The Lane Retreat In The Hunter Valley offers a modern escape, and the indulgence of staying next to Bimbadgen wines.
The Lane Retreat seamlessly blends luxury, nature, and sustainability, offering a serene escape in one of Australia’s popular wine regions. It offers ideal accommodation for couples looking for a romantic retreat, and is also great for group getaways with options for shared or private clusters.
There are excellent food & wine offerings, at Esca, one of the Hunter’s most popular restaurants and Bimbadgen Winery just minutes away.
For eco-conscious travelers, there is a strong sustainability focus, and The Lane Retreat is the ideal base for exploring the Hunter Valley’s best cellar doors & experiences.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Location: 8.5/10
Despite its roots in the Hunter Valley’s legendary wine country, where vines were first planted in 1968, The Lane Retreat embraces a modern, seemless experience, right from the check-in process.
Guests receive an entry keycode via mobile, allowing direct access to their retreat. Should any issues arise, there is an onsite office staffed from 7am to 10pm.
This smart 60-cabin retreat is part of Bimbadgen Winery, which also houses the Esca restaurant and the Palmers Lane event space, making it ideal for weddings, romantic escapes, or group getaways.
Insider Tip: The cabins are arranged in clusters—if you prefer privacy, request one of the two stand-alone retreats when booking.
The Setting – Vineyard Serenity Meets Modern Luxury 9/10
With uninterrupted views over rolling vineyards, fig trees, and the rich red volcanic soil of the Hunter, The Lane Retreat delivers a tranquil escape. The native landscaping enhances the natural beauty of the surroundings.
At the heart of the retreat, there is a Palm Springs-inspired pool area, perfect for cooling off on hot summer Hunter Valley days.
The Pantry offers barista coffee from 8am, as well as local wines, and pre-mixed cocktails crafted with gin and vodka from Bimbadgen’s Night Merchant Distillery. The fridge is stocked with cheese and charcuterie, perfect for an impromptu picnic or a lazy afternoon on your deck.
The Pantry also stocks homewares, accessories, a game selection perfect for wet Hunter days,, and a curated book selection, including Ultimate Food & Drink by Traveller’s Ben Groundwater, featuring a Hunter Valley wine guide.
The Accommodation – 7/1o
The sleek, angular cabins at The Lane Retreat make a modern architectural statement, and their solar-paneled rooves blend effortlessly into the surrounding hills. The cabins are definitely made for couples, as even thoguh the beds can be split, they split into two singles which feels tight.
Inside, the design embraces a natural palette, with earthy greens and terracotta hues reflecting the native landscape outside. Ensuite bathrooms are the highlight and are super spacious with double vanities, twin showers, and curved mirrors for a luxe touch. The vanities are back lit with make-up lighting, perfect for guests attending a wedding or planning their instagram shoot on site. Hunter Lab natural skincare hand and body lotion and shower gel are provided.
The highlight are floor-to-ceiling glass doors offering breathtaking sunrise and sunset views and our cabin was located on the edge of the lake so kangaroos were regularly outside as well as ducks and other enchnating birdlife.
Each cabin has private deck seating, perfect for morning coffees or an evening glass of wine. There are also comfortable armchairs and a small dining setup, ideal for relaxing indoors. A mini kitchenette has a microwave, espresso machine, and cold-pressed juices, and the minibar is stocked with locally crafted cocktails, wines, and beers.
There is a small wardrobe and no drawers, so packing light is ideal.
Food & Wine – 9/10
Just minutes away at Bimbadgen Winery, The Lane Retreat guests can indulge in a memorable dining experience at Esca, the winery’s signature restaurant. It has won multiple awards mainly for being a leading restaurant in a winery in Australia. Esca is beautifully located overlooking the vineyards and has a romantic, upscale feel.
The menu is clever. Diners can select from either 2 or 3 courses and choose from any of the categories they like which include meats fish, vegetarian and desserts. What that means is that technically,
Food is presented with acute attention to detail – even the butter with the focaccia bread is house made with shiraz infused sea salt.
Menu highlights at Esca during our stay in March 2025 included a clean, fresh kingfish ceviche which was meticulously presented in a circular ring style with flicks of colour over the top created with sesame dressing, tomato water strawberries and bonito flakes.
The king prawns with burnt butter and infused garlic were fresh and delicious, From the land section of the menu, pork belly with potato noodle, shoyu broth and wakame was a generous serving size and packed with texture and flavour and the quality of the Braised short rib with potato gratin, mushroom sauce and pea puree was excellent.
The stand out dish during the meal was dessert, a stunningly presented Rose Panacotta with candied pastry, rhubarb and macerated strawberries, a delicate blend of soft, melt in the mouth textures, bursting with tarte, sweet, smooth flavours edged by the sharpness of the macerated strawberries,
Wines at Bimbadgen are cleverly matched to food and given The Hunter Valley is the home of Semillon, there is plenty on offer.
Emmas Cottage is the more casual wood fired pizza oven restaurant with fresh salads, a large assortment of pizzas and gelati. Hunter Vally locals flock here for an alternative tasting experience with Bimbadgen’s Alter range of boutique wines, crafted by winemaker Richard Done.
Beyond the Vines – Activities & Experiences
As Australia’s oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley offers a diverse range of experiences, from traditional wine tastings to outdoor adventures.
Things to Do In The Hunter Valley around The Lane Retreat:
- Hot air ballooning over the valley at sunrise for breathtaking views.
- E-biking through the vineyards, an eco-friendly way to explore.
- Golfing on scenic courses with a vineyard backdrop.
- Luxury spa treatments at Elysia Wellness Retreat.
Most Hunter Valley wineries and venues now require advanced bookings and payment for tastings, so planning ahead is recommended.
Sustainability – Luxury With a Conscience 9/10
The Lane Retreat is vocal about their committment to sustainability, with full disclosure on their website.
Sustainability initiatives they talk about includes solar panels on all studio retreats, using renewable energy. rainwater collection for irrigation to improve water efficiency, refillable amenities from Hunter Lab, premium naural skincare made from Australian grown hemp oil, reusable water bottles, and biodegradable slippers, guest opt-out housekeeping to reduce laundry, water usage, and energy consumption, transfers for groups of up to seven passengers to minimise emissions, native tree planting to encourage local biodiversity and even use of Australian-made, certified green cleaning products.
The Lane Retreat Review in Brief:
Who Is Behind It: Bimbadgen wines, and it is a quick 2 minutes drive from The Lane Retreat to Bimbadgen winery.
Insider Knowledge: Rising early is well worth the effort as the local kangaroos are also early risers and fill the property.
Renae says: You stay at The Lane to soak up the natural scenery of The Hunter Valley. It is very relaxing.
Who should Stay at The Lane Retreat: Couples, groups.
Who shouldn’t stay here: The rooms are a tight fit with children.I would not say it is a family style resort although I did see guests staying with children.
Location: About 2.5 hours out of Sydney on the freeway.
Best culinary delight: The rose panacotta with macerated strawberries at Esca.
The Highlight: A morning walk at sunrise watching the kangaroos play.
The lowlight: I struggled with the entry codes to the doors, but maybe my nails are too long.
Most Instagrammable location: The lake and Bimbadgen wines.
