Three unique places to stay in top Australian wine regions

When exploring Australia’s great wine regions, you won’t struggle to find great cellar doors, nor quaint local pubs and bistros. Accommodation, on the other hand, can be a bit tricky – especially if you’re after something special. 

You don’t just want a neglected b&b or an expensive hotel void of charm or personality. What you’re after is luxury amenities, easy access to the wine regions’s best bits, and impeccable hospitality. Sometimes, accommodations can even be so good that you book your whole wine trip around that one place to stay.

To help drum up some travel inspiration, we’ve curated this short list of three unique stays to check out next time you start planning a wine-filled getaway.

Mitchelton Hotel, Nagambie Lakes, Victoria

Nestled on the banks of the Goulburn River, The Mitchelton Hotel offers a luxurious escape for wine enthusiasts and travel connoisseurs alike thanks to being a part of the Michelton winery estate. 

You’ll find the hotel nearby the rolling vineyard, contemporary cellar door and on-site restaurant, but still far enough away to help you feel separate from the daytime visitors. Each room and suite boasts a private balcony overlooking the vineyards and infinity pool, plus king (or twin) beds, aircon, and all your usual modern amenities and technologies. 

The Mitchelton Hotel is renowned not only for its rooms but also for its complimentary on-site activities sure to encourage relaxation and connection with the estate. 

Spend a warm afternoon swimming in Mitchelton Hotel's incredible pool.

For those eager to explore, guests can embark on a self-guided tour of the grounds along its scenic walking track or on one of our convenient e-bikes. Additionally, its Pickleball court and well-equipped gym are the perfect places for friendly competition and staying active during your stay.

When you’re not wandering around the property or swimming in the pool, you can wander over to the cellar door for tastings and Muse Restaurant for more fine-dining fare. 

Perfectly situated within one of Australia's most celebrated wine regions (Nagambie Lakes), The Mitchelton Hotel combines sophisticated accommodation, extraordinary wine experiences, and exquisite dining,– making it a truly unique destination for those with a passion for exceptional wine and refined travel.

Vale 194, McLaren Vale, South Australia

If you are travelling around the McLaren Vale wine region with a group (be it friends or family), Vale 194 best be your port of call. Completed in mid-2023, ‘Vale 194’ offers five luxury two-storey, three-bedroom, self-catered bluestone villas – each blending European charm with contemporary comforts.

Expect to find a king-sized bed in every bedroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, aircon, and an undercover barbecue and dining area. Each of the bathrooms even come with  heated floors. No stone was left unturned when designing this beauty.

Unlike other commercial accommodation options in the area, Vale 194 offers a home-away-from-home, fully self-contained luxury experience.

The Vale 194's bluestone villas are enormous and kitted out with all kinds of luxury amenities.

Location is also key at The Vale. Positioned in the centre of the township – on the famous McLaren Vale Shiraz Trail – Vale 194 offers direct access to one of Australia's most celebrated wine regions. You can cycle or drive around to some of the 80 cellar doors before heading back to town for lunch or dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.  

The owners recommend dropping by the McLaren Vale Hotel during your stay, which is less than 100 metres away, and has won quite a few awards recently. Saturday mornings are best spent at Willunga Farmers’ Market collecting supplies, plus those having a barbecue in the villa can easy drop by Ellis Butchers for fantastic quality meats.

This secluded spot is ideal for celebrating milestone birthdays, major events and celebrations when reuniting with friends and family. If there is availability, you can even book out a few of the luxury bluestone villas at once, bringing all of your favourite people together for a fabulous wine-filled holiday.

Sanctuary by Sirromet, Granite Belt, Queensland

The Granite Belt's Sirromet Winery is not only home to almost endless vineyards, a restaurant with views over Moreton Bay and regular live concerts, but it is also where you’ll find a whole host of glamping stays.

When it opened, it was the first vineyard glamping experience in Queensland, with visitors able to relax in its lavish tents — or, as the team prefers to call them, pavilions.

Each of these features a king bed, indoor day chairs, outdoor tables and seating, bathrooms with a shower and toilet, and reverse cycle air-conditioning to cope with Queensland's love-it-or-hate-it heat.

Sirromet's glamping pavilions overlook its vast Mount Cotton property.

Every safari-style accommodation also includes a mini-bar filled with Sirromet wine, and all bookings include complimentary breakfast either at Tuscan Terrace or via a gourmet hamper delivered directly to your door.

Be sure to enjoy wine and snacks out on your private deck while watching kangaroos and wombats stroll around the nearby billabong. It is quintessentially Australian – and tailor-made for wine lovers.

Expand your knowledge with Halliday Wine Academy

Through Introduction to Wine, students will learn about Australian wine and wine regions, how wine is made, how to taste and describe wine, how to approach food and wine matches, along with handy tips that address common wine questions. And in part one of our Wines of the World course, discover and explore the iconic wines, regions and laws of France, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Germany and Austria.

Image credit: Mitchelton.