Château Élan Hunter ValleyCredit: Château Élan Hunter Valley
Aerial view of Château Élan, Hunter Valley.
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As well as its wonderful wineries, the Hunter Valley, a two-hour drive north of Sydney, is home to distinctive luxury hotels and lodges.
Enjoy country elegance at Spicers Guesthouse
An iconic boutique hotel in Pokolbin, in the heart of the Hunter, Spicers Guesthouse underwent an extensive 18-month renovation in 2017–18, returning it to upmarket country elegance. The rooms have a classic style with muted tones, while the infinity pool overlooking the serene bushland makes for a stunning dip. Dining at the modern Italian éRemo Restaurant, with hatted executive chef Cameron Matthews behind the menu, is an ideal way to combine fabulous food with some of those remarkable Hunter wines that surround you.
Let the outside in at The Longhouse
The Longhouse is modelled on a traditional Aussie woolshed, but inside you’ll find spectacular modern design. Here, in a secluded spot in Pokolbin, three two-bedroom, self-contained suites with stylish living areas and well equipped kitchens all offer sweeping views of chardonnay grape vines and the mountains beyond. Set on a private 10-hectare vineyard, the Longhouse has a feel that is described as “raw luxury”, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, fireplaces, and sliding walls that open up onto a massive deck, where you can sit and watch kangaroos hop past.
Enjoy estate to plate at Voco
Country-estate style gets a splash of modern glamour at Voco Kirkton Park in Pokolbin. Rooms and suites decorated boldly in blue and orange offer views of manicured estate gardens or Hunter Valley countryside and the Broken Back Range. There’s plenty to keep you occupied when you’re not exploring wineries: play basketball, tennis or lawn games, go for a swim in the pool, grab a picnic hamper for the gardens, go and feed the estate’s pigs and chickens, or just settle in for high tea. You can also enjoy estate-to-plate fine dining at the hotel’s restaurant, Locavore, which offers seasonal and sustainable degustation menus.
Spicers Guesthouse, Spicers Retreats. Credit: Spicers Retreats
Guests enjoy the fire pit at Spicers Guesthouse in the Hunter Valley.
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Spicers Guesthouse, Spicers Retreats. Credit: Spicers Retreats
Guests enjoy the fire pit at Spicers Guesthouse in the Hunter Valley.
voco Kirkton Park, Pokolbin Credit: Voco Kirkton Park, Pokolbin
Guest Room at Voco Kirkton Park, Pokolbin
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voco Kirkton Park, Pokolbin Credit: Voco Kirkton Park, Pokolbin
Guest Room at Voco Kirkton Park, Pokolbin
Hit the fairways at Château Élan
For a luxury stay overlooking the greens and fairways of The Vintage, a Greg Norman-designed championship golf course 10 minutes’ drive north of Pokolbin, Château Élan offers elegant, spacious private villas and apartments in which you can relax as you plot your strategy for the next day’s round. Not a golfer? Fear not. Château Élan is also home to a luxurious day spa, with 17 treatment rooms, and a hydro lounge and deck area, where you can soak, sip something bubbly, and gaze at the mountains.
Group together at Tower Lodge
Looking for somewhere out of the ordinary for a large group? The Spanish Mission-style Tower Lodge building, part of the Tower Estate winery at Pokolbin, has a central courtyard around which can be found 12 eclectically designed rooms with vaulted ceilings, king-size beds and interesting treasures and antiques. There’s a bar, baronial dining room, library, 18-hole pitch-and-putt golf course, walking track, heated pool, sauna, gym and massage treatment room. The only drawback? You have to book the whole lodge.
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Sierra Escape, PiambongCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a morning coffee from their luxury glamping tent at Sierra Escape, Piambong near Mudgee.
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Make your downtime as memorable as your gastronomic experiences in the Mudgee wine region, a 3.5-hour drive or 45-minute flight from Sydney, by choosing one of these unique places to stay. Nest in repurposed heritage buildings in the pretty namesake town, pamper yourself with a luxury escape, or relax at a winery stay in the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Lap up subtle luxury
After a glorious day of wine tastings, retreat to the urban oasis of Perry Street Hotel, in the heart of town, to recharge before a night of more gourmet reveries. Revitalise with a soak in the bathtub in your suite in the beautifully renovated 19th-century Mechanics Institute building and feel yourself unwind amid the serene and textured interiors.
After a great night’s sleep, take the five-minute drive to The Cellar by Gilbert, where you’ll be inspired by the passion of fifth-generation winemaker Simon Gilbert and his son Will to create beautifully crafted modern wines with a nod to their heritage. Book ahead to indulge in a wine flight in the elegant tasting room or settle in for a leisurely afternoon in the backyard with some tasty snacks.
Travel back in time
Soak up the atmosphere in the centre of town at the 160-year-old Cobb & Co Court Boutique Hotel, a surviving treasure from Mudgee’s early settlement. Picture the arrival of a stagecoach as you glance down from your balcony at the cobbled courtyard, before admiring the vintage fixtures adorning your room. Cobb & Co is mere steps away from some of the town’s excellent dining options, from breakfast pastries at Market Street Café to dinner at Eltons wine bar.
Rest up in a worker’s cottage
Imagine town life in the late 1850s at The Tannery, a two-bedroom bungalow in the heart of Mudgee. The early Victorian home retains much of the natural charm of its former life as cosy accommodation for local workers. Stoke the open fire, take a seat on the back verandah with a cup of tea and admire the garden, or head straight to Alby & Esthers to mingle with locals over breakfast. Tucked down a laneway in a welcoming courtyard, this popular cafe is renowned for its tasty jaffles.
Hide away in a vineyard
Rekindle your romance just steps away from a cellar door in the quaint two-bedroom Winemaker’s Cottage, which was the Burnbrae winemaking family’s home in the 1960s and has been carefully restored in country minimalist style. Revel in the peaceful surroundings with your loved one before strolling over to the Burnbrae Wines cellar door to maintain the magical spell with the winery’s storybook-inspired labels and glorious blends. Vinestay by Yeats Wines is another local accommodation, set among the Yeates Wines vines.
Lowe Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Lowe Wines, Mudgee.
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Lowe Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Lowe Wines, Mudgee.
Burnbrae Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over the scenic grounds of Burnbrae Wines, Mudgee.
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Burnbrae Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Sun setting over the scenic grounds of Burnbrae Wines, Mudgee.
Take over a big country home
Reconnect with family and friends in the comfort of a renovated 1916 stone house at Leaning Oak, on the fringes of Mudgee. The restoration has stayed true to the soul of the building while adding modern luxury across four bedrooms and a study sleeping up to 12 guests. Kids will love the outdoor saltwater pool and pizza oven, while creative cooks will adore the large French-style kitchen of this authentic country home – time your visit with the Mudgee Farmers’ Market to stock up on fresh produce.
Combine luxury with a farm stay
Light the wood fire and snuggle up in a welcoming cottage with stylish interiors and local art on the walls or step out of your oversized homestead to meet fellow travellers around communal fire pits at Peppertree Hill, a collection of self-contained luxury accommodation options on the outskirts of Mudgee.
You won’t have to travel far to feast on seasonal local dishes. At nearby Pipeclay Pumphouse, on the estate of family-run Robert Stein Vineyard & Farm, treat yourself to a delicious lunch or dinner that places local meat, herbs and vegetables front and centre.
Indulge in an ultra-glamping experience
Lose yourself in the views of rolling hills deep in Mudgee wine country at the adults-only Sierra Escape, a breathtaking property on 280 acres with five-star tents to help you escape from the world for a while. Soak up the serenity in your glamping hut’s freestanding bathtub and be sure to order a local meats and cheese platter ahead of your booking – it’ll be waiting for you in your tent when you arrive.
Savour a five-star country estate
Celebrate your big family event — a wedding, perhaps? — at Evanslea, located along the Cudgegong River. Surround yourself with pretty, landscaped gardens as you gather your favourite people in a four-bedroom house with a shared swimming pool and fire pit. Or hide away from the world in one of Evanslea’s romantic cottages, after picking up some organic and biodynamic wine and delicious takeaway platters from the nearby Lowe Family Wine Co.
Take your time heading home
On your way back to Sydney, stop in at the heritage village of Rylstone, a 45-minute drive east of Mudgee, to feast on dumplings and sip Chinese tea at 29 Nine 99 yum cha restaurant, or taste French-style wines at De Beaurepaire Wines while soaking up sweeping vineyard views. Linger at The Little Lady at Naked Lady Wines, an minimalist tiny cabin for two on a boutique vineyard, or gather a group of friends for a memory-making reunion at Wollemi Retreat, a thoughtfully designed haven that sleeps up to 10 in luxury across a house and two cabins.
Sierra Escape, Mudgee Credit: Sierra Escape Mudgee
Elouera, a luxury tiny house at Sierra Escape in Mudgee. Meticulously crafted from a shipping container and offering unparalleled views.
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Sierra Escape, Mudgee Credit: Sierra Escape Mudgee
Elouera, a luxury tiny house at Sierra Escape in Mudgee. Meticulously crafted from a shipping container and offering unparalleled views.
De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone.
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De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to De Beaurepaire Wines, Rylstone.