Rothbury

Rothbury is a small town located in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is 10 km from Cessnock. At the 2011 census, Rothbury had a population of 452 people. North Rothbury is another small settlement about 5km to the northeast. The town is 8 km from Pokolbin's vineyards. Wikipedia.
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Top attractions in Rothbury

The Vintage Golf Club
1. The Vintage Golf Club
4.0
(162)
Golf club
Outdoor Activities
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A lovely course that is very challenging, really creatively laid out and in perfect condition. It's a course that has lots of charming and challenging holes that test a good game. Play straight and long and you'll do well. Stray and you don't get hammered but it does make it hard. Perfect course for a special occasion.
I enjoyed playing this challenging resort style golf course. The fairways were in excellent condition, as were the greens and bunkers. The greens rolled true and were reasonably quick. A number of fairways were tree lined, which could catch out any errant tee shots. Some of the par 3 hole required an accurate tee shot to avoid water hazards &/or bunkers. The practice facilities were excellent and consisted of a grassed driving range, putting green and chipping green. The pro shop staff were very professional and friendly, and the shop carried an extensive range of golfing equipment accessories and apparel. I'm looking forward to playing this golf course again in the future.
Such a beautiful course, location and team! I visited The Vintage last week with a large group of golfers, Sally in the proshop looked after us so well. She went above an beyond to help get us on course smoothly and without fuss. The course was a little wet due to all the rain we've had recently, Sally told us exactly what to expect and the best way to play certain holes that had been rain affected. Thanks Sally. The course itself is incredible! Very challenging, but if you take a few moments during your round to appreciate the layout, location and surrounds, you'll simply be amazed. The clubhouse is great for a few beers/wines and food as well. Thanks to Sally and the whole team for making it a great day out.
Challenging course that could get the better of high handicappers but it was in great nick and we got through 18 in less than 4 hours. Would have given it 5 stars but the price for visitors is a bit steep. The pub on site (nineteen) is great. Would be a great place to live.
One of the greatest golf course in NSW opened to public. Designed by Greg Norman. Can definitely see his signature design, it has difficulty at the same time also social players friendly. The course is well maintained, the green average speed, most of the green has multi layout. The clubhouse is beautiful and the bar is great. The staff are really friendly.
As an out-of-town first time visitor I had a mixed experience to be honest. The course itself is a 3.8/5 for me. Lovely fairways. Good greens. Annoying that you can’t take the golf cart most places along the course as a lot of it was demarcated. Average practice area / driving range. Pro Shop staff were helpful but not very welcoming and had a bit of an attitude. Although we paid big bucks to play there, we were told we couldn’t play from the white tees as there was a competition the next day. This clearly didn’t go down well. Think he was a coach there so perhaps not staff, not sure, so we ignored him anyway. The cafe is nice and has a great view of the course. Lots of parking. Facilities were clean and fresh. Another reviewer mentioned that “being expensive doesn’t make you exclusive”. I think that sums up my experience well.
There are 4 of us that stay at chateauelan and play 2 rounds of Golf at The Vintage each quarter. Fairway Golf Tours arrange the trip and do a great job - headed up by Mitch Pope. The service at The Vintage was excellent. Special mention to Sally in the pro shop who is exceptional. A credit to the Club. In the restaurant- Jeanette was a breath of fresh air.Jeanette is Professional ,is happy, remembers your name and display's high ethical service standards. The last two times Jeanette has looked after us. 10/10. Please pass on our thanks to both Sally and Jeanette - see you again in September.
Beautiful course with amazing condition, great food and drink
Chateau Elan at The Vintage Hunter Valley
2. Chateau Elan at The Vintage Hunter Valley
4.3
(1154)
Hotel
Spas & Wellness
Elegant suites in a upscale spa resort with a golf course, an outdoor pool & 2 eateries.
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This is the second time I have stayed here in 4 years and it was just as excellent. The rooms which was a one bedroom suite with gas fireplace and spa bath. Spacious, clean rooms. A surprise bottle of local bubbles awaited us for my birthday. The staff were fantastic and consistently provided a high level of service. The location is magnificent. Very close to The Nineteenth which is a marvellous clubhouse. I couldn't recommend this venue more ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The property is in a beautiful location, and the common areas are well maintained. The staff are excellent—always friendly and willing to help, even late at night. The golfing experience was outstanding, with the pro shop team being both lovely and extremely helpful. That said, the rooms no longer reflect a 5-star standard. Since my last stay in January 2022, the quality has noticeably declined. The carpet is worn, the mattress feels near the end of its lifespan, the bathroom sink is cracked, and the shower fixtures are in very poor condition. Even basic oral care amenities were missing. This resort is in need of a proper renovation, and I truly hope to see it return to its former glory.
My husband & I enjoyed a beautiful relaxing weekend at this property. Although pricey, it didn't dissappoint like other similar priced locations in the Hunter Valley. The grounds were beautiful, the room was big & clean, the bed super comfortable. The service at reception was probably the friendliest I have come across. Thank you for a beautiful weekend
My husband and I booked a mid-week 2 night getaway in winter with Chateau Elan and it was such a lovely stay!! We booked a one bedroom villa and we absolutely loved how homely, spacious and cozy it felt! When we walked in, the gas fireplace was already on, and it was such a nice touch on the windy & cold winter’s day we had. We also played 9 holes of golf at The Vintage before we checked in, which was a lot of fun! The area we stayed in was quiet and discreet, the bed was comfortable & the facilities seemed fairly modern too. We loved that you could see kangaroos jumping on the course from our balcony window! We only ever had 1 issue, and the issue was with connecting to the streamcast on the TV which we couldn’t get to work. But not a big deal to us! We were too busy enjoying all the restaurants and wineries Hunter Valley had to offer anyway 🍷 We would love to stay here again one day in the future!
I wouldn’t call this 5 star. This is a 4 star hotel. The location is central to the hunter valley. However all the inclusions, extra fittings, glamour and style you’d get at a 5 star isn’t what you’ll find here. The rooms are perfectly fine and clean. But if you want luxury - maybe somewhere else is better suited. Things that could be better - there is no power points anywhere near the beds, only behind the TV to charge phone or use laptops. The shower ammenities are simple. The streamcast / chrome cast is buggy and drops out. There is free wifi and parking.
My partner and I had booked the Luxury Spa Suite for a short getaway, weeks in advance after doing our research and were really looking forward to our stay here. My partner drove 3 hours to get here so it was quite a long trip for us already so we were both tired and just eager to get to our room to put our stuff down and rest. Unfortunately, the check-in process was more frustrating than welcoming, especially for a 5-star establishment. While my partner went to find parking, I went to reception to check us in. The staff member directed me on a path outside the building, which, in a large resort like this, quickly got us lost. I was holding luggage while trying to find the spa suites and eventually gave up and went back inside to ask for directions again. I asked the same staff member at the reception desk, and he then said our room was actually inside the building, one level above, and to just take the lift... But he pointed to the wrong side of the hallway—where there were only rooms and no lift in sight. At this point, my partner and I are feeling very lost and exhausted, we did not anticipate it to take us this long to find our rooms and settle in. We were tired, carrying our bags, and felt pretty silly having to ask for directions a third time. The staff member was at his desk and not with other guests, so it was disappointing that he did not simply walk us the short distance to the lift after noticing how lost we were. It would have taken him a minute and would have made a world of difference to us. Following our stay, my partner wrote to management to raise this issue. Their response was to offer a complimentary cheese board as compensation. Our purpose, however, was not to receive a gift but to highlight a service failure. More concerning was the lack of a genuine apology. Instead, the management's correspondence defensively suggested we were "abusing their staff" when all we did was raise up this issue. This is profoundly unprofessional and is not a standard befitting a five-star establishment. A proper protocol would involve acknowledging the guest's experience, investigating internally, and providing a sincere response. To deflect blame and mischaracterise constructive feedback as abuse demonstrates a concerning priority to save face rather than to uphold service standards and address internal shortcomings. Furthermore, in a shocking departure from professional standards, the management questioned our integrity by implying we were not truthful about our stay and asked why we did not simply find other accommodations if we were unhappy. This line of inquiry is not only rude and confrontational but entirely disregards the practical and financial realities of a guest. The suggestion is impractical, as finding and financing new last-minute accommodations, without a refund for the remainder of our stay, was not a viable option. The fact that a management team would even pose such a question to a guest who has raised a legitimate complaint is deeply unprofessional. To be accused of seeking 'online attention' for using a review site such as Google reviews ... for customer feedback... is a profound misunderstanding of its purpose. The goal was accountability, not applause—a distinction their management seems to have missed entirely. We hope this feedback helps improve the process for future guests.
Chateau Elan is a beautiful spot situated close to many stops in the Hunter Valley. We had such a peaceful time outside with the courtyard golf course view and on some days there were adorable Kangaroos right up close to see. Extremely tranquil in winter time and a great getaway. Our rooms were a little bit dusty upon arrival but it was spacious and the bed was very comfortable. Great experience.
We stayed there 8 years ago and it was very nice, that’s why we came back. But this time it was very different, the hotel room was dated and not maintained well. The bed and pillows were not very comfortable. The bathroom tiles looked quite old and not very clean. We didn’t stay the second night and checked out at night. Definitely not a 5 star level, it’s just an average 4 star level. It’s too expensive for its current level
Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures
3. Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures
4.4
(292)
Horseback riding service
Tours
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We camped for three nights with three young kids and can say it was the best camping experience we’ve ever had. The property is stunning!! Lenny made us feel like family and went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed throughout our stay. The horse riding was brilliant, the horses were calm and were perfect for first time riders. This will be a camping trip the kids will never forget! Horse riding, emu dance parties, spectacular views and cattle feeding are just a few highlights. Couldn’t fault it. Thank you Lenny and Margaret :) We’ll definitely be back!
A quiet and serene place away from the chaos. Here you can be one with nature. The farm , horses, cows and so much more. This place is tucked away from the city and has an environment that is just pure bliss. Also has various activities like horse riding, go cart, tractor rides and so on. Has a small cafe in the premises.
We had a fantastic 1-hour horse trail ride in the beautiful Hunter Valley! The scenery was stunning, and the ride was peaceful and relaxing — a perfect way to take in the natural beauty of the area. The staff were friendly, helpful, and made sure we were comfortable with our horses. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced rider, this is such a memorable experience. Highly recommend it if you’re visiting the Hunter Valley!
We stayed for 2 nights in the hilltop villas which were very well kept. The kids and I loved the 1hr trail ride and fell in love with the horses. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, so patient with the kids, answering their questions making the stay so memorable. The kids enjoyed helping feed the horses, but their favorite thing was the bonfire night and emu dance with Lenny. Thank you again for a wonderful experience, we will be back soon.
We had such a beautiful and relaxing time horse riding in this peaceful spot surrounded by stunning views. A special thank you to Avril, who was absolutely lovely and so helpful throughout our visit. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a serene experience with kind and welcoming hosts! The horses were so well behaved as well :)
Amazing experience! Avril was a great guide and helped me feel super comfortable on my first ever ride. She went above and beyond - answering all my questions, taking pictures and sharing them with me after. It's a such beautiful location, I'll definitely be back. High recommend!
Such an amazing experience with the family. We did a 30 min trail ride. Our horses and ponies were so beautiful. Can’t wait to come back and do it again. A special shout out to Avril, she’s a superstar ❤️
I took my daughter and her friends here for her 8th birthday. First time on a horse for most of them. We did the half hour horse ride and tractor ride. All the staff where great and Russell was very informative and went above and beyond to make sure the kids had a great time. I highly recommend Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures! Thanks for a top afternoon.
Macquariedale Organic Wines
4. Macquariedale Organic Wines
4.8
(104)
Winery
Food & Drink
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A truely wonderful cellar door to visit. Delicious organic wines and a stunning location with very friendly and kind hosts. The cheese boards are out of this world and the views across the valley are well worth the trip. Make sure you add this vineyard to your list of places to visit
My husband and I had the absolute pleasure of being surprised with a wine tasting and charcuterie board today. Our host Hannah was so friendly, knowledgeable, kind, and engaging. She made our experience really special (thank you so much Hannah!). The wines were divine and the food was delicious. I really love that they have gone to extra effort to show off local produce. How could you forget the view too! Such an incredible spot on the mountain. Do yourself a favour and pay them a visit when you get an opportunity - I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!!
We visited Macquariedale Organic Winery for the first time this week—and wow, what an incredible experience! From the stunning views and beautiful grounds to the delicious wines and mouthwatering grazing platter, everything was exceptional. It’s safe to say we’ll definitely be back! The grazing platter paired perfectly with the tasting, and we really appreciated the insight and knowledge shared by winemaker Ross. This was so much more than just a tasting—it was a full experience. Highly recommend trying the Riesling and the Barbera—they were both standout wines
IM LITERALLY SPEECHLESS- the view this winery offers is top notch and the wine 💯i’m sold and def will come back! Side note: sharp uphill turn when entering the area - be prepared!
A great spot with an amazing view, set in a quiet area with a large selection of wines. We chose the picnic hamper option and had an absolutely wonderful time. The basket was thoughtfully packed, containing everything we needed, and it paired perfectly with the wine selections. Highly recommended!
We chose Macquariedale Winery because we wanted a tasting experience with a view. Our expectations were exceeded in so many ways. The location has stunning views of the valley below, the cellar door and gardens are beautifully furnished, the wine is superb and Ross’ insights reflected his vast knowledge and expertise. This winery is exceptional!
4 of us visited Macquariedale Organic wines on an arranged tour with Country Food Trails - Pam King. The service and wines were fantastic and we decided to sign up on the Gold Membership. Lunch was great and it was one of the best wineries we visited and have told our friends. Thank you for the great wines and service.
My new favourite winery! My girlfriends and I went out to Macquariedale for my Birthday on the weekend and had an incredible experience. Ross and his beautiful wife Derice went above and beyond to make sure we had a beautiful day. The wine was amazing and the cheese platter… phenomenal! All made with organic and local produce. Macquariedale is as picturesque as it comes, stunning views, warm friendly hospitality and exceptional wine. A must for all Orange locals and wine enthusiasts. Cannot wait until next time, Tori Ryan xx
Sandalyn Vineyard Wilderness Estate
5. Sandalyn Vineyard Wilderness Estate
4.4
(16)
Hotel
Food & Drink
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Loved the sparkly glamorous bottles one of my favorite wineries in Lovedale rachel looked after us very well , excellent service we will definitely be back again !!
Great little place. Very clean and tidy would recommend very close to vineyards and huntervalley absolutely gorgeous
I was there during Lovedale Long Lunch, it was a nice venue with great views over the valley. Definitely would like to go back.
Was there for lovedale long lunch, food was nice and wine was delicious!!!! Beautiful relaxing vineyard overlooking the valley
Wonderful place. Serene, quiet. Beautiful reception centre for weddings, etc. Wines to die for!
Lovely spot with great countryside vibe
Hunter’s Dream Estate - Cellar Door
6. Hunter’s Dream Estate - Cellar Door
4.8
(65)
Temporarily Closed
Winery
Food & Drink
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Johnny and Alex were the absolute gems of the cellar door! Super friendly, knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and great humour! The owner's dog (Onsai) greeted every customer that came through (not an agreesive dog in any sense - probably the calmest dog I've had the pleasure of meeting so no need to worry). The place was also an architect's dream - beautifully designed building with an open concept that didn't allow too much heat to enter. As with most of Hunter Valley, the wine was amazing to say the least.
This is our favourite cellar door. We always come here no matter how many times we have been to Hunter Valley. To be honest, we haven't been to any cellar doors have great services, great wines like this one. They are one of the best places to taste wines in Hunter Valley. We come here also because of their super friendly dog Swansze. We got served by Ben, Sharon and John. We haven't met the owners, but their work made us keep coming back. All of the staff are amazing. They were super friendly and generous with customers. We felt so welcomed and been helped a lot. They don't open on Sunday. Highly recommend to book wine tasting in advance. It costs only $5/pp.
Johnny was absolutely exceptional when presenting our wine tasting. He was extremely knowledgeable and tailored the experience to our taste. The cheeseboard was delicious and definitely worthwhile. The wines as always were phenomenal. We will definitely be back soon to see you Johnny. Thanks for an amazing experience. We also loved seeing you wan cai- such a beautiful pup
What an amazing venue! Great atmosphere and beautiful scenery, well set up and looked after by the host. Natural light pouring in and effective seating arrangement made for an enjoyable experience. Delicious wine and nicely packaged, will come again in future 🌾
Great selections of wines with some reserve wines at reasonable prices. The cheese boards are amazing with a really great atmosphere. They have an adorable vineyard dog and the staff are great especially Johnny! Defo worth a visit when in the Hunter!
This winery is interesting as it has a beautiful outlook and architecture. It also has lavender and is rather beautiful when driving up, however I found the wine tasting to be a little lacking in character, and a little more transactional. There is an on-site business that also sells natural products like beauty and unusual natural packaged foods etc. It’s a slightly different experience.
These are the 2 best wines that we selected from the different range of wines. They charge $5 per person for wine 🍷 tasting but it is refundable if you buy wine from them. Definitely recommended 👍
We had an excellent time at Hunter’s Dream yesterday. We walked in on a whim without a booking (there was only two of us) and the staff were only too happy to accommodate. John and Alex were fantastic! They made us feel right at home and were so lovely. John had us laughing the whole time. On top of this we were greeted and kept company by Wan Cai, the sweetest cellar door dog ever. And of course the wine was amazing. We left with a smile of our faces and a couple of bottles of wine to take home. We will be back!
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