Mudgee’s stylish new escape

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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Incredible food, stylish amenities, and country hospitality await at the chic new The Clairfield hotel.

Picturesque Mudgee is renowned for its spectacular wines, fresh produce, and natural beauty. But the latest drawcard for heading to the region is the newly-opened The Clairfield Hotel. The accommodation masters the blend of country hospitality and modern design and is perfect for anyone looking to get away from the city for a long weekend. 

From sourcing ingredients from local farmers for its menus to collaborating with regional artisans for its decor, The Clairfield Hotel celebrates the very soul of Mudgee.

Here’s everything you need to know before you book.

Location

Mudgee is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Sydney. The Clairfield is situated on one of the town’s main roads—Sydney Road—meaning you are conveniently placed to explore the surrounding wineries and the main shopping precinct.

The Clairfield, Mudgee
The Clairfield is in a prime spot for exploring the region.

Style and character

There’s a lot to love about the style of The Clairfield Hotel which was designed to connect with the landscape. Cat Cossettini from Habitat Living was called upon to decorate the guest rooms while Michelle Faure from Mooikin Design Studio the public areas. 

The Clairfield, Mudgee
The hotel’s use of pink takes inspiration from spring cherry blossoms.

From the pendants crafted by a local ceramicist to the high-end furnishings, attention to detail is prevalent throughout. Modern yet warm, the colour palette draws inspiration from the surrounding eucalypts, autumn leaves, and spring cherry blossoms in the form of marble, linen, tiling, and feature walls. Spotted gum joinery, brass detailing, and sandstone crazy paving bring timeless sophistication to the design.

The Clairfield Mudgee
A woven artwork reminiscent of Mudgee’s undulating landscape brings texture and colour to the lobby.

The onsite dining destinations anchor the hotel, featuring a teal tile-clad central fireplace, monolithic pink marble bar, light timber furnishings, and olive trees. 

Gigis Mudgee
The onsite dining destinations boast a contemporary yet warm aesthetic.

Facilities

The Clairfield shows its focus on wellness with its swimming pool, gym, steam room and wellness studio.

The pool area is reminiscent of those in Palm Springs and sits in the middle of the hotel grounds. Here you’ll find daybeds with umbrellas to unwind at and they’ve also thoughtfully placed a trolley filled with towels and sunscreen for guests to use. Adjoining the pool area is a communal outdoor area with tables and chairs and a central fireplace.

The Clairfield, Mudgee
Take a refreshing dip or relax poolside at this Palm Springs-inspired oasis.

A few steps from here are the steam room and small onsite gym fitted with modern equipment.

If the fresh country air isn’t enough, bring further Zen to your trip by booking a session at the chic wellness studio, Jila where you’ll find a a relaxation space, two infrared saunas, and float therapy rooms. 

Jila, The Clairfield
Jila wellness studio features infrared saunas and float therapy rooms.

There is onsite parking for guests as well as a conference centre.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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Rooms

Where many hotels might skimp on decorating guestrooms with high-end furnishings, The Clairfield does not. Every room has been thoughtfully decorated in high-end furnishings from Sarah Ellison, Design by Them, RJ Living, and I Love Linen.

The Clairfield, Mudgee
The serene guest rooms feature thoughtful details.

Rooms range from the comfortable Olive Queen to the spacious Summer Suite, and all feature tasteful art, crisp linen bedding, linen robes, and La Gaia amenities.

Families should book The Olive Family Room which offers two adjoining rooms, one with three single beds, and the other with a king-size bed. 

The Clairfield, Mudgee
The colour palette draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape.

Of all the rooms available, the Master Suite and Spring Suite are the most luxurious and include Samsung frame TVs, round freestanding baths, and Reuben Hill coffee. The Summer Residence is also equipped with a kitchenette and an outdoor area. 

The Clairfield, Mudgee
The Spring Suite comfortably sleeps four guests.

Food and drink

Dining at a hotel restaurant often feels lazy, but the food and drink offerings at The Clairfield Hotel are not to be missed. Helmed by Sam Potter, dining destinations Gigi’s and The Flour Bin celebrate the best of Mudgee produce, in a delicious blend of Modern Australian meets Italian cuisine.

The Clairfield Mudgee
The blush bar is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner tipple.

Gigi’s has already cemented itself as one of the region’s best restaurants. For breakfast, don’t miss the smashed avo and feta on house pumpkin and rosemary focaccia, and the coconut pannacotta, quince, rhubarb, and maple granola. Guests will be pleased to know the coffee is top-notch as well.

Gigi's Mudgee
Enjoy Mudgee produce in a contemporary setting.

For dinner, expect exciting flavours in dishes such as grilled local cabbage, pickled mustard seeds, hot honey, tarragon burnt and honey pannacotta with elderflower granita, meringue, and white chocolate, paired alongside a range of local wines. 

Gigi's Mudgee
The menu blends Modern Australian and Italian cuisines.

The 30-seat The Flour Bin is around the corner and offers a more casual dining experience. Perch yourself at the pink bar or at one of the highchairs to enjoy woodfired pizzas and small bites alongside one of many local wines. 

The Flour Bin, Mudgee
Enjoy small bites alongside Mudgee wines at The Flour Bin.

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Accessibility

The Clairfield caters for wheelchair users and those who are vision impaired.

Family-friendly

With its swimming pool, family rooms, parking, and onsite dining venues, The Clairfield is a great choice for families. 

Details

Address: 1 Sydney Rd, Mudgee

Best for: Anyone looking for a stylish country getaway.

Cost: From $230 per night.

 

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Rachael Thompson
Rachael Thompson is Australian Traveller's Evergreen Editor and Hotel Addict. She's responsible for the foundational content on AustralianTraveller.com, helping to manage and grow the brand’s destination guides. With a background in design and travel media, Rachael is dedicated to curating content that is as much informational as it is beautiful. She began her career at Belle magazine, before taking up editorial roles at Homes to Love and Bed Threads. When she's not writing, editing or optimising content, Rachael enjoys exploring the city's newest restaurants, bars and hotels. Next on her Aussie travel wish list is Lord Howe Island.
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Good food, beautiful nature & history: your guide to a long weekend in West Gippsland

(Credit: Rob Blackburn)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    From rainforest walks and scenic drives to historic gold-rush towns and standout regional dining experiences, you can find it all in West Gippsland.

    Hover over West Gippsland on Google Earth and you’ll see vast tracts of land spread out like green velveteen around the Toorongo Falls Reserve. It’s a landscape that feels almost impossibly lush for a region sitting little more than an hour from Melbourne.

    Track southeast in late autumn and early winter and you’ll see pockets of the Mt Baw Baw Plateau dusted in snow. In addition to the forests of mountain ash veined with creeks and rivers, there are pastures and farmland cross-stitched together to form pretty patchworks.

    But West Gippsland isn’t defined by scenery alone: in addition to its awe-inspiring nature, a Venn diagram of the region includes gold-rush history and great culinary experiences.  Spend a long weekend here and it quickly becomes clear how often these three overlap.

    Getting there

    Messmates Dining west gippsland
    Spend the weekend eating and exploring in West Gippsland. (Credit: Messmates Dining)

    Getting to West Gippsland involves as easy drive – it’s just over an hour out of Melbourne along the Monash Freeway.

    Not driving? Catch the train from Melbourne on the Gippsland line, terminating at either Traralgon or Bairnsdale, and hop off at Warragul or Drouin.

    Visit historic villages

    Walhalla historic township
    Wander into Australia’s Gold Rush history at Walhalla. (Credit: Rob Blackburn)

    The West Gippsland region is on the Traditional Lands of the Kulin and Kurnai nations, specifically linked to the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai and Wurundjeri Peoples, whose connection to Country stretches back thousands of years.

    European settlement occurred in the 19th century as timber cutters, farmers and gold seekers pushed into the region’s dense forests. Small towns grew around sawmills and railway lines, and many of those gold rush settlements, timber towns and railway villages still shape the character of the region today.

    The most evocative of these is Walhalla Historic Township, a remarkably preserved gold-rush township tucked deep in the mountains. In the late 1800s, it was one of Victoria’s richest goldfields. Today visitors can step inside that history at the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine, where underground tours reveal the scale of the mining operation that once powered the town’s prosperity. Nearby, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway retraces part of the original narrow-gauge line through the valley, offering a slow journey past forest and river scenery.

    Further west, Noojee is a classic mountain village. It’s surrounded by dense forest and waterfalls and has become a natural base for exploring the Baw Baw region. Just outside town, Noojee Trestle Bridge stands as one of West Gippsland’s most striking relics of the rail era. The towering wooden structure is the tallest surviving trestle bridge in Victoria and today forms the centrepiece of an easy scenic walk with wide views across the valley.

    Alpine Trout Farm west gippsland
    Catch your own lunch at Alpine Trout Farm. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)

    At Alpine Trout Farm near Noojee, visitors can fish for trout in mountain-fed ponds before enjoying the catch prepared fresh onsite. It’s a simple experience that reflects the area’s long connection to the surrounding waterways.

    Back in Warragul, the region’s main service town, the story shifts from heritage to modern regional life. With galleries, restaurants and sweeping views across the rolling farmland of Gippsland, the town has become a lively hub linking the district’s past with its evolving food and cultural scene. Drive through the town and you’ll find heritage buildings, old pubs and weatherboard cottages that hint at the area’s early days as a frontier landscape.

    In other towns the past survives in quieter ways – a historic hall here, a century-old bakery there.

    Walks, waterfalls and wild places

    Toorongo Falls in west gippsland
    Stroll Toorongo Falls Reserve. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)

    Even simple roadside stops can feel cinematic in West Gippsland. The region also delivers plenty of opportunities to lace up your walking shoes.

    One of the region’s most rewarding nature escapes lies just outside Noojee at Toorongo Falls Reserve. A network of walking tracks winds through the cool-temperate rainforest where towering mountain ash trees filter the light and the air smells of rich, damp earth. The 2.2-kilometre trail to the viewing platform overlooking Toorongo Falls is short, but spectacular, as the water cascades down over moss-covered rock faces into a cool, green gully in Little Toorongo River.

    Further north, the Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort offers year-round adventures. In winter, the mountain attracts skiers and snowboarders. The warmer months are just as compelling, with scenic drives to see alpine wildflowers, mountain bike trails and panoramic hiking routes that open across the plateau.

    Cyclists and walkers looking for a more relaxed pace can follow the Rokeby Neerim Rail Trail, which traces a former railway line through farmland and small Gippsland villages. The mostly flat trail passes rolling paddocks, creeks and historic bridges, making it an easy way to drop it down a gear when exploring the countryside.

    Taste the best eats of West Gippsland

    Hogget Kitchen west gippsland
    Taste the best of the region at Hogget Kitchen.

    For many travellers, the real drawcards of West Gippsland are the food and wine. The region sits in the heart of Victoria’s fertile dairy country, and that agricultural backdrop has helped shape a dining scene where seasonal produce and local provenance take centre stage.

    Hogget Kitchen has helped put Warragul firmly on the radar for serious regional dining in West Gippsland. Here, head chef and owner Trevor Perkins runs the kitchen alongside well-known winemakers William (Bill) Downie and Pat Sullivan. Hogget Kitchen lives up to its promise of exceptional destination dining; what lands on the table depends largely on what nearby farms have harvested that week as well as a wine list from Wild Dog Winery and other Gippsland producers.

    Warragul is also where you’ll find Messmates Dining where the kitchen team is led by Michelin-trained chefs. The Euro-leaning bistro and wine bar brings a polished edge to the local dining scene using produce sourced from across West Gippsland.

    For something more casual, the century-old Noojee Hotel is the kind of hub that every traveller dreams of finding after a long drive. Expect generous pub classics served on the sunny deck in summer or beside the crackle of a log fire in winter.  Nearby, rustic Toolshed Bar, Bistro & Cabins is the place to go for a wood-fired pizza topped with smoked local trout paired with Gippsland wine, making it a rewarding stop for lunch or an overnight stay.

    Time your visit with the Truffle Festival

    Food lovers visiting in winter should consider timing their trip to coincide with Noojee Truffle Festival, running from 10 July to 2 August 2026. The inaugural event celebrates the region’s emerging truffle industry with tastings, special menus and events built around one of winter’s most prized ingredients.

    Start planning your long weekend in West Gippsland at visitgippsland.com.au.