Pokolbin Villas

The hotel is relatively close to the Hunter Valley Gardens. It is a group of villas built on a hillside. You can see a family of kangaroos in the bushes in the morning and on the golf course at dusk. It is so relaxing and leisurely. Several wineries are not far away by car. The hotel room is clean and tidy, the bed is large and comfortable, the room and balcony are relatively spacious, the breakfast buffet is rich, the Hunter Valley is huge, and the hotel is very quiet at night.

I had the pleasure of staying at this resort for one night and it was an exceptional experience. The ambiance was charming and serene, setting the perfect backdrop for a relaxing getaway. The highlight of my stay was the wine tasting session, which was expertly curated with a delightful selection of wines that catered to both novices and connoisseurs. The staff's knowledge and passion for wines were evident, making the tasting even more enjoyable. The accommodations were comfortable and well-appointed, ensuring a good night's rest. While my stay was short, it left a lasting impression, and I look forward to returning to this resort for a longer stay in the future.

We had a favourable first impression at the room/ property but after 1 night you’ll start to see all the issues. We love the fact that it is a sustainable resort but there’s a lot to be desired after 5 nights in their suite. Day 1: Checkin was rushed, reception didn’t explained the room amenities provided with the room type we’ve booked-in (spa suite). Room did not come with standard amenity kit (no cotton pad no toothbrush no sanitary pad etc) upon check in. I had to call to ask for toothbrushes. We didn’t know that the room came with a working fireplace, free still & sparkling water, no phone directory in the room / label on the phone. And most importantly how to get room serviced or not. when we had an issue about the room not being serviced they asked us repeatedly did we put the doortag outside (we didn’t - which is the correct way to get the room serviced). If this is important, then they should make it a clear point to explain this during checkin. We had dinner at the bar, we ordered a cauliflower salad to share (among other foods). It was so disappointing to received a big bowl of spinach and 3 small pieces of dried chicken breast. Since the title of the salad is cauliflower salad, we were unimpressed that it was the one ingredient that was missing from that bowl. The salad cost almost $30 for what seems to be a bag of baby spinach salad that you could buy from coles or wollies for $3. Oh yes and dressing on that was also on existent. Upon clearing our plates, bar staff didn’t asked us how the food was & she was quite abrupt. Day 2: Had breakfast and staff was friendly and efficient. We also noticed that there’s a sign that says ‘kids club’ which we then asked the reception where it was which they then explained it was an adjoining room that had games, colouring books etc for kids (it’s school holidays) which we thought was a great idea and our son did went in to play and enjoyed it. Came back to the room, we noticed that the room wasn’t made and only the towels were changed (we didn’t request this). So we thought that they only service the rooms every 2nd night being sustainable an all. So we didn’t thought much about it, we also noticed that the maintenance didn’t come to turn on the fireplace so we followed up on that. And we had that running before they end the shift at 3pm. Honestly that was the saving grace of this trip. The fireplace is a beautiful addition to the room especially during winter. We also requested for another tv control as there’s 2 tv in the suite but only 1 remote. Day 3: Breakfast, and we noticed that the ‘kids club room’ is now converted to a meeting space which my son wasn’t very happy about. I don’t understand why they would introduce a service but then took it away midway through our stay which is still within school holiday period. There was no explanation given. Frustrating to say the least. Room was not serviced again. We began to wonder why and quickly peeked at the room across us that is currentl

The entrance to the room is in the wild. When it is 2 pm, the kangaroo sleeps under the shade of the trees. Then there is a seating area outside the room, which is very comfortable. Children can run in the grass and play with the branches, so happy. In the afternoon, I went to the nearby supermarket to buy some burdock food. The two families made their own dinner, which was very casual and very holiday. The day of the stay is a sunny day. In the evening, you can create a photo. Under the setting sun, the tree shadow is beautiful. If you are lucky enough to catch the kangaroo, the picture is very interesting. In the evening, when you leave the room, you can see the stars in the sky. The Milky Way is clearly visible. The mobile phone broadcasts a quiet little music. It is a step with the loved ones. Stay for a while, don't be too romantic.

When I checked in, it actually showed that the order was cancelled. The front desk staff were very nice and handled it in a timely manner, allowing me to check in smoothly. The hotel restaurant is good, the location is good, and the sanitary configuration of the room is the standard of a motel.

Harrigan's is in the center of the wine region, the accommodation is spacious, comfortable and good value for money. The bar and restaurant are one the same site as accommodation, food is great pub grub, drinks are reasonably prices and the hotel has an expansive area for settling inside or outside. Ideal place to use as a base for tripping around during the day and settling in in the evening.