Have you ever stayed in a geodesic dome? Hideaway Domes welcomes you to experience another kind of living; one that is simpler, slower and unapologetically serene.
Some places entice you to take a step back. Hideaway Domes, set on a 1,000-acre property 15 minutes outside of Mudgee, invites you to wholeheartedly switch off. Here, there are no hurried schedules or city hums to break the silence. Instead, your neighbours are grazing sheep, a few curious kangaroos and the occasional fox weaving through the bushland. By night, the Milky Way claims centre stage, dazzling from the region’s darkest night skies. “Some people call it glamping, a farm stay, or a bit of both, but everyone calls it beautiful, luxurious and unforgettable,” says owner Ainsley Hayes.
Amaroo Dome (Amaroo, meaning “beautiful place” in the local Indigenous language) isn’t here to compete with its surrounding bushland. Instead, it frames it. The design is striking but unpretentious: a unique and sustainable geodesic structure that feels part spaceship, part sanctuary. But step inside, and it’s all about comfort. Think solar-powered lighting, a plush queen bed and a cosy indoor fireplace perfect for those cooler evenings. A kitchenette and gas BBQ cover your culinary needs, while a firepit promises cosy evenings under spectacular skies.
But the dome’s real charm? It’s all about the front window – a giant clear section that brings the countryside into the room, offering a sense of connection to the land. “It is about switching off electronics, observing shy rabbits emerging from their burrows as the day winds down, and embracing the slower pace of life, creating space for quiet reflection”, says Ainsley.
Watch as the sun gilds the dam in the morning, cattle mosey through the paddocks, and ever-changing hues dance over the rolling valley. By sunset, the entire scene transforms into a painting; the colours shifting with drama that’s best captured with your own eyes.
Hideaway Domes is a family-owned business, focusing on heartfelt, old-fashioned country hospitality. For Ainsley and her partner Mark, it’s all about offering a true taste of country living in a one-of-a-kind setting.
“Getting back to nature for me is about organic interactions with nature – the smells, the sounds, the stillness”, says Ainsley. “The spot where the dome now stands, I’ve sat there at different stages of my life, finding it profoundly therapeutic,” she says. “We wish for our guests to discover the same serenity and awe that this land has gifted us”.
This philosophy infuses into the design of Hideaway Domes. It prioritises sustainability, minimising environmental impact while maximising guest comfort. And while the views are undeniably a showstopper, the experience is equally about the small moments. And for those afternoons of exploration? You’ll find Burnbrae Wines, a boutique cellar door known for its laid-back atmosphere, practically next door and Mudgee’s vibrant food and wine scene just an easy 15-minute drive away.
“Under the stars is our favourite place to be.” Why not make it yours?
