My second review but a notch less. Came here for a nice lunch, sat outside on the patio and OMG was…read moreit noisy! Kids and more kids running around like its a daycare, teenagers phones on full volume, music blaring over the speakers.....great food, a little pricey but the noise! We had to leave because I was getting a migraine! Dropped from a 4 star to a 3 star.

Nice! Stayed overnight in Aug 2012 with my hubby and 2 small kids. Had a large room with a king…read moresized bed, king single and pull-out sofa. Room was very clean, beds very comfortable. Bathroom was spacious and spotless. We weren't there long but did have breakfast in the hotel restaurant and it was also really lovely.

This beautiful hotel was privately owned for man years. Finally it was sold a couple of years ago…read moreand modernised. Fronting Windsor Road, it reminds me of Dr Who's Tardis. It looks quite small but it is so large. The rooms are delightful and very comfortable. My daughter was coming down from the central Coast when she lost control of her car in the rain. She had to stay in Sydney as she had no way of getting back that night. I phoned and made a booking, they were so helpful and even though they were busy, they found a room from my daughter and her partner at 9pm at night. We celebrated my sister-in-law's 60th birthday at the hotel. The food was great, every course a winner. We had wonderful service, the staff were terrific. Now I go to the Spa at the hotel. It's in a separate building, right next to the swimming pool and it is really rather luxurious. They offer all sorts of things like body wraps and stone massages . The only problem is getting through to them. They don't have a separate receptionist so you have to leave a message. However, if you want to spoil yourself or a friend, there's nothing better.

This is one of those pubs that are good, but not really all that great. In a way, it probably had a…read morelot to do with the rather disinterested service that I received. However, it was still rather nice, with the beer garden out the front, and the decent options with regards to the beers on tap. Yeah, it wasn't all that bad and would make a particularly nice local pub as well.

This is going to be a great review. Trust me! I am from US. I made a reservation here to stay 14…read moredays. When I got here, we discovered a number of things: 1) it is a pub/hotel , which meant that it is not a hotel proper. The rooms to rent are above the hotel and that is 40 steps and no lift to the rooms. Being 71 and my wife 62 with bad knees, this was an impossibility. You may think, " What so great about this review? " It is the owners. When we got there, we discovered our credit cards were not working (forgot to notify our bank before leaving) The young women helping us was trying to give us all kinds of solutions, but nothing was working. I, finally, got the cards working, but by then, the owner showed up and told us that we didn't want to stay there, telling us the story of the pub/hotel and the 40 steps. Then he sat down and started helping us find another hotel, then eliminating the current reservation. Afterward, we sat down had lunch, some of the best fish and chips we have ever eaten. I ordered a beer, which he comped me. Seriously!! We will be doing a miniature show across the street this weekend and I will be having more of those delicious fish and chips (and beer which I will pay for) These people are awesome!!

Went to Shelly Beach for their snorkeling tour. The guide (Nigel) was friendly and knowledgeable…read more It took a long time of rescheduling because of weather and injuries, but it was definitely worth it! So glad we took the time to do this. We were taken for a short walk around the area before the snorkeling and it was fascinating to learn about the history or the area. We went on a seriously amazing day for the tour. The weather was perfectly warm and the water was clear. We saw plenty of wildlife during the tour. VERY grateful for the pool noodles provided for the tour. Made it a million times easier - all we had to do was lie there and enjoy the surroundings.

Only 20 minutes out of Sydney, Glenworth Valley makes for an excellent day trip to get you away…read morefrom the hustle and bustle of the city. An amazing property set in a deep valley on the Central Coast, Glenworth Valley offers everything from horse riding, kayaking, quad biking, even camping. I have only ever experienced the horse riding here which is great fun. For $75 you're taken out for two hours on one of the three trails. The best trail is the 'waterfall trail' which on a hot day you can jump off and take a dip in. If you're an experienced rider they will let you take off on your own, which is very rare. I like doing this if I am alone as I can set the pace I want to go at. It gets a bit trickier if you're stuck with a group of people and you're forced to go at a pace you don't want to but that is sort of luck of the draw. You can always rejoin the group if this happens. The horses are pretty stock standard riding school horses that come with riding school attitude and tricks. When you first arrive they try to put you with a horse that matches your riding level but honestly I think this is a bit of a farce - I once asked for a particular horse who they said wasn't out on that day, but then another lady rode him on my ride! I got over it in the end, but I wasn't pleased at the time. If you can try to book in advance on a quieter day - check they have no tour groups that day as you'll be in for a long wait and pretty boring ride.

I've only been here for after work drinks a few times as it's close to my office but this is a…read moretypical corporate hotel. There are too many staff on shift just standing around looking bored and it makes the whole experience very uncomfortable. They aren't all that eager to help either. Don't expect any of them to know anything about their menu or wine list either. The outdoor balcony space is a nice place to have a wine or two.

Came here after a nightmare at a local inn nearby, so this place was amazing compared to the shit…read morehole I got myself into previously. Free parking in the lot, HUGE lot. Receptionist was very helpful and patient while helping me check in, I had a handful of questions and she was able to answer them all very nicely. She upgraded me to a room with a complimentary balcony even though I literally booked the room 10 mins before I showed up, she even remembered my name when I ran into her in the lobby again the next day, and greeted me very politely. Made me feel very welcomed. They have a counter full of useful tourist information, providing places to go, and things to do, perfect for self traveling tourists/visitors. Safety feature: (can also be a hassle, but I would rather be safe than sorry), in order to go up to guest suites, you need to swipe your room key to use the elevator. Decent sized room, very clean & neat. Chair and table for relaxation on the patio ready for you already, decent sized bathroom, with tub and shower. The only thing that bothered me resulting in -1 star is the AC unit in the room, when it starts operating its pretty loud and in the middle of the night, can sound like someone is entering the room, and also, it seems to be always idling with hot air blowing out. Good place, probably will return for future visits.

We loved our weekend at Calabash Bay Lodge, the house is beautifully furnished and the views are to…read moredie for. The water taxi to the Lodge was an adventure as was learning to drive the little boat we used during our stay. Highly recommended we will be back.

Depending upon your age group, the Hillside Hotel can be heaven or hell…read more After a recent visit on a Saturday night, we discovered two things: we were no longer 18 (the place was packed with young adults and the noise was ferocious) and the name change - it used to be the Hillside Tavern. It appeared to be a big hit with the younger crowd, there was a line to get in at the back near the carpark, I don't know what the front was like. I could say I long for the time it was the tavern, nice and quiet and plenty of room. It's current metamorphisis into a hot spot seems to be working and I haven't seen any reports in the local paper saying that there has been trouble.

There's something for everyone at the Hillside Hotel. It's a bar, tavern, club and restaurant all…read morein one. The premises are large and inviting, drawing thousands of people in through its doors. On Saturday evenings, the place is pumping. The club section of the hillside hotel has plenty of patrons dancing and drinking the night away. There is a large balcony area off the dance-floor where people can smoke. The cocktails are especially good and the great looking guys even better. The DJ plays all the latest R'n'B, enticing you to dance and enjoy yourself. The restaurant has great food and attracts large crowds who dine before they drink and dance. Both families and young adults frequent this place, as it caters to groups of all ages.