1800s church on the Colo River

About a ninety-minute drive from the CBD of Sydney, the Hawkesbury Valley is the breathtaking backdrop to the all-new web series, Cooks Co-op. In epsiode one of the series, Executive Chef Martin Boetz shows you his recipe for twice-cooked wagyu beef ribs (see above) with the mighty Hawkesbury River as the background to his outdoor kitchen. But in addition to this magical moment, during the filming of Cooks Co-op, HB had the pleasure of spending plenty of time in this stunning salad-bowl region, seeking out the best local food and watering holes, spectacular places to visit and, of course, accommodation on offer to visitors.

One of the gems that HB stumbled across on this incredible journey is this riverside cottage — an 1880s Anglican church converted into the cutest two-bedroom guesthouse. The best bit is, not only is this pad loaded with decorating inspiration and interior styling tips, the owners have listed it on Airbnb, so you can stay here, too. It's a win-win!