Spicers Hidden Vale

We stayed at Spaces Hiddenvale for one night the room we had was very spacious. Very big nice balcony overlooking the valley. The the bed was very comfortable and the apartment was very clean. The restaurant was excellent. The food was very tasty and flavoursome and all the staff were very attentive. Breakfast was excellent very nourishable and very tasty.

The homestead which houses the reception, bar and dining area is stunning. A beautiful free standing stone fireplace is surrounded by comfy sofas to snuggle into. The staff are all friendly, knowledgeable and welcoming. The food was well presented and delicious with care taken to meet dietary needs. Great activity options, we did archery, scotch tasting and the market garden tour.

We spent a few magic days at Spicers Hidden Vale for my birthday and I couldn’t have loved it more! The location and views of the hills are stunning and there is a magic feeling the place gives that words can’t describe. All of the staff were exceptional, genuinely warm and welcoming, which is not common these days - a special thank you to Adam, Te, and Kristen. We loved the wine tasting experience, enjoyed the 7.5km walking trail spotting kangaroos and wallabies, loved feeding the animals, and the market garden tour was fantastic. The main pool is a great size for relaxing by or swimming some laps, we didn’t get to tennis this time but we will next time! The main homestead has so much space to relax and read or play games. The room and bathroom were stunning, every detail thoughtfully put together. Last but definitely not least, the food is incredible! The a la carte breakfasts contained beautiful produce and were the perfect size, whilst the evening meals were divine. Our favourites were the quail entree and the Toowoomba king Angus fillet main. Highly recommend this stunning retreat and can’t wait to come back again!

Some things are wonderful but there are a few issues. First the positives - the rooms (really little cottages) are great - well thought out with large bedroom, very comfortable beds and quality bedding, a comfortable lounge room, good size bathroom and separate toilet and outside private deck. Breakfasts are very good. Only minor issue is a very small bar fridge. 2nd - the problems. Spicers is one of the few 5-star accommodation places in Australia that require full payment on booking. (OK - if they can get away with that, fair enough). I booked and paid 7 months ahead. So, I was surprised to suddenly find a $120 charge on my credit card a week or two before arriving without any explanation. On ringing, I was told room costs had risen since I booked despite what I thought was a contract. I then emailed the manger. The charge was reversed with apologies but why it happened in the first place is a mystery. Other issues were associated with the restaurant. Due to its location, we virtually had to eat there every night of our stay. The food is excellent -and hard to fault. But the only option is a 3-courses meal. My wife is not a big eater and only wanted a few scoops of ice cream on our 2nd night for her third course. Only 3 desserts were offered, and all were "heavy" (cake based) . Although we were charged for the full courses, she was charged $6 extra for her non menu ice cream. Again, this was reversed on a query but should not have happened in a 5 star establishment. Also, at lunch time there is also only a set number of courses - no availability for a just a light meal or a snack other than a cheese board. Little things like this could be considered for a more enjoyable stay.

We booked the 2 bedroom suite for our stay, being three friends we found the suite to be nicely decorated and cosy. We had a small sitting area included in the suite with two arm chairs and a window seat, this was lovely but it would have been nice to have a TV included in this area or a small fireplace as I know the 2 bedroom cottages have this. Upon arrival we were greeted warmly and given complementary Prosecco in the bar area. One of the team members - Sebastian was our favourite host for our 2 night stay & ensured we were well looked after. We especially enjoyed the Garden Market tour where the Chef took us around the produce being grown for their paddock to plate experience. Plus the cheese and wine experience where Sebastian showcased three local wines with matched cheese was fun and light hearted. We loved to sit around the outdoor fire pit wrapped in warm fluffy blankets in the early evening before dinner, we were very well taken care of and all the staff were very attentive. The breakfast was offered via menu, not a buffet style and took a little while, so be prepared to sit leisurely and look out to the beautiful scenery. We spent the day reading books by the pool and in the hot spa, you can order drinks to be delivered to you or to your room. Dinner was included in our package and we enjoyed the three-courses, knowing most of the ingredients had been handpicked form their garden was a great touch. I will definitely return, perhaps trying another Spicer’s Retreat now knowing how the service and quality is.

We had an excellent dinner on Thursday at the Supper Club. Loved cozy setting and really enjoyed the friendly service and great food. Will definitely be visiting this hidden gem again for the next one!