Independent spIrIt rewardsSomething is afoot in the land of self-contained accommodation.It might only be May but it seems safe to declare 2012 the year the self-catered weekend away decided to sex up its image, with a slew of new retreats putting paid to the idea that private houses are chintzy affairs full of no-longer-wanted furniture.

the House at smoko sits on the outskirts of Victoria’s alpine town of Bright. at first glance, the place seems a restored beauty, its stone, corrugated iron and timber components suggestive of a previous era. smoko is in fact a new three-bedroom residence, 12 years in the making and designed to blend beautifully with its High Country locale.

It’s a thoughtful place, and owners richard and amanda Morell openly encourage thought, rather than action, in their guests. the dining room is designed to resemble the kilns that are a key part of the area’s tobacco-growing history. picture windows capture Mount Feathertop views, and the rough-hewn timber screens, Victorian ash posts and antique rugs lend an air of earthy escapism. the gardens of old elm and oak trees are fringed by 11 hectares of bush and grazing land. double rooms start at $300.

Bondi has never struggled with an image problem but is nevertheless short on attractive accommodation. the new Bondi 113 is the work of landscape designer william dangar, who, through his robert plumb brand, collaborated with a team of architects, interior designers and artists to turn a rundown cottage into the area’s first boutique bolthole.

the three-bedroom cottage, priced from $2300 for a weekend, is in the heart of north Bondi on the corner of Gould and O’donnell streets and sums up the spirit of the beach-side ’burb with its use of colour, handmade outdoor copper shower, rosewood decking and bold sculptures from tracey deep and Michael snape. all very Bondi.

the vibe is definitely more 1960s at the freshly minted rick’s place, the Mollymook hideaway owned by chef rick stein on the nsw south Coast. the property went to beautification bootcamp and emerged with five bedrooms and five bathrooms. It’s just 400 metres from stein’s restaurant at Bannisters hotel, and guests get the best of both worlds: privacy, uninterrupted sea views from every room, and plenty of whale-watching opportunities, plus access to the hotel’s restaurant, day-spa and pizza pool bar. the entire house can be rented from $3500 for two nights. thehouseatsmoko.com.au; robertplumb.com.au/bondi113; bannisters.com.au

travelnewsedited by frances hibbardwhere to be & what to see around the world

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house styleThe House at Smoko in Bright. Inset, below: Bondi 113 by Robert Plumb.

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