The Grand Saddles Lodge announces opening this November
The 20-suite retreat brings exceptional dining, old-world elegance and considered experiences to the Central Coast hinterland.
Just 45 minutes from Sydney, where the bushland of Mount White meets the waterways of the Hawkesbury and the Central Coast begins, The Grand Saddles Lodge will welcome its first guests on 2nd November, unveiling an intimate 20-suite retreat where exceptional food and wine, richly layered interiors, restorative wellness and experiences rooted in the surrounding landscape come together.
Set among 28 acres of bushland opposite the acclaimed Homestead restaurant at Saddles, The Lodge is conceived for stays of two nights or more, and offers the rare pleasure of time well spent, from long lunches and evenings beside the piano to days exploring the Hawkesbury by boat or retreating to the privacy of a beautifully appointed suite.
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A stay designed around life’s pleasures
At The Grand Saddles Lodge, the pleasures of dining and discovery are thoughtfully woven into every stay. Each two-night stay includes breakfast each morning at The Homestead, daily lunch with house beverages, pre-dinner drinks at Ned’s and a five-course dinner with paired wines at The Hawkesbury, alongside a premium in-room minibar.
Guests can spend their days beside the infinity pool, wandering the gardens and walking paths, enjoying the spa or making use of the fully equipped gym. For those wishing to explore further, The Lodge’s concierge can arrange experiences that reveal the character of Mount White and the wider Hawkesbury and Central Coast.
“Saddles started because I wanted a decent coffee close to home. I never imagined where that would lead,” said founder John Singleton.
Related AccomNews story: The Grand Saddles Lodge to open this spring at Saddles Mount White
“The Lodge is the next part of that story. The things I love most, from all over the world, gathered in the place I’ve always come back to. I’ve only ever had one rule: if it’s not the best in the world, you won’t find it here. Mount White has been home for more than 25 years.”
“I hope people arrive for a weekend and find it hard to leave. I still do.”
A sanctuary for restoration
Completing the experience is The Spa at The Grand Saddles Lodge, featuring five treatment rooms and a hydrothermal suite with Finnish sauna, domed steam room and cold plunge. Created in partnership with Synthesis Organics, treatments combine certified organic Australian skincare, native botanicals, aromatherapy and gemstones.
A collection of private retreats
The Lodge’s distinctive aesthetic is the work of Michelle Leslie Studio and White + Dickson Architects, whose collaboration draws deeply from the colours, textures and character of the surrounding Australian landscape. Set individually among the bushland, The Grand Saddles Lodge’s 20 suites offer generous living spaces, open fireplaces and private terraces.
Interiors draw on the romance of grand country estates and Saddles’ equestrian heritage, layering rich timbers, leather, tactile fabrics and considered Australian art with contemporary comforts. Fine linens, hand-selected vinyl collections and thoughtful details lend each suite the warmth and character of a private country residence.
Inspired by the landscape
The architecture follows the natural contours of the site, allowing the buildings to emerge gradually through the mature tree canopy. Arrival culminates beneath a striking glass-domed entrance, where sandstone, spotted gum and brass introduce the material language that continues throughout the property.
Inside, the craftsmanship of local makers and artists adds depth and individuality. Blacksmith Saul Thompkins has created the maître d’ station, hearth work and bespoke metalwork throughout, while artworks by Central Coast artists sit alongside custom carpets, sofas and joinery designed by Michelle Leslie Studio.
A destination for the table
Food and wine have always been at the heart of Saddles, and at The Grand Saddles Lodge, they are woven into the experience of every stay. At The Hawkesbury, The Lodge’s signature fine-dining restaurant, Head Chef Phillip Roberts, whose career includes ARIA and Oncore by Clare Smyth, leads a produce-driven menu drawing on local seafood, premium meats and poultry, and herbs and vegetables grown on the estate.
An evening at Ned’s
As daylight fades over Mount White, Ned’s brings a different energy to the Lodge. Inspired by the elegance of the Art Deco era, the intimate cocktail and piano bar is a place for well-made drinks, live music and evenings that needn’t end too soon. Whether settling in for an aperitif or staying for another song, Ned’s captures the spirit of an era when dressing for dinner and lingering over a good cocktail were pleasures in themselves.
