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This luxury villa in the Hunter Valley is my new go-to

Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
Cedars Mount View stands out from the rest.

While there are some lovely accommodations in the Hunter Valley, one of the absolute standouts is Cedars Mount View for its sleek design and peaceful atmosphere. The adults-only retreat in Mount View offers private, self-contained accommodations perfect for couples or solo travellers looking to unwind in refined comfort.

The sprawling 38-hectare property features five self-contained accommodations: Villa Stella, Villa Lorea, Villa Alaia, the Treehouse and The Vue. I recently checked into Villa Lorea and it quickly became my new favourite accommodation in the region.

the exterior of Cedars Mount View Villa Lorea, Hunter Valley
Cedars Mount View is located in a gum-filled landscape.

The long driveway to the property takes us through a mountainous valley landscape where spotted gums thrive. As we pull up to the accommodation, I’m pleased and surprised to find it looks less villa-like and more house-like. The 100 square metres villa’s modern exterior sympathetically blends with the landscape, featuring Colorbond cladding and a sandstone entrance wall, surrounded by native plantings. I’m also pleased to find how separated the accommodation is from the others. The closest villa is too far down the hill to hear us, and we can hardly see it – this level of separation sets Cedars apart.

The property has been designed by Sydney-based architect Alexander Symes with interiors by Juliana L Martin Interiors. Inside, the villa is impeccably clean with pink lilies gently perfuming the space. The open-plan design helps make it feel extra spacious, while the contemporary design feels high-end with natural, earthy tones and textures prevailing.

the kitchen and dining at Cedars Mount View Villa Lorea, Hunter Valley
The well-appointed kitchen.

The living room is divided into two by a double-sided fireplace – one half taken over by a plush daybed that wraps the window, the other with a sofa, TV and, quite randomly, an infrared sauna. The sauna is a cosy little wellness nook that feels delightfully indulgent after a day of wine tasting.

During the day, nearby wineries beckon, but I can’t help but feel a strong pull to just head back and enjoy the property while we have it. Thankfully in the evening it gets cold enough for us to make use of the double-sided fireplace which instantly dials up the cosy vibes while we relax on the daybeds sipping our earlier purchases.

a plush daybed by the window at Cedars Mount View Villa Lorea, Hunter Valley
Admire bushland views from the daybed.

There’s a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, gas cooktop and oven, microwave, designer dinnerware and breakfast supplies (bacon, free range eggs, orange juice, fresh milk, Baker’s Delight bread, a variety of Berrenberg spreads and Brookfarm muesli and granola, baked beans and pancake mix). French-born owner-operators Gilbert Ponlot and Christelle Chardin have stocked the fridge with Briar Ridge Vineyard bubbles, Binnorie Dairy cheese and a range of accoutrements which we devour on the spacious wraparound deck.

It’s here we spend a large portion of the weekend relaxing, admiring the bushland views and listening to the gentle calls of native birds. There’s also a Heston Blumenthal-designed BBQ for warm summer days, alongside a pair of daybeds where we while away the evenings stargazing. There are walking trails and paths across the property where we casually stroll with a glass of bubbles in hand.

the bedroom inside Cedars Mount View Villa Lorea, Hunter Valley
The bedroom features a plush king-sized bed.

Back inside, the bedroom features a plush king-sized bed with a bespoke wooden headboard flanked by two handmade bed lights crafted by Gina Ermer. The spa-like ensuite is huge, with a curvaceous freestanding bath, positioned to take advantage of vineyard and bushland views. The space features terrazzo stone surfaces, a separate bathroom, underfloor heating, dual rain shower and basins that thoughtfully match the shape of the bath.

a cosy living room interior at Cedars Mount View Villa Lorea, Hunter Valley
The sauna is a cosy little wellness nook.

Where many luxury accommodations in the region underwhelm, Villa Lorea at Cedars Mount View truly excels. Couples seeking a romantic weekend escape – or anyone craving privacy and a sense of disconnection – will find it hard to leave.

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

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Details

Best for: Couples

Price: From $ per night

Address: 60 Mitchells Rd, Mount View NSW 2325

Distance from Sydney: Approximately a 2-hour drive/174 kilometres from the CBD.

EV charging: There is a shared EV charging station on the property.

Nearest wineries: Briar Ridge Vineyard, Savannah Estate Wines and Petersons Wines

Extras: Helicopter pick up available on the field in front of the villa. Vineyard tours and transfer pick up available directly from the villa.

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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Art, wine & fireplaces: 8 reasons Bowral is the ultimate winter getaway

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    The Southern Highlands earns its title as Australia’s top country town in the cooler months, and it’s worth every minute of the 90-minute drive from Sydney.

    Many Sydneysiders head to the Southern Highlands in spring for the tulips. It’s one of the most stunning spring carnivals in Australia. But the ones in the know come to Bowral in winter.

    The first thing you notice at this time of year is the quality of the light. It catches the tangled limbs of the gums and tints the fields, farms and forests a pretty shade of Granny Smith green. And then, a world-class art museum, an impressive network of walking trails, great shops, cosy restaurants and bars and luxury accommodation take centre stage, making Bowral a place you want to linger as the mercury drops.

    Just 90 minutes south of Sydney, a Bowral winter getaway is the coolcation city folk desperately need. Here are eight reasons to pack a good coat and head for the Southern Highlands.

    1. Check in

    aerial of Ardour Milton Park Bowral in winter
    Check in to the gorgeous Ardour Milton Park Bowral. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ardour Milton Park Bowral rises like a hologram in the hazy green light as you turn onto Horderns Road. A $10 million refurbishment of the grand 1910 estate was completed in early 2026, and the beautifully restored hotel now includes 44 guest rooms washed in sage green, cobalt blue and dusty blush. The dining room at Horderns Restaurant continues with a botanical theme – earthy banquettes, floral touches throughout – and a menu that moves with the seasons.

    After enjoying slow-braised Cowra lamb and a second glass of red, move to the Polo Bar, which has a fireplace and views across the estate gardens. Build a grazing board from the dedicated Charcuterie Room and take it outside while the light lasts. If the sky clouds over, use this as your cue to enjoy a next-level spa experience at Èliva.

    2. Hunt for treasure

    couple exploring Dirty Janes bowral
    Find vintage treasures in Dirty Janes. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Winter is the perfect season to lose an afternoon inside Dirty Janes Bowral. Over 1600 square metres of covered space houses 90 individual sellers of everything from mid-century furniture to industrial lighting, antique silverware, vintage clothing and objects whose previous lives you can only imagine. Enjoy a bit of off-the-cuff banter with your fellow fossickers in between searching for that must-have military jacket or vintage silk scarf.

    Around the corner, find the Instagram-famous front door of FoundAntiques, though the real finds are deeper inside. Bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and leave some room in the boot.

    3. Slow down in a beautiful gallery

    kids posing with donald bradman statue in bowral's The Bradman Museum
    Learn about an Aussie legend at The Bradman Museum. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Ngununggula – meaning ’belonging’ in the language of the Gundungurra First Nations people – is the region’s first dedicated regional gallery, housed inside the sustainably transformed old dairy building at historic Retford Park. The onsite White Cottage Gallery and restored grounds of the former Fairfax estate reward a slow wander. Find a spot to sit in the courtyard filled with rivulets of winter light and enjoy the plaintive call of a currawong carrying across the heritage-listed grounds. It’s one of the best things to do in Bowral.

    Add Bowral Honey Farm for a hands-on harvest experience, then continue into town to the Milk Factory Gallery to admire eclectic works by local artists in a converted industrial space. The Bradman Museum also knocks it out of the park. Australia’s largest dedicated cricket museum sits beside the heritage-listed Bradman Oval, where a young Sir Donald Bradman first picked up a bat.

    4. A taste of France

    table spread at Lucette bowral
    Enjoy a taste of France at Lucette.

    For a taste of France without the airfare, husband-and-wife team Julien and Romy Besnard – of long-loved Franquette Crêperie – have opened Lucette, a French cafe-bistro with Paris-born chef Guillaume Dubois at the helm. Dubois brings serious pedigree from Michelin-starred kitchens in France and Sydney’s former two-hatted Monopole, and it shows. Start your day with pastries for breakfast and bookend it with boeuf bourguignon for dinner. The chocolate mousse, freckled with Guerande Salt, is the kind of dish that will make you feel smug about the decision to drive south. Join the Sydneysiders dressed in charcoal coats, boots and black tights who’ve already worked this out; the whole scene is worthy of splicing it into an Instagram reel.

    Francophiles should also be across Julien’s Bowral Brasserie – led by Frenchman Julien Viel, who also found his way to the Southern Highlands and stayed.

    5. Indulge in a tipple

    Centennial Vineyards bowral in winter
    Spend time amongst the local vines. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    The drive to Centennial Vineyards passes through a beautiful woodland idyll, the countryside a fuzz of green all around. Inside the Barrel Room, a tasting flight of cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and reserve shiraz viognier flaunts how well the Southern Highlands does winter.

    This is a region that takes its cool-climate wines seriously, and the pinot noir is one of the stars – a gentle, easy-drinking style with red cherry aromas. Follow your tutored cellar door tasting with another glass of wine in the Terrace Bar, which overlooks the vineyard and manicured grounds.

    6. Blend your own gin

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar
    Pop into Millsheds Distillery & Bar. (Credit: Mattia Panunzio)

    Millsheds Distillery & Bar is somewhat of a local secret. The award-winning small-batch operation produces gin, vodka and liqueurs using Australian botanicals and has picked up silver medals at both the London Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Beyond the tasting paddle, the hands-on blending masterclass – where you design and leave with two bottles of your own custom gin – is the experience to book, while the terrace bar that wraps around the courtyard is a fine place to settle in afterwards.

    7. Go for a walk at dawn

    Switch your phone off sleep mode and set your alarm to early. Mt Gibraltar rises to 864 metres just east of Bowral’s main street and offers the best views in town. You will pass a raggle-taggle bunch of hikers on the way up to the summit, all making the same quiet pilgrimage into the crisp high-altitude air. On a clear morning, the bony ridges of the ranges come into sharp relief against the light. The return loop takes roughly 90 minutes. A flat white in Bowral tastes considerably better after completing one of the scenic walking trails.

    8. Cosy up by the fireplace

    Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel
    Get cosy in the Berida Hotel’s whiskey bar.

    A cosy bar is the perfect complement to winter in Bowral, and there are a few worth committing to. Aspinalls Whisky Bar & Lounge at the Berida Hotel is built for long, languorous evenings. Take a seat beside the fireplace laden with gnarled logs and work your way through a few whiskies and bar bites like Rangers Valley beef tartare, or salt cod and potato croquettes.

    At Hickory’s within Peppers Craigieburn, well-dressed waiters in denim and leather move quietly between tables, and the cosy fireplace in the adjoining guest lounge attracts an Escape to the Country crowd.

    Start planning your Bowral escape at visitsouthernhighlands.com.au.