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Your complete guide to staying at Rydges Hunter Valley

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
Endlessly convenient and decked out with creature comforts, Rydges Hunter Valley is one of the region’s most outstanding stays.

Bed and breakfasts are cosy but for serious extravagance in NSW’s beautiful Hunter Valley, a resort with all the bells and whistles reigns supreme. It’s why we return to Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, a colossal 418-room resort that caters for googly-eyed couples, rowdy families and every type of get-together in between.

From an 18-hole golf course and extravagant day spa to an on-site brewery and kid-friendly water park, there are memory-making activities for every member of your tribe.

Location

the front exterior of Rydges Hunter Valley
Rydges Hunter Valley is at the gateway to wine country.

Let’s sort our bearings. The wine-soaked Hunter Valley is located about two hours north of Sydney and an hour west of Newcastle, and Rydges Hunter Valley is an ideal base to launch into everything it’s famed for. Situated at the gateway to wine country and around the corner from De Bortoli Wines, Hungerford Hill and Peterson House, some of the region’s finest cellar door pit stops, the resort lies at the foot of Broke Road, which will take you right into central wine country.

You’re also a five-minute drive to the Hunter Valley Wildlife Park and a ten-minute drive from the township of Cessnock where you’ll find supermarkets, speciality stores and loads of eateries.

Style and character

the lounge of Rydges Hunter Valley
The hotel ambience evokes contemporary and country-chic.

The former Crown Plaza Hunter Valley was relaunched as Rydges Hunter Valley in 2023 and the property underwent significant renovations to mark a new era. The vibe is contemporary splashed with country-chic, with exposed brick, plush carpets and soft leather seating warming up communal areas. The grounds are impeccable as glossy gardens and state-of-the-art facilities (the complete list is extraordinary and explored in full below) are well maintained.

While the property is massive, the vibe is surprisingly intimate thanks to that considered styling and a team of always-attentive staff.

Facilities

the pool at Rydges Hunter Valley
Take a refreshing dip at the spacious pool.

There are hundreds of Hunter Valley wineries to explore outside, but really, you could spend an entire weekend leaning into everything Rydges Hunter Valley has to offer.

Take advantage of two swimming pools (including one that’s adults only), a spa, a 24/7 gym, electric vehicle charging stations, tennis and basketball courts, kangaroo tours, electric train rides and a water park for the kids (more on family-friendly attractions further below), a golf course, a day spa, and the Sydney Brewery Hunter Valley, the hotel’s on-site brewery. Then there’s the half a dozen dining options to explore (more info on those further below, too) so rest assured you’re totally catered for from the moment you drop your bags.

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

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Ubika Day Spa

the Ubika Day Spa at Rydges Hunter Valley
Luxuriate with a massage and facial at Ubika Day Spa.

Securing a hotel with an on-site day spa is always a treat but at Rydges Hunter Valley, guests are especially spoilt. Ubika Day Spa is one of the region’s most lavish self-care destinations, offering a treatment menu inspired by the seasons and utterly heavenly any way you slice it.

You’ll struggle to choose from a range of massages, facials, foot therapies, body treatments and beauty treatments, plus there are Vichy shower experiences, couples’ packages and infrared sauna dabbling to consider. The day spa’s most recent addition is their floatation tank which blends sensory deprivation and a calming float session to help you reach peak Zen.

Hunter Valley Golf Club

the Hunter Valley Golf Club at Rydges Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley Golf Club is dotted with lakes and views of the Broken Back Ranges.

Prefer to unwind on the green? The Hunter Valley Golf Club is conveniently located on the grounds of Rydges Hunter Valley, open seven days a week. It’s a meticulously manicured golfing destination dotted with lakes and views of the Broken Back Ranges, so if it’s your first time behind a club, you’ll appreciate the sheer beauty of it right away.

There’s also a Pro Shop that’s stocked with clothes, clubs and accessories to get you looking the part, and an online course guide is also on hand to help you score an edge over your competitors well in advance.

Rooms

one of the rooms at Rydges Hunter Valley
Bed down in one of the contemporary rooms with pool access.

Eliminating the stress of finding group accommodation in a well-trodden tourist hot spot, Rydges Hunter Valley houses a diverse collection of rooms.

Whether it’s the Standard Room, with either one King bed or two double beds, or the Three Bedroom 3 Bath Villa, a 144 square metres d home away from home, every choice comes with complimentary Wi-Fi, sleek bathrooms, a private balcony or terrace, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, a seating area, 24-hour room service and tea and coffee facilities. Clean, contemporary and endlessly comfortable, they’re a dream space to retreat to after a day of adventuring.

The villas also feature kitchen facilities and bedrooms, while the Pool Access rooms provide exactly what they’re telling you and there’s a suite with a jet bath for those seeking the ultimate relaxation.

Food and drink

table spread at Gather hunter valley
The menu at Gather is a sophisticated ode to local produce.

Whether you’re feeling fancy or craving a low-key feed, Rydges Hunter Valley has something for you. Start the day right by booking a table at the Gather buffet breakfast from 6:30am where a DIY pancake maker and chef station (omelette or made-to-order Eggs Benny sound good?) go beyond what you’d usually find at a hotel buffet.

Gather offers a relaxed and family-friendly steakhouse experience, focusing on Australian produce. Truly indulge with the butcher board or try something a little lighter like house-smoked rainbow trout.

There’s also Lovedale Brewbar, fueled by Sydney Brewery. Situated right by the main swimming pool, it’s a great spot to feast on post-dip pizzas, burgers and other pub classics. Join a brewery tour every Saturday to see behind the scenes

Meanwhile, Vista Lounge is the perfect place for pre-dinner drinks and an afternoon cheese board (they offer great cheese and wine deals), or if you’re there in the morning, it’s your coffee pit-stop. And if it’s just too hard to leave the cosy confines of your room, around-the-clock in-room dining is always a good idea with a late-night menu that includes ham and cheese toasties, nachos and pizzas.

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Accessibility?

the lounge area at Rydges Hunter Valley
Rydges Hunter Valley has wide hallways that cater to guests with accessibility needs.

Smooth and roomy pathways help those with accessibility needs get comfortable at Rydges Hunter Valley, and better still, there are six Accessible King Rooms with extensive wheelchair accessibility. Wide hallways and increased space around the King bed, lower cupboards, purpose-built bathrooms with grab rails, shower chairs and lowered sinks, and the option of interconnecting rooms to accommodation for caregivers, ensure they’re just as plush as the resort’s regular rooms.

Meanwhile, there are wheelchair ramps right around the property, plus two lifts at either end of the main building to help guests locate their indulgences with ease. And while we’re talking indulgences, Ubika Day Spa caters to guests with accessibility needs and the Hunter Valley Golf Club offers tailored experiences for specific needs.

Rydges Hunter Valley is in fact one of the most inclusive stays in the state, taking out the NSW Accommodation Award for Excellence in Disability Inclusion and Access in 2023.

Family-friendly?

a kid sliding down a pink slide at the water park of Rydges Hunter Valley
The water park comes with colourful slides for little ones.

Is it ever. As one of the region’s best kid-friendly stays, Rydges Hunter Valley is a pure haven for little ones. There’s a water park quite literally spilling over with slides, a grape-shaped splash bucket that dumps 600 litres of heated water at a time, cannons and jets to keep them busy.

Plus, there’s a Ferris wheel, carousel, electric train rides (which are accessible to wheelchairs, too), kangaroo tours, the ‘Water Dragons’ kids club, a games room, school holiday programs, kids-eat-free dinner deals and more.

Details

Address: 430 Wine Country Drive, Lovedale
Cost: From $229 per night.
Best for: Family-friendly accommodation near loads of attractions.
Website: www.rydges.com

Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    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

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    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

    A flat lay of a steak.
    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 Hotel is 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

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    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

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    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.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.