and yoga class daily. See elementsofbyron.com.au.

4. THE PLACE Halcyon House, Tweed Coast, NSW

GOOD FOR ... Food and wine, sun and surf

WHY WE LOVE IT Halcyon House offers the perfect mix – terrific food, drool-worthy decor, attentive, warm service and a wonderful beachfront location. It's a little slice of Positano transported to the sleepy village of Cabarita. Think ocean view rooms decorated in Anna Spiro's signature blue and white hues, handpicked antiques and original art, complimentary mini bar (excluding alcohol) and the fabulous onsite restaurant Paper Daisy headed up by talented young chef Ben Devlin.

STEPPING OUT If you can drag yourself off the blue and white sun lounges by the pool, the Tweed Coast offers the Margaret Olley Centre at the Tweed Regional Gallery, a challenging hike to Mount Warning, or pop down for a vino or two at Fleet at Brunswick. Private surf lessons can be arranged with Australian pro surfer, Joel Parkinson.

MAKE IT HAPPEN Doubles from $550 a night including a la carte breakfast for two. See halcyonhouse.com.au.

5. THE PLACE Kims Beach Hideaway, Central Coast, NSW

GOOD FOR ... Luxury, romance, sun and surf, food and wine

WHY WE LOVE IT Hunkered among trees and bamboo just back from the sands of Towoon Bay, this retreat offers tranquil, individual bungalows each with their own advantages: absolute waterfront, outdoor plunge pool, expansive deck. Meals are included: when the ship's bell rings, head to the dining room for unpretentious but top-quality home-style cooking and the best desserts you'll ever encounter.

STEPPING OUT Towoon Bay has a beach and is notable for kite surfing; walk up to nearby Crackneck Point for whale watching. The Entrance (think lagoons and pelicans) is just to the north; holiday-happy Terrigal and its fine sweep of beach to the south. Horse riding, golfing, bushwalking and kayaking on Tuggerah Lake provide active options.

MAKE IT HAPPEN Double from $420 including dinner and breakfast. No children. Two-night minimum stay at weekends. See kims.com.au.

6. THE PLACE Rosby Guesthouse, Mudgee, NSW

GOOD FOR ... A country escape, luxury, food and wine, outdoors, heritage

WHY WE LOVE IT This guesthouse, which feels more like a family home, sits in rolling countryside just outside Mudgee and has four deluxe bedrooms each with en suite, making it the ideal getaway for groups of friends or extended family. A large living space features cathedral ceilings, fireplace and a 10-seater dining table. Beyond is a sprawling terrace, quite the spot for a sunset barbecue.

STEPPING OUT The Norton-Knight family who own the guesthouse operates Rosby winery just down the hill, where you can stop in for tastings. Dozens of other Mudgee cellar doors offer quirky attractions such as a motorcycle museum, famous racing stud farm or long winemaker's lunches. Don't miss an excursion to colonial-era Gulgong nearby.

MAKE IT HAPPEN Guesthouse from $600 including breakfast. Two-night minimum stay. See rosbyguesthouse.com.au.

7. THE PLACE Petersons Guesthouse, Armidale, NSW

GOOD FOR ... Luxury, food and wine, nature, outdoors

WHY WE LOVE IT This boutique country retreat hides among the vineyards just outside Armidale and happily provides all the expected stereotypes: old-world ambience, open fires, antiques and flower-filled gardens. The sprawling homestead has a baronial-style hall where guests congregate for drinks; dinners are excellent. Owners Judy and Colin Peterson are often on hand to provide good conversation.

STEPPING OUT The cellar door of Petersons Wines is immediately adjacent. Armidale is surrounded by rugged national parks featuring waterfalls, patches of rainforest, caves and gorges. Oxley Wild Rivers is easiest to access. White-water kayaking, rock climbing and trout fishing are among the activities. Visit Uralla, a nearby colonial-era country town with well-preserved facades, good micro-brewery and quirky shopping.

MAKE IT HAPPEN Doubles from $225 including breakfast. See petersonsguesthouse.com.au.

8. THE PLACE Bishop's Court Estate, Bathurst, NSW

GOOD FOR ... Luxury, food and wine, heritage

WHY WE LOVE IT Gracious owner Christine Le Fevre is hands-on at this graceful B&B, whether sharing a red wine by the fire or chatting to guests as she prepares dinner. The cosy former home of Anglican bishops is bursting with antiques, knick-knacks, cushions and lamps; the chapel is a spectacular dining space. Six bedrooms are all individually decorated and have their own bathrooms that might, however, be a creak away down a corridor.

STEPPING OUT Bathurst has a delectable food scene, making visits to Cobblestone Lane, Church Bar and several other eateries a must. The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum is excellent, and has a T. rex skeleton. See visitbathurst.com.au.

MAKE IT HAPPEN Doubles from $350. See bishopscourtestate.com.au.

9. THE PLACE The Heavens Mountain Escape, Kangaroo Valley, NSW

GOOD FOR … Romance, nature, wellbeing, food and wine

WHY WE LOVE IT A winding dirt tracks leads you high above Kangaroo Valley to this self-contained accommodation with views over the escarpment and surrounded by pasture and forest. In-house massages, gourmet dinner packs, bathtubs with valley outlooks and king-size beds might ensure you don't budge all weekend. Expansive decks and fireplaces are other assets of these secluded and spacious retreats.

STEPPING OUT Kangaroo Valley has gorgeous scenery, a testing golf course and a lively food scene; visit a cellar door and dine at Bistro 146. A two-hour kayak on the Kangaroo River is beautiful, while Shoalhaven Gorge is a prime NSW flat-water kayaking destination.

MAKE IT HAPPEN Cottages from $215; two of the three are adult-only. Minimum two-night stay, longer in peak periods. See theheavens.com.au.

10. THE PLACE Two Styx Cabins, New England, NSW

GOOD FOR … A country escape, nature, outdoors

WHY WE LOVE IT For those times when you crave wilderness but don't want to camp (or spend a fortune), these cabins at the entrance to New England National Park on the Waterfall Way, near Ebor between Armidale and Dorrigo in north-western NSW, are just the thing. Comfortable rather than flash, they have a workable kitchen, wood-fired heater and two bedrooms, one with two sets of bunks. It's always cool on the plateau, so it's perfect place to snuggle up for a few days playing board games, reading or sitting on the deck watching the mist roll past.

STEPPING OUT Lace up your hiking boots and hit one of the half-day trails through the mossy rainforest of New England National Park and soak in the view from Point Lookout – you're usually above the clouds here, but if you are lucky enough to be there on a clear day you can see all the way to the coast. Cathedral Rocks National Park, with its photogenic granite boulders and rocky outcrops, is only 15 kilometres down the road.

MAKE IT HAPPEN $100 a night for two, kids under 12 free; BYO sheets and towels or hire for $10 extra. See twostyx.com.au.

Contributors: Lee Atkinson, Anthony Dennis, Belinda Jackson, Julietta Jameson, Brian Johnston, Ute Junker, Sally Macmillan, Sheriden Rhodes, Craig Tansley and Sally Webb.