Hunter Valley Stays is proud to present the Zookeepers Cottage – one of two private residences on the spectacular Villa Leone Estate (Lion Estate in Italian).   Located in the NSW premier Wine Region of the Hunter Valley and uniquely, located next door to the renowned animal sanctuary, the Hunter Valley Wildlife Park, the Zookeepers Cottage affords guests a truly unique stay experience where you can take in the neighbouring giraffes, lions, and zebras as they roam!   The Zookeepers Cottage is located close to the finest restaurants, iconic cellar doors, venues and family attractions the Hunter is famous for. All within 2 hours’ drive from Sydney and 50 mins from Newcastle Airport and only 3.6km from Cessnock Airport and village of Pokolbin, Lovedale and Cessnock on the doorstep – it’s the perfect choice for your next city escape.   From the moment you drive through the Estate’s sandstone gates, Villa Leone Estate will impress. The entire property has been designed to maximise your stay experience both indoor and outdoor, so you can take in the beauty of this estate and its unique atmosphere of staying neighbouring a wildlife park.   The Zookeeper’s Cottage is a fresh, crisply styled 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom residence that sleeps up to 10 guests. The Cottage has a beautiful new kitchen, open plan dining and living rooms, is fully air-conditioned and has a family games room with an air hockey table and foosball table as well as Wi-Fi. A huge outdoor timber pavilion with lounges and BBQ floats above the grassland and serves as an ideal location to take in the day and night sights and sounds of the neighbouring wildlife, mountain range and feel the joy that only this special location can bring. Gather all your guests around the firepit and enjoy the magic of a night under the stars and the nocturnal sounds of the wildlife.    During your stay, venture next door to the Wildlife Park to get up close and personal with a personal meet and feed the animals experience, or celebrate a birthday, grab a coffee or enjoy a BBQ or picnic. It’s a terrific day out for the family and groups of friends of all ages.   The combination of the Zookeepers’ Cottage charming accommodation, excellent location and visual encounters with animals means there is something for everyone of your family, friends, or colleagues to enjoy at this special and memorable destination.   PLEASE NOTE: Zookeepers Cottage is available for Accommodation Bookings Only and although we do understand how perfect it would be for special events, this property is not an event venue due to its proximity to the animals and therefore has strict sound and event restrictions. Being a rural property, it has three unfenced dams so children will need to be supervised at tall times and these waterways are strictly for agricultural use only.   As respectful neighbours of a Wildlife Park who have the animals’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing at heart, all guests are kindly asked to follow the guest instructions and enjoy the property at a safe distance from all fence lines, please obey all signage as the park’s border fence is electric. Please kindly keep noise levels to a minimum and to never attempt to feed or pat animals under any circumstances.   ACCOMMODATION  Maximum 10 guests or 10 guests in individual beds  Bedroom One - 1 x King Bed or 2 x Single Beds (2) Bedroom Two - 1 x King Bed or 2 x Single Beds (2) Bedroom Three - 1 x King Bed or 2 x Single Beds (2) Bedroom Four - 1 x King Bed or 2 x Single Beds (2) Bedroom Five - 2 x Single Beds (Only) (2) TARIFFS WEEKEND RATES (2 nights) (Thu-Fri or Fri-Sat or Sat-Sun)  Weekend - minimum 2 nights for up to 10 guests (adults or children) $1277 per night Midweek - minimum 2 nights for up to 10 guests (adults or children) $1022 per night  Infants under 2 are free.  Please note that a $40.00 booking fee is applicable for all bookings made. Please note if Sunday check in then an additional $317 weekend cleaning charge will be applied to your booking.  SECURITY DEPOSIT A security deposit/bond of $800.00 is required for your stay and is payable as a credit card pre- authorisation. This will be processed approximately 24 - 48 hours before your arrival, so please ensure the funds are available at this time.  NOTES 
 A 1-night stay may be accepted at discretion of Management within 14 days of the prospective arrival date. A surcharge is applicable on the 1-night stay, this will be calculated by our staff and quoted to you before the booking is confirmed. Weekend Public Holiday, Easter, Christmas, and New Year periods require a minimum 3 night stay full weekend rate. Concert and special event weekends in the Hunter Valley will have a set minimum night requirement to stay and may attract a surcharge. This Private Home is proudly Property Managed by Hunter Valley Stays on the Owner’s behalf. PID-STRA-48420