Laval Hunter Valley will be a 65-villa resort set across a 66-hectare wine estate in Pokolbin, with a two-level wellness centre, immersive art installations and private helicopter landing pad.
Opening in late 2027, Laval Hunter Valley sits on the land formerly Lindeman’s Estate and Ben Ean Estate, and is the first luxury resort of this scale to be built in the region in more than 20 years.
The pavilion-style villas will include a presidential villa “designed to frame uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape”.
Technology includes a collaboration with Bang & Olufsen, its only resort in the Southern Hemisphere, where a “fluid technology-enabled arrival system allows guests to check in anywhere and have their own personal butler service”.
The resort will have a 25-metre pool along the shiraz vineyard, while two-level, longevity-led wellness sanctuary Veraia will have 15 treatment rooms, thermal circuits and regenerative therapies, a salt room and sauna and offer medical-grade innovative treatments and programs that “haven’t been seen before in Australia”.
More than 21,000 plants, planted as part of an ecological regeneration program, form meditation meadows and sensory gardens.
The grounds also include 13 major artworks (complemented by more than 130 in-room pieces), creating one of the world’s largest collections of artworks by artists and conservationists Gillie and Marc.
Dining is at signature restaurant Vallery, with an evolving à la carte menu inspired by the Mediterranean with subtle influences of Japan, or at La Vida, the poolside bar and restaurant inspired by coastal Cali-Mex flavours.
The Lobby Bar is the social heart of the resort, designed for arrivals, informal meetings and pre- or post-dinner drinks, with a focus on curated beverages and share-style plates.
There will also be a 10,000-bottle cellar and 1,000-strong list celebrating Hunter Valley heritage and global producers – featuring rare private collections and an emphasis on local shiraz and semillon.
The project is expected to generate “approximately A$49 million per annum in economic activity and create up to 479 jobs in construction and ongoing operations”.
HVL Hotels managing director Dominic Lambrinos says the property meets a longstanding gap in the Hunter Valley’s luxury accommodation segment.
“Laval represents an ambition to do something that hasn’t been done before, on the most magical piece of land within the valley.
“Building from the ground up, we have complete freedom to shape our vision for Laval without constraint.
“What we’re creating is a unique experience where intentional contrasts unfold at every turn, designed so our guests can experience the joy of feeling something new.”
For more information, visit Laval Hunter Valley.
