Escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney and enjoy a tranquil weekend amidst the lush greenery and countless wineries at this award-winning accommodation!
TL;DR
Cypress Lakes Resort is a 300-acre golf resort in Pokolbin, Hunter Valley, two hours from Sydney. Self-contained villas sleep one to four. On-site you have an 18-hole golf course, Bodega Restaurant and Bar, and a heated pool. For activities beyond the resort: hot air ballooning, cycling, and a short drive to some of the region’s best cellar doors. Best for couples, families, and golfers.
Two hours from Sydney, the Hunter Valley runs at a different pace. Vine-covered hills, unhurried cellar doors, and a calendar mostly dictated by what you feel like eating or drinking next.
Cypress Lakes Resort sits at the centre of it. Spread across 300 acres in Pokolbin, it has a scale that lets you genuinely decompress, not just change postcodes. The golf course, the pool, the restaurant, and the surrounding bushland can fill days without any planning. Or you can use the resort as a base and venture out into the valley from there.
Accommodation at Cypress Lakes Resort
The villas are scattered across the property rather than stacked in a block, so you get privacy alongside the resort facilities. One, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations are available, and many overlook the golf course or surrounding bushland.
Each villa is self-contained with a kitchen, so you’re not locked into the restaurant for every meal. Some guests barely leave the property; others use the kitchen for breakfast and spend the rest of the day exploring the valley’s cellar doors.
- What makes it different: Most Hunter Valley accommodation is either boutique and intimate, or resort-scale with all the corresponding noise and traffic. Cypress Lakes sits between the two. Enough facilities to keep you busy on-site, but not so crowded that you lose the sense of a private escape.
- Facilities: 18-hole golf course, heated pool, Bodega Restaurant and Bar (breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily), bike hire, walking trails, conference and event spaces.
- Parking: Free on-site parking at each villa.
- Best for: Couples after a relaxed retreat. Families who need space and on-site activities. Golfers. Corporate and group stays.
- Budget or luxury: Mid-to-high end. The price reflects the space, the golf access, and the resort infrastructure.
- Address: 2 Thompsons Rd, Pokolbin NSW 2320
- Contact:+61 2 4993 1555
- Estimated price: From approximately $250 per night for a one-bedroom villa, depending on season and availability.
The Restaurant at Cypress Lakes Resort
Bodega Restaurant and Bar is the on-site venue, open daily for all three meals. The menu focuses on local, seasonal produce, and the wine list draws from Hunter Valley producers alongside broader Australian and international selections.
The setting helps. Tables look over the golf course, the lake, and the pool, which makes it the kind of spot where you might sit down for lunch and still be there as the afternoon light changes.
Restaurants Near Cypress Lakes Resort
When you want to eat out, Pokolbin has several options within a short drive.
Muse Restaurant at Hungerford Hill is about 10 minutes from the resort. It is one of the more acclaimed dining experiences in the valley, with a menu built around local produce and a matched wine selection.
Leaves and Fishes at Brokenwood Wines is roughly 8 minutes away. The food is designed to pair with Brokenwood wines, and the cellar-door setting makes it a natural lunch stop on a winery day.
Bistro Molines at Robert Molines is around 10 minutes from the resort and serves French country-style cuisine in a setting that suits a long, unhurried dinner.
Things to Do While You’re at Cypress Lakes Resort
Play Golf
The 18-hole course runs through bushland with enough variety in terrain and elevation to stay interesting across multiple visits. It draws both resort guests and country club members, which gives it a more lived-in character than a purely tourist operation.
Beginners are fine here. The course is challenging in parts but not punishing, and lessons are available for those who want them.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Flights over the Hunter Valley typically depart at dawn, when the valley is at its quietest and most photogenic. The trip takes around an hour and usually ends with a champagne breakfast at the landing site. Several operators run from the Pokolbin area.
Bookings fill quickly on weekends and during harvest season from February to May, so plan ahead.
Cycle or Walk
Cypress Lakes has walking trails across the property, and bikes are available to hire. The circuit around the lake is a good starting point, with water views and birdlife throughout. If you want more distance, the surrounding valley roads are well-suited to a morning ride.
Wine Tasting
Audrey Wilkinson, Tyrrell’s, and Tempus Two are all within a 10-minute drive and give a solid cross-section of the region’s styles. The resort also stocks Hunter Valley wines at Bodega if you’d rather stay on the property for a glass or two.
Several wineries offer structured tastings with food pairings, which makes for a more useful afternoon if you’re trying to understand the region’s varieties rather than just drink your way through a flight.
The Visitor Favourite for Good Reason
Cypress Lakes Resort earns its reputation consistently, which is harder to do than it sounds in a region with as many accommodation options as the Hunter Valley.
The space, the facilities, and the location do most of the work. You arrive, unpack, and the next two days take care of themselves: golf and a long dinner, a morning balloon ride followed by an afternoon at the cellar doors, or simply sitting by the pool with a glass of something good.
Come for the resort. Stay for the valley. Both deliver. Book a Hunter Valley tour now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Cypress Lakes Known For?
Cypress Lakes Resort is best known for its 18-hole golf course and self-contained villa accommodation. It sits on 300 acres in Pokolbin and offers a full resort experience: on-site dining, a heated pool, and easy access to nearby cellar doors.
What Are the Room Types at Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort?
The resort offers self-contained villas with one, two, three, or four bedrooms. Each villa is privately situated across the property and includes a kitchen, living area, and outdoor space. Many overlook the bushland, lake, or golf course.
What Facilities Are Available at Cypress Lakes Resort?
Facilities include an 18-hole golf course, heated swimming pool, Bodega Restaurant and Bar (open for all three meals daily), bike hire, walking trails, and conference and event spaces.
Does Cypress Lakes Resort Have a Gym?
Yes, gym is available at the Cypress Lakes Resort.
What Things Are There to Do at Cypress Lakes Resort?
Guests can play golf, dine at Bodega Restaurant, swim in the pool, hire bikes to explore the property and surrounding roads, walk the on-site trails, and arrange activities such as hot air ballooning and wine tasting at nearby cellar doors.
How Much Does It Cost to Play Golf at Cypress Lakes?
Midweek min cost at $90; weekend min cost at $110. Check out the official site to find out more about the latest cost.
