All the reception staff were delightful.Tbey were friendly and very helpful. The pool area was wonderful, loved the views from the affinity pool. Loved the Rick Stein restaurant and again tbe staff were very helpful and friendly. Our room was superb. Very comfotable bed, great balcony area with lovely views.

The two female staff working in Julios could do with some customer service training. Their attitude was of exasperation with customers, things sermed too much trouble and tbey weren't interested in naking it the best experience. There was a similar attitude with some of the breakfast staff. Smiling was an effort.

Breakfast without rrder was more than adequate and delicious. The coffee machine coffee included in the breakfast was very good. No need to order from behind the bar. The order menu was also available, but not necessary and not cheap. Staff were friendly and helpful at all times, though one lady on Sunday interrupted us when bumping into a friend, which was a little too eager and tone deaf on her part. Poolside was great and they were reasonably careful not allowing people to hog sunchairs and then not be there. Pool was very clean and comfortable and the mix of couples and families was good. Food choices being two restaurants and tavern was excellent. Drinks ordered done well and food was always good with what I ordered. Beach access and local walks were wonderful and romantic, fishing jetty out front also. View from room and balcony through the trees to the sunrise and bay was great. Parking on site is in high demand, but we found a spot each day or night after going out. Seems to be a pet friendly location too.

Food options by the pool were overpriced. Happy hour was cancelled whilst we were there. No reason. Somebody tried to put their coffees on our bill. All sorted at reception on check out. Little freezer in room bar fridge not really freezing anything propoerly.

Although I booked the spa room, it exceeded my expectations, as did the wrap around balcony with multiple access points. The infinity pool was fabulous and it was the main attraction for originally booking here. The food and service was fantastic. I dined in Rick Steins for dinner and breakfast and it was impeccable. Julio's was good as well but not the same level of service. My purpose for the visit was to swim, read, eat, drink and relax and it exceeded my expectations.

Most of the staff at Julio's were lovely and very helpful however when I asked about a particular food being present in a dish, there was no effort to find out. I was told "I don't think so" when in fact that was incorrect. I would have much preferred an "I don't know but let me find out for you". This was the only disappointment to an otherwise fantastic weekend.

The omelette at Breakfast was the best I have ever had....the balance of flavours was astounding and unforgettable. Worth! The service was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! We were treated with so much kindness and we would 100% come back again and again. The pool area was my absolute favourite and a highlight! We didn't even have to leave the hotel as everything we needed was there. Do not think; JUST BOOK!

The only critism I have, and this isn't anything ground breaking, is that I wish the towels for the pool were closer to the pool area. I had forgotten mine and didn't want to walk in through the hotel all dripping water.

The heated pool was beautiful and it was great to have different food options on the premises and short drive to shops/other beaches in the area. The rooms were spacious, daily free water bottles were great and beds were very comfortable. Free parking was a bonus too. Food/drink was a little pricey but happy hour at Julio’s was good. Overall had a lovely stay!

Would be great if the rooms could be equipped with some plates/cutlery. We really wanted to bring takeaway back to the room and sit on our balcony but not having equipment made it a difficult. Also would have liked a sign for the door for house keeping - do not disturb / please make up my room so we could communicate our preferences.

The room that we booked with a sea view on the second floor was very spacious with sufficient storage space, a fridge, tea and coffee making facilities and a functional en-suite. The balcony overlooked the garden, while the ocean and coastline could be seen through the trees. We woke up to early morning sun flooding the room. The seafood pies that we chose for dinner at Rick Stein's restaurant were the finest we have ever eaten. The staff throughout the hotel were delightful to deal with. The outdoor infinity edged pool looked spectacular but the mid-winter weather deterred us from using it.

The bedding on the King-sized bed (two singles joined together, as per our preference) was uncomfortably heavy. We would have preferred dunas/duvets. Also, the lamps at either side of the bed, while looking stylish, had low-lumen bulbs that gave insufficient light for reading comfortably in bed. We didn't try the Continental breakfast, which we felt was over-priced, so went to a very good cafe less than a kilometre down the road.

Very friendly and helpful staff. Loved the restoration and expansion of the old motel, the architecture is beautiful and the gardens are stunning. The continental breakfast buffet choices were good and the hot breakfast we ordered was superb.

Room 204 was very comfortable with just a couple of small problems: the bathroom has a sliding barn-style door that doesn't close completely, making privacy a bit of an issue; and although Netflix has been installed on the TV, it was impossible login - you need your own account to access the streaming service, it is not included in the room price.

Bannisters Port Stephens always delivers for a relaxing stay within a short distance from Sydney. The day spa was great, as was breakfast, the pool and pool area, the bar service, the staff at breakfast. Large comfortable room, lovely views. I enjoyed pub meals at The Cheeky Dog.

I didn't enjoy Rick Stein's, nor Julio's, as much as I have in the past. The service at the former did not live up to my recollections and expectations; the range of menu choices at the latter left a fair bit to be desired. The carpet and sofa covers in my room either need a good steam clean or to be replaced.

The pool area was very impressive (including the great music which really added to the cool vibe). Loved the pops of pink and Mexican touches. Appreciated the different meal options across the three eating venues. They were all great! The room was fresh and clean (fabulous mattress!), and we loved the access to the lawn and sun lounge from our room. Rick Stein’s restaurant food and service was very impressive. Reception staff were also very welcoming and friendly!

Not a lot! The only thing we thought could have been improved was the service around the pool area - particularly cleaning away dirty plates and glasses from previous customers from the small tables. More than once I had to take up dishes and glasses to the bar area that belonged to other people and we were then left with a dirty table. This was in sharp comparison to the service / cleanliness we received everywhere else.

Loved everything about our stay with one exception, as below

At Cheeky Dog around 8.45pm with only one other table occupied and their meal served, we entered and ordered a dessert. We waited too long for it to arrive given these circumstances - didn't time it but a good 20 minutes. It appeared once the waiter went to check on it for us.