The service is friendly the ambiance is rustic…read more The wine and cheese parings complement each other quite well. We also did the two fat blokes wine tasting tour. Thank you JJ for driving us around Hunter Valley. The six or seven wineries were all quite interesting the microbrewery at the end was a nice finish. What made the trip all the more interesting was sharing the experience with six other couples. Individuals at the beginning of the day had no knowledge of each other. But soon the camaraderie along with some wine soon made everyone best friends exchanging contact information before we said our final goodbyes as each party was dropped off at their respective hotel locations. It was a great experience for everyone.

We were recommended to do this tour as Hunter Valley businesses have adopted COVID-SAFE procedures…read moreand bookings would probably be needed. Travelling as a small group would save us phoning ahead. Also, we did not need to be concerned about drinking & driving as the pickup was at our accomodation. After booking, a couple of emails followed; one was a receipt and another the offer of a take home meal for our evening meal. The emails were also explicit about changing the booking and not being at the pickup on time with loss of moneys as the penalties. What was not sent was the time and place of pickup. Our trip was on the Tuesday so I spent Monday 'phoning, texting and emailing to get the time and place. We even visited their POB and met a young fellow who took our card and said he would pass on our concern at this stage. The only thing he was certain of was that no one was in the office. The answering machine had the message that due to COVID the office had to close on Mondays but would be open at 8:30am Tuesday. However, we could leave a message on the machine if our enquiry was urgent. Even leaving a card didn't get a return email, text or 'phone call. Now pretty unimpressed, we 'phoned, texted and emailed at 8:30, 9:00 and 9:30. So much for the office being open at 8:30. We sat out the front of our accommodation determining when we would give up when the 'bus pulled up at 9:55....for a 10:00 start at the first winery. Our driver said that this was the first time he had done this job but we were on the list and they were clearly running late. His name was Paul and unless they have many drivers named Paul ( mentioned in a few reviews ) he may have said this to avoid listening to a familiar complaint. Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Tours carries plenty of signage on the 'bus on COVID-SAFE but the 8 of us were seated in the only available 8 seats. The two seats next to the driver were not available to us. Once hurried on it was clear we were part of 3 groups making up 8, 2 couples and a group of four. At best we should have been advised to bring face masks otherwise there should have only been 5-6 passengers. Our driver did his job well but was often concerned about the timing. We had a nice snack lunch provided which had enough for leftovers. Our last stop was at their POB for a cheese and wine tasting and it was here we not only got to see the young bloke who took our card but one of the Fat Blokes graced our group with his presence. This would have been the time to placate us but once both these people saw us it was heads down and back to the office ( and no, we didn't 'phone to see if he would answer) The lack of communication was one strike but not to give a reason when the opportunity arose was the second, the third (and most important) was "how safe were we" huddled in the back of the 'bus. Each of our stops demonstrated how seriously the businesses here are taking COVID. If you are travelling in a large group, hiring a 'bus is a good idea but perhaps not this one as once they have your money, no communication. We revisited a couple of the wineries the next day and as there was just the two of us it wasn't an issue just walking in.

Understand this is a get-away in a pricey area, and its at the top of the its mark in terms of…read moreservice and offerings... you will get a lot for your money, but you will spend a lot to get it. We had a wide variety of places to visit and travel to in our quick 2 weeks down under, but this was one of those locations I decided to splurge on our trip and spend 2 days exploring Hunter Valley. You could do a lot worse. The estate is quiet, the wine is not even sold like other places here, its so small you have to belong to buy, but there is no cellar door. The food was AMAZING, truly. The service was excellent, the staff was friendly, offering after hours cell contact and all the amenities you could want. The room had but a few minor issues, like the upstairs noise was a lot more than promised, and the stairway next to our room as quite loud, so reserve upper if you can. But it was luxurious, plenty of space, fireplace pre set up with wood, and heated everything, floors and towel bars and a private patio to enjoy. The local animals were always present and a nice country add to our quite stay, in room pests were not welcome and reported but there is only so much you can do about them, so that is something they can do to earn a 5... mind you not much more as they are very close to it already. Worth the stay if you want to have a bit of luxury, but be prepared- its going to be one of the more expensive places in the area.

Feels like a recently built guesthouse. It's a really good hotel. It's small, so you don't bump…read moreinto many other guests. It was full on the weekend we went up to the Hunter Valley and we felt like we were the only ones there. It has a restaurant onsite called Botanica which has excellent food. We arrived on the Friday night from Sydney and service was excellent on checkin, as was the cocktail on arrival (they send cocktails out to all the rooms at about 5 or 6pm. We stayed for a couple of nights and had breakfast in the restaurant each morning which was very well done. A good selection of their food is grown onsite, and they also have some pigs onsite as well for restaurant use. I really like that, making it as local as possible. We also had inroom dining on the night we arrived and it was very well presented - usually inroom dining tends to be bumpy and cool by the time you get it. Inroom dining from Spicers is hand carried from the restaurant and very professional. It's easy to get to and it's local to most of the Hunter (with a car). The guesthouse has some nice features - pool, very large checkers and chess set and also a massage place onsite. Will be going back.

Loved our stay at Goosewing. The new owners are a fantastic couple and the friendly service hasn't…read moremissed a step. Great location being close to boutique wineries and some of our favs (Savanah Estate, Saddlers Creek) as well as the fantastic Bistro Molines.... all with a rural setting. We'll tell our friends and can't wait to visit again. Chris and Jacinta.

This place is amazing and if you have food allergies such as celiac (gluten intolerant) then you…read moreneed to visit Everything is cooked fresh and Jan and Russ are great people . there is one waitress her name escapes me but makes your breaky or lunch on Sunday's amazing.

From the owner: This unique cafe and B&B is situated within the historic home of 'Roseneath', built in 1837 and…read moreoriginally named the Queen Victoria Hotel. Anoushka's is known for fine home cooked breakfasts, lunches, high teas and deserts. Gluten free options are also available. Anoushka's also makes the finest coffee in the Hunter!

Riverside Escape based in Berowra Waters one hour drive from Sydney CBD is certainly off the beaten…read moretrack. For my fathers 60th birthday our family decided to hire the self contained holiday escape called Riverside Escape. Managed by Barbara Randell she certainly runs an efficient and wonderful experience for Riverside Lodge which we hired and sleeps up to six adults (three couples). She is a wonderful host and I think our short weekend away would not have been the same without her. Berowra Waters is Sydney's best kept secrets offering excellent Berowra Waters accommodation right on the Hawkesbury River. Perfect for that family weekend getaway but with a range of water activities and waterfront restaurants, Berowra Waters is an ideal NSW family holiday destination. The stay also included a tinny with fuel which we took down the Hawkesbury River to explore. At night we booked dinner at one of the two local restaurants and Barbara ran us to and from the restaurant on the tinny. On the two other nights we stayed in and cooked meals which we had on the table outside overlooking Berowa Waters. Other inclusions were. Riverside Lodge is a fully fitted out home with the benefit of on site caretakers to help ensure your stay is trouble free. All boat transfers to and from the property (addition transfers may incur a small fee) - Wireless internet - Media Centre - CD's, DVD's, 50 flat screened TV - Combustible wood fire - Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning - Mooring space for your own vessel - Double Kayak with life jackets & paddles - Tinny with fuel - Top class restaurants (including Berowra Waters Inn) - In house catering can be arranged - Secure Parking arranged on request - Bush walking - Uninterrupted water views - A taste of paradise only 50 minutes out of the Sydney CBD. There are also numerous bushwalks through the area.The weekend was amazing as this experience is unmatched in any form that we have experienced around the world. And thats simply what Riverside Lodge is... worldclass.

It is the voco. It is an ihg hotel. We were upgraded to a valley view room. The advantage of…read morestatus. The hotel has too many stairs. I have not seen any disable ramps. I think this is an oversight. The hotel is in a great location.

Fun place. Smaller rooms but very nice. WiFi can be spotty but all in all awesome!…read more Super comfortable and clean rooms. Jade was one of our favorites. She was training but super engaging. Great stay.

What a lovely place run by lovely people…read more Coming here at night, we were greeted by the lovely Marie who showed us to our comfortable, log cabin styled room. After a brilliant, albeit windy, nights sleep, we awoke to a wonderful view of the rolling hills of the hunter valley,glimpsed through gum trees. Elfin Hill provided complimentary breakfast of tea, coffee toast and cereal, but we opted for the reasonably priced cooked breakfast ( I had the breakfast bruschetta ) sitting, watching the vista. As is usually the case, the wind which had the ses on high alert in Sydney, did somewhat marr an otherwise perfect experience, but you can hardly blame that on Marie and mark who really make you feel at home. If you want a sanitised hotel experience with butlers in tightly laced formal wear, then this is not the place for you. But if you feel like staying somewhere quiet ( there can't be more than 10 rooms) and friendly with some delicious breakfasts and two cute as a button owners who go out of their way to help you, then this is the place for you. I'm just a bit upset at the weather, but I will definitely come back in the summer for a few days so we can utilise the pool! One of the better places I have stayed in the hunter, audit doesn't hurt that it's just around the corner from a lot of wineries, if a bit of vino tasting is to your liking. I like the reds :)

A wonderful country retreat suitable for groups of friends, families and or couples who want…read moresomething a little less commercial and looking for quiet and charm. We had seven families stay in comfortable cottages. By day we toured wineries and by night we congregated in Elfins communal areas to enjoy conversation and the amazing wines of The Hunter.