Escape to the Chateau – where to stay in style in the Hunter Valley

On the doorstep of some of Australia’s oldest wineries and vines, the Chateau Elan has everything you want for a romantic stay in the Hunter Valley.

Just a five-minute drive from the winery-rich towns of Pokolbin and Lovedale, Chateau Elan at the Vintage is perfectly positioned for a romantic break in wine country. But its location isn’t the only reason this resort is a top pick for where to stay in the Hunter.

With the look more of a Provençal village or a Tuscan hamlet, the red-roofed villas dotted around the rolling hills of Rothbury add a European charm to your visit.

Beneath those roofs, luxurious suites with enormous balconies overlooking the pristine fairways of the Vintage Golf Course offer all the comfort and space for a memorable, relaxing getaway.

Check out our video walkthrough of the Chateau Elan at the Vintage.

Chateau Elan at the Vintage – our villa

Our one-bedroom villa apartment was in one of the 10 free-standing buildings of the complex where the studio and two-bedroom villas are too. The ultra-luxe spa suites, which have their own jacuzzi and massage beds, are in part of the main building tucked away on the western wing.

Each of these 10 buildings houses four villas on two levels, which is something to consider if you have mobility issues.

Our enormous 96m² villa had a complete kitchen and full-size fridge, a comfortable sitting room with a double-sided gas fire that opened into the dining room on the other side of the wall, which is pretty cool.

The enormous L-shaped balcony looks out over a fairway of the Greg-Norman-designed 18-hole golf course and away north the trees and dells of the Hunter countryside.

There’s plenty of space in the large bedroom with its kingsize bed and wall of built-in wardrobes, and the adjoining bathroom has a shower and a separate spa bath for that extra level of comfort.

We really enjoyed the level of detail here as well.

The complimentary Nespresso machine, the cosy bathrobes, the Appelles toiletries, and the ornaments and decor all went a long way to making the whole experience here high-end and special.

It’s worth noting you don’t have a dedicated parking spot for your villa, but there are plenty of spaces in the bays along the road, so finding a spot close by should be easily.

Chateau Elan – what else is there here?

As well as our luxurious room, we were impressed with the other facilities at Chateau Elan.

The main hotel complex has two different restaurants—Legends Grill and Spike Bar—offering classic hotel fare. This is also where the well-stocked buffet breakfast is served, with views out across the hotel lawns.

If you want to enjoy your room more than coming down to the restaurant for dinner, room service is also an option.

Just be aware that room service ends at 8.30pm so if you find yourself coming home late after a long day’s wine-tasting, you can come unstuck.

We left Vamp and Lisa McGuigan at about 8.45 but managed to coax a couple of very respectable pizzas from the kind staff at Legends Grill even though the chef had gone home for the day.

Hunter Valley Day Spa

To the right of the lobby is the Hunter Valley Day Spa. This impressive spa is in fact one of the biggest in the country with 17 treatment rooms and a wide range pampering options.

Our 50-minute couples massage after a busy weekend in the region left us relaxed and soothed. And best of all, being a spa in a wine region, they serve you a glass sparkling wine after your treatment!

The Vintage Golf Course

Connected to Chateau Elan is the Vintage Golf Course. Designed by Greg Norman, this championship 18-hole course is as tempting for the low-handicapped golf nut as it is for the bunker-hacking hobbyist.

It also makes for an enjoyable afternoon stroll for the non-golfer, with plenty of bouncing kangaroos to keep you company as you explore the beautifully maintained landscape.

Chateau Elan at the Vintage is an outstanding accommodation option for couples or groups of friends who want to get away for the weekend or longer, who enjoy that level of luxury without sacrificing convenience and who want that bit more space to stretch out and relax in the Hunter Valley.

We stayed as media guests of Chateau Elan and the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, but our opinions remain our own.