What a Great place to unwind and totally relax! It feels different to other hotels in a very layed back way, James and his team are genuinely happy to see you and make every effort to make sure that you comfortable and have a great holiday. Rick Steins restaurant was consistently great with locally caught fresh seafood with a great atmosphere and attentive staff, we can't wait to return
Thanks again Steve

Fabulous stay at Bannisters Port Stephens. Have stayed many times and always been top notch!
The ambience of the rooms and pool area make you feel so relaxed and comfortable.
The staff are fabulous!
Have three more long weekends booked for this year ! Can't wait :)

Bannister has truly outdone themselves yet again! I recently treated my sister and niece to a delightful three-night midweek getaway, and it exceeded all expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with a thoughtful welcome back note accompanied by a chilled bottle of champagne in our room.

Room service was phenomenal and we even found my nieces sleeping buddy with the remote and cookies in his hand, which made us laugh so much :))

Breakfast was a joyous affair, with warm smiles, freshly baked pastries, and exceptional coffee, all complemented by a breathtaking view. The Mexican restaurant by the pool is an absolute must-visit, offering tantalising flavours and impeccable service. And let's not forget about Rick Stein's culinary delights - his offerings were nothing short of superb.

Downstairs Cheeky dog, was delighted with the menu options, particularly the delectable stone bread.

I implore you to do yourself a favour and experience the magic of Bannister at least once. Trust me, it's an experience you won't soon forget.

Until next year, Bannister - we eagerly await our return!

My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our brief but absolutely amazing stay at Bannisters. We felt a sense of calm and joy on arrival and the friendly staff were just lovely. Our room was so fresh to walk into, with breathtaking views. We could not get enough of the pool and I was so excited to be ticking a box off my bucket list eating at Rick Stein's. My all time favourite chef. We will be back and hopefully we can extend the stay upon our return.

My mum and I recently stayed at Bannisters in Port Stephen's over Christmas since we have family close by. Everything leading up to our stay was easy, from booking to communication and check-in - everything was clear & friendly. We checked in & were surprised to see some cute little Christmas gifts waiting for us. The hotel was decked out in Christmas decorations and really made it feel festive. Our stay was amazing, we enjoyed dinner at the cheeky dog, laid by the pool, met some other tourists & felt so relaxed. But it was the friendliness of the staff that stood out, everyone was happy and so calm, even on Christmas morning while pumping out hundreds of breakfasts.

Speaking of breakfasts, I loved the continental breakfast we enjoyed every morning. The restaurant was nice and open and everything just felt calm.

All in all we had the best experience and we will definitely be back.

Thank you for making our Christmas amazing.

Spent 3 nights for our wedding anniversary. Could not rate the venue, staff and food any higher. Ate at all 3 venues and finished off at Rick Steins, was exceptional. All staff were terrific even the staff at Rick Steins accommodated our request to be moved to another table ( due to screaming kids) without any dramas. Can't wait to return

Really disappointed with our stay. We stayed here pre pandemic and loved it, especially the breakfast and bannisters restaurant. We returned last spring and the breakfast has definitely dropped in standard, the wifi was patchy, and the Mexican restaurant at the hotel was really bad. Rick stein's restaurant was great.
But for a hotel of this standard and price, not really good enough. Won't be back. Fed back to management as per their email request after my stay, no reply.

Unreal stay here, staff were awesome, Julio's was great for happy hour. Fantastic location and overall awesome facilities and stay. would recommend to anyone !

Loved our stay here and the staff made it very special. The high level rooms are stunning. Julio's bar service was quite slow - made it hard to have a few cocktails before dinner. Overall amazing!

I visited Cheeky dog hotel on the ground floor, I absolutely love this hotel.
Unbelievabley such a friendly place to visit and eat.
Very comfortable furniture.
Pretty impressive venue.
Dog friendly, doggies everywhere, doggy treats on the bar are free.
Family friendly, children everywhere.
Best atmosphere ever.
The food is just amazing, yummy.
Prices are very moderate.
Lovely views of Salamander Bay.
Don't forget to look for the resident Koala.

Hotel location is great. View from the ocean deck top level room is spectacular. Pool is amazing. However, the service is worse than a cheap motel. The staff lack basic etiquette and appear cold. The room service doesn't seem to be doing their job property as evident from pests and lack of cleanliness in the room. Upon complaining to the manager, recieved a template response. Overall, it's a glorified motel in a great location, apparently being justified with a 5 star price tag.

The highlights are the buffet breakfast. The relaxing pool, the Rick Stein restaurant and the staff are fantastic. And the rooms are all very presentable. The Julios Mexican restaurant could have been a lot better. Food had a limited amount of taste to it. Overall, it is a great place to unwind and relax. Would recommend.

A spacious and relaxing hotel with great choice of restaurants around, pool facilities and close access to a beach. Rooms are very spacious, to a point of almost being oversized. Stayed in a balcony room. I would recommend upgrading the TVs to a much larger size they are just too small.

Our second time staying at Bannisters and didn't want to leave! Can't fault it. Super friendly staff. All of them! Which never happens these days. A welcome Champs, relax by the pool, amazing views, food at Julio's so yummy! Super relaxing. Our room was just beautiful, stunning views... affordable and so spacious.
Rick Stein's Resturant didn't disappoint again! The food is just incredible. My hubby got the steak, and it's not cheap... so did worry it may not be worth it BUT seriously, just next level! All of the food from start to finish was perfect. Thanks guys. ???????????? CANT wait to come back. We just love it.

Our stay here was nothing short of amazing. We have never received such exceptional service from any other hotel..ever!
The warm welcome and customer service when we first arrived, was above and beyond what we ever expected and the staff were so incredibly helpful, nothing at all was to much trouble.

The rooms are beautiful, perfect for our 8 night stay and with a beautiful view of the gardens. The pool area is a huge highlight of the hotel and the views from this area are incredible. We spent multiple afternoons here, drinking the delicious cocktails, eating small plates of food from the Julio's menu. It was the perfect relax spot to read a book, take in the views and really unwind.
The 3 restaurants on site make dining super convenient and with a good variety of options to choose from. The corn ribs from Julio's are an absolute must try!
There is truly nothing we can fault about our stay or the hotel and we are already planning our next trip here.
Thank you so very much to all the staff at Bannisters for making our first holiday in 4 years, the most memorable and perfect experience we could ever have asked for. Truly exceptional and second to none.

Friendly greeting with champagne on arrival for our Christmas package stay. Helpful staff with bags and explaining all amenities. Good variety of dining options from Rick Steins Seafood Restaurant, Cheeky Dog Bar (pet friendly)and Julio's Mexican restaurant by the heated infinity pool. No designated parking so a bit hit and miss to get a park near your room. Garden room has nice little tiled area at the rear. Great for morning coffee or afternoon drinks watching the kookaburras and lorrikeets.
Beautiful Christmas gifts waiting for us made the holiday just that little bit more special. Christmas day lunch at Rick Steins is a great way to celebrate.

Currently staying here on our 3rd night enjoying a short break with my wife before our first baby. Rooms are beautiful and the location is awesome.
For those looking to stay please note that this is a pet friendly hotel and dogs are regularly around the pool area of the hotel. We had planned to lay by the pool today and read and swim however whilst doing so there was a dog right next to us constantly barking which made it un relaxing. I did complain to staff and was offered a drink but that's not why I complained. We ended up going elsewhere for the day and found some nice spots. As stated by staff member it is 100% pet friendly however not for me when you're paying good $$ for a relaxing getaway. I am an animal lover but if I brought my dog I'd stay at the caravan park.

Rick Stein is definitely the highlight of the hotel. Really great food, really nice people. The staff is amazing which is especially astonishing in these times (where the industry is notoriously understaffed). The service is good, the location is superb, the pool is a real gem. A bit pricey, but you'll get the value for it especially for a quick weekend getaway.

A perfect couple of days. The hotel looks great in photos but it's even better in real-life. Staff are exceptional, the rooms are bright, warm and clean, and the public areas are beautifully maintained. The pool area is particularly special. And if you can, make sure you dine at the Rick Stein restaurant.

We live in the Uk and were visiting our son who lives and works in Australia.
This is the third time we have stayed at Bannisters Port Stephens and each time we have found the staff to be extremely helpful, friendly and welcoming.
Accommodation is great (clean, spacious and with great views) and the food (either at Steins, Julio's or the Cheeky dog) is just brilliant.
We had a great stay thank you and we will be back next year

We booked the taste of Port Stephens package which was excellent value. Had a really relaxing 2 days with yummy food and drinks. Lovely walk along the beach right in front of hotel. Excellent continental breakfast. Lots of staff and all very friendly and helpful. Would stay again

We stayed for 3 nights over the June long weekend for our babymoon. I really can't fault Bannisters one bit. Beds and pillows were comfy, spa was gorgeous and one of the best massages I've had, and Rick Steins was phenomenal. Buffet breakfast was lovely as well. Lots of light and healthy options, which was such a refreshing change from the soggy bacon and eggs you usually find at hotel buffets.

Only feedback re: possible improvements relates to really minor issues with the room.

It was super windy when we stayed, and as all the rooms open up onto an open corridor, the wind was getting under our room door and causing it to shake. We woke up a couple of times thinking another guest was trying to get into the wrong room. A door flap should fix this.

Also, I have super sensitive skin and found the bed linens to be itchy. Admittedly this is something I encounter at every hotel, and is probably due to commercial linen services using industrial strength cleaning products when they wash the linens. But my husband didn't have this problem though.

Overall, a really lovely stay. We can't wait to come back in Summer time to enjoy the pool.

Everything was brilliant, starting with the staff who were so attentive and friendly. Then, the food! OMG. We loved Rick Stein's and also Toli's. So, so delicious, even on a Sunday/Monday night when you might think everyone had gone home. Nope, that's not an issue here. Every night was as good as the one before. It was all absolutely wonderful and we'd have zero hesitation to recommend Bannister's. It truly was a dream holiday. Thank you!

Whether you want the pub style atmosphere or the fine dining experience Bannisters has exactly what you are looking for. Accommodation wise Bannisters has that covered too. Are you looking for a place that will accommodate your family's furry friend or a place with spectacular penthouse luxury? A great place to visit for a meal or a stay, the staff will ensure your visit is enjoyable and satisfying. It's time for a visit or a return.

So so disappointed with this hotel! I rang numerous times to request a good room and nice experience for my husbands 40th but we got a mediocre room with no view and basic service. Paying 600 dollars and getting charged an extra 5 dollars for coffee at breakfast makes the place feel like a budget motel . For the price I expected the restaurant to feel special bit again they missed all my requests and the food was just above average. Really simple things done wrong. I wouldn't recommend this hotel.

Lovely relaxed vibe, we absolutely loved our 2 night stay and thought it amazing value for money. Best continental breakfast we have ever had. Dinner was sensational sea food, very discreet and professional attentive service, good wine list. Rooms clean and simply furnished, beachside appropriate. Cant wait to return. Thank you Bannisters ??

Definitely not worth the $500/night price during "peak" season. After staying at other hotels at this price point, Bannisters Port Stephens was very disappointing. The rooms were clean yet simple with flimsy & cheap finishes/ furnishings. It would have been nice to have saucers with our mugs & extra toiletries. Housekeeping forgot to give us shampoo & bath towels. The service was friendly yet often disjointed & inefficient. The continental breakfast included was adequate, yet poor considering the accommodation price. It was appalling that coffee was not even included. Rick Stein's restaurant was delicious, however it would have been nice if the bread to start had been served warm & the service was more attentive. I would not recommend staying at Bannisters Port Stephens at "peak" season prices as it is not worthy. Overrated & overpriced.

I expected more for $500 per night.
The rooms are disappointing, not the views advertised and the bathroom/shower and balcony is to small. It seems like a cheap motel that had an average renovation, not a top end hotel/resort.
The pool area is nice, but there isn't enough space most of the time and the pool is cold.
It seems like the staff are very familiar with this feedback but there isn't much they can do to help. I'd give it 5/5 if I was only paying $250 per night, but you don't get what you pay for at Banisters Port Stephens.

The rooms are very average and need updating but are clean with all amenities.
The food at the pool area is nice however the menu is limited and not the most healthy - if your looking for a good salad forget it!
The MOST annoying part of our trip was the pool was absolutely freezing, possibly the coldest pool I've stepped in. Kids literally wear wet suits and still find it extremely cold.
I did hear other guests complain and the staff said they receive this complain a lot.
Surely for the price the pool could at least be heated.

On a positive the staff are lovely and very accommodating!

Staff were very helpful and friendly. Great location. Terrace is lovely spot for lunch.. Try for a Ocean view room.