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Hillview Heritage Estate Surrounded by the beautiful rivers and valleys of the Southern Highlands, Hillview Heritage Hotel offers a delightful country escape that boasts a rich history and a romantic atmosphere. Conveniently located only an hour and a half south of Sydney, our cottages combine all the comforts of home with the sophistication of a beautiful Sutton Forest country estate. Relax and take in the stunning views, pause to look at the sculptures designed by local artisans, wander the seven acres of luscious parks and gardens, explore the quaint boutiques and cafe’s in the nearby towns of Moss Vale and Bowral, or simply relax in your spacious, private cottage enjoying a warm soak in one of our traditional claw-foot baths. Constructed in the 1850s, the main house acted as a country retreat for the 16 governors and hosted regal guests, such as The Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Hillview is a very special place awaiting your visit.
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
Family
Business
Location
7277 Illawarra Hwy, Sutton Forest, New South Wales 2577 Australia
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If you don't mind "rustic" then this is the place to stay in the Southern Highlands. This is not the Marriott, but it is so steeped in history, with amazing countryside views and serenity that it is hard not to feel relaxed here. Period furniture and furnishings add to the "old world" ambiance.
The lessee, Damien, is so friendly, accommodating and full of informationabout this estate that was the Governor's residence. It is clean and tidy. Linen and crockery / cutlery are provided, along with tea towels and washing up detergent.
Plenty of cereals, fresh milk, nudie orange juice, english muffins and condiments were supplied for breakfast. The rooms have a larger sized bar fridge, kettle and toaster. Washing up is in a small tub with water from the kettle.
You will most likely need to bring simple lunches/ dinners (eg. slow cooker, thermomix) or try some of the amazing restaurants and wineries the Southern Highlands has to offer.
The grounds have interesting sculptures throughout but we were more taken by the gardens and the breathtaking views across the valley to the hills on the eastern side of the property.
While we were there some visitors arrived to say that they had heard about the home and Damien was more than happy for them to wander the property and view the sculptures and gardens.
We will definitely be returning to this beautiful old home in the very near future.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip 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.
We loved our night in the Earl of Jersey. We've driven past the driveway to Hillview many times and often wondered where it led. And then earlier this year we spotted a magnificent mansion high on a hill as we traveled on the train from Canberra to Sydney... and the rest is history, we booked a stay! Our cottage looked out over the beautiful countryside of the Southern Highlands. The furnishings and amenities remain true to the period and this only adds to the charm of staying in such an historical property. The bay window was a perfect spot to sit and eat our continental breakfast in the morning; the sun was streaming in and the view was like looking out on an English park. And a great night's sleep, the bed was so warm and comfy. Thank you Damien for a memorable stay.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
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Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The Earl of Jersey has fabulous views and is at the front of the property.
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.
Some of the nicest views I have seen at any accommodation in Australia. The property in on a hill with insanely beautiful views of the bucolic countryside below. It was once used by the governors of NSW as a summer residence. We were in cottage 7 which had the amazing views just in front. Cottages 8 and Cottage 1 also face the best vantage but I think Cottage 7 was the nicest overall. The cottages are rather rustic as you might expect. Our room was a bit like walking into a period movie set but with modern amenities. The sculpture park around the grounds is really lovely and takes at least an hour to explore on foot. The location near Moss Vale was great and you can explore most of the Southern Highlands towns within 20 minutes by car. The included breakfast is supplied in the room and is not delivered. The English muffins with fresh butter and jam, muesli with plunger coffee, tea and OJ were more than adequate. Be sure to ask Damien for a tour of the premises. The billiards room is like taking a step back in time.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Cottage 7 - Earl of Beauchamp is the best room
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.
We were so excited to stay here as we love places that are a bit less commercial, the photos made it look cosy and welcoming, but they were not an accurate representation of the actual rooms- we expected it to be a bit rustic and perhaps a little rough around the edges. What we did not expect was the filth that greeted us. Mould, stains, damage and even, just for fun, a used bandaid in the bathtub! The room smelt very musty and in the thirty minutes we stayed we left the door open. This still wasn’t enough as my asthma flared up and I had breathing issues for the next few hours- my asthma isn’t even that bad, but something in this place affected it badly! We couldn’t stay and had to arrange last minute accommodation, elsewhere, for our weekend. We are not fussy or particular, but this place was not suitable. To charge the amount it does for what it is offering is outrageous. Unless it gets a thorough clean and the mound dealt with it shouldn’t be offered as accommodation at all!!
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Book elsewhere. For the price you can find much cleaner accommodation.
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.
We booked into Hillview for 2 nights because we were attending a family wedding in the area and it was conveniently located. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT Firstly we acknowledge that this is a very old heritage cottage BUT that cant be used as an excuse for the terrible condition that this property is in. The cutlery was filthy dirty with dried food sticking to the knife....in fact the one and only knife that was provided ! Several plates were stained with dried food , the doona was filty , the bed hadnt been made properly , some furniture was broken and handles were missing off drawers. and the bedroom door handle was not working. Floors were dirty , curtains hanging off the rods, there was no toilet paper in the bathroom etc etc . I told Damian that we were very disappointed with the accommodation but he shrugged it off saying that no one else had been concerned in the past ! We spoke to a lady working there and she was most apologetic. Under normal circumstances we would have walked away BUT we had commitments soon after arrival , and there simply wasnt enough time to book elsewhere. This place was a dump and I will be reporting it to authorities.
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Date of stay: June 2021
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.
This is our second visit to Hillview and this time we brought our 2 German Shepherds. You are literally stepping back in time and the gardens and sculptures are wonderful. We were also shown the new Art Gallery recently created in the main house. The first time we visited this had all the original furniture and I was told that not many people used or saw it so the main building has been re-invented as an Art Gallery. The continental breakfast gave us plenty to eat with muffins, cereals, fresh fruit, full bottles of orange juice and a whole litre of milk. The coffee was proper bags not instant. There are 8 lodges or rooms and my wife and I will go back again to try another room. Relax, unwind, enjoy how life used to be...
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Date of stay: January 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip:The rooms are actually all individual as some are lodges, so go with the picture you like
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.
We stayed for 2 nights and found Cottage 2 to be very disappointing. We arrived in Summer to a hot cottage with a kitchen bin crawling in ants and full of rubbish from the previous occupiers. The bathroom bin also had not been emptied and was full of women’s sanitary products, say no more.
There was no hot water running in the shower which meant we had cold showers for 2 days. On the dining table were two green apples well past their due date and two oranges that were considerably underripe.
The air conditioning was not suitable for the space, meaning the bedroom was hot on the first night which made for an uncomfortable nights sleep.
This property is quaint, full of character and in a handy location however the housekeeping and maintenance is a severe let down.
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Date of stay: February 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.
We stayed here for the old school experience and were not disappointed. Yes the internet was very patchy but as the add says stay here and unplug for awhile and enjoy the moment. We had a 2 bedroom cottage and although it was basic it had everything you needed. By basic I mean it was like stepping back in time which is why you stay here, you have the modern things like tv the bed in the main room was modern so was the lounge suite. The bathroom has a great shower which is hard to find these days. Now the basic side is the building is as it was built with all it's charm even some of the furniture and fittings are original. The grounds are large and a great place to wonder.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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.
Hillview is an outstanding property, so quiet and peaceful with plenty of space to explore and take in the magnificent views. Dotted throughout the property are many fabulous contemporary sculptures. We stayed in cottage 6 which had all the charm of the 1850s with modern conveniences. The bed was very comfortable and the rooms are spacious. We look forward to returning and enjoying the hospitality again soon.
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip 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.
Wow what can I say except that if you are looking for a different experience to your usual sterile hotel/motel room then try Hillview Estate. The rooms are huge and the beds are so comfortable. However it is an older hotel and there are some who may prefer modern facilities....not us though as we appreciated the history and features of the property. Where can you stay where ex governors have stayed.. The setting is superb with absolutely glorious views and a sculpture park and gallery which is a delight.Again you are in the country and there are the occasional millipedes etc. we were lucky enough to have a group stay of 11 and Damien the owner allowed us to have a formal dinner in the main house catered beautifully by Labarynth catering. It was a beautiful night in a lovely setting. Damien is a very relaxed and supportive host.
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Date of stay: February 2022
Rooms
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.
There are more places to choose from in the Sutton Forest area.
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesSouthern HighlandsSutton Forest
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
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