A Southern Highlands Icon, Reborn: Inside Ardour’s $10M Milton Park Glow-Up

A new chapter is unfolding in the Southern Highlands. Long loved for its cosy cottages and pastoral charm, the region is getting a polished glow-up defined by considered design, destination dining and five-star accommodation.

Originally established in 1910 and holding over a century of treasured history, countryside icon Milton Park Country House Hotel & Spa has undergone a major multi-million-dollar facelift.

The grand estate has swapped its traditional country-house touch for a modern, design-led refresh, now open as Ardour Milton Park Bowral.

Marking a milestone moment, it's the very first property to launch under new-to-market hotel brand Ardour Hotels & Estates: a curated portfolio of luxury retreats dotted around Australia’s most scenic locations.

To celebrate, you can be one of the first to experience the upgraded hotel with a special reopening offer—keep scrolling for the details.

Ardour’s Multi-Million Dollar Makeover

Reworked by Sydney’s MAC Design Studio, Ardour Milton Park Bowral has received a complete makeover, with a $10 million budget transforming guest rooms, communal areas and refined spaces for social events, while embracing a few elements from its past.

The romantic European-style manor has held onto its beloved gardens and heritage-listed trees, which have been a backdrop for Vogue weddings and Netflix’s Bridgerton Season 3 garden party launch event back in April 2024.

The OG Horderns Restaurant also remains, but shifted into a new spot with a dolled-up dining room boasting gorgeous views over the historic gardens and a much bigger capacity, fitting 102 instead of 38.

Executive chef Mark Holland (previously at Nomad, Paddington Inn and Box Tree in the UK) is running the kitchen now, delivering a seasonally-driven modern European menu with a nod to local ingredients.

The Polo Bar has also been revamped, decked out with modern interiors, snacky small plates, classy cocktails and a seriously good wine list, making it a must-visit spot for locals and travellers alike.

But the crème de la crème? A dedicated charcuterie and cheese room featuring a handpicked selection of artisan meats and limited-run cheeses that you’re not likely to find anywhere else.

Guests can also assemble their own perfect picnic and have it delivered to any location on the property, like those stunning gardens. And did we mention the heated pool and tennis courts, providing plenty to do during your stay?

Rounding out the estate’s next-level offerings is Salter Brothers Hospitality’s brand-spanking new day spa and luxury wellness brand, Èliva.

Launching in 2026 at luxury hotels like InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach and Ardour Lilianfels Blue Mountains alongside Ardour Milton Park Bowral, the spa focuses on holistic healing, offering a sauna, steam room, mineral hot tub, and sensory therapies primed for rest and recovery.

Experience The Hotel First With Their Reopening Offer

Be one of the first to stay at Ardour Milton Park Bowral, with a special opening offer for bookings between Monday, 2 February and Saturday, 30 May 2026.

The regional residence is rolling out the red carpet for its inaugural guests, adding on a couple of bonus extras for the perfect stay post-reno.

On top of staying in a luxury room with a delicious 12pm late check-out, you’ll score a complimentary glass of Taittinger Champagne per guest and an $100 retreat per room to spend at Horderns Restaurant or Polo Bar in February 2026, with spa treatments also redeemable from March 2026 onwards.

To claim, book Ardour Milton Park Bowral directly online for a taste of regional luxury redefined.

For more on this beautiful Bowral estate and why you need to book a stay, visit here.

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Ardour Milton Park Bowral and proudly endorsed by Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy.

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