John Singleton only ever wanted a decent coffee close to home. Eight years after that idea became the Saddles restaurant at Mount White, it’s grown into The Grand Saddles Lodge, a 20-suite luxury retreat that opened on 2 November in the bushland between Sydney and the Central Coast. It sits under an hour from the city, which puts it within easy reach for anyone planning private jet hire to Sydney and looking for somewhere to disappear for a few days.
“Saddles started because I wanted a decent coffee close to home. I never imagined where that would lead,” says Singleton, who has called Mount White home for more than 25 years.
Twenty Suites, Each With Its Own Fireplace
The lodge keeps things deliberately small, spread across 28 acres opposite the acclaimed Homestead restaurant. Each of its 20 suites sits on its own among the trees, with an open fireplace, a private terrace and plenty of room to spread out, and every booking runs for at least two nights.
The Gardens suites open onto secluded garden terraces, while The Classics add a private heated circular plunge pool. The Signature Suites go further again, with bigger terraces, freestanding baths and larger heated plunge pools. Works from Singleton’s personal art collection hang throughout, including pieces by Arthur Boyd, John Olsen and Sidney Nolan, which you can explore on a guided art tour during your stay.
Dining, Drinks and Days on the Hawkesbury
Food has always been the heart of Saddles, so it’s built into every stay. Breakfast is served daily at The Homestead and lunch comes with house beverages. Evenings begin with drinks at Ned’s piano bar before a five-course dinner with paired wines at The Hawkesbury, where head chef Phillip Roberts, whose career includes ARIA and Oncore by Clare Smyth, cooks with local seafood and produce grown on the estate.
Every stay also includes two signature experiences with return transfers. You might cruise the Hawkesbury aboard the lodge’s private boat, the Grace Kelly, visit nearby oyster farms or head into Glenworth Valley to watch the running of the horses. Back at the lodge, the spa has five treatment rooms and a hydrothermal suite with a Finnish sauna, domed steam room and cold plunge, with treatments created alongside Synthesis Organics.
If you’d like a taste before committing to a stay, The Hawkesbury also welcomes non-resident diners for dinner on Friday, both sittings on Saturday and lunch on Sunday.
Private Jet Hire to Sydney, Then an Hour Into the Bush
Mount White sits under an hour’s drive north of the city, so arriving on a charter flight into Sydney means you can be settling in by the fire the same day, whether you’re flying from Melbourne, Brisbane or further afield. It’s one of the most intimate new stays in New South Wales, and if you’re weighing it against other escapes, our guide to Australia’s best luxury wellness retreats is a good place to compare.
Adagold Aviation’s private jet hire and luxury charter services can shape the whole trip around your booking. Talk to our aircraft charter specialists about your dates.
