A new luxe wedding and spa resort, The Lodge Jamberoo, opened just before Christmas and checking out its champagne bar seems like an excellent idea over the holidays.

You might know the property as The Jamberoo Valley Retreat, or the Ananda Wellness Retreat, or even, back when it was first built, as Uncle Tom’s Hut. This was a German restaurant and beer house, notable as the first Australian venue to host an Oktoberfest celebration and whose pool was rumoured to have been constructed in the 1970s for the Australian Olympic swim team training camps.

But in the same way that Bannisters in Mollymook was transformed from a bland 1970s motel into super stylish South Coast accommodation, The Lodge has undergone a similar transformation.

“We are really going for that European style. We want to be out there,” says General Manger Gillian Crowley.

“Everything is from Italy from France,” Gillian says as she stands beneath the magnificent apricot-coloured Murano glass chandelier at the entrance to the restaurant and bar area.

The walls and ceiling are covered with murals by Port Macquarie artist Sean Thomas Bell, the lounges look as if you might sink into them and never want to get out and the fireplaces are ready for you to snuggle up in front of with an exciting cocktail.

Outside the restaurant and bar area is the ‘Champagne Garden’ “which is a beer garden, but for champagne,” Gillian says. “We have an extensive wine list and a great cocktail list – especially French champagne cocktails.”

The property, which was bought by new owners in July 2022, sits on around nine acres of pine forest, beautiful gardens and natural rainforest, and has a river frontage.

There are 43 hotel rooms – king and queen all with a pool – plus a two bedroom suite with spa bath. Gillian says they can accommodate 140 people.

The riverfront wedding area includes the outdoor wedding chapel – “We whitewashed all the bricks in the garden path and reinstalled them. There will be a chandelier in the garden as statement piece,” a sumptuous bridal room overlooking the creek where the bride can get ready with all her helpers and an indoor 300sqm pillarless ballroom with 6m vaulted ceiling where guests attend a sit-down dinner.

The outdoor chapel

Pushbikes are available for guests to ride around the property and a day spa is available for guests but also for locals to book into.

The pool area is like something out of ‘The White Lotus’.

“We have extended the pool area out, made it more loungey,” Gillian says. “You can order cocktails and food while lying by the pool. It’s like entering another planet – it’s real luxury.

“After COVID, with people hesitant about travelling abroad, we thought let’s bring them up here to this luxury European-type venue.”

Gillian, who previously worked at one of the owner’s other properties, The Cove Jervis Bay - an eco-certified, self-catering wedding property located at the back of Bherwherre Beach in the rainforest of Booderee National Park.

Also part of the group is The Woods Farm, another accommodation and wedding retreat at Tomerong.

The restaurant and champagne bar are open to the public Thursdays to Sundays.

See www.thelodgejamberoo.com.au for more details or call 4236 0269.

406 Jamberoo Mountain Road