High in the Adelaide Hills, there lies a place where the troubles of everyday life melt away. This is the heart of South Australian wine country, with views overlooking the ripe green Piccadilly Valley. Koalas play amongst the trees, speckles of grey amidst the verdure. Olive-coloured grape vines twist across the land, weaving along the Valley to accommodate the gloriously dramatic sloping hills. This is the ethereal beauty that has earned the Adelaide Region consideration for the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is what awaits guests of Sequoia Lodge.

Designed to serve as a sanctuary, Sequoia Lodge prioritizes privacy and intimacy above all else. The luxury resort works to ensure that every guest’s experience is the epitome of comfort. For this reason, the Lodge only grants entry through its sleek glass doors to those aged eighteen or above.

Sequoia’s Story

Hotelier David Horbelt is the mastermind behind the newly created resort, which opened in August of 2021. Sequoia Lodge was born out of a love for the beauty of the Adelaide region’s natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. It takes its name from the giant 150-year old Sequoia tree that sits at its centre, acting as the wizened guardian of the Lodge. Thus, even in the Sequoia name, its emphasis on history and its appreciation for the land on which it’s built is clear.

Sequoia expands on the luxury offered by its long-established sister property, Mount Lofty Estate. This English-style manor house has its origins in 1852, when it was founded as the summer home and party spot of South Australian Gatsby figure, Arthur Hardy. Once upon a time, it was a place where indulgence and infamy coalesced. Now, it is one of South Australia’s premiere luxury resorts. Sequoia is the Estate’s serene counterpart: equal in opulence, but with even greater focus on relaxation. Tucked away in its own private corner, the Lodge is the dream of anyone seeking to escape the quotidian.

South Australian Wine Country

The bucolic landscape in which it is set is definitely one of the many draws of Sequoia Lodge. It sits atop Mount Lofty, the highest point in the Adelaide Hills. Here, visitors will find the two highest altitude vineyards in South Australia. The aforementioned Arthur Hardy was in fact the first to plant vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, giving birth to the South Australian wine region at the site of Sequoia Lodge itself.

The Lodge and its grounds are the ideal setting in which to enjoy the decadent nectars of Adelaide Hills’ offerings. Sequoia’s cheerful lounge offers the opportunity to enjoy a glass or two of the region’s world-famous wines while taking in panoramic views across Piccadilly Valley.  Peering out onto the grounds, guests may spot the rescue kangaroos and wallabies that call Sequoia Lodge home. If able to pull themselves away from the warmth of the lounge’s fireplaces, they may even get the once-in-a-lifetime experience to pet and feed these friendly marsupial residents.

Other outdoor offerings on the grounds include a soak in the infinity pool or in the artesian-fed hot spring pools that make up part of the Gatekeeper’s Day Spa Cottage. The Spa is the place to go for absolute relaxation. Smoothing herbal oils combine with the healing properties of coco and the warm aroma of vanilla bean in their body treatments. Pure maple syrup and fresh pumpkin create an intoxicating amalgam of replenishing nutrients that visibly smooth the skin.

Valley View Rooms

Wellness at Sequoia extends beyond just the Spa however, as its fourteen rooms are designed with complete serenity in mind. The Panorama Suites offer valley views from glass-windowed walls, creating the impression that there is nothing separating viewers from the untouched outdoors they behold.

The large wooden balconies are ideal for those wishing to take in the pastoral sights of South Australian wine country in the open-air. If the serene sights aren’t enough to clear the mind, guests can cleanse away their worries in the rooms’ multi-directional wellness showers, reminiscent of a water massage, or lounge in the free-standing bathtub.

In the expansive living area, the soft glow of the gas fireplace combines with homestyle accents of rustic stone and wood. All of this makes for a pleasantly warm atmosphere, counterbalancing the glossy contemporaneity of the floor-to-ceiling glass. Underfloor heating ensures that chilly feet are never a problem, even in the coldest of months. What’s more, the rooms offer a variety of automated lighting settings to accommodate guests’ moods.  Whether desiring a light and airy atmosphere to invigorate in the mornings or a mellow, low-lighted ambiance to unwind in the evenings, Sequoia suites oblige.

All of the décor in these sanctuary-esque spaces is sourced from local craftsmen and artisans. For example, the whimsical glass art objects dotted around the suites comes from Adelaide-based glass-artist Nick Mount. Every room boasts an original painting by Stephen Trebilcock, Sequoia’s resident artist and self-taught painter. The flora and fauna of South Australian wine country come alive in vivid colour and painstaking detail in the Adelaide-born artist’s portraits.

Wining and Dining in Adelaide

Given its wine-rich history and extreme proximity to Adelaide’s four world-renowned wine regions, it is no surprise that Sequoia is known as the gateway to the teeming South Australian wine scene. Speckled throughout the hillocky countryside of Adelaide, a generous 200 cellar doors have arranged exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences for Sequoia guests.

At Penfolds in the cool climate Eden Valley, guests have the chance to sample the acclaimed Bin 51 Riesling. Known for its sharp citrus notes reminiscent of lime and grapefruit, the Riesling’s natural acidity is complemented by its sweet floral aroma of jonquil. Situated alongside the stone cottages of Barossa Valley, Torbreck is known for its full-bodied Shiraz, ‘The Laird’. Savoury notes of tobacco leaf mingle on the tastebuds with herbal undertones of cinnamon in this silky red, while the scents of cherry and cassis coalesce in the nostrils.

When not sampling the finest fruits of the vine, guests of Sequoia can treat themselves to a meal at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant. The 3-chef-hat awarded Hardy’s is located within Mount Lofty Estate. Head Chef Jin Choi’s contemporary Australian offerings change seasonally and the follow a ‘Valley to Verandah’ concept.

This ensures that only the freshest local produce is used in each dish. Winter menu offerings may include a delicately flaky King George Whiting drizzled with a butter kombu sauce and elevated with the fresh flavour of Japanese shiso. Or perhaps it will be the Venison Tataki served with earthy Jerusalem artichoke and sweet, pungent black garlic that steals the show.

Wonders of the Wilderness

While wine may be the best-known wonder of the Adelaide Hills, there are a plethora of draws to the region. Sequoia Lodge aims to connect guests with the land through a variety of outdoor experiences. Guests may choose to partake in the resort’s Guided Nature walks along the other-worldly Heysen Trail or to the ancient Mount Lofty Springs, where clear spring waters are harnessed.

Those who desire a closer call with the region’s native critters can visit Cleland Wildlife Park before it even opens to the public. Kangaroos, emus, and cockatoos roam, awaiting feeding. Plus, the Park offers the opportunity to cuddle koalas in the home of Australia’s largest surviving koala population.

Given its secluded location atop Mount Lofty, Sequoia Lodge is a paradise of peacefulness. Yet, its proximity to the four main wine producing areas of Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Eden Valley, and Langhorne Creek render it equally dreamy for wine lovers. Combining wine, wildlife, and wellness, Sequoia Lodge is truly the epitome of luxury.