Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some questions you may have about your stay at Somewhere Unique.
If you need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Guest health, safety, and comfort has always been our absolute priority.

Therefore, we have reviewed and heightened our hygiene standards and intensified our sanitisation practices, owing to the current circumstances. Prior to every arrival, the retreat is subject to a deep clean and all surfaces are thoroughly disinfected, including remote controls, door handles, light switches, and keys.

It has always been our approach that there is no check-in process and all pre-ordered meals are ready in the retreat on arrival. Therefore, guests need not interact with anyone throughout the entirety of their stay.

We have also developed a comprehensive ‘COVID-19 Safety Plan’ which has been submitted to the NSW Government and consequently ‘Somewhere Unique’ has been granted governmental ‘COVID-Safe’ status. Further details are available on request.

We are confident that these measures ensure that ‘Somewhere Unique’ remains an ideal destination for a luxury tranquil escape within a safe haven.

Wollombi is located at the Southern entrance to Hunter Valley Wine Country, and can be reached in approximately 2 hours from the Sydney CBD. See Google Maps general location of Wollombi.

The retreats have the same layout, and are equal in their quality of fixtures, fittings and furnishings. They are however decorated in different colour schemes, and have different outlooks. They both enjoy a northerly aspect. Lowanna is furnished in greens and charcoals, with natural bamboo flooring, and is nestled below a spectacular rocky outcrop with valley views. Allawah is furnished in blues and browns, with coffee bamboo flooring, and is set in a tranquil bushland setting with valley views.

Both retreats have been strategically placed to ensure privacy for each couple. You cannot see one retreat from the other. They are around 60 metres apart, separated by bushland.

The retreats are very private - you can't see one from the other

Each retreat is suitable for one couple only. They cannot accommodate extra adults or children.

Bread, bacon from The Pickled Pig, free-range eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, butter, Beerenberg jams, Vegemite, juice, Brookfarm natural muesli, milk, yoghurt, and coffee capsules for the Nespresso Lattissima coffee machine. Your breakfast provisions are provided on your first morning, and will be waiting for you in your retreat when you arrive, ready for you to cook at your leisure. The breakfast provisions are generous, and should satisfy you for a couple of mornings.

Our experience has shown that many guests prefer to have no intrusion from us. As we wish your stay to be private and peaceful, we do not service the retreats daily. However, extra towels are provided should you wish to use them. For stays of six nights or more, the retreat will be fully serviced if requested.

Other than the breakfast provisions, no meals are included in your tariff, unless you have booked one of our popular Weekend or Midweek Packages. Somewhere Unique is 2 kilometres from the village of Wollombi, which contains a couple of cafes open daily for breakfast and lunch and on weekends for dinner. Dinner options midweek include Wollombi Tavern and Great Northern Trading Post at Laguna. We also have a range of dine-in options that can be pre-ordered. Find out more about Dining around the area.

No. If you are worried about drinking and driving between Wollombi and the main vineyards district, the best idea would be to book a wine tour or helicopter lunch and cellar door tour.

Hall’s Private Transfer Service offer return restaurant transfers to the main vineyards district for $200 per couple – to book simply contact Peter by email or phone 0431 810 548.

Hunter Valley Tours for Two offer restaurant transfers from $185. For more information please phone John on 0448 722 313,

Winters can be cool, especially overnight and early in the morning. Summers can be hot, while Spring and Autumn are glorious! For an up-to-date weather forecast for Wollombi.

All reservations are confirmed on the day of receipt of your deposit, by mail or e-mail, which will include directions on how to reach Somewhere Unique. If you booked through our online reservation system you will receive an immediate confirmation.

There is not a formal Reception area at Somewhere Unique. Your retreat will be ready from 3pm on the day you are due to arrive. You will have been mailed or emailed driving directions to your retreat, and the key will be waiting for you there. If you have advised your arrival time will be in the evening, the lights will be left on for you.

Approximate travelling times are as follows:
Sydney CBD – 2 hours
F3 Freeway at Wahroonga – 1 hour 15 minutes
Newcastle – 1 hour 15 minutes
Gosford – 1 hour.

Rover Coaches run a bus from Wollombi to the main vineyards district for most of the big concerts, and return again in the evening.

All reservations require a deposit equal to 50% of your stay. This may be paid using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or by Direct Deposit to our bank account.

Certainly! Many guests surprise their partners for a special occasion or celebration. We need to be made aware of where to discretely send confirmations and after that, the keeping of the secret is up to you! You may also like us to order champagne to be waiting in your retreat upon arrival.

Please be aware that as a small business cancellations affect us greatly. If you need to cancel your booking, your 50% deposit is refundable, provided we are advised of the cancellation more than 30 days prior to your arrival. For cancellations made between 30 and 10 days prior to arrival, your deposit will be held in credit to use at a later time (within 6 months of cancellation). For bookings cancelled within 10 days of arrival, 100% of the total booking will be charged.

Rest assured if you are forced to cancel your booking within 10 days of arrival due to government travel restrictions, we will provide a full refund or credit (to use within 6 months), the choice is yours!

The bath is oval in shape, and designed for two people with ease. The bed is a king-size.

Each retreat contains a gas BBQ with hood, microwave, and gas stove. It also contains a fridge, toaster, kettle, and all the equipment you need to cook up a feast! Please note that there is no oven.

Each retreat has its own individual laundry, complete with washing machine, dryer, laundry tub, iron and ironing board.

Complimentary WiFi and Chromecast is available in each retreat via our Starlink connection.

Telephone calls should be able to be made using your mobile through our Starlink Connection

There is a mobile phone tower for Telstra and Optus in the Wollombi village. Somewhere Unique is on the edge of the signal area, and you can usually get signal outside on the deck.  You may also be able to make calls on your mobile via our Starlink connection.

Unfortunately we do not receive free-to-air TV reception in Wollombi, due to the terrain. Each retreat has Foxtel, with the Entertainment and Movie Package and you can connect to your own entertainment apps through Chromecast.

All internal areas of the retreats are smoke free environments. We request that guests respect this and refrain from smoking inside. For smokers, there is an ashtray provided, which can be used outside on the deck. Please note that we are in a bushfire prone area, and sensible behaviour is expected.

You should bring your favourite CD’s or your iPod (dock provided) to make the best use of the stereo system. You may wish to bring DVD’s, although each retreat has its own complimentary DVD library. Should you wish to self-cater, we recommend you bring all your food with you – there is a small General Store in Wollombi with basic provisions. The nearest supermarket is at Cessnock, approximately 25 minutes drive from Somewhere Unique.

Somewhere Unique has been set up with high quality equipment and furnishings to accommodate just one couple in each retreat. Thus the property is unsuitable for children.

Because of the constant presence of native wildlife at Somewhere Unique, the property is not suitable for family pets.

As we wish to maintain the privacy of our guests, we do not admit day visitors to Somewhere Unique – inspections are by prior arrangement only.