Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.0
#1 of 1 hotels in Lovedale
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Whether it’s all go or you’re here to take it slow, everything feels effortless at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley. A sprawling playground in the heart of wine country, there’s something special for absolutely everyone. Across an enormous slice of pristine countryside, you’ll find little corners of leisure fit just for you. Weekend escape or extended holiday, corporate retreat or destination wedding, loved ones and work families gather here for anything and everything imaginable. For couples to young families and wedding parties, there are endless areas to run wild or kick back. Wineries for you, a waterpark for them. Walking trails, a golf course and a spa to get your energy flowing in whatever way you please. Wake to strong espresso, taste craft beers by the paddle, and sink teeth into Aussie classics reimagined with local ingredients.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Modern
Languages Spoken
English
Location
430 Wine Country Dr, Lovedale, Cessnock, New South Wales 2325 Australia
Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
2,286 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Nestled in a picturesque setting, Rydges Resort Hunter Valley boasts an inviting family-friendly atmosphere that captures many travelers' hearts. While the hotel's cleanliness and variety of amenities, including a family-oriented pool, receive commendations, guests suggest there's room for enhancement in comfort and upkeep.
Its prime location is lauded for easy exploration, yet the value proposition is debated due to high costs associated with extras. Service and room quality receive a mixed response, reflecting experiences that range from exceptional staff interactions to frustrations over inconsistent service and room issues.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Comprehensive
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
The hotel is situated in a large plot of land in Hunter Valley, so it has many different activities and facilities to offer the guests. There is a golf course, swimming pools, gym, kids club etc. We stayed in a suite which was suitable for self catering with a microwave, dishwasher and fridge. The bedrooms were spacious with comfortable beds, we also had a lounge with a couple of sofas and easy chairs. The hotel itself caters mostly for families and this was reflected in the dining experience. There was a vast variety of different foods on offer for breakfast with loads of very unhealthy sugary stuff for kids. The dining room was very large but unfortunately dominated by children running around selecting their food and generally making a lot of noise. I would not recommend staying here if you are a couple as the whole place is geared towards families. The gym was well used but with few pieces of equipment to choose from with 1 exercise bike and a couple of treadmills and some weights. The whole place felt a bit grubby and cramped. I would only recommend this place for families, definitely not for couples - unless you avoid the communal areas and don't mind noisy children running around.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GMCrowneHunterValley, General Manager at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Jan 30, 2020
Dear Dix999, Thanks for taking the time to provide us with your feedback - we are glad to hear that the resort facilities were to your liking. Thanks for your feedback around the breakfast buffet - we do cater for a range of preferences at breakfast and there is a dedicated 'Green Bar' on the buffet which includes healthy options including yogurts, fruit and honey which is harvested onsite. We do have an adults-only Haven Pool - an oasis tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the resort - apologies if you were not made aware of this during your stay. We do hope to see you again should you visit the Hunter Valley in the future. Regards, Mauro Leone - General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We booked a Qantas package deal with a Crowne Plaza accommodation and a wine tasting tour. When I read the reviews about this hotel, I had some doubts about this holiday, but luckily we didn’t meet the same issues that other guests were complaining about. We had a spacious, clean room equipped with absolutely everything. The location is perfect, ad the hotel has a 25m heated swimming pool, a gym, and a golf course only a few steps away. Also, there are restaurants, the Red Salt, and Lovedale. During our stay, we visited both of them. The breakfast was served at Red Salt. The service was fast, efficient, and friendly. The cappuccino and the fruit salad was also very good, and as a nice change, the sugar was served for the coffee in the form of Rock Sugar Stir Sticks, as a delicious and elegant alternative to a regular table or coffee sugar. With the hot breakfast, I wasn’t the same luck. It was served very tastefully, the poached eggs for the avocado sandwiches were excellent, but the avocado for my taste was a bit too sour. The next day the corn and coriander fritters just weren’t made for me. On our arrival, we got a bottle of champagne and an antipasto platter as part of the package deal. Both of them were excellent. With the dinner at Lovedale, I was unfortunate again.. My order was an orecchiette pasta with mushroom and sun-dried tomato. The first thing that I noticed that the pasta was spaghetti. Orecchiette means little ear, and it is like a small ear, so you can’t mix it up with spaghetti. It isn’t a hanging offense if they serve a different pasta than it is on the menu, but should have to ask if it is all right with me. The dish was otherwise tasty but was swimming in a big pool of olive oil. I managed to fish out some pasta and mushrooms, but after just gave it up and left it on my plate. If a hotel also operates a restaurant, it must be of the same level; otherwise, it will also degrade the judgment of the hotel. Considering everything it says for and against, I think we would book this hotel again.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relations, Marketing at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Oct 20, 2020
Dear stinkwink, Thanks for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We are delighted that you were able to join us in the Hunter Valley for a staycation and wine tasting tour. We are glad to hear that the room, location and facilities were to your liking. We take great pride in our food delivery and regret to hear that the smashed avocado and pasta dishes weren’t to your liking – we will ensure your feedback is passed on to our Culinary team. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay overall and we hope to see you again soon. Regards, Mark Winterton General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We Stayed for a night in a king poolside room breakfast included on a very wet weekend.
Our stay was nice and we were impressed with the efforts that Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley is putting in place in light of the COVID restrictions.
All staff wear masks and there are enough sanitising stations around. Lots of signage also making obligations of guests clear. Our room was clean and well appointed and stating on a Sunday night made it nice and quiet.
We dined in the Bar area for dinner as the restaurant was not open upstairs on Sunday night. Whilst staff are really trying to do their best in unusual times our meal was just ok, we both had a steak with vegetables which weren’t very hot when it arrived. The restaurant area itself was cold, sterile and had absolutely no atmosphere at all. We weren’t too keen to stay too long and quickly returned to our room.
Breakfast in the morning was nice and relaxed and once again staff are working very hard to ensure guests have a good experience. It was obvious that staff are working extra hard in and have a lot more to do. The food was plentiful and well presented. It did take longer to order and receive items but given the large number of diners, staff working hard to accommodate so many people and orders.
Overall a nice experience. Well done to all the staff working when we stayed you guys are really working extra hard to ensure that the hotel complies with its obligations due to the covid restrictions.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relations, Marketing at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Oct 20, 2020
Dear bribrendy_12, Thanks for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for your feedback around our COVID-Safe practices at the resort - our team will be thrilled to hear this. It has been a period of great uncertainty and we appreciate guests' willingness to comply with restrictions. We are sorry to hear that there were a couple of disappointments during your stay - we will be sure to pass onto the relevant teams so that they can review their processes and identify opportunities to improve. We hope to welcome you back to the resort soon. Regards, Mark Winterton General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We enjoyed our stay in the Hunter and we had a package with golf included. The breakfast was good and the rooms very comfortable. However, we were disappointed that our room was not serviced. There is a small sign explaining that our room is not serviced. I called reception to ask for clean crockery and I felt it was inappropriate for me to have to wash the dishes! They replaced them for me with no charge but for our room to be serviced there would be an extra fee. When we go on holiday to an advertised resort we expect that detail to be known in advance. I like to feel spoilt on holiday and having to do housework does not fit into my expectations. Next time we will add on this fee and perhaps stay where housekeeping is included.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Check exclusions in your package.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GMCrowneHunterValley, General Manager at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Feb 27, 2020
Dear BevAnother, Thanks for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay in the Hunter Valley and that the breakfast was to your liking. Our resort villas are serviced every seven days or upon checkout - we apologise that this was not communicated to you prior to check-in and understand the impact this would have had on your stay. We hope to welcome you back to the Hunter Valley soon. Regards, Mauro Leone - General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We boked the Crowne Plaza Hunter through Qantas Hotels partly motivated by QFF status credits and mostly by curiosity. We paid A$650 for two nights but you can book the hotel room only for $400 or less on the internet. So what do you get for the extra $250?
The room overlooked a pool (they have several) and was quite large with all the amenities (fridge, lots of furniture, power points etc.) The package starts with a bottle of Champagne or "paddle of beer" (we chose the bubbly) with antipasta in the Lovedale restaurant which is where you go for dinner versus the Redsand on the main floor which serves breakfast. Again as part of the QF package they sent us on a wine tour the next day which turned out to take 4 hours and visir three wineries, a cheese shop and a distillery where we sampled gin and vodka. I should also mention there is a gift shop in the hotel that sells good wine (not cheap ).
You get a 20% discount if you're on the QF package for meals in the hotel (breakfast is free on the QF) if you book it to your room. That does not apply to wine you buy from the gift shop but their prices turn out to be the same as you'd pay at the winery, we know from going to the same winery).
At the end I decided the QF package was good value for money. The hotel itself is clean, the service excellent but sometimes you need to wait at the restaurants because they take social distancing seriously so can only seat so many people.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relations, Marketing at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Oct 20, 2020
Dear jmeem42016, Thanks for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay in the Hunter Valley, and that you were able to enjoy the room amenities and your pool view room. With so much to see and do in the Hunter Valley we are glad that you were able to explore some of the wineries and the cheese shop on your wine tour – we hope this was enjoyable. Thanks for your feedback around the cleanliness and service at the resort, and appreciate your patience as we adjust to the ‘new norm’ of social distancing and maximum capacities throughout the resort. Thanks again for your review, and we hope to welcome you back soon. Regards, Mark Winterton General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Booked solo to meet up with friends at Crown Plaza Hunter valley stayed from the 28th December to the 2nd January . The room I was given was the room for disabled access . I paid premium room rate of $408.00 per night . Room was ordinary . Balcony was riddled with cobwebs and the screen door very dusty . Linen already had streak and marks on it . Room was not fresh and cleaned properly . Daily room service was not done even though a sign was left on the door . I called the management and fell on deaf ears . The linen was not replaced even though I requested for it to be changed as it had an odour I assume was not replaced from the previous guests . When the room was eventually cleaned it did not feel fresh staff in the reception are very complacent and are not helpful . Very disappointed in my stay especially for the amount of money I spent for the 4 nights . I requested a receipt for my payments and I am still to receive one . I was told that I would be sent it via email . I have been trying to contact the hotel on many occasions but with no success it rings out all the time . This is not good enough . I stayed in what I thought was a five star hotel not a motel . Never again will I attend the Crown plaza Hunter valley . My friends also had similar experience .
Read more
Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adam McDonald, Guest Services / Front Office at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Jan 31, 2021
Hello, I am very sorry for your experience, this is not what we expect of ourselves and we have let you and us down. I know our team will learn from it and we will share with the team. I would like to try and have you return, if you feel the need please let me know directly at adam.mcdonald@ihg.com, Regards Adam McDonald
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed in a 2 bed villa for $600 per night for 2 nights. The room wasn't serviced and when I spoke to the manager she told me it was because of COVID 19 but if I paid they would service the room. After a lengthy discussion I was told they would service the room as a sign of "good will". No one came. We then asked for towels. One hour later towels still in the packing tape were delivered by which time we had just used the hand towels. If I new the rooms were not serviced I certainly would not have booked this hotel. I asked some one from management to contact me, 5 days on still no call.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mark Winterton, General Manager at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Jul 29, 2020
Dear drkozman, We regret to hear your feedback following your stay. We strive to always deliver a seamless guest experience and regret to hear that this wasn't the case. We would value the opportunity to discuss this further with you. If you wish to, could you please contact the resort direct and ask to speak to our Assistant Front Office Manager? We hope to hear from you soon. Regards, Mark Winterton General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A couple of friends and I stayed in a 1 bedroom twin beds over the past week to celebrate a birthday. When we arrived, no one bothered to tell us that we needed a booking for the pool due to Covid or that the adult only pool was for people with pool access rooms. This is ridiculous - we went to get in the pool and were told we'd only be able to swim for 20 minutes before the next "booking" started. The spa was also closed for some reason, and you needed to book the beauty spa weeks in advance. We also had a voucher that could only be used at ONE bar, so we had to spend it all at once. The night we were there, we got a noise complaint at 8.30 due to us LAUGHING!!!!! We did not have any music on - we were literally just laughing and got a call and were told to be quiet. It was such a joke. The next day we waited over an hour for room service, and the portion sizes were a joke. When we checked out, my friend went to pay for the food that was on our tab, and her card declined. The woman checking us out rudely and loudly asked if we "even had enough money on the account" - as someone who works in retail and understands how embarrassing this can be for a customer, to be spoken like that is disgusting and should be dealt with accordingly. Quite frankly I would NEVER come back and never tell anyone to stay here, especially during Covid. I understand there needs to be rules in place to prevent any spread, but the fact we weren't even told about the booking system for the pool, and we had to have a pool access room to utilise the adults only pool is a joke.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from IHG Service, Owner at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Oct 19, 2020
Hi Mnfc99, Thank you for your stay and for writing to us about your experience. We strive to provide a great night's stay in a call and relaxing environment. I read your review and I am sorry for the inconvenience that you had with the use of our amenities, the noise complaint incident, and the procedure of the use of the voucher among other issues. I understand your disappointment of your stay experience after reading your description of what happened. I forwarded your comment to our management and took the proper steps to prevent these issues from happening again. I also sent you a private message so we can discuss your stay further. We hope you give us the opportunity to host your next stay. Warm regards, Oscar C. Case Manager IHGService
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Do not attend Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley if you or anyone in your party have any allergies or dietary requirements - as they will not be adhered to.
Dining for breakfast this morning - after a 40minute wait for our orders to be taken (without so much as table water being provided) a member of our party gave very clear instructions for her toast to not be buttered, and no eggs or cheese. The waitress attempted to assure us that the butter always comes on the side, but after being made the same promise the day before we insisted on making this request.
Her food arrived, with butter on the toast, and an egg on the dish. It was sent back, but upon being reserved- they had merely removed the egg instead of remaking the dish. The toast was still buttered and the remains of the yolk were visible through the food.
This is completely unacceptable. This location could very well have triggered an anaphylactic shock, despite their assurances they would follow simple instructions.
Disgusting experience.
It’s not worth risking your life.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from IHG Service, Owner at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Oct 4, 2020
Hi Zachjs, We appreciate you for leaving us a review of your recent visit. We're all about delivering a relaxing and inviting stay. It is in my dismay that your recent experience at our Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley hotel was not as expected. I get your dismay and I am sorry that you felt our staff was unconcerned. I sent you a message to gather more information regarding the issue you've highlighted and hope you respond soon. Pleasure once again to be your host and as we enhance our services, we would love to continuously serve you in your future travel plans. Warm Regards, Alice P Case Manager IHGService
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The staff were friendly and attentive but that wasn’t enough to make up for the poor conditions of the property. The buildings were run down, our rooms were dirty and we had several maintenance issues during our two night stay.
The worst part was the childcare. The website presents that a day at the kids club includes supervised swimming, vouchers for lollies from the shop, a visit to the arcade, breakfast and lunch for $65. When I booked our kids time at the Blue Dragon Kids club, they quoted me $65 per kid per day so I assumed all was good. We booked the kids for both days. On day one, as we approached the facilities, I already started second guessing my decision simply based on the appearances and condition of the facilities. The walkway was so covered with rocks, leaves, branches and dirt, it looked abandoned. As we walked through the child safety gates that are meant to protect them, Zi noted it was broken and not functioning. The equipment and outside play yards were equally bad. Before we made it to the front door, my kids started joking that this was kids jail and that they were going to spend the day in “juvie.” I had not said a word about my thought on what I was seeing so this was purely their interpretation of what they were experiencing.
During the check in process at the kids club, I was informed that I would have to pick them up and 12:00 and drop them back at 1:00. At that point I started asking the questions. Come to find out there was no breakfast, no lunch, no swimming, no arcade, no lollies, no nothing. The girls there were incredible! When they heard my concerns they stated that they would make some calls and arrange for breakfast and lunch for them. I reluctantly left the kids there because we already had plans that we couldn’t adjust. Two hours into our day, I called and checked in on the kids and gave them the option of staying there or me coming to get them. The girls were so good with them and they had loads of fun so they chose to stay.
My children are 10 and 8, if they were toddlers, I probably would not have left them there. We were scheduled to leave them there on the second day but, chose to keep them with us for day two. If they were given the option of the fun activities then it would have been an easy decision for day two but, spending a second day in run down facilities with few activities would have been punishment.
The value of this experience was well below the expectations based on cost.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from GMCrowneHunterValley, General Manager at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley
Responded Jan 19, 2020
Dear GaryS2098, Thanks for taking the time to provide us with your review - we will ensure your feedback about our team members is passed on. What you have read on our website is a different package available called our Adventure Pass. This is separate to our Kids Club offering and apologise for the confusion around this - we will ensure our communications are reviewed. The $65 Adventure Pass does include access to Kids Club sessions, in addition to vouchers for lunch/arcade games/Ambers of Lovedale when you are dining outside of the scheduled Kids Club sessions. Our standard Kids Club sessions doesn't include meals or vouchers - they are three hour supervised activity sessions. We appreciate your feedback around the maintenance of the Kids Club - we assure you that we have a number of child proof gates and entry points to ensure the safety and security of the Kids Club facility, and are regularly checked and maintained. Thanks again for taking the time to provide us with your feedback; we will ensure this is taken into consideration. Regards, Mauro Leone General Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Yes the three bedroom Villa is like a full townhouse. It has a full kitchen with large fridge with freezer, a microwave and a dishwasher. There is also a small laundry. You could live there!!
Reading, United Kingdom293 contributions198 helpful votes
Hi Emily. I don’t know. I suggest you call the hotel directly and ask them as this isn’t the sort of question TripAdvisor reviewers will be able to answer. Best wishes. Simon
There are more places to choose from in the Lovedale area.
PRICE RANGE
C$226 - C$334 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
crowne plaza hunter valley hotel lovedale, crowne plaza lovedale, crowne plaza hotel lovedale
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, An IHG Hotel
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesGreater NewcastleCessnockLovedale
NUMBER OF ROOMS
418
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
