Ellenbrook and Swan Valley Stays with a Pool
Ellenbrook sits on the north-eastern edge of Perth, beside the Swan Valley, Western Australia's oldest wine region. Summers here are long, hot and dry, and the nearest beaches are a fair drive west, so a pool is often the most useful facility a stay can offer. I focus on properties in Ellenbrook and the Swan Valley itself: the Novotel Vines Resort Swan Valley with its golf course, Brookleigh Estate with a pool, a spa and a restaurant, Quest Midland with full kitchens, and smaller farm stays and bed and breakfasts such as Gumleaf Cottage Farmstay and Nivalis Bed And Breakfast, plus tourist parks with cabins.
Ellenbrook is a planned suburb on Perth's north-eastern fringe, built around village centres, parks and lakes, with Whiteman Park and the Swan Valley right next door. The area feels green and spread out rather than urban, and life here follows the valley: weekend visits to cellar doors, breweries and farm shops, picnics in the parks and drives into the Perth Hills. Accommodation follows the same pattern, with resorts, farm stays and tourist parks rather than city hotels, and a pool is part of almost every stay.
Resorts, Farm Stays and Tourist Parks
A pool changes a Swan Valley trip. Days are spent between wineries, chocolate and cheese stops, wildlife parks and walking trails, often in strong summer heat, and a swim in the late afternoon makes the evening easier. Families also gain a free activity on site, which matters when the main attractions are cellar doors. I look at the setting first, resort, farm or tourist park, then at what comes with the pool, such as a spa, a kitchen or a restaurant, and at how far the property is from the places you plan to visit.
For a full resort feel, the Novotel Vines Resort Swan Valley is the obvious choice. It offers bright rooms, suites and apartments, an outdoor pool, a hot tub and a golf course on site, and it is a short taxi ride from the Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm, which makes it easy to mix a round of golf with a family outing. Brookleigh Estate, rated 9.2, takes a country approach, with family-friendly apartments, a budget bunkhouse, an outdoor pool, a spa and a restaurant on site, and some accommodation with a kitchen. I would pick Brookleigh for a quieter farm setting and the Vines for facilities.
Self-catering travellers have good options around Midland and Guildford, at the southern end of the valley. Quest Midland, rated 9, provides self-contained accommodation with a pool, a fitness centre and full kitchens, a short walk from local dining and public transport, with easy access to Perth Airport. Guildford River Retreat, also rated 9, has an outdoor pool, a gym and gardens, with some rooms that include a kitchen, a short walk from The Guildford Hotel in one of the oldest towns in the state. The Swan Valley Hotel, rated 8.6, adds an outdoor pool, a restaurant and a bar inside the wine region.
Farm stays and bed and breakfasts give the most personal experience. Gumleaf Cottage Farmstay, rated 9.8, pairs an outdoor pool with air-conditioned, self-catering accommodation, within a short drive of John Forrest National Park and its walking trails. Nivalis Bed And Breakfast, rated 9.4, offers an outdoor pool and a focus on wildlife and nature, with Caversham Wildlife Park a short taxi ride away, a good place to see kangaroos and koalas. Astoria Bed and Breakfast keeps things simple with an outdoor pool, a garden and a communal kitchen. These suit couples and families who want quiet evenings after a day among the wineries.
Tourist parks are the practical choice for road trips, pets and budgets. Discovery Parks Swan Valley has an outdoor pool and air-conditioned cabins, some with kitchens, and accepts pets, a short walk from Maison Saint-Honoré and a quick taxi ride from Sandalford Wines. BIG4 Perth Midland Tourist Park offers an outdoor pool, a BBQ area and simple cabins, some with kitchens, with free parking. Banksia Tourist Park adds pet-friendly cabins with an outdoor pool and air conditioning, a short drive from the Bibbulmun Track Northern Terminus. Each one works as a base for exploring the valley by car and swimming at the end of the day.
A traveler's takeI would book Brookleigh Estate for a pool stay in the Swan Valley: the outdoor pool and spa sit on a country estate with its own restaurant, and some accommodation has a kitchen for families. My advice is to visit the cellar doors in the morning, when summer temperatures are lower, spend the afternoon at the pool, and keep a morning for Caversham Wildlife Park in Whiteman Park, close to Ellenbrook.
PoolGumleaf Cottage Farmstay
★4.9Family-friendly farm stay with a pool near John Forrest National Park
Why guests love itGumleaf Cottage Farmstay offers families a farm stay experience with an outdoor pool and air-conditioned accommodation. There is a kitchen for self-catering and free Wi-Fi, and the property has kid-friendly amenities. John Forrest National Park is a short drive away. About 75 guests rate it a very high 9.8. Our editorial advice: bring the car, cook in the kitchen and plan a day at John Forrest National Park.
PoolNivalis Bed And Breakfast
★4.7Outdoor pool and nature focus near Caversham Wildlife Park
Why guests love itI would suggest Nivalis Bed And Breakfast to couples and small families who want a quiet, nature-focused stay in Ellenbrook. The outdoor pool is a welcome way to cool off after a day in the Swan Valley, and Wi-Fi and parking are included. Caversham Wildlife Park is a short taxi ride away, which suits children who like animals. Guests rate it 9.4, though from only 15 reviews so far.
PoolBrookleigh Estate
★4.6Country estate with a pool, spa, and family-friendly farm stay options
Why guests love itBrookleigh Estate is a country-style stay in Ellenbrook that mixes family-friendly apartments with a budget bunkhouse, which makes it flexible for different group sizes. An outdoor pool, a spa and an on-site restaurant keep the stay simple, and some accommodation has a kitchen. The estate is accessible and kid-friendly, with free WiFi and parking. Guests rate it 9.2 across 385 reviews, an outstanding score for a farm-style break.
PoolGuildford River Retreat
★4.5Family-friendly retreat with an outdoor pool and gardens in Ellenbrook
Why guests love itGuildford River Retreat is a three-star, family-friendly stay with an outdoor pool, a gym and gardens. Some rooms include a kitchen, which suits longer stays and families who like to cook. It is a short walk from The Guildford Hotel, so a pub meal is easy to find. Guests score it 9.0 across 71 reviews, an excellent result, though the sample is smaller than at larger hotels.
PoolQuest Midland
★4.5Self-contained apartments with a pool and fitness centre in Ellenbrook
Why guests love itQuest Midland is a four-star, self-contained apartment stay that suits families on longer trips. Apartments have full kitchens, and the property has an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and accessible facilities. Local dining and public transport are a short walk away, and Perth Airport is easy to reach. Guests score it 9.0 across 195 reviews, an excellent result for a practical apartment base.
PoolKarrinyup Waters Resort
★4.4Family-friendly resort with two pools, playgrounds, and a hot tub
Why guests love itKarrinyup Waters Resort is built around children having fun. Two outdoor pools, two playgrounds and a hot tub keep everyone busy between outings, and suites and cabins give families more room than a hotel. Air conditioning helps through Perth's hot summers, and on-site dining makes evenings easy. Our editorial advice: book a cabin if you have younger children, and plan a beach day on the coast nearby. More than 1,000 guests rate it 8.8, a strong sign for a family resort.
PoolThe Swan Valley Hotel
★4.3Family-friendly hotel with a pool in the heart of Swan Valley
Why guests love itThe Swan Valley Hotel is a practical, family-friendly stay with an outdoor pool in the Swan Valley wine region. There is a restaurant and a bar, some rooms have kitchen facilities, and local amenities are a short walk away, with nearby wineries a quick drive. About 180 guests rate it 8.6. Our editorial advice: choose a kitchen room for longer stays, use the pool in the afternoon and drive to the wineries rather than walking.
PoolLakeview Lodge
★4.24-star hotel with a pool, restaurant and free parking in Ellenbrook
Why guests love itLakeview Lodge is a four-star hotel in Ellenbrook that suits travellers arriving by car. It has a pool, a restaurant and air conditioning, and both Wi-Fi and parking are free. The airport is about 33 minutes away by taxi, and The Lounge at Amaroo is nine minutes away. With only a small number of guest reviews so far, I would treat it as a promising but less proven option, and I would choose it for the pool and the easy parking.
PoolIndian Ocean Hotel
★4.1Family-friendly hotel with an outdoor pool and direct beach access
Why guests love itIndian Ocean Hotel puts families a few steps from the sand, with direct beach access and an outdoor pool plus hot tub for the hours away from the waves. Rooms and suites are set up for families, the restaurant and bar save a drive at dinner time, and parking and WiFi are free. More than 1,200 guests rate it 8.2. My advice: the on-site rock music venue livens up some evenings, so light sleepers should ask for a quieter room.
PoolDiscovery Parks - Swan Valley
★4.1Family-friendly park with a pool, pet-friendly, and close to Swan Valley wineries
Why guests love itDiscovery Parks Swan Valley is a family-friendly holiday park, and it is pet-friendly too. Accommodation is in air-conditioned cabins, some with kitchens, and there is an outdoor pool for children and adults. It is a short walk to Maison Saint-Honoré and a quick taxi ride to Sandalford Wines, which makes it a handy base for the Swan Valley. I would pick it for the pool, the cabins and bringing a pet.
PoolBIG4 Perth Midland Tourist Park
★4.1Family-friendly park with an outdoor pool and kitchens near Swan Valley
Why guests love itBIG4 Perth Midland Tourist Park in Ellenbrook is a three-star park for families and road-trippers, with an outdoor pool and a BBQ area. Accommodation runs from simple quarters to units with full kitchens, and free Wi-Fi and parking are included. The Swan Valley is a short drive away, and the Great Northern Highway is easy to reach. An 8.2 score from 692 reviews is decent, and I would choose it as a plain, practical base.
PoolNovotel Vines Resort Swan Valley
★4.1Family-friendly resort with an outdoor pool and golf in Swan Valley
Why guests love itNovotel Vines Resort Swan Valley suits families who want a resort feel in the valley. Rooms, suites and apartments are bright and modern, and the on-site extras are an outdoor pool, a hot tub and a golf course, with a restaurant and bar. Some units have kitchens, which helps on longer stays. Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm is a short taxi ride away, so I would plan on having a car or a taxi. Rated 8.2 by about 820 guests.
PoolBanksia Tourist Park
★4.0Family and pet-friendly park with an outdoor pool and kitchens
Why guests love itBanksia Tourist Park in Ellenbrook welcomes families and pets, with an outdoor pool and air conditioning in all units. Some accommodation has a kitchen, which suits longer stays. The park is a short drive from the Bibbulmun Track Northern Terminus and easy to reach from the airport. It is a tourist park rather than a hotel, so expect simple comforts. An 8.0 score from 546 reviews is fair, and I would choose it for a budget family stop.
PoolPerth Ascot Central Apartment Hotel
★4.0Family apartments with a pool, free breakfast and parking near the airport
Why guests love itPerth Ascot Central Apartment Hotel is a practical choice for families who like having their own kitchen. The apartments are simple but functional, with an outdoor pool and hot tub for cooling off after a day of travel. Free breakfast and free parking add convenience, and the airport is a few minutes away, which helps on arrival and departure days. An 8.0 score from 845 reviews is fair, and I would choose it for convenience rather than style.
PoolAstoria Bed and Breakfast
★4.0Family-friendly guesthouse with an outdoor pool and communal kitchen
Why guests love itAstoria Bed and Breakfast is a four-star, family-friendly guesthouse in Ellenbrook with a relaxed feel. An outdoor pool and a garden give children room to play, and a communal kitchen lets families prepare simple meals. Rooms are air-conditioned, and free WiFi and free parking are included. It is a convenient base for exploring the area. Guests score it 8.0 across 43 reviews, a smaller sample than larger hotels.
PoolBillabong Backpackers Resort Hostel
★3.6Budget-friendly hostel with an outdoor pool and free breakfast
Why guests love itBillabong Backpackers Resort Hostel is a budget base in Ellenbrook rather than a family hotel, but it can work for older teens or groups travelling on a tight budget. There are basic private rooms as well as dorms, a shared kitchen, an outdoor pool and free breakfast, and air conditioning is available in some rooms. Close to 380 guests rate it 7.2. Our editorial advice: book a private room, check that it has air conditioning in summer, and cook dinner in the shared kitchen.
Local tips
- 1Plan winery visits for the morning in summer and keep the hottest part of the afternoon for the pool, as the Swan Valley gets very warm.
- 2Choose the Novotel Vines Resort Swan Valley if you want a golf course, a hot tub and a resort pool in one place.
- 3Book Quest Midland or Guildford River Retreat for self-catering stays with a pool near Midland, Guildford and Perth Airport.
- 4Travelling with a dog? Discovery Parks Swan Valley and Banksia Tourist Park both list pet-friendly cabins with an outdoor pool.
- 5Combine a farm stay at Gumleaf Cottage Farmstay with a walk in John Forrest National Park, a short drive away.
- 6Arrange a designated driver or a taxi between cellar doors, as most properties and wineries are spread out and public transport in the valley is limited.