Most of the rooms are on the same level with a courtyard, we had ours looking towards the tennis…read morecourt. Unfortunately it rained heavily for 90% of the time we were here but the rooms were clean, staff were super friendly and the hotel was very nice. The library off reception has a log fire and there is a cozy comfort to the reception which I loved plus the smell of a log fire burning. They are also walking distance to the hunter valley village shops and gardens so easy to get to and really convenient too.

What fun this place is!…read more Located in the Hunter Valley along a country road - this 25 acre farm property is pretty cool. Run by Marie (Maureen?) our fantastic, hardworking hostess: these antique train carriages brought in from New Zealand proved to have a lot of personality. Each one is different and while the themes are a bit cheesy (Royal, Safari..), they're a real piece of history. each is equipped with proper bedroom, living room, toilets and full kitchen facilities (TVs, music, books to borrow, etc. too.) Some have a patio area -- some a small deck. there's even one you could really have a business retreat/meeting at. if you're not keen on the carriages, check out the guest house which sleeps 10 with it's two loft spaces. Enjoy a swim or a little tennis, or take a nice walk on the ground. located next to the bike rentals property, it would be great to rent a bike and find your way around hunter valley and 'home' to Krinklewood Cottages for a stay. highlights of our trip include a billion stars at night, two schnauzers and the pair of kangaroos we saw on our way back from dinner in town. if you're looking for something different, check out Krinklewood. :) Beware: there's no AC inside - though it cools down quick at night. Also: bugs! if you're a city slicker and/or not from Australia - this might not be the place for you. the ant are big. but outside only. bring mossie spray- just in case. Date of stay: 12/29-30/14

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.

Pokolbin Village - A Corker Amounst The Wineries…read more I have chosen Pokolbin Village for me and my family to stay at in The Hunter Valley Wine Country (only two hours from Sydney) during the first week of January 2017, that is a 'four star' rating and I can understand why they have an amazing rating. The place is nicely displayed with a range of specialty shops and restaurant for your convenience with lots of parking spaces available. There are easy-to-find signs especially when you're trying to locate 'Reception' so you can check-in, get your keys, unload your gear and start your holiday as-soon-as-possible. Once we entered the reception area, we were greeted by a friendly staff straight away that made us feel welcomed. The receptionist asked where I was parked and then directed me with easy instructions how to get to the our 'self-contained' villa accommodation and we noticed that on the key-ring to our villa, there were adverts on it stating that you can receive discounts for participating on-site shops and some outlets when shown. I drove the short distance to our room without a problem and found nearby parking - oh... by-the-way, the specialty shops are not too far from the room we were staying at, just a short stroll. . When we entered our room, the air-conditioner was already on that gave us an instant relief from the heat we were experiencing - 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 Farenheit). The facilities were conveniently located near the rooms - swimming pool, BBQ facilities, tennis court and boules court and on top of that, free wifi. We made great use of the swimming pool and BBQ facilities with nearby table and seats so you can enjoy your meal outdoors with the natural, non-pollutant country air. Pokolbin Village is only minutes away from all major attractions and event locations. It is the ideal place for couples, families or groups who are looking for a place with natural charms and beauty for a 'time-out' of your everyday hustle and bustle lifestyle.

Boring place with half closed expensive shops. Not sure about the restaurant there but the…read morecharacter of the hunter Defintely isnt in this little complex

I'd like to thank the staff at The Mercure for doing such a good job for my wedding. My check in…read moreand out was a breeze. The breakfast both mornings was delicious (so too was the 3 course wedding dishes) and our late reservations were accommodated with no fuss as well as a last minute late check out request. Table service for drinks appeared to go off without a hitch and our drinks at the bridal table were promptly refilled. The wedding coordinator changed hands a few times but I was taken care of very well by Caroline who saw it through to the end. She was professional, always immaculately dressed, calm and easy to talk to; by phone, email or in person. It was a COVID wedding to which Caroline was amazing at outlining any limitations and providing alternatives to make our wedding as safe and close to our desires as possible. I'd also like to thank Jade who showed maturity well beyond her 21 years. Never seemed concerned by the pressures I could imagine feeling catering for a wedding. To top it off we were allowed to leave everything as it was (floral arrangements, hired items etc). After a massive day it was a relief not to worry about that and be allowed to pick the items up the next day at our convenience. I will say that the pathways beyond the hotel room terraces could use some TLC. But.... I had to eat my words after commenting to my photographer that it was "a bit overgrown and viney out there". He got some amazing photos and the lush greenery added amazing contrast to the dress. Well done everyone!

I don't normally stay in hotels on vacations much preferring a friend's house or a B&B but in a…read morepinch, like Christmas holiday and 9 people to sleep, we opted for the Mercure and I'm glad we did. This hotel is centrally located to all the best restaurants and wineries in the Hunter. The rooms are very comfortable. Best of all, they have a pool: the perfect way to relax between cellar door closing hours and your restaruant reservation.

Some of the most beautiful views in the Hunter Valley and the owner Ray couldn't have been more…read morehospitable. He came out and guided us with a torch when we called him saying we were a bit lost at a crossroad. He showed us around our room personally to make sure we felt right at home before settling in for the night. The breakfast basket we received had varieties of cereal, some fruit, different bread options for toast as well as jams, peanut butter, coffee and tea. There was a small kitchenette where we were able to prepare and store food that we brought from home. Ray even placed several bottles of his own wine in the room for us to consume. At $20 a pop they were cheaper than most of the other vineyards we visited and the Shiraz was beautiful. Was bummed he didn't have any non-chardonnay whites though. The sofa bed was surprisingly comfortable. It didn't dip in the middle and you couldn't feel the springs- two things I normally hate about sofa beds. The bathroom was huge and the spa bath could have fit all 3 of us. Even the bathtub had a beautiful view overlooking the vineyards if you opened the blinds. Only downfall in the room? The three of us could not stop sneezing the entire time. It didn't seem dirty or dusty but something in there was making our noses crazy. The floors didn't seem SUPER clean when walking on them with bare feet but it wasn't bad enough to complain about. There was a pool too which was part of the appeal when deciding where to book for our girls weekend getaway. We never even saw it though. We were out on a wine tour all day Saturday and the weather turned a bit sour on Sunday so instead of sunbathing we stuck to our balcony, ate cheese, crackers, dips, drank three bottles of wine and contemplated the meaning of song lyrics on my Mumford and Sons Pandora station. When you have all that, who needs a pool anyway? Our holiday weekend rates ran us about $300 per night. Not the cheapest but not the most expensive either and for what we got (and our view) we felt it was more than fair. Highly recommend this place and would definitely visit again next time I'm in the Hunter.

If you are in the Hunter Valley then there is a good chance you a tourist, if so, then you should…read moredrop in when you arrive. They have lots of pamphlets, gifts, info iPads, a wine tasting area and of course the people behind the desk. We stopped in, grabbed a map and the lady behind the desk highlighted/annotated everything that we might have wanted to know about. There is also a cafe here but we didn't check it out.

Ok stay for a w/end, not sure i would want to stay longer…read more Apartments all a bit tired, beds reasonably comfortable. No servicing at w/ends which was a let down. Lovedale bar and restaurant was more like a canteen and needs cleaning and updating!

Meeting place for Beyond Ballooning hot air balloon experiences…read more I did not stay here and can only comment on the breakfast that came included with my balloon flight. Buffet breakfast with a pancake making gadget and an omelette station where the Chef makes to order. Hot selection of scrambled eggs, bacon (normal or crispy), beans, sausages, tomato and mushrooms. Cold selection of fruit, cereal, pastries and juices. Whilst never one to turn down an all-you-can-eat breakfast, I'd heard great reviews and unfortunately it fell short of my expectations. It just didn't taste like the real thing. The sausages and meatballs in particular were bland and the eggs and bacon were nothing like you could make from home. The egg station is probably your best bet as it's made fresh and any way you want them. The pancake machine was slow to make just two. I'd much rather a chef made them fresh or just had them pre made in the hot selection range.