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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.

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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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The secret Sydney suite life: a luxury under-the-radar stay right on the harbour

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    This winter, these secret Sydney harbour suites are the staycation we’ve been looking for.

    Whether it’s the crisscrossing ferries or the white sails of the Opera House rising out of blue depths, Australia’s biggest city lives for its harbour. But while locals might glance at that watery expanse on their daily commute across the Bridge, it can still be hard to truly connect with Sydney’s maritime soul. The secret: seeing the harbour eye-to-eye, right at water level. And what better place to submerge yourself in that energy than sleeping there? That’s where Pier One Sydney Harbour comes in (and with new all-inclusive bed and breakfast benefits, there’s even more to love).

    All-inclusive VIP benefits

    Who Is Elijah Amenities at Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Book in for the all-inclusive VIP treatment.

    The hard truth is that it will be very difficult to tear yourself away from your ultra-luxurious harbour home-away-from-home to explore the city. If you want to make leaving even harder, opt for Pier One’s all-inclusive VIP treatment.

    The Bed and Breakfast with Suite Benefits package turns up the volume on what is already the ultimate staycation, with complimentary valet parking, daily breakfast for two and turndown service. The biggest perk? Enjoy a bottle of French champagne every day during your whole stay

    Pier One Sydney Harbour

    Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Step into a piece of history with all the modern comforts. (Credit: Dave Wheeler)

    The five-star Pier One Sydney Harbour is quite literally old Sydney through and through. Built on what was once a working cargo wharf and the passenger terminal for those heading to the North Shore before the bridge was constructed, the heritage building sits right between the tangle of cobblestones, pubs and alleyways of The Rocks and the historic docking zone of Walsh Bay – at the centre of the city’s old sea trade.

    If knowing the hotel’s history isn’t enough to get your sea-longing going, the interior design certainly will. As soon as you step up to the concierge desk in the lobby of the restored building – which underwent a $15 million redevelopment in 2019 – you’re immersed in Sydney’s seafaring tale. Weathered wood panelling and white marble floors surround you, while loop lighting installations hover above the bar island just beyond, ringed with stools ready for intimate, martini-tinted conversations. Steel rivets and timber beams speak to its past, and glass-walled views anchor you firmly in the present-day life on the harbour.

    Pier One Suites

    Pier One Sydney Harbour admiral suite
    Enjoy incredible views from your suite.

    Across the 189 rooms and suites built on and over the water, the maritime theme continues. Sculptural aged brass fittings, exposed girders, colour schemes that evoke shifting currents, and mirrors that reflect ripples that – depending on your booking – sit just metres from your pillow.

    United on theme yet unique in set-up, each room or suite is different. On the ground floor, dog-friendly rooms with direct access to the pier are all prepped for pampered pups, while others have views and even balconies overlooking Walsh Bay, the Bridge and the Harbour.

    But the 19 suites step things up even more. Gaze out through floor-to-ceiling windows, or get even closer. Your private balcony is made for sipping a Nespresso coffee on as the sun comes up – or soaking in the bathtub of the Admiral Suite on the deck, a drink from the locally stocked mini bar in hand. This mini bar was recently completely transformed, so you have more Aussie favourites to choose from, including alcohol and snacks.

    Dining at Pier One

    Pier Bar Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Settle in for an afternoon of good drinks and views.

    Once you’re checked in, start your afternoon with a spritz at PIER BAR – or arrive by boat via the private pontoon if the occasion calls for it – and settle into one of the cabanas. Weekdays bring Happy Hour (or ‘sunset hour’ at Pier One); weekends bring the DJs. After an even sweeter experience? The Everyday Creamery and Matcha Kiosk is slinging mango and vanilla soft serve – classic and those spiked with Midori and gin alike.

    PIER Dining is an ode to contemporary Australian flavours across the terrace, pier and dining room. On its seafood-leaning menu are Sydney rock oysters from Merimbula, potato scallops with salmon roe and crème fraîche, chicken with melting sundried tomato butter, vodka rigatoni with Shark Bay prawns. And the ‘Pierlova’ – that’s pavlova with chocolate, dulce de leche and banana is worth saving room for. Make sure to ask for the wine list – it’s 100 per cent Australian drops.

    Around town

    luna park, sydney opera house and sydney harbour bridge
    Explore the neighbourhood during your stay. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    If you’re strong enough to polish off just one last pastry from the breakfast buffet and walk out the door, we applaud you. Luna Park across the harbour beckons with its wide grin, while a glance upward might spur you to climb the Bridge’s famous iron arches. The Opera House – just across Circular Quay from the Museum of Contemporary Art – sings out for a concert.

    You’ll want to book ahead for those hot-ticket performances at Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Dance Company, just a few minutes’ walk south of the hotel. Ten minutes further brings you to the waterfront bars, restaurants and clubs of Barangaroo, or the karaoke, gardens and dim sum of Chinatown further afield.

    Keep the mellow of your weekend getaway going with a stop at Barangaroo Reserve, watching the yachts go by – all before returning for that Sydney sundowner at Pier One.

    Ready to make that Pier One stay a reality? Book the ultimate Sydney staycation at pieronesydneyharbour.com.au