01 November 2023
16 mins Read
Punch ‘luxury accommodation Hunter Valley’ into the Google machine and it will scatter pins like confetti around Australia’s oldest wine region. From classy boutique hotels and family-style resorts to elegant Airbnb listings that bring a new level of luxury to the Hunter Valley, there are now more reasons than ever to put a weekend aside and make the two-and-a-half-hour drive out of Sydney.
Booking a night in boutique luxury accommodation in the Hunter Valley means you don’t need a designated driver. You’ll even find accommodation options sewn into the patchwork of Hunter Valley wineries so you can savour the Hunter Valley terroir in situ. Here’s our guide on the best luxury accommodation in the Hunter Valley.
For city folks, there is nothing quite like the spectacle of staying in luxury accommodation when visiting NSW wine country. The Lane Retreat is one of the most anticipated openings of 2023 in the Hunter Valley region. With a little planning, you can make the most of your trip to the Hunter Valley by building your itinerary around the luxury Bimbadgen Estate property, its restaurant, Esca Bimbadgen, and cellar door, where you can book in for an exclusive tasting.
Stay in a luxe but laid-back suite at The Lane Retreat.
The retreat on Palmers Lane in Pokolbin features 60 luxurious studio retreats, a luxury swimming pool, bespoke store and pantry with the Broken Back Range as the backdrop.
The luxe setting invites relaxing poolside sessions.
The newly reimagined 14-suite luxury Tower Lodge beckons in the heart of the Hunter. The luxury lodge was first conceptualised by the late winemaker Len Evans in the 1990s and remains casually evocative of a hacienda under the helm of its new owners, the Hope family of nearby Hope Estate.
The luxe Tower Lodge is situated on a pretty parcel of land in the Hunter Valley.
Hole up in this five-star luxury Hunter hideaway, with its stucco tower and terracotta tiles, to enjoy world-class wines that hum of the Hunter. While first impressions of Tower Lodge might be that it’s an architectural anomaly, with its eclectic furnishings and palatial Spanish styling, it’s also somewhat of a secluded sanctuary.
The secluded sanctuary also features private hot tubs for guests.
Book dinner at Sebastian run by Gianni Moretto (ex-Rekondo, Sans Sebastian) if you want to remain in a Basque Country bubble.
You can also lounge by the pool.
Robert and Sally Molines are highly regarded restaurateurs in the Hunter Valley. And now, in line with the evolution of restaurants with rooms in regional Australia, the couple behind the much-loved Bistro Molines have opened the doors to a cottage that makes for a stylish sleepover nearby.
Book your weekend stay at Little Orchard Cottage.
The light-filled two-bedroom Little Orchard Cottage has all the comforts of home just a short stroll away from the hatted restaurant with all the French flair we’ve come to expect from Bistro Molines.
The quaint cottage is full of provincial charm.
The cottage is gorgeous, styled just so by Sally and like the restaurant, a love letter written in flowing French script to the surrounding countryside.
If you’ve done your homework, you will have heard of Emma’s Cottage, surely one of the prettiest boutique Hunter Valley accommodation offerings available. Why rush a tasting at Alter Wines’ newly renovated cellar door when you can spend the night nearby in two-, three-, four-bedroom cottages or the five-bedroom guesthouse.
Emma’s Cottage is the perfect place to bed down in the Hunter. (Image: Bryce Noone Photography)
Emma’s Cottage will take your wine country weekend in the Hunter Valley to the next level. This luxury Hunter Valley accommodation is a participant in the progressive Lovedale Long Lunch, one of the most popular premium events held in the Hunter Valley each year. Don’t feel like catering? Head to The Larder to customise your own charcuterie board.
Fronting Emma’s Cottage is a spacious garden. (Image: Tim Pascoe Photo)
Yarrimbah Cottage is 100 per cent off-grid, making it a haven for the many Australian Traveller readers who aspire to enjoy a luxury eco-conscious stay in the Hunter Valley. The self-contained luxury Hunter Valley cottage accommodates up to two guests and is sited at Jindalee Estate.
Enjoy a luxury eco-conscious stay in Yarrimbah Cottage.
But there are also two additional accommodation options with gas fireplaces for cosy winters, which the best accommodation in the Hunter Valley will always include. Up to 12 people can stay at the estate, which affords 180-degree views of Broken Back Mountain and is an idyllic setting for romantics, families, and large groups. Foodies will appreciate the fact they can wander down the lane to The Mill Restaurant.
Take in the picturesque views from bed or the oversized bathtub.
A soaring sandstone fireplace is the centrepiece of Vico Monti, a beautifully styled four-bedroom house with a one-bedroom studio located in the heart of the Hunter.
Relax by the pool at Vico Monti.
Enjoy a good read or a good red while sitting around the hearth, which is central to the home’s identity regardless of the season.
Gather together for an afternoon feast.
The Hermitage Road cycleway curls around the beautiful boutique accommodation, which was recently renovated.
The luxury homestead overlooks the Vico Monti single-estate vineyard that has been embroidered onto the earth around the valley. The homestead sleeps 13 and is perfect for a group getaway.
Dine surrounded by tranquillity on the patio.
The Cook’s House at Corunna Station is one of the most delightful places to stay in the Hunter Valley. Although the cottage was originally used by the station’s cook to prepare food for the hungry shearers working on the farm, everything about the historic boutique Hunter Valley cottage feels very now.
This historic boutique accommodation has been effortlessly styled to perfection.
For starters, it is kitted out in a very contemporary style that has been fine-tuned to meet the needs of everyone from millennials to couples and families.
The Cook’s House has a spacious deck for groups.
Although the Cook’s House only sleeps four, there are more beds available in the adjacent country house and homestead. The cottage, which has a wood-fired stove, offers superb views of Broken Back Range.
Modern meets contemporary style at The Cook’s House.
Seeing the sun rise over the vines at Boydell’s Vineyard is just one aspect of the glamping experience that makes this the perfect romantic escape to the Hunter Valley. There is only one African safari tent onsite at the East Gresford property, which means guests glamping in the vineyard are given exclusive access to the property.
Designed as the ultimate couples’ getaway, the luxury tent features the finest linens, a free-standing copper bath, an outdoor shower and fire pit purpose-built for stargazing, glass of Boydell’s Reserve Shiraz Pinot Noir in hand. Make a beeline for Boydell’s Cellar Door and Restaurant to level up the experience.
The Hunter Valley is known for its semillon and chardonnays and there’s no better way to enjoy the wines produced in this idyllic landscape than with a stay at the Château Élan, boutique Hunter Valley accommodation set amid rolling vineyards.
Get in the swing of things at the resort with a round of golf at the Greg Norman-designed 18-hole course, The Vintage Golf Club. Follow up with an afternoon of pampering at the award-winning spa.
Want to book a couple’s escape? Taking a loved one to Legends Restaurant is par for the course at this luxury Hunter Valley accommodation.
You will feel right at home in the Hunter when you book a luxury stay at Spicers Vineyards Estate. That is of course if your home resembles a five-star retreat. The retreat offers all the amenities you’d expect of the Spicers brand – such as a lap pool and swanky spa – and Restaurant Botanica is just a short stroll away.
Lavender blooms by Spicers Vineyard Estate.
Order the tasting menu and then sit on the winery’s serene verandah or your own private balcony to enjoy views over the valley.
Take advantage of your own private verandah during your stay.
The retreat is too cool to keep quiet about: book a girls’ weekend away in the Hunter Valley to coincide with one of the region’s annual events such as the Hunter Culinary Association Food Fight.
Sit by the lap pool with a drink in hand at sunset.
The Convent Hunter Valley is hugely popular with discerning oenophiles who return to the luxury Hunter Valley hotel each year at harvest time so they can wander around the estate’s vineyards, help harvest the grapes and of course taste the wines the property produces.
The Convent is sequestered between lush vineyards.
The Escarpment Group hotel is housed in a former nunnery and has a relaxed feel about it with sink-right-in sofas, vineyard views, and suites that have been set up in a cosy, contemporary style that also reflects the building’s history and heritage. The Convent is also an especially lovely place to stay thanks to its proximity to Circa 1876.
The Convent has a sophisticated feel to it.
Greystone Estate is your go-to if you want to escape for a group getaway with family and friends. The luxurious property is flooded with light and has carefully curated interiors: we love the soaring cathedral ceilings and wide parquetry floor in the cottages, and the raw timbers and natural textiles in the adjoining heritage homestead, Gow House. While the fireplace works for chilly evenings, the pool is an oasis on a hot day in the Hunter. The property has 15 bedrooms, 17.5 bathrooms, a games room, and about three hectares of manicured lawns and gardens. There’s also a sister property in Lovedale.
Greystone Estate exudes a quaint yet charming countryside appeal.
If chasing a little white ball around is your idea of fun then you will find your happy place at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort, which was included in the Golf Digest list of Top 100 Golf Courses in the world. But the iconic 40-hectare property is also a perfect jumping-off point to explore some of the region’s premium wine producers, such as Audrey Wilkinson, Brokenwood, Pokolbin Estate, Tamburlaine and Roche Estate.
Keep yourself warm by the fireplace at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort.
In addition to the golf course and country club, there are two bars, two restaurants, three pools and two tennis courts. You will find the one-, two- and three-bedroom villas set against a stunning backdrop of the Broken Back Mountain Range.
Hit the sack after a long day in Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has installed Tesla charging stations in the car parks of all of its Crowne Plaza hotels in Australia and New Zealand, which makes the voco Kirkton Park hotel a popular detour for drivers of the electric vehicles. Recharge yourself in the pool or voco spa or over dinner at Locavore, where the menu follows the seasons.
The hotel is in Pokolbin and overlooks the Broken Back Range and surrounding countryside, which changes colour with the light and the seasons.
Anita’s at the Vines was one of the first Airbnb properties on offer in the Hunter Valley. And it proved so popular that its interior decorator owner Anita Ellis added Pollyanna and Nomad’s Nest to her listing. The charming country stays are perfect for couples or wine lovers looking for luxury Hunter Valley accommodation that has a bit of personality.
Pollyanna blends charm with personality.
While Pollyanna is one of the prettiest Airbnbs to add to your wish list when on a winery weekend, Nomad’s Nest is a favourite for those looking for something a bit quirky. The accommodation is housed within an old Nissen Hut, a prefabricated steel structure originally used by the military as barracks. It sleeps four guests and has a large backyard.
Embrace a quirkier stay at Nomad’s Nest.
So you’re searching for accommodation in the Hunter Valley for a special occasion? Want to spend long evenings around the fire with your new flame? Wild Edge Retreat is couples’ only accommodation that is as far away from the everyday as it gets. In fact, we’d recommend doing a tour of the wineries before checking in so you can flop and drop here and drink in your surrounds. Each of the four pavilions have a pool and spa and are designed with privacy in mind on the edge of the Wollombi wilderness. Oh, and there’s no need for range anxiety: there are Tesla charging stations onsite.
One of the greatest luxuries at the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley is the fact it’s located in Lovedale. The fact the four-star hotel is family friendly also earns it a few brownie points. It’s near to wineries for the adults, has a waterpark for the kids, and an 18-hole golf course and spa to help you reset and rejuvenate. Book a double room with pool access for its open-air terrace furnished with sun loungers. Or book the two-bedroom villa so you can self-cater in the kitchenette. In addition to the swimming pool, there’s a restaurant, bar and gym onsite at the 414-room resort.
The William Arnott Hotel is a slice of authentic Australian history in Morpeth, on the fringes of the Hunter Valley. While the walls of The Historic Arnott Bakehouse display old signs and artefacts from the former Arnott’s factory, where Australia’s favourite biscuit brand began, the rooms in the boutique hotel are pared-back and contemporary, befitting of a hotel that ranks on our listicle of Unique Places to Stay in NSW. Start the evening with dinner at Boydell’s before retreating back to your SAO Suite for a Tim-Tam slam dessert. The bakehouse is now home to Morpeth sourdough, where you can join an artisan baking class.
The Historic Arnott Bakehouse is home to Morpeth sourdough.
Sit on your breezy patio overlooking the rolling hills of the Hunter and fantasise about your next trip to Tuscany. Estate Tuscany has a lot of hotel features worth noting, not least of which is the fact it presents the ideal location for a wedding in the Hunter Valley.
Whatever the occasion, Estate Tuscany is sitting pretty in the foothills of the Broken Back ranges in Pokolbin and offers a multitude of reasons to stay and play. Take a cooking class, burn along the Hermitage bike track or dine in the vines at The Mill restaurant. Take up the offer of a Tulloch Wine Package and you’ll be going home with six bottles of premium Hunter wine.
Long bush walks, yoga, meditation, massage, nourishing meals. This Hunter Valley wellness retreat offers a range of programs and packages designed for personal development.
Take in scenic views over the Hunter Valley at Elysia Wellness Retreat.
Whether you want to reset your circadian rhythms or start an exercise program in a safe, friendly space, Elysia Wellness Retreat is designed to help you be the best version of yourself.
Join wellness sessions at Elysia Wellness Retreat.
Choose from a range of low- and high-intensity activities, from Pilates to fitball, bocce and tai chi, designed to promote wellness and wellbeing. The minimum stay at the resort is three nights which is ample time to restock your stores of cheerfulness at the restaurant, relaxation lounge, and resort-style pool.
Rest and rejuvenate by the pool.
There is also a range of day spa experiences you can book in the Hunter Valley if a three-day retreat isn’t quite right for you.
Elysia Wellness Retreat from above.
Sante Fe in the state of New Mexico is a long way from Pokolbin. But somehow this Pokolbin ponderosa doesn’t feel out of place. And in fact, the pueblo-style Casa La Vina villas make for a carefree base where relaxation and escapism is the name of the game.
Relax in the jacuzzi at Casa La Vina. (Image: Muse Photography)
While there are a number of fantastic luxury places to stay in the Hunter Valley, the beauty of this couples’ retreat is its tranquil bush setting. It’s also right in position, just minutes from some of the major concert venues and best places to eat and drink in the Hunter. The Grand Spa Villa is the go for a romantic escape to the Hunter as it features an outdoor spa and indoor gas log fire.
Check into the Pueblo-style Casa La Vina villas. (Image: Muse Photography)
The No. 1 reason people visit the Hunter Valley is to sip and sample wine. But there’s plenty more on offer in addition to the vineyards and rolling hills. Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens caters to all comers, not just those into a weekend of wineries. Yes, it’s in the heart of NSW’s wine country.
Mercure Resort Hunter Valley is surrounded by well-manicured gardens.
And while it’s not over-the-top luxe, the resort has had a soft refurbishment and is a great launching pad from which to experience the best things to do in the Hunter Valley.
You’ll find all the comforts of home in the family suite.
Book a hot air balloon ride. Dine at a hatted restaurant. Pick up gourmet provisions and a few bottles of plonk. And take a stroll around the resort’s theme park gardens.
Dip your toes in the pool at Mercure Resort Hunter Valley Gardens.
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