Images David Hill - Deep Hill Media
Harmony, culture, nature, kinship at Sinofield
Just off the Great Western Highway near the village of Leura, where the World Heritage-listed national park meets the community, east meets the oldest continuous culture on earth in a yin and yang of harmony, kinship and respect.
A former school on 12ha of natural Australian bushland within the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, Sinofield Edu-Retreat is a gem hidden in plain sight.
It’s where you can base your stay as a solo visitor, couple or family; gather as an extended family, education, faith or interest group; or connect as a business through teambuilding activities.
Sinofield is also located close to boutiques, restaurants and other facilities.
Venue hire
Communal spaces are available for casual or regular hire, including the kitchen, quiet room, tea centre quiet room, classrooms and theatre equipped with seating, curtained stage, large backstage area and AV and lighting.
These are ideal for workshops, performances or individual or small group music, yoga or art classes.
Sinofield is also available for weddings and movie sets.
Accommodation
Sinofield has 24 spacious rooms and 60 beds of varying sizes and layouts – family rooms with bunk beds or lofts, doubles, queen and king size beds, huge king-singles – underfloor bathroom heating and decorated with contemporary fixtures and a fusion of traditional Chinese and Indigenous art.
Rooms are clustered into small groups to accommodate families, corporate groups or friends. Each is connected to a wide hallway offering additional privacy that can even be used for catchups, dinners or group discussions.
Nine rooms have private courtyards and open onto the natural landscape and surrounds.
Culture
Deepen your understanding of the land with Darug Elder and educator Uncle Chris Tobin, who shares Indigenous knowledge, heritage and culture at the Sinofield yarning space.
Indigenous art is all around on Darug land, and you too can learn the ancient art of ochre painting with natural pigments.
The foundation of calligraphy, the ancient Chinese writing method, is known as the Four Treasures – the brush, the paper, the ink and the inkstone. You can learn the structure, form and style of this elegant and soothing art using brushes and ink and take home a beautiful keepsake.
Using scissors or a carving knife to cut patterns on paper, you can explore Chinese paper-cutting to bond with fellow creators, synthesising the Chinese philosophies of calmness, peace and friendship.
Chinese ink painting is one of the oldest practised artistic traditions. Using black ink or coloured pigments on rice paper, your masterpiece can be a portrait, landscape or a bird and flower. Your finished work can be mounted on scrolls to take home.
Long a popular sport in China, Diabolo can be played in small or large groups. Using both hands, you will learn to hold the rod while shaking the Diabolo to perform a range of tricks.
In Chinese Chess, the King cannot walk out of his castle and there is no Queen. Learn to play and compare the cultures of east and west.
Dragon dancing usually welcomes in the New Year but at Sinofield, you can learn how to control a 10m long beast as a team any time of year.
The traditional tea ceremony (Cha Yi in Mandarin, meaning “the art of drinking tea”) is an elegant ritual that illustrates the Chinese philosophies of calmness, peace and friendship. You will learn about the selection of tea leaves, techniques of brewing and the art of tea sets and environment choice.
Activities
A great way for families, education, faith-based, business or common interest groups to connect, there are numerous activities at the 12ha property.
Take part in an outback bush survivor challenge through the undulating terrain, cooking, archery with an ex-Olympic champion or ball games.
You can explore the heavens with stargazing.
Or you can simply pause to connect to the landscape and sounds of nature in the zen rock garden, under a towering eucalyptus tree, by the gurgling fish pond or along a walking track to a hidden stream, hanging swamp, unique foliage and wildlife.
Getting there
By car: 90 minutes’ drive from Sydney CBD (approx. 100km via the M4 Western Motorway), turn left at Scott Avenue and enter the driveway about 200m on the left-hand side
By public transport: Two hours via public transport Blue Mountains Line. Get off at Leura station and 30 mins walk from station or catch a bus from Leura station, about 5 minutes will take you right at the front
Cost
$120 per person, per night minimum two-night stay
Contact
77 Scott Ave, Leura
P: 02 4757 4880
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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