The Grand Saddles Lodge opens this spring, bringing 20 private villas, an Art Deco piano bar and a native-botanical day spa to the Central Coast bush.
Just under an hour from Sydney, where the bushland gives way to the Hawkesbury’s waterways, something big is taking shape at Saddles Mount White. The Grand Saddles Lodge – the newest chapter from the team behind the wildly popular Homestead restaurant – opens this spring, and it’s set to turn the already-beloved Saddles precinct into a fully-fledged luxury destination. Think: stay, dine, spa, repeat.
The intimate escape hiding among the trees
The lodge is designed by Michelle Leslie alongside White + Dickson Architects. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Every detail has been thoughtfully curated. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Relax in the bathtub. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Conceived by Aussie business icon John Singleton, The Grand Saddles Lodge is built around just 20 private villas – keeping things intimate rather than sprawling. Each one comes with its own living space, open fireplace, private terrace and plunge pool, tucked among the bushland so all you hear is birdsong. There’s also a communal infinity pool and pool bar looking straight out over the treetops, for when you want company (or just a better view with your cocktail).
Getting there is part of the experience: a winding driveway through native bush leads to a glass-domed entrance, opening into interiors dressed in sandstone, spotted gum and warm brass – all designed by Michelle Leslie alongside White + Dickson Architects, and all built to feel unmistakably of Mount White, not dropped onto it.
Each villa has a fireplace, private terrace and plunge pool. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
The Saddles precinct is becoming a fully-fledged luxury destination. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Inside the main building, the onsite restaurant will lean hard into Australian produce – fresh local seafood, organic beef and poultry, and a menu shaped season-to-season by the property’s own herb and vegetable gardens.
Then, as the sun goes down, the mood shifts to Ned’s – an Art Deco-inspired piano bar anchored by a grand piano, built for martinis, live jazz and bar plates that don’t need to be rushed. It’s the kind of room designed for lingering.
For the wellness crowd, The Spa at The Grand Saddles Lodge brings five treatment rooms, both traditional and infrared saunas, ice baths and treatments built around native Australian botanicals – plus a tailored itinerary service if you’d rather spend your stay exploring nearby oyster farms, the Hawkesbury River or the region’s walking trails.
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Why this matters for the Central Coast
Ned's is an Art Deco-inspired piano bar.
The Spa has both traditional and infrared saunas.
The onsite restaurant will lean hard into Australian produce. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
The Lodge joins an already-strong lineup at Saddles Mount White – The Homestead, The Barn events venue and The Caravan – cementing the 11-hectare precinct as one of the most exciting luxury destinations within striking distance of Sydney.
Details
Bookings open for The Grand Saddles Lodge this spring. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Where: 20 Ashbrookes Road, Mount White, NSW
What: 20 private villas with plunge pools and open fireplaces
When: Bookings open this spring
Sydneysiders, start clearing your calendars – this one’s going to book out fast.
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
See the Murray region in an entirely different light by exploring its night-time experiences and attractions.
By day, the mighty Murray River is a majestic and ever-changing sight, with river red gums and wetlands stretching along 2500 kilometres. But by night, its cities, towns, villages and landscapes totally transform.
From Albury Wodonga to Mildura, and everywhere in between, you’ll be in for a multi-sensory and memorable treat encompassing mesmerising light shows, guided ghost tours and vibrant celebrations that capture the nocturnal magic of the river.
This is no ordinary nighttime adventure; the region becomes an entirely different world when the sun sets. Discover six must-do activities along the Murray that can only be enjoyed after dark.
1. Share in ghostly tales
Hold on to your nerve when learning local ghost stories. (Credit: Campaspe Shire Council)
If you’re up for something a little more spine-tingling, Port After Dark in Echuca is your best bet. Rumour has it that the Port of Echuca Wharf and the buildings around it have long been home to lingering ghosts and mysterious events – like the vengeful woman said to haunt an old tramway bridge and spirits searching for stolen money through the town centre.
You can hear all about them on this guided lantern tour, which takes place on Wednesday and Saturday nights after dark. The stories are atmospheric and intriguing – you may even spot a ghost or two yourself. If you’d like a more intimate experience, private tours are also available to groups of 15 or more.
2. Wander art installations
See Bruce Munro’s immersive art installation. (Credit: Serena Munro)
Right near the Perry Sandhills, sits an experience that feels almost otherworldly. Artist Bruce Munro (of Uluru’s Field of Lights fame) has created a Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra, a network of 80 Hills Hoists illuminated with fibre optic light combined with the sounds of an orchestra. The clotheslines glow and pulse in time to the specially composed score, immersing you in a dreamscape of light and sound.
For a different light experience, you’ll find stillness at Trail of Lights, also curated by Munro. Located just 30 minutes away on Lock Island in Mildura, thousands of lights stretch over the landscape, spotlighting both the river and a series of Munro’s sculptures. The trail is intended to be a peaceful and meditative setting for wandering and reflecting.
3. Learn through lasers
Travel 30 million years into the Murray’s past at Heartbeat of the Murray. (Credit: Ewen Bell)
Discover a fascinating history in this dual act of lights and projections on the banks of the Little Murray River. Legends of the Mallee is a multimedia show in Swan Hill combining lasers and lights, which tells the story of the region’s rich past. Learn about the Wamba Wamba and Wadi Wadi Peoples who first inhabited the area, as well as the figures and events that shaped the Mallee of today.
The river steals the spotlight in the Heartbeat of the Murray, a multimedia spectacle inside the Pioneer Settlement encompassing lights, lasers, sound and special effects against the natural backdrop. Through a sequence of large-scale animated projections, you’ll go back 30 million years to explore the Murray River’s formation before travelling to the present to learn how it supports modern communities.
4. Light up the lake
Watch the lights and lasers of Lake Mulwala. (Credit: Mulwala Water Ski Club)
Travelling with kids? Head to Yarrawonga Mulwala and nearby Lake Mulwala for the family-friendly Laser Light & Sound Show. Lights and lasers are projected over the lake and onto curtains of fog, creating a colourful and high-energy visual display. The show suits all ages and tastes, set to a mix of songs that everyone knows and loves.
You can take in the spectacle from either the grassy banks of the lake or book a table at the Mulwala Water Ski Club’s Malibu Deck Cafe, serving pub-style food and refreshing drinks, including excellent classic cocktails. If you’re watching from the foreshore, the show is entirely free, making it a great budget-friendly option.
5. Be captivated by local culture
Soak in the culture of the Bangerang People. (Credit: Laser Vision)
Set aside an evening to explore Bullanginya Dreaming in Cobram Barooga – you’ll want ample time to take in the stories and symbolism of this immersive laser light and sound trail. The 1.8-kilometre trail explores the storytelling and culture of the Bangerang People, who have long cared for the lands around Bullanginya Lagoon in Barooga. The trail features 12 activations – each telling a different story – and combines dramatic lights and lasers with water and fire.
Intertwined with the visual displays are Bangerang narratives, giving you meaningful insight into the area’s Indigenous heritage. It’s designed to be explored over 90 or so minutes, encouraging you to move slowly and thoughtfully.
6. Discover a winter glow
See the streets of Albury Wodonga come to life after dark. (Credit: Visit Albury Wodonga)
Albury Wodonga comes alive as the weather drops, with an annual celebration of the season on Saturday, 15 August. WinterGlow takes over the CBD and features a vibrant program of things to see, do, learn, eat and drink.
Take part in hands-on workshops that let you try different art forms and crafts. Feast on street food and winter warmers from local eateries. Browse for artisan wares at the night markets. Watch musical acts on the main stage. Or get involved in different activations, including a silent disco and giant maze. Artificial snow will be falling to add to the festive atmosphere.
Even wandering the streets and laneways and soaking up the late-night energy will leave you feeling enchanted.
