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Discover a coastal escape in the blue water paradise of Port Stephens, with individually designed bay fronting and forest facing rooms, suites and penthouses that create a space of barefoot luxury in the perfect getaway destination. Home to Rick Stein at Bannisters and the Terrace Bar with stunning infinity pool views. We take your wellbeing seriously, see our website for how we are navigating COVID-19
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Business
Languages Spoken
English
Location
147 Soldiers Point Rd, Soldiers Point, Port Stephens, New South Wales 2317 Australia
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We stay at Bannisters Port Stephens for two nights and enjoyed our time there very much. Few points to mention:
Continental Breakfast was very good. the Lady-Manager of the Breakfast at the premises of Rick Stein Restaurant over there organise the work of her team so well and in a very efficient manner. Plenty of choices of food bits including (just to mention few) warm boiled eggs with lovely with very yellow yolk, tasty smoked salmon, Ham and salami (all of them not too salty and f the highest possible quality), feta, cheese, croissants and other pastries, fresh fruit, veggie salad, nice jams, juice, variety of coffee from hight-tech machine, etc. Staff well trained and attentive. The breakfast that never bored you.
Infinite pool with warm water. Comfy temperature of about +38 centigrade all year around (they say) . Good size towels. Beautiful view on water, trees, boats and flying high big birds. We went into pool several times and even on the morning of checking out.
In the room proper size bath towels and robes (I am a big person and very rare am able to use robe in the hotels, here it was perfect). After having shower you seat on the balcony and enjoy view. Shower cabin of good size even for two people at the same time. Efficient shower heads (top and on hand held).
Very nice and clean everywhere. The cleaning ladies are replenishing drinking water bottles supply, coffee capsules. New bath towels in exchange to wet once.
All staff well trained, efficient and friendly. You never left by them lost. All questions are answered. Special thanks o Josh at reception and Anna (next day).
Three levels of car parking. Chargers for Electric Vehicles on the top one. Even bottom one is convenient and secure.
Lifts work very well so people with motion problems (not us) will be comfortable at Bannisters.
Rick Stein restaurant stood to its name very well, thanks. We did expect this high quality dinner after lovely Continental Breakfast (see above)
We will come here again.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our recent two day stay at Bannisters was just so beautiful!
From the Reception staff to luggage/maintenance staff and to the room cleaning staff - all were so polite, passionate and caring towards us and promptly responsive to our requests.
Our room situated on the third floor was pleasant and appealing with breathtaking views of the sea and mountains and very private with our own balcony. As soon as we opened our door leading to the balcony, we were greeted by friendly and colourful rainbow lorikeets who seemed to welcome us as well. The pillow selection was absolutely pleasing and very much appreciated, as the pillows provided made us feel as though we were sleeping on our own pillows, thank you. A special thank you to the cleaning staff who maintained our rooms and provided even firmer pillows at our request.
All the staff and services provided by Bannisters was top notch. We would not hesitate to recommend Bannisters to our family and friends. All the amenities were spotless and appealing. No reasonable request to have our stay feel more comfortable for us was a problem to any of the friendly team at Bannisters.
Thank you to all the staff.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Great views from the third floor upwards, quiet, private, perfect place to unwind, relax, and...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Pete Bacon, General Manager at Bannisters Port Stephens
Responded 2 Aug 2022
Good morning Assunta, Thank you very much for your lovely review and it's great to hear that you had such a restful and enjoyable experience at Bannisters Port Stephens. Great to hear that you were well looked after and we will look forward to seeing you again very soon. Thanks again for the stay and the review. Thanks from the whole Bannisters team
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Total Class from start to finish. Every facility is first class from the room through to the facilities and dining. Hotel is beautifully clean well designed and immaculately presented with some great staff working there.
I liked the 3 x Dining choices from Budget right up to Top End.
Going forward, one thing which might be looking at would be offering a “Cooked” breakfast tariff alongside the “Continental” one?
Also loved our early morning visitors on the balcony!
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a 60's motel that was given a new lease of life a few years ago. The rooms have been tastefully spruced up with a nice beach vibe and muted colour scheme, though the bathroom is very small and the fittings and furniture rather cheap (think Bunnings....) The view from our Ocean View room across the bay was fabulous. We dined at Rick Stein's and found the food good if unexceptional (not up to other Rick Stein restaurants we have visited). However, unlike other reviewers we found it to be reasonable value. The big downside for us was that in every public area of the hotel (lobby, pool area, bar, restaurants) there was very loud music playing all day. It was impossible to find somewhere to sit quietly and read a book or relax. While we were able to discover in detail the young manager's taste in rock, it was insensitive to inflict it on everyone else and it spoilt what would have otherwise been a pleasant stay. We raised it with reception staff but received blank faces - they didn't seem to think it was a problem. Also, be warned that (and this is probably a testament to 60's building quality) the walls between the rooms are very thin - we could hear every word our neighbours were saying!
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Pete Bacon, General Manager at Bannisters Port Stephens
Responded 7 Jan 2024
Hello there, Thanks for your review and sorry to hear that the music issue was not recitfied immediately. It really is no problem for our reception team to organise that, so it is disappointing to hear that this was not your experience. We certainly don't want the pool and venues to be silent but more than happy to find a happy medium. Sorry to hear that your stay missed the mark on this occasion. Always hope our guests are having a restful stay and I will ceratinly follow up with our venue managers and reception team. Many thanks and Kind regards, Pete Bacon
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Stayed a night to break up a long drive home from a holiday further north. The pool and name is what sold it to me but we were pretty disappointed for the price.
Our room wasn’t as clean as I would expect for $330 a night. I do wonder if using some of our Expedia member points has anything to do with room allocation.
You can tell it was a former (ibis?) because you can hear the noise from neighbouring rooms and above all night. The guests weren’t being noisy but you could hear them walking around, flushing toilets and talking.
The plastic shower curtain was stained and I don’t think the room had been deep cleaned in quite some time.
The parking is also tricky with limited availability and some steep walking involved so consider this if you’re older or less mobile.
The pool is great but I’ve stayed in much nicer hotels with more amenities for a lot less. With limited amenities eg. No gym I wouldn’t recommend staying more than 1 night
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The accomodation was comfortable and continental breakfast was good Our package included dinner at Rick Stein Restaurant and a master cooking class with the executive chef. I had booked via phone and was asked if we had any allergies or if there were things we didn’t eat. I have details which were confirmed when we arrived at the restaurant. The set menu in the package had mainly dishes that included the allergic food items. When this was pointed out to the waiter he said we could order from the general menu at additional cost. We were not happy and were about to get up and walk out. I asked if he could speak to the chef which he did. The chef couldn’t take out the offending item as most things were cooked with it. He agreed to make a sauce without it. Why bother to ask about allergy and then not accommodate. The staff had no idea about customer service. Dishes were slammed onto the table. The wait staff were unfriendly and couldn’t even offer a smile. The desert not included in the package was inedible and possibly stale. We noted this to the waiter and it was deducted from the bill. We wouldn’t bother to return to the restaurant again. We did a cooking master class with the executive chef and a guy who mixed cocktails. It was not a cooking class and was unprofessional. It started late and was full of in house banter between the two men. We were shown how to fillet a trout and cook cabbage in a lot of butter and nutmeg. Hardly master class! The meal and wine served after was nice but had no wow factor. Book accommodation with breakfast and skip the packages
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed for two nights (simply not long enough) in an Upper Deck Ocean Room view that did not disappoint, the view was perfect for looking out across the bay. All the staff at Bannisters were warm and welcoming, taking time to explain everything on offer.
After check in, we popped into the Cheeky Dog for a small bite and cold drink after the drive from Sydney then a quiet relaxing walk to the nearby pier and beach. On our first night we had a great pool side dinner at Julio's with some uber fresh tacos and an utterly filling chicken burrito. However, the attraction for us was to sample Rick Steins' menu the following night, having followed Rick's culinary adventures on the box over the years. The Singapore Crab was my wife's dinner plate dream come true. Luckily for me, I got to finish off the remaining sauce in the accompanying side serve of rice. After consuming a wonderfully fresh Nelson Bay Tuna Steak, I was utterly and totally satisfied - yummo!!
A big shout out to our Server on the night - Bryony who went above and beyond to be attentive and kept our glasses topped up. And not to forget those unsung heroes - the Housekeeping team, a huge thank you as well. A truly memorable stay.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Must admit, the bed was extremely firm compared to other places we have stayed in across the globe.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There’s no doubting the stunning location of this remodeled former Ibis (I think) motel. And the first impression as you enter the foyer and gaze out to the infinity pool with the beautiful bay beyond is indeed spectacular. The rooms are comfortable but somewhat basic considering the price we paid ($400 a night for a standard room with an obscured water view). Was surprised with the lack of amenities in the room compared to places we have stayed in recently. A few sachets of instant coffee and a couple of teabags in a styrofoam cup (see pic) are more reminiscent of basic country motels. A small container of milk sits alone in the minibar & you wouldn’t want to both need to use the shampoo & conditioner as there was just one tube of each. It leaves a feeling of stinginess to be honest. We ate at Rick Steins restaurant which is absolutely stunning in decor. The service was impeccable, the food good but the fine dining prices are completely unjustified (felt the same way at Bannisters in Mollymook). Having eaten some spectacular meals in the Hunter Valley on our way here at nearly half the price, you get the feeling that you’re paying a bit for the Rick Stein brand.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Pete Bacon, General Manager at Bannisters Port Stephens
Responded 14 Jul 2020
Dear ladymuriel, Thanks for the feedback. We are lucky to be in such a beautiful part of the world and delighted to hear you enjoyed the facilites and stylings! I'll have a chat with Martin, our Guest Relations Manager, regarding the in room amenities. Our offerings have been adapted to the evolving situation as we prioritse health and safety. With that said, important we keep focus on the overall experience and don't compromise unnecessarily. Sorry for the shortfalls and any disappointing impressions. Hoping we have an opportunity to welcome you back in the future for a more typical and comprehensive Bannisters experience. Best Regards, Pete Bacon
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rick Stein should be ashamed to put his name,(and his money), into Bannisters. We are from the UK and booked our stay on the strength of the Stein association and reputation. We were sorely disappointed.
On arrival around 4pm we decided to have drinks around the pool. But we were not prepared from the very loud bombastic music that was played constantly. So loud it would prevent any relaxed spell by the pool. Sun beds crammed in and very uncomfortable… no padding.
The food by the bar, (Mexican Cusine) was limited in choice and fairly poor. The seating was very dirty.
Our room was basic and smelt as if it had been occupied by a pack of dogs beforehand. I was assured by reception it did not allow dogs in that particular room. Bathroom was just adequate provided you could find, Houdini like, the combination that gave you the ideal water temperature.
And it got worse.
We were persuaded to spend out first evening in the pub, The Cheeky Dog. We have been to many pubs in our time. This was an experience not to be repeated.
First, it was cavernous, more like a huge shed. Then there was the music! Played at such a volume that there was no option but to sit outside where it was still very loud. The menu looked so unappetising we immediately left and headed elsewhere.
In the end the next day we did not eat at the main restaurant having had such poor experiences.
We ended at The Anchorage a few miles away. The difference was like night and day. Relaxed with excellent food and ambience.
Dear Rick, don’t sully your reputation and get your act together. You can do better than this. Reply if you do wish.
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Both my Husband and l. were given a. Voucher for our 55 wedding anniversary. for a massage and afternoon tea The .massage was véry relaxing the girls ŵere polite and gentle the massage area was very hard to find. though this doorway hidden the afternoon tea was lovély with petite fours and a choice of teas it was silver service which was lovely serive wa good we did not stay at hotel after looking at what you got for your money we felt this was over the top in price rooms all upstairs and no undercovered parking we wont be recommending bannisters to our friends
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Soldiers Point area.
PRICE RANGE
$297 - $394 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesGreater NewcastlePort StephensSoldiers Point
NUMBER OF ROOMS
78
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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