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.

If you're looking for a relaxing weekend a rustic getaway then this might just be the perfect place…read morefor you. Horseback riding, Segway, petting farm, delicious meals three times a day. A vast selection of micro beers and wines some grown right on the estate. Others from surrounding vineyards. That's right over 150 vineyards the majority with cellar doors open and waiting to teach you about their fine wines. The staff on the resort is always warm welcoming and friendly. The food is plentiful large portions at a fair price. And activities galore. So check it out the next time you are heading north of Sydney Australia

Decided on a last minute trip to Australia and wanted to get out of Sydney because we're always…read morecoming here. We chose Hunter Valley because it was close and relatively unknown to us in the States. Also heard that they make incredible semmilon and shiraz. Arrived mid evening after the scenic drive up from the Blue Mountains. Front desk clerk was overwhelmingly helpful and made for a nice first impression. She was able to provide all the winery and brewery information we needed to go out tasting the next day. Also gave a few restaurant recommendations and tips. We didn't feel like being in the car any longer, so we ate on sight at the newly added Matilda Bay Brewing Company. Really, an on sight brewery!...we were psyched not knowing before we arrived, but were so happy to be able to get their beers after having them in Western Australia. Food was decent and the menu had enough for most people. My only complaint was that the bartender appeared to be closing up when we sat down for dinner at 7:30pm. We asked if they were done serving and the reply was "no, we're open until 9:00pm." He then appeared to be very interested in rushing us along and getting our order as quick as possible. Although I will say, he had very good beer knowledge. The room was comfortable and basic. Clean, a good bed, a hot shower and internet. It could use a little updating, but works nonetheless. Breakfast both mornings is limited, but adequate. Hot and cold items, fruits, breads and cereals are all available. Coffee is self serve. The staff was extremely pleasant, but a little overwhelmed with the group that bombarded them each morning, all at once. She could have used an extra person to assist her. Having said that, she was cheerful and smiling the whole time. It was great location in Pokolbin and close (as you can get) to some great wineries and breweries. Recommended if you find yourself in the area.

This was our favorite hotel of our entire Australian trip. We had a studio suite that overlooked…read morethe vineyard and large pond with ducks. There were free laundry facilities and it was just a short walk to an amazing restaurant, Il Cacciatore. There was a continental breakfast in the room each day that included English muffins with several topping choices, yogurt/berry parfaits, and muesli. Coffee and tea were also in the room, or espresso drinks were available in the lobby for a small fee. Each morning, I went to the lobby to get a latte and was able to sit and talk with the owners. They are LOVELY and gave great recommendations for restaurants and activities. This place helped make Hunter Valley my favorite Australian destination!

Lovely hotel centrally located in Hunter Valley. Stayed in the vineyard studio which has a nice…read moreopen floor plan with a cute little balcony facing the vines. Room was clean and spacious. Few things to note, continental breakfast is included and is actually already in the fridge upon arrival--which allows one to have a midnight snack (if you get hungry during the night like me, haha) and gives you flexibility with when you want to take your breakfast (no early morning knocking). On a side note, for those who are particular about toiletries, the hotel provides a combo shampoo/body wash. If that's not your cup of tea, you might want to bring your own shampoo. Also, complimentary wifi for those techies, like myself.

Central Maitland Stay This 1-bedroom studio apartment in…read moreCentral Maitland is a convenient and affordable base for visiting the Hunter Valley. The location is excellent, with a supermarket just a 5-minute walk away and High Street's shops, cafés, and dining options around 10 minutes on foot. The apartment was well-appointed and featured a very comfortable king bed, air conditioning, kitchenette, and private bathroom. The kitchenette was particularly well equipped, including a fridge/freezer, 2-burner electric cooktop, dishwasher, microwave, pod coffee machine, kettle, and toaster. Basic cookware, crockery, cutlery, glassware, and tea and coffee supplies were also provided. A nice bonus was the free laundry facilities on the ground floor, complete with detergent sachets. The secure parking was appreciated, although the spaces were a little tight. Check-in was fully remote, with smart lock access throughout the property using the same code issued for the apartment. We didn't interact with many staff during our stay, but the housekeeping team were very friendly and helpful. The only downside was the limited storage space. Although there was a wardrobe, much of it was occupied by the ironing board and clothes drying rack, leaving very little room for personal belongings. The studio also included a small dining table with two chairs, plus two curved tub chairs and a small coffee table, which felt unnecessary in the compact space -- we ended up using them to store clothing instead. Overall, this is a comfortable and good-value option for a stay in Central Maitland.

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.

My husband and I stayed here for two nights in Dec 13. The cottages are of an older decor but very…read moreclean and extremely spacious for two people (especially compared to a hotel room). Checking in was easy and the manager was extremely polite and helpful (told us to feel free to call at anytime as he is always on call!). When we arrived to our cottage their was a small breakfast hamper waiting for us in the fridge, a full loaf of fresh bread and a litre of milk. Very generous servings we thought. Cottages are well away from any roads and are spaced out. Fully equipped kitchen, aircon, fireplace and your own BBQ on your porch. Communal pool on site. Lovely place for a little getaway. Would stay here again.

This was just what I needed!…read more I had to get escape Sydney for a bit, and was amped to check out the sand dunes in Newcastle for the weekend. So I took the train 3 hours up, and walked the 2 blocks from the station to the YHA. And talk about prime real estate! As soon as I walked in, I almost see the house's history seeping through the walls. After a quick tour, it was pretty obvious that this was an old gentlemen's club back in the day. It had that look about it - the old dancing hall, quaint private rooms, and of course a beautiful grand stairwell pouring into the front room. Due to its classic Victorian architectural design, it was easy to get lost in a nice, relaxing perch just about anywhere. The old dance hall, however, has been declared the main room for eating and social gathering. In this room you can join one of the many circles of travelers around the TV, the small library and book exchange, or any of the tables spread all over the room. I went up to Newcastle alone, but instantly made friends at the YHA. There were quite a few backpackers looking for work in the area, thus becoming leaders of the next night's random pub crawl through town! The hostel staff were great as well. One of the guys on staff at the time admitted that they didn't coordinate many events until last minute since the travelers kind of predicted how the nights went. And it makes sense really. Unless you're an obsessed fan of Silverchair, people come here mainly to check out the sand dunes; therefore forcing their nights to be cut short for the next's morning's early outing. But if you're night is free, the nightlife is well worth the time. Oh and fyi, If you ARE a Silverchair fan, you are in luck! I've been told that no matter what there's always someone in the hostel who can tell you where to go to find any of the native band members. Btw I love that people actually still care about this. Woo! 1990s! Silverchair yeah! Anyway stay here. This hostel is rocks. There's no way a place this grandiose could let you down.

Roomy and friendly backpackers occupying an interesting historical building with lots of character…read moreand original features. As the name suggests it's close to the beach, there are also many bars and restaurants nearby and the bus terminus is a short walk away. For supplies, there's a convenience store (Foodworks) just a few minutes walk across to the opposite corner of Pacific Park or there are supermarkets (Marketown and Coles) if you travel west across town on the bus. We stayed in a large dorm for the first night before moving to a private room once one became available for the rest of our stay. The shared dorm accommodation we stayed in was basic and comprised of four sets of bunk beds (it was a large room though, they weren't packed in), lockers and ensuite facilities, and was situated just off the main reception area and hallway. There are other shower and toilet facilities located throughout the building if one of your roommates is taking too long in the shower! The private room was upstairs and comprised of two single beds, bedside table and wall mounted TV with built in DVD player which was a bonus we weren't expecting. No frills but perfect for the price for the budget conscious traveller. The one drawback from our stay here was the lack of air con - the summer heat was stifling at night, and opening the window just let the mozzies in as there are no insect screens. The kitchen is in the basement of the building and does get busy at certain times, but I was always able to grab a space to prep my meals. There are gas hobs, one countertop mini oven, fridge and freezer space plus lots of shelf space. There's a dining area just off the kitchen, and there are coin operated laundry facilities on this level too. There's a large common room on the ground floor which used to be a ballroom in the days that this building was home to a gentleman's club, and it still evokes its grand past with wood panelled walls and leather couches. Comfortable and with lots of space to chill out and socialise. There's a TV and DVD player with a large selection of DVDs, board games, books, table tennis and pool table, and access to the small outdoor space with BBQ. The staff here were very friendly and welcoming and the hostel felt like more than just a bed for the night, there was a good community feel and I enjoyed spending a bit of down time here too. The boards were updated every day with weather forecasts and events and suggestions of things to do in Newcastle. You can also get free hire of surf boards and body boards from the staff at reception as well as book day trips (we did the Hunter Valley wine tour - would highly recommend!).

Cheap, clean and convenient Stayed here while driving back…read morefrom Melbourne to Brisbane. The rooms are small, even by Ibis standards, but have a shower & toilet, so at less than $70 this was a better option than a cabin in a camping ground. The room itself is clean and the bed comfortable. The hotel features free tea an coffee during reception hours, and has a some vending machines, a communal fridge and a microwave for your catering needs. The local shopping mall is within walking distance and there are some ok restaurants near by. The staff (1) was friendly and helpful and happy to recommend a restaurant and print out a map for directions. This is not the Hilton, and I would have been upset if I had brought my family here for a holiday, but for an overnight stay its perfect!