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 4+ years 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? South Australia and The Kimberley.
Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.
Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.
Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.
Where to stay
The Fullerton Hotel Sydney
Sleep inside a 151-year-old icon.
Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney. The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.
Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.
Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.
Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.
The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.
Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.
Where to drink & dine
1. The Bar
Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.
Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.
Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.
The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.
On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.
Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce.
2. The Place
Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.
On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.
3. Local gelato
Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)
What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.
What to do/see
1. GPO Heritage Tour
Be awed by the building’s history.
Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.
From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.
2. Circular Quay
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)
An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.
3. Royal Botanic Gardens
Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)
Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.
It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.
4. Theatre Royal
Take in a show at Theatre Royal. (Image: Daniel Boud)
Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).
