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    Hunter Valley Accommodation

    Discover luxury Hunter Valley accommodation with Worlds Apart, a curated collection including four properties across the Hunter Valley region, Australia's oldest wine country, and the coast beyond it. Three of our retreats sit among the vineyards at Pokolbin, around two hours north of Sydney. The fourth sits on the water at Port Stephens, about ninety minutes on.

    A landscape shaped by vineyards, warm light and quiet country air

    Rolling vineyards and gentle ridgelines stretch across the valley floor near the Hunter River, with the Brokenback Range rising along the horizon. At its heart lies Pokolbin, within easy reach of the region's renowned wineries, cellar doors and Hunter Valley Gardens.

    • Guests staying within the collection are positioned close to wineries, walking paths, scenic lookouts, food experiences and outdoor activities that move at a relaxed and steady pace. The Convent Hunter Valley, Spicers Guesthouse and Spicers Vineyards Estate sit within this environment, each holding its own connection to land, light and local character.

    • Dining in the Hunter Valley is guided by regional produce, seasonal rhythm and a longstanding culture of wine and food. Estate restaurants, vineyard kitchens and country-house dining rooms create meals shaped by fresh ingredients, thoughtful preparation and a strong respect for local growers.
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    • The Hunter Valley invites engagement through slow exploration and a sense of connection with land and community. Vineyards offer tastings that reveal the region’s winemaking story. Gardens, courtyards and quiet walking paths provide gentle outdoor moments. Balloon flights, bike routes, art studios and farm visits reveal different facets of the valley. Spa experiences, lounges and calm corners across the collection support rest and stillness.
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    • Weddings and celebrations in the Hunter Valley draw upon vineyard landscapes, heritage buildings and atmospheric outdoor spaces. Estate lawns, gardens, country-house interiors and barrel rooms provide settings that feel grounded in the region’s agricultural history and natural beauty. Guest stays, dining rooms and ceremony spaces sit within close connection to the landscape, supporting gatherings filled with intention and presence.
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    Why stay in the Hunter Valley?

    Life moves at a slower pace here. Days move between wine tasting, long lunches, garden walks and outdoor activities across the valley. Newcastle Airport is about forty minutes away for guests flying in, and the coast at Port Stephens is close enough to pair a few vineyard nights with time by the water.

    Our Hunter Valley hotels and retreats

    A contemporary guesthouse of 49 rooms set among the vineyards, with the Italian restaurant éRemo, a lounge bar, an outdoor pool and a tennis court. Rooms sit across three wings, each with its own guest lounge, framed by sculptured gardens. There is a self-contained four-bedroom cottage for groups, along with two-bedroom dual-key rooms for families. The retreat suits couples and small groups who want wineries at the doorstep and dining without leaving the grounds. Dogs are also welcome in selected rooms through our Pooch Package, with a plush dog bed and a dog bowl provided in the room.

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    An intimate luxury estate set on eight acres of vines, with twelve suites, Restaurant Botanica, which cooks with seasonal produce from local farms, and the on-site day spa, Spa Anise. The Spa Suites have separate living areas with fireplaces, and rooms feature deep spa baths and in-room hot tubs. A separate four-bedroom house comes with its own kitchen and a private pool, and a salt-water pool and spa sit at the centre of the estate. It is the quietest and most private of the Pokolbin stays, and it suits couples, honeymoons and milestone escapes.

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    A heritage stay in a restored 1909 convent, part of the Independent Retreat Hotels collection, set on an estate with Pepper Tree Wines, lush gardens and a lake. Nineteen individually designed rooms open onto verandahs with garden and vineyard views, and dining runs across two restaurants, the hatted Circa 1876 and Restaurant Eighty Eight. There is an outdoor pool and a tennis court, and dogs are welcome through the Pooch Package. Spa treatments are arranged at sister property Spicers Vineyards Estate. The Convent is a peaceful retreat for guests who want heritage and character over a modern build.

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    A coastal Bannisters hotel on the bay at Soldiers Point, around ninety minutes from the vineyards, for guests pairing wine country with time by the water. Rooms and suites face the bay or the surrounding bushland, and an infinity pool looks out over the water. Dining runs across three venues, including the iconic Rick Stein at Bannisters for seafood, the Mexican kitchen Julio's and the Cheeky Dog pub, with treatments at Spa Bannisters. A laid-back coastal base for trips that want both the valley and the coast in one booking.

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    The Convent
    Sunrise at the lake4:59 AM
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    Around the valley

    Beyond the cellar doors, the valley is built around food and wine. Established wineries sit alongside smaller boutique labels, and the region is known for its farm gates, cheese makers and produce sheds, its country pubs and its gourmet dining. The Hunter Valley Gardens anchor the middle of Pokolbin, and the wider valley has walking and hiking trails with long views and lookouts, along with hot air balloon flights over the vineyards at dawn. Each autumn the region runs its annual wine and food festival. The team at each property can arrange wine tasting and share insider tips on where to eat and what to book.

    Weddings, celebrations & events

    Three of the properties work as wedding venues and for corporate retreats and celebrations. The Convent and Spicers Guesthouse both have function spaces and estate grounds for ceremonies and events, and Bannisters Port Stephens runs events on the bay. For wedding and event enquiries, visit our weddings page.

    Planning your stay

    All four properties are non-smoking, with free parking and free Wi-Fi. A single overnight stay or a longer country escape both work here, with check-in generally from 3pm and checkout at 11am, and early check-in or late checkout on request. Booking directly through Worlds Apart keeps rates and member offers together in one place, with availability shown per property, making it easy to find the stay that suits you best.

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    Frequently asked questions

    • The Hunter Valley is in New South Wales, around two hours north of Sydney by road. It is Australia's oldest wine region, centred on Pokolbin near the Hunter River, with Newcastle Airport about forty minutes away.

    • Pokolbin is the most central base and gives the easiest access to the major wineries, cellar doors and restaurants. Broke and Lovedale are quieter with boutique wineries, and Cessnock and Rutherford sit a little further out with better value. Most first-time visitors stay in or around Pokolbin.

    • Autumn and spring are the most comfortable for winery visits and walking. Summer brings the grape harvest, and the region runs its annual wine and food festival each autumn. Winter is quieter and cooler, with open fires at most of the properties. Booking ahead is worth it over long weekends and through the peak season.

    • Yes. The region has parks, playgrounds and picnic spots, a wildlife park with native animals, and family-friendly country pubs, and the Hunter Valley Gardens run seasonal events. Spicers Guesthouse and Bannisters Port Stephens both have family rooms, while Spicers Vineyards Estate and The Convent suit couples and quieter stays.

    • Yes. Spicers Guesthouse and The Convent both welcome dogs in selected rooms through their Pooch Package, and Bannisters Port Stephens is pet-friendly on the coast. Spicers Vineyards Estate does not take pets.

    • All four have a swimming pool. Spicers Vineyards Estate has a salt-water pool, the day spa Spa Anise, and suites with deep spa baths and in-room hot tubs. Bannisters Port Stephens has an infinity pool and Spa Bannisters. Spicers Guesthouse has an outdoor pool and spa, and The Convent has an outdoor pool.

    • Yes. Spicers Guesthouse has a self-contained four-bedroom cottage and two-bedroom dual-key rooms, and Spicers Vineyards Estate has a four-bedroom house with a full kitchen, separate lounge and private pool. Both suit families and small groups who want space and self-catering.

    • Port Stephens is around ninety minutes from Pokolbin, where Bannisters Port Stephens offers a coastal stay in the same portfolio. Lake Macquarie sits between the two for a stop on the way.

    • Yes. All four properties are non-smoking and offer free parking and free Wi-Fi.

    • None are strictly adults-only. Spicers Vineyards Estate and The Convent suit couples and quiet escapes, while Spicers Guesthouse and Bannisters Port Stephens are set up for families and groups as well.

    • A two to three-night stay allows enough time to experience the region's wineries, restaurants and attractions at a relaxed pace. Many guests also combine a Hunter Valley stay with a visit to Port Stephens for a longer New South Wales getaway.

    • The Hunter Valley is home to some of Australia's most recognised wineries, including Tyrrell's, Brokenwood, Audrey Wilkinson, Pepper Tree Wines, Harkham, Margan and Scarborough. Many cellar doors are within a short drive of our Pokolbin properties, and our teams can help with tasting recommendations and bookings.

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