Tonic Hotel

Tonic is a small boutique hotel on Talga Road at Lovedale, set among the vines with the Brokenback range in view from the balconies. Rooms are king suites with a separate bedroom and an ensuite running to a deep soaking tub and a separate shower. One two-bedroom apartment adds a full kitchen and a living and dining area for a group or two couples, and beds can be split to king singles on request.

The scale is small and the setting is quiet, which points it at couples and small parties rather than a big group. Staff will point you at wine tours and restaurants, worth using given how many cellar doors sit within a few minutes of the driveway. It is a stay rather than a timed visit, so booking and arrival details are arranged directly with the property.