The Sebel Yarrawonga Silverwoods

The pool is gorgeous and well maintained, with a cafe and restaurant nearby. The only letdown was the poolside bar being unstaffed Monday to Wednesday, so we had to get up and walk around to the cafe bar. A QR code at the tables might be a clever way to handle the staffing issue. The rooms are generous, clean and quiet, with modern, stylish fittings, and the location is magnificent. Staff were friendly, the gardens stunning and well managed, and the food was delicious, with generous serves, fresh produce and a good wine selection. Prices were reasonable. I’ll definitely return for a few relaxing days by the pool.

The pool was stunning, the restaurant and food were impressive, and the staff were incredible. Special shoutout to Taryn, Debra & Austin, and thanks to Justin for making our stay extra special. We loved this beautiful resort and its location. The Blitz Golf & After Dark events were amazing, with great artists and music. Can't wait to come back, Angie.

Easter weekend was hectic, but the staff were absolutely sensational. Karen at the front desk made us feel like rock stars, and Nat looked after us so kindly and went above and beyond when we left. The house staff deserve special thanks too. The restaurant was packed, yet our meals arrived without delay and were cooked perfectly. My wife had the porchetta special, and my lamb rack was spot on, quite a feat when it was so busy. Great wine choices, plus Guinness on tap, my poison of choice. The lakefront location is amazing, the rooms are beautifully appointed, and town is within walking distance. We’ll definitely be back to enjoy more of what the resort offers. 100% recommended.

This was our second stay, five nights over the New Year break, and the service was possibly the worst I’ve experienced at a hotel. They said they were understaffed, but we were still paying peak season prices and dealt with rudeness and unprofessional behaviour from most of the staff on duty. A few people were helpful, though: the two female bartenders at the pool bar, the head waitress, and the reception and check-in staff. The pool bar was meant to run noon to 11pm Wednesday to Sunday, but it shut at 5pm every day and didn’t open at all on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday. The QR code ordering option they used to have was gone, so we had a long walk in our swimmers to the main restaurant and bar to order drinks or food, then waited a long time to be served. Most staff seemed rude, junior or untrained, and miserable. I might have felt sorry for them if they hadn’t taken it out on guests. They shared unprofessional details about the stress of working there and people leaving because of bad culture or management, and repeatedly mentioned getting ‘triple time’ for working NYE. At SOL Wellness I tried to buy sunscreen, but the staff member didn’t know the price. When I asked if she could find out, she just said no, she didn’t know it, so I couldn’t buy it. There was no offer to check and get back to me. Getting a coffee with breakfast felt like an inconvenience too. Most mornings we were told takeaway only, so they wouldn’t bring it to our table, even though the coffee cost extra on top of the breakfast buffet we’d paid for. We were also told we couldn’t order burgers and could only get pizzas from the bar menu, yet burgers were still brought out to other guests. This kind of inconsistent explanation happened often. The rooms and facilities are lovely, but the service let them down. The outside areas, including balconies and courtyards, were covered in cobwebs and insects. I know it’s a regional area, but this looked like poor cleaning and maintenance. Friends who were staying at or visiting the hotel were just as disappointed with the service, so it wasn’t only our experience. We won’t be rushing back, which is a shame because it’s convenient for easy weekend getaways. After our first stay we’d given family and friends great feedback, but not this time.