Pulling out of the drive in Sydney, I exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
I was ready for 48 whole hours of bliss without toddler or husband to nag and ask where the nearest nappy was.
We — my two friends and I — were heading to Bannisters Port Stephens for the weekend for a long-awaited babymoon.
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I am currently expecting my second child, and as any parent of a toddler knows, pregnancy with a two-year-old is a very different prospect to pregnancy without any dependents.
But I needn’t have stressed or worried, as just three hours away from Sydney lay everything I needed to restore my heart and mind for the second trimester of pregnancy.
Bannisters Port Stephens is one of two destinations in Australia, the other being in Mollymook.
Built as an old motel that has been spruced up with a modern twist, the plush hotel now has everything you might want or need for a dreamy 48-hour (or more) escape.
We stayed in what must surely be one of the best rooms in the hotel, the Paperbark Two-Bedroom Room.
This features 70 square metres of space to relax in, including two bedrooms with the option of supremely comfortable king-sized beds or twin beds, a living room and balcony with natural bushland views over the surrounding Soldiers Point.
Upon arrival, we did the usual “this is nice” commentary as we looked around our room, before decamping down to the downstairs bar, Julio’s, for spicy margaritas (the girls) and non-alcoholic margs (me).
Julio’s is a divinely-situated Mexican bar and eatery situated beside Bannisters’ infinity pool overlooking the water — and it was the perfect spot to unwind after a stressful week.
That evening, we ate at Cheeky Dog — which is the destination’s laidback bistro situated just 50m from the water, dining on modern Mediterranean cuisine including lamb ragu, pizzas and woodfired bread.
This is just one of the many options at which you can eat during a stay.
The main foodie drawcard is, of course, Rick Stein’s restaurant, at which we ate a divine continental and made-to-order breakfast each morning and on the Saturday evening.
The restaurant more than lives up to expectation, featuring Rick Stein’s signature Asian/Aussie fusion seafood dining.
Dishes including Sri Lankan Ocean Trout Curry, Singapore Blue Swimmer Crab and Chargrilled Nelson Bay Tuna Steak are sure to impress the most discerning of diners, while there is also always an array of rotating specials from which to choose from.
On the Saturday evening, I plumped for a divine seafood fresh pasta (one of my desert island dishes, period), and we shared an array of starters including a Thai fishcake (absolutely incredible), pippis and black cuttlefish risotto.
Of course, there is more to staying at Bannisters than the food.
And thankfully with the weather playing major ball in early April, we were able to soak up some sunshine reclining on the sun loungers and in the incredibly beautiful heated pool — an absolute blissful treat to sit in near-silence as three busy working toddler mums.
I also had the luxury of trialling Bannisters’ signature Pregnancy Massage during our stay (60 minutes for $175).
Specifically tailored for expectant mothers during their second trimester, starting from 13 weeks and beyond, this full-body gentle massage was one of the most heavenly massages I have ever experienced.
With my pregnant stomach wedged comfortably in between an array of cushions, I was able to fully unwind for an hour and left feeling as though I was floating on air — no aches and pains to complain about.
Bannisters offers a series of other regular massages, depending on your concerns.
So whether you’re in the market for a deep fibres massage, a facial, exfoliation or back or hand treatment, there truly is something for everyone.
Bannisters Port Stephens opened in late 2018 in what had been a seaside model opened in the 1960s called The Salamander.
Since then, it has been a hubbub of success, with guests travelling from north and south to soak up the relaxed coastal vibe.
The majority of guests seem to be Sydney-siders escaping the city for a weekend or week away with their friends and families.
There’s plenty to entertain you in the local harbour of Port Stephens, with its sand dunes, lookouts, national parks and towns to explore.
The Tomaree Head lookout at the end of Shoal Bay is well worth an early morning hike.
Accompanied with takeaway coffees from our Bannisters breakfast, we enjoyed a very leisurely half-hour stroll.
All up, I think Bannisters is well worth a trip north from Sydney, particularly if you’re an expecting mum in need of treating herself.
I left feeling recharged, re-energised and ready to go back to work and mum life.
For more information, room rates and more, head here now.