The Carriages

From the moment we arrived at Carriages we felt spoiled. Our room was beautifully appointed and very quiet. We enjoyed a lovely bottle of Carriages Shiraz on the verandah before walking to enjoy our dinner at a nearby restaurant. A beautiful breakfast was delivered to us the next morning. Our hosts couldn’t do enough for us and were so friendly and welcoming. We absolutely loved it and would highly recommend. Sandie and Jerry. X

Comfortable, quiet, welcoming. A generous breakfast was delivered about 8am each day and was lovely to eat out on the wide verandah. The pool was deep enough for a refreshing splash on a hot afternoon. Tennis before breakfast was fun.

The Carriages is such a peaceful and beautiful place to stay in the Hunter. So central but it seems like it's so far away from all the activity and very secluded.

Excellent location, nice and cosy rooms, friendly staff. Definitely coming back...

The turnoff to this hotel is located at the end of Halls Road (just over a kilometre off Broke Road). The actual residence is then a further 200/300 metres along an unsealed road past a vineyard and the owner's residence and around the lake to a large car park. The hotel's rooms appear to be in the same building with some being upstairs. A number of the rooms, including ours, fronted onto a lovely covered verandah with cane chairs and tables where we sat looking over the lovely grassed area towards the tennis courts and swimming pool. We stayed for two nights in a verandah suite which was quite large and very comfortable. The suite was the width of the building with French doors at either end. The room was furnished with a queen bed (comfortable) that had a bedside table with a lamp on it on either side of the bed. There was also a wardrobe, two seater lounge, coffee table, dining table with a lamp and two chairs, a flat screen TV attached to the wall, a breakfast buffet with plates, cutlery, glasses, toaster, kettle, tea and coffee making facilities and a minbar. There was also a fireplace. The bathroom had a vanity that was large enough to hold toiletries and a walk in shower (good pressure). Both the room and the bathroom were very clean and serviced daily. WIFI was included and worked well. The breakfast basket that was brought to your room around 8-00am each morning was very good. It included bread (including Gluten Free if requested) for toasting, butter, a selection of jams, croissants, muesli, fresh fruit salad, yoghurt, orange juice and milk. Very all encompassing. The hotel also had bottles of its own wine for sale. The only downside that I can see is also one of its advantages - the peace and quiet that you get from being out of the thick of the action. I would see a car as a definite requirement.

Quietly nestled away from the main thoroughfare, a perfect retreat for a peaceful time away. Lovely grounds, friendly hosts, comfortable accommodation to suit couples. A shared, yet private verandah, lends itself to long lazy mornings with a book in the Sun or a late afternoon platter of local fare and wine before strolling to nearby establishments.

My wife and I chose Carriages as a base for our visit to the Hunter Valley to attend a friend's wedding. This is the kind of place that you really hope to find when you're spending a few days away, but seldom do. Our room was one of six on the ground floor, arranged along a long shared verandah. There are two other rooms on a floor above that have private balconies. The verandah looks out on a large lawn with shady trees. There is a tennis court and a pool nearby. The room was unfussy and well appointed, with adjoining bathroom and shower. There was a small service area with toaster, electric kettle and plates and cutlery. Tea and coffee (fresh ground for plunger) was provided. Bed was a comfortable queen size. Everything was clean and well-serviced. A 'mini bar' was stocked with beers, an assortment of snacks, and wines from the Carriages vineyards. Our room came with breakfast, which was brought to the verandah in the morning in a picnic hamper. The excellent continental-style fare consisted of fresh croissants, fresh fruit salad, fresh orange juice, muesli, yoghurt and grain bread for toasting, with an assortment of condiments. The Carriages environment is among vineyards and situated away from the main house. It was quiet and relaxing, with bird life and the occasional kangaroo transiting the lawn. Our hosts were convivial and attentive without being intrusive. Carriages is a short walking distance to both The Convent and Circa 1876, which makes it an ideal place to stay if attending events at either of those venues. It's also close driving distance to most of the main Hunter Valley vineyards and attractions. I highly recommend this hotel, and would make it my preferred stay on any further visits to the Hunter Valley.

We had a lovely stay here for 2 nights. Hosts are fabulous and the rooms are beautiful. Very comfortable with a lovely view. Lots of great wildlife around to give you that extra country feel. It is a bonus that you can walk to Circa Restaurant which is just metres away.

Absolutely amazing. We spent 2 nights here for my birthday and could not me more impressed with the stay. Nerina and Alistair were absolutely lovely, they are a friendly face and have a wonderful property. Definitely book a room with a fireplace if you stay in winter, it adds to the atmosphere. Comfortable beds, great continental breakfast delivered in the morning and all round serenity! We can’t wait to come back.