Spicers Vineyards Estate
Modern manor house
A vine romance
Set amid a patchwork of grapevines and kitchen gardens, Spicers Vineyards Estate hotel in the Hunter Valley ticks all the boxes for a romantic getaway. Just two hours from Sydney, it's ideal for a quickie weekend away for two, or keep the love coming with a longer stay – you'll never be at a loss for things to do nearby. You and your sweetheart could spend your entire summer investigating the revivifying properties of Aussie grapes, perhaps some vino-therapy in Spicers' Spa Anise or trying superlative shiraz from the wine cellar – with over 350 bottles it could take a whole summer to sample the fruits of the estate. For more tasty treats, dine on chef Matthew Bremerkamp's farm-fresh fare in the restaurant – we won't blame you if you return to the cellar after dinner too…
Facilities
Habitaciones
Thirteen, including four suites.
Checkout
11am; check-in, 2pm. Both are flexible, subject to availability.
Más detalles
Rates include an à la carte breakfast; specialities include roast peppers, tomatoes (from the garden) and Binnorie Dairy feta on ciabatta, and poached eggs with smoky bacon, tomato chilli jam, wild mushrooms sautéed with spinach and ricotta.
Also
One of the ground-floor Luxury Spa Suites has a bathroom specially adapted for disabled guests.
Acceso gratis a internet
Restaurante en el hotel
Servicio de habitaciones
Spa
At the Hotel
Vineyards and wine cellar, bocce courts, mountain bikes, outdoor games pavilion, giant chess set, DVD library. In rooms: wood-burning fireplace, flatscreen TV, DVD/CD player, iPod dock, free WiFi, Appelles toiletries, air-conditioning, minibar, free bottled water and tea- and coffee-making facilities.
Our Favourite Rooms
Make the most of your vine-side setting in a King Spa Rooms which has a shared terrace, or a Luxury Spa Suite with a private balcony, both overlooking the vineyard and mountains in the distance. Families and friends travelling together should stay at the luxurious, four-bedroom Vineyard's House, which offers over 200sq m of private space, and has a private pool and barbecue – the ideal spot for a get together.
Poolside
We can imagine spending many long afternoons soaking in the sun by the outdoor pool. If you're a warm-water person, head to the small spa pool.
Spa
Spa Anise is the go-to sanctuary for a range of therapies, all of which harness the benefits of Australian-made Waterlily products. Relax with an aromatherapy massage, rejuvenate with an anti-ageing vino-therapy facial, and flush out any toxins with a purifying walnut scrub, and a blue volcanic clay, cypress and grapefruit wrap. Add some extra spice to your treatment with a mini manicure or a head massage. If you find it hard to choose between the long list of tempting treatments, splash out on one of their rituals; we particularly like the sound of the Vineyards Signature Vino Spa Ritual which includes a champagne sorbet full-body scrub, a hydrating moisturiser with molten cacao and pure vanilla bean, and a vino facial enriched with shiraz, pomegranate, fig and organic chocolate – sounds good enough to eat…
Packing Tips
A moleskin diary for jotting down notes on your favourite drops; riding gear for hikes in the country and binocular for spying out the sights from a hot-air balloon.
Also
Let Spicers arrange a tasting tour for you at one of the area's many world-class wineries. Or for a more relaxed tour, borrow one of the hotel's bikes and take it for a spin around the neighbouring vineyards.
Niños
Children of all ages are welcome to stay in Vineyard's House, although there's nothing specially geared towards kids here as this is more of an adults' retreat.
Gallery
Food & Drink
Top Table
Nab one of the tables by the window for uninterrupted vine vistas. If it's not too hot, the veranda perches are prime.
Código de vestimenta
This is one of the Hunter's leading eateries, so smart casual is the way to roll.
Hotel Restaurant
With a veggie patch and resident pigs, chef Matthew Bremerkamp has culinary inspiration on tap. Restaurant Botanica's contemporary à la carte menu is loaded with lip-smacking dishes, such as house-made charcuterie and Wagyu beef cheek with smoky chorizo, ras el hanout, celeriac, cauliflower and heirloom carrots, to be paired with the estate's selection of fine wines. Foodies should splash out on the seasonal Signature tasting menu. Earthy tones and floor-to-ceiling windows offering serene vineyard views make for a relaxed setting.
Hotel Bar
There's no bar as such, but their climate-controlled wine cellar at the back of the restaurant hold many a pre- or post-prandial drink. From the 350-strong wine list, choose local gems from Margan, Tyrrell's and the like, or old-world classics from Burgundy and Bordeaux.
Last Orders
Breakfast is served 8.30am to 9.30am; lunch is offered on the weekends only, from noon to 3pm; dinner is available Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm till 8.30pm.
Room Service
Have breakfast brought up to your room until 10.30am. The full restaurant menu is available for in-room dining during the restaurant's opening hours; outside these times, the hotel offer a variety of hampers for you to take your pic(nic) of.
Planes
Domestic travellers fly into Newcastle Airport, situated 50 minutes away from the hotel. If flying from further afield, fly direct to Sydney. Call our Smith24 team of travel experts to book your flights and arrange airport transfers (included in booking).
Trains
Maitland Station is a 35-minute drive from the hotel. From there, the Hunter Line runs between Newcastle on the coast and Dungog and Scone inland. Connect in Hamilton for a train south to Sydney.
Automobiles
Wheels are invaluable when touring this sprawling wine region. Our Smith24 team can arrange a rental for you to pick up at the airport; it's an easy drive from Sydney up the F3 freeway (National Route 1) to the Hunter Valley. The hotel has free on-site parking.
Worth Getting Out of Bed For
Fromage fans are well catered for in the Hunter Valley. Binnorie Dairy is brimming with creamy delights, including tubs of tangy labneh (yoghurt cheese) and the sinfully good Duetto, a creamy blend of gorgonzola and mascarpone. Snap up cheeses from around the world, along with crackers, gourmet groceries and ice-creams at the Smelly Cheese Shop at Tempus Two winery. Work off the cheese with a hike through dense forestry and along mountainsides on the Great North walk in Watagans National Park, or through the bush on the ominously-named Deadmans Trail – don't worry, it's far nicer than the name suggests – at Werakata National Park. Alternatively, discover the landscape on horseback. Having explored the land, take to the skies on a hot-air ballooning tour to view Hunter Valley in all it's rolling-pastures glory: Balloon Aloft, Cloud 9 Balloon Flights and Hunter Valley Ballooning offer smooth flights followed by champagne and breakfast. For a topsy-turvy, upside down view of Newcastle's sandy beaches and the Hunter Valley pastures, board one of the old army planes at Aerohunter and take an aerobatic ride through the air. There are multiple golf courses nearby; go fore it at Branxton Golf Club or Cessnock Golf Club, both less than a 30-minute drive away. If you're travelling with kids in tow, explore where the wild things are at Hunter Valley Zoo and visit Hunter Valley Gardens where children can burn off excess energy among the 60 acres of mazes and statue-scattered grounds.
Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt
This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .
