Ditch the Car-Keys! Stay {in} at
HERMITAGE
Lodge! WORDS Di von Essen
Hermitage Lodge is a multi-award-winning boutique hotel nestled on 10 hectares in the very heart of Hunter Valley wine country. Owned and operated by Noreen and Mark Gottaas, the hotel also boasts Il Cacciatore – a restaurant serving up Northern Italian inspired cuisine that is a firm favourite of locals and visitors alike. Mark and Noreen arrived back in Australia in 2002 after living abroad in Canada for 20 years and had the enviable task of deciding where to live, work and play and luckily for us the Hunter Valley was on the very top of their list. “Mark had worked for a couple in Canada managing their boutique hotel for four years when our family decided to return to Australia,” said Noreen. “They asked us to look for a property like theirs, and so we became partners. The Hunter Valley was always on top of our list, and the property we bought had everything we wanted as well as the opportunity to expand the business. That was almost 19 years ago!” Mark had hotel and restaurant experience, Noreen had many years of restaurant and kitchen administration experience; this combined experience was a perfect fit for Hermitage Lodge. “Every day is a new day and no two days are the same,” said Mark. “We are constantly looking for ways to improve the accommodation and restaurant. We have very loyal hardworking staff, many of whom have been here for more than ten years. We have a lot of face to face time with our guests either during check-in, check out or when they
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come into the restaurant. It's this personal interaction which our guests love… and the feedback we get is that they love the feel of the place. It makes the guest experience so much more memorable. “In fact, over the years, many guests have become firm friends after having stayed several times and becoming familiar with our family. They have watched our boys grow up and move on, and always inquire about their welfare.” The accommodation comprises twenty studios and suites (most with king beds), located on 10 hectares, and all rooms have decks overlooking the picturesque 1.6-hectare vineyard. Some rooms have spa baths, some have fireplaces, most are single storey, and one has a loft bedroom. The two-storey self-contained ‘Premier Suites’ even boast a jetted bathtub outside on the private upstairs deck looking down over the vineyard, while the beautiful ‘accessible’ suite has all requirements as well as an oval spa bathtub and fireplace in the separate living room. Either a cooked breakfast or a continental breakfast is available each day for guests when ordered the night before. This is delivered to the room where the guests can enjoy their meal on the deck overlooking the vineyard or watching the kangaroos grazing on the lawn or passing by. Perhaps the fact that guests can ditch the car keys and enjoy a true Hunter Valley experience, without having to go anywhere else is what has made Hermitage Lodge visitors come back time and time again. “Il Cacciatore has a great reputation, and almost all our guests dine with us while staying,” says Noreen. “Relaxing here is easy because you don’t really need to drive anywhere. The saltwater pool is a welcome relief on those hot days, and the complimentary on-site guest laundry is a hit with international travellers. We have the perfect location; cellar doors, concert venues, golf courses are all close by.” Il Cacciatore is one of those unique dining venues that you look forward to returning to time and again, and is by far one of the most central and most convenient spots in wine country to go for a meal. The restaurant has a welcoming and "homely" feel to it and is cleverly divided into three dining areas, which includes a spacious deck overlooking the reed-filled lake – just perfect for dining al-fresco on a warm evening. Adjacent to the restaurant is the guest lounge, complete
