Macarthur Dreaming

The Mole dreamt, his little paws twitching as he chased a Molette through the fluffy clouds.  However, this particular flight of fancy was in fact being severely affected by ongoing turbulence, so he finally heaved a sigh & opened his eyes.

The ‘jet turbulence’ became jets of water and the clouds turned into mountains of bubbles under which the Mole had completely disappeared.  Yep, the fine dining and odd refreshment earlier in the evening, had impaired the Mole’s already dubious vision, and led to a major miscalculation of the amount of Body Spa Wash required in order to attain the marvellous zen-like state known as “Late Night Spa Bath”.

But hang on a minute, this is Campbelltown – what was I thinking – associating this place with words like fluffy clouds, fine dining and luxury?!!  Times have indeed changed down south of the CBD.  In fact, the locals are even beginning to demonstrate Sutherland Shire like tendencies by enthusiastically saying “We’re from Macarthur!”

Rydges Campbelltown opened its doors in August 2007, the first 4 ½ star hotel to be built in Sydney since the Olympics, the latest hotel to open its doors in the expanding hotel chain.

That the location is in Macarthur is itself a marker to how Campbelltown and the surrounding region is now being perceived by the accommodation sector. 

The General Manager Joanne Acott proudly says that Rydges Campbelltown clearly demonstrates the sharp end of Rydges’ business strategy for expanding the group.

Acott and her Marketing Services Manager Louisa Loring [below] are actively using the hotel to leverage new business both locally and from further afield.  After staying at Rydges Campbelltown, there is a very strong case for both the corporate and leisure ends of town – and for the MICE market.

With over 100 rooms, it is centrally located within the Campbelltown CBD, and only a stone’s throw (OK, maybe two!) from where Fred Fisher’s ghost sat on the rail of a bridge in 1826 pointing to where he had been murdered and his body hidden in a nearby paddock.

Hmmm, lets hope that Australia’s most famous ghost wasn’t pointing at Rydges, or it may end up with some ghost stories of its own. With part of the old bridge over the now aptly named Fishers Ghost Creek still visible, a walk in the wee hours outside the hotel may hold a surprise….

As you walk into Rydges, the words ‘style’ and ‘contemporary’ hit you squarely on the snout.  Designed by Scott Carver, the hotel manages to somehow be intimate but also airy and open.  The staff are very attentive and provide a high level of customer service.  Chatting to a couple of longer-term guests, they view the hotel as home and have good relationships with all the staff.

The hotel is part of a group of buildings on the one site.  All belong to a master plan developed by the Campbelltown Catholic Club, synonymous with Macarthur for many years, as part of its diversification to generate new sources of income.

On one side of Rydges is the Club, on the other is Aquafit, a fitness and leisure complex. Within Aquafit is the Oceana Day Spa. Between the hotel and the club, the Cube Convention and Entertainment Centre is due to open mid-2008, with a walkway between hotel, convention centre and club.

Rydges itself has three conference rooms with large glass doors allowing access to the Podium Gardens.  What this all means is that between them all, events & functions of all sizes can be catered for, from the small to very large. The Cube will cater for shows, conventions and exhibitions, and all will have an excellent on-site accommodation option.

Rydges Campbelltown is perfect for a weekend break as it has all the ingredients, including proximity to the city (40 mins direct rail trip from Airport too), a great touring base for the Macarthur region (with lots of tourism options), fine dining in ‘Fusion’ the hotel restaurant, a comfy hotel bar with it’s own microbrewery, live music on the terrace and a Day Spa.

Rydges core focus is corporate during the week, the executive spa rooms are particularly pleasant, with guests able to watch the flat screen TV whilst bubbling away in the bath (and here we are not talking baked bean induced bubbles!!). All business necessities are available including high speed broadband.

The Cube, in conjunction with the hotel and Aquafit offer a very attractive option for the MICE market.

Whether  a break, on business, or experiencing a show, dinner & accommodation package, the Day Spa is a compelling piece of indulgence. All the usual goodies from ‘massage rituals’ to detox and body cleansing. One item, adapted from a medical use, sounds like the very ultimate ‘wrap & float’.  Being the only one of its kind in Oz, not going to tell you what it is in case a queue forms before the Mole can scurry back!

The Day Spa is therefore a beacon for golf widows while partners hit the little white ball on one of six golf courses in the area.  Also in Macarthur you will find that history and heritage abounds as this is where the wool, wheat, dairy and wine industries all started.  Belgenny Farm was the home farm of John and Elizabeth Macarthur. You can visit this farm that dates from earliest white settlement in 1805.

Lots of adventure activities to chose from, including Laser Skirmish combat adventure,  hard-core aerobatic flights (or scenic Tiger Moth flights), or the great adventure of a dawn balloon flight with Australia’s oldest ballooning company, Balloon Aloft, situated at Camden airport.

Floating above Camden [left] really is a surreal experience if, like us, you ascend through banks of mist with all the fantastic colours of a new day dawning. 

The countryside is currently pretty green, in fact, our pilot Matt Scaife (from the UK) commented that it was just like flying over Old Blighty at the moment….

Certainly an unforgettable experience (which may also be available in Homebush later this year) that everyone should do at least once. After the flight you are given a certificate and champagne brekky.

For a great lunch stop after the Ballooning, try Menangle House, [below] situated a few kilometres south of Campbelltown at Menangle Park.  Dating from 1830, it has a great open courtyard, and it is also one of those hidden gems that cyclists (of the pedal variety) will in due course discover.

So there it is, drive down, take advantage of complimentary parking and great accommodation at Rydges, put your keys away for the weekend if pampering and relaxation is the goal.  The Mole highly recommends the microbrewed “Macarthur Wheat” as a primary relaxant…!

Or – have an adventure in Macarthur, visit a winery, lunch in a great eatery, have a heritage walk around Camden or Campbelltown or even visit Australia’s largest botanical garden at nearby Mount Annan, the choices are yours….

On the green front, the hotel has water efficient features and rainwater tanks to water the garden.  Guests sometimes report seeing snakes (This may also be a side-effect of Macarthur Wheat…), but these are of the plastic variety to deter birds from absconding with pebbles on the roof.

In the end, as far as the Mole is concerned it all comes back to the bed.  Good nights sleep = happy bloke who take on the world! This is the icing on the Rydges Campbelltown cake – the Rydges Dream Bed, designed specially for a good nights sleep.

Advertised as the ‘Fine Art of Dreams’, the Mole slept like a Picasso on a pillow.  So it was no surprise to learn that when Hugh Jackman stayed during some recent filming, he actually took a pillow with him when he checked out.

No longer should you think that community service in Campbelltown is a result of legal judgement! Try a Macarthur Dream for your next break or corporate call.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised…..

A report by The Mole on location at the Rydges Campbelltown

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