4 new luxe reasons to stay at The Anchorage Hotel & Spa

Last updated . January 30, 2023

The new luxury experiences at The Anchorage Hotel & Spa are reason enough to visit this elegant seaside village in the Hunter region.

People come to The Anchorage Hotel & Spa to take their foot off the pedal and slow down. And now you have everything at your fingertips during your stay by the sea thanks to a range of newly designed offers.

Spread out in the beautiful lounge in the master suite.

The coastal resort has brought a bit of the Hamptons to Port Stephens with its unrivaled location near Anchorage Marina, a great place to start an ocean adventure in the sapphire seas.

But the resort itself is a one-of-a-kind escape: with accommodations that include garden rooms, mezzanine-style loft suites, quintessential waterfront suites, and a standalone luxury waterfront villa, as well as a world-class destination for dining and relaxation, The Anchorage Hotel & Spa is ideal for switching off and relaxing.

Expect rooms with a view and much more.

Now with four new luxury experiences, from a pool bar with table service to a signature oceanfront afternoon tea, it’s Port Stephens’ only absolute luxury waterfront hotel.

Here’s our guide to making the most of your stay at The Anchorage Hotel & Spa.

Enjoy the new pool bar

You don’t even have to leave your private poolside cabana to treat yourself to a cocktail at The Anchorage Hotel & Spa; You can now stay glued to your daybed by the shimmering pool while ordering one-of-a-kind cocktails and icy bars designed for a long day in the sun.

While the new pool bar offers full table service and each cabana is outfitted with privacy curtains, there are also places to gather to be in the heart of the action.

Relax in a private cabana or in the middle of the action and let the drinks come to you.

One of the best things about The Anchorage? You can be at the pool in just two and a half hours from Sydney or 30 minutes from Newcastle Airport.

Relax and read a book. Count cormorants. Or enjoy as many refreshing baths as you like in this light and airy seaside retreat. Pull the curtains on your cabana for an afternoon nap, then hit the reset button and order another round of Negroni.

Try a cocktail master class

Start the day with a stroll along Corlette Beach to enjoy the balmy bay breeze and end it with cocktails learned during a 1-hour master class.

Cocktails have rocked the drinks scene in Australia in recent years, and this masterclass, curated by bar manager Ellis Bence, invites you to jump on the bandwagon.

Ask Ellis what his favorite cocktail is and he’ll tell you it’s the Elderflower Gimlet; Tell him what flavors you like and he’ll customize the intimate lessons to suit your needs.

Create your own cocktail under expert guidance.

Fortunately, that’s not all – the master class includes three cocktails as well as a willow board.

Classes take place in the dark and atmospheric Moby’s Bar, which features a private room with a large window framing the yachts moored at the marina. The bar’s nautical theme extends to the flotsam and flotsam decor, which includes sea glass, shells, and a sea-green color scheme.

Treat yourself to whiskey tastings

Whiskey tourism is booming. It’s part of a new wave of niche reasons for travel, led by the number of distilleries springing up across the country.

The Anchorage Hotel & Spa is also rethinking the way it engages its guests with interactive tastings that go beyond ordering a drink and hoping for the best.

Visit the Seaview Dining Room for a curated whiskey tasting.

This carefully curated whiskey tasting takes place in the exclusive Seaview Dining Room, where guests can take their whiskey appreciation to the next level.

The courses are designed to help guests recognize the difference between different whiskeys and their smoky, peaty and malty flavors and aromas.

Comprising four whiskeys and a pairing board, the tasting is tailored for everyone from connoisseurs to wannabe whiskey lovers. After your guided tasting, head back to the main bar so you can gush about the experience, whiskey in hand.

Let yourself be pampered with a high tea by the sea

While The Anchorage Hotel & Spa’s location is as far from a cheesy London lobby lounge as you can get, High Tea by the Sea is as traditional as it gets.

Executive Chef Michael Jenkins says he wants guests to feel pampered and relaxed while enjoying appropriate high tea service with views of Corlette Beach and the bay beyond.

Work your way through the new elegant High Tea.

Though much of the fare, he says, is what we’d expect from High Tea — buttermilk scones loaded with berries, jam and cream, and traditional finger sandwiches like egg, mayo and lettuce — there are also savory offerings, including quiche with zucchini , parsley and tomato and spinach and ricotta sausage rolls.

You can also indulge in sweet treats like red velvet cupcakes, custard fruit tarts, and orange almond syrup cake.

Work off those extra calories with a post-prandial walk to the headland in Tomaree National Park to look out for whales (during their annual migration) and dolphins, two of Port Stephens’ most popular activities.

Escape to magical Port Stephens and experience new luxury offerings at The Anchorage Hotel & Spa.