Dogwood

Came here for a friend's birthday and the place was amazing and beautifully decorated. Plenty of space with a massive kitchen and living space. There were 12 of us and there were queen bed rooms and bunk bed rooms.. We celebrated and drank and danced and also did a wine tasting tour as Dogwood is centrally located in the Hunter Valley. I am not sure of the price as my friend booked it but I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to organise a get together with friends.

Great location, very comfortable beds and high ceilings make this house a very attractive option for accommodation in Pokolbin for larger groups. That said there are a few downsides; the local bylaws to move inside after 11 were broken when “security” interrupted our game of charades at 10.30pm, hardly late, which although annoying, we could get over it except for the inconsistency of a very large group of party revelers going at it loudly the next night and then a blower vac at 6.15am on Sunday morning. More glassware options would be nice for cocktails and a slotted spoon and spatulas would be great additions on a basic level but the oven is absolutely atrocious, temperamental and difficult to operate, the second floor creaks, meaning guests below are affected and most of the seating options are incredibly uncomfortable. Over all the house is lovely, big and airy with high ceilings and fans, meaning its a great summer house and less so in winter as concrete floors give it a cold feel. It is very clean and in a beautiful setting and this does somewhat make up for the downsides, the kitchen being the main one for me.

Disappointing Stay - Not as Advertised I recently stayed in this house, and while it boasts a beautiful location and modern design, my experience was far from satisfactory. Upon arrival, I quickly realized that the property requires a significant amount of maintenance, which was not reflected in the photos advertised. First and foremost, the condition of the house was concerning. The walls were damaged and in dire need of a paint job, which made the place feel neglected. The kitchen was particularly unwelcoming, with ants crawling over the benchtops and inside the overhead cupboards. It was quite off-putting to have to deal with pests while trying to prepare meals. Additionally, the BBQ was dirty and unusable, which was disappointing since we were looking forward to outdoor cooking. Indoor fake planter pot was broken, adding to the overall sense of disrepair. To make matters worse, we discovered that two of the sliding doors did not lock properly. Instead of fixing the locks, the hosts had resorted to using sticks as a makeshift safety measure – this felt inadequate and unsafe. While we were informed about a broken toilet seat cover prior to our arrival, we were not prepared for the state of cleanliness in general. Upon entering, we were greeted with dirty towels, three of which had noticeable stains. It’s clear that the cleaning service needs a serious overhaul, as it was unacceptable to have such a lack of attention to detail. Overall, I would not recommend this property to others. The stunning location and modern aesthetics are overshadowed by the numerous issues that need immediate attention. I hope the hosts take this feedback seriously and prioritize the necessary maintenance and cleanliness improvements for future guests.