The Grand Saddles Lodge opens this spring, bringing 20 private villas, an Art Deco piano bar and a native-botanical day spa to the Central Coast bush.
Just under an hour from Sydney, where the bushland gives way to the Hawkesbury’s waterways, something big is taking shape at Saddles Mount White. The Grand Saddles Lodge – the newest chapter from the team behind the wildly popular Homestead restaurant – opens this spring, and it’s set to turn the already-beloved Saddles precinct into a fully-fledged luxury destination. Think: stay, dine, spa, repeat.
The intimate escape hiding among the trees
The lodge is designed by Michelle Leslie alongside White + Dickson Architects. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Every detail has been thoughtfully curated. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Relax in the bathtub. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Conceived by Aussie business icon John Singleton, The Grand Saddles Lodge is built around just 20 private villas – keeping things intimate rather than sprawling. Each one comes with its own living space, open fireplace, private terrace and plunge pool, tucked among the bushland so all you hear is birdsong. There’s also a communal infinity pool and pool bar looking straight out over the treetops, for when you want company (or just a better view with your cocktail).
Getting there is part of the experience: a winding driveway through native bush leads to a glass-domed entrance, opening into interiors dressed in sandstone, spotted gum and warm brass – all designed by Michelle Leslie alongside White + Dickson Architects, and all built to feel unmistakably of Mount White, not dropped onto it.
Each villa has a fireplace, private terrace and plunge pool. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
The Saddles precinct is becoming a fully-fledged luxury destination. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Inside the main building, the onsite restaurant will lean hard into Australian produce – fresh local seafood, organic beef and poultry, and a menu shaped season-to-season by the property’s own herb and vegetable gardens.
Then, as the sun goes down, the mood shifts to Ned’s – an Art Deco-inspired piano bar anchored by a grand piano, built for martinis, live jazz and bar plates that don’t need to be rushed. It’s the kind of room designed for lingering.
For the wellness crowd, The Spa at The Grand Saddles Lodge brings five treatment rooms, both traditional and infrared saunas, ice baths and treatments built around native Australian botanicals – plus a tailored itinerary service if you’d rather spend your stay exploring nearby oyster farms, the Hawkesbury River or the region’s walking trails.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
AI Prompt
Why this matters for the Central Coast
Ned's is an Art Deco-inspired piano bar.
The Spa has both traditional and infrared saunas.
The onsite restaurant will lean hard into Australian produce. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
The Lodge joins an already-strong lineup at Saddles Mount White – The Homestead, The Barn events venue and The Caravan – cementing the 11-hectare precinct as one of the most exciting luxury destinations within striking distance of Sydney.
Details
Bookings open for The Grand Saddles Lodge this spring. (Credit: Ryan Linnegar)
Where: 20 Ashbrookes Road, Mount White, NSW
What: 20 private villas with plunge pools and open fireplaces
When: Bookings open this spring
Sydneysiders, start clearing your calendars – this one’s going to book out fast.
Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?
Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her 4+ years at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.
It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.
Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.
Where the vines tell a story
Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)
The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.
Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.
Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.
Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.
At the table
Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)
If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.
Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.
Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotelis a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.
And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.
Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.
From the source
Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)
Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.
Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.
Mark your calendar
Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)
For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.
Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.
