Australia’s largest integrated wellness precinct is coming to the Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley is about to get a major wellness upgrade, with a new resort bringing together everything from Pilates and cold plunges to golf, family activities, dining, and events.
Minor Hotels has announced Avani Cypress Lakes Resort, a 340-acre destination set to become Australia’s largest integrated resort wellness precinct when its transformation is complete.
Launching in phases from October 2026, the resort will bring together the existing Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort and adjoining Elysia Wellness Retreat, creating a new destination designed to make wellness part of a broader Hunter Valley getaway.
Wellness, your way
At the heart of the development is the Australian debut of AvaniWell, a flexible wellness concept designed to give visitors the choice between structured programmes and adding wellness experiences to their stay.
Once the transformation is complete, the new resort precinct will feature 70 wellness suites, 26 treatment rooms, a magnesium pool, 10 Pilates reformers, infrared saunas and outdoor cold-plunge pools.
The space will also include dedicated areas for seminars and group sessions, with multi-day wellness programmes offered alongside individual treatments, fitness classes and day-spa experiences.
It won’t be limited to resort guests, either. AvaniWell will also welcome day visitors and members of the local community.
“We believe the Hunter Valley has all the hallmarks necessary to establish itself as Australia’s home of wellness,” said Craig Hooley, Chief Operating Officer of Minor Hotels Australasia.
More than a wellness retreat
With 204 rooms and suites, an 18-hole golf course, two restaurants, all-day dining, a pool bar, and 24 meetings and events spaces, Avani Cypress Lakes will act as a destination for all kinds of travellers.
Families will have their own lineup through AvaniKids, with activities focused on movement, creativity and spending time outdoors. Three pickleball courts and an outdoor cinema will also be built, adding a more social side to the experience.
Food will also play a key role in the experience, with new Sri Lankan-inspired restaurant Chakraya joining the dining offering alongside all-day dining venues and the pool bar.
The resort is expected to become a significant events destination for the region, catering to conferences, weddings, incentive travel, and corporate retreats. Wellness sessions, yoga, golf, pickleball,and outdoor activities will be able to be woven into traditional business itineraries, offering a more flexible approach to meetings and events.
A new chapter for Cypress Lakes
Whether it’s a morning Pilates session before exploring the vineyards or a family weekend moving between the pool, pickleball courts, and local cellar doors, Avani Cypress Lakes is set to offer plenty of ways to experience the Hunter Valley.
The first new facilities are scheduled to open from October 2026, with the full redevelopment expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027.
Once complete, Avani Cypress Lakes Resort will become the largest Avani property in Australasia, adding a new dimension to the Hunter Valley’s already popular mix of wine, food, accommodation, and weekend escapes.
