Accessibility at Cupitt’s Estate

Accessibility at Cupitt's Estate

Good food, good wine and good company, surrounded by the beauty of the South Coast — and we'd like everyone to be able to enjoy it.

Accessibility means different things to different people. While we're continually improving, we've set out below exactly what you can expect right now including the things we don't have yet, so you can plan your visit with confidence rather than guesswork.

If you're wondering whether Cupitt's could work for you, please get in touch. We'd love to chat it through.

Talk to us before you book

Phone:02 4455 7888

Email:info@cupitt.com.au

Telling us what you need in advance means we can hold the right table, arrange help on arrival, and brief the team before you get here.

At a glance

Accessible parking:4 dedicated bays, sealed bitumen, 2% grade, 17.3 m from the main entrance
Drop-off at the door:yes
Between the car park and the entrance:no steps, kerbs, gutters or uneven surfaces
Main entrance:step-free, 930 mm door width
Paths:concrete, 1.2 m wide, with thresholds of 2 mm or less
Accessible bathroom:yes — unisex, in the main building, 21 m from the dining areas, 1540 mm turning circle
Accessible accommodation:Villa 4 — level entry, roll-in shower with no step, 900 mm entry door
Quiet space:our atrium — step-free, open to any guest who needs a break
Assistance animals:welcome everywhere on the estate
Quietest times to visit:midweek, and through winter and the off-season
Chairs with armrests:not yet — we're buying some
Hearing loop:not available
Visual or vibrating emergency alerts:not available anywhere on the estate

We sit on a natural hillside, so some of our outdoor areas are steep. The main route between the car park, restaurant, cellar door, Upper Wine Garden and bathroom is level and step-free throughout.

Getting here

We have 4 dedicated accessible parking bays close to the main entrance
The car park is sealed bitumen throughout
Bays are 2.4 m × 5.5 m, with at least 2.4 m of clearance around each one, on a 2% grade
It's 17.3 m from an accessible bay to the main entrance, with no steps, kerbs, gutters or uneven ground along the way
You can be dropped off directly at the door, including by accessible taxi
Just ask and we'll help with luggage or getting you settled on arrival
Need a lift? We can point you to local transport options that our guests trust

Moving around the Estate

The accommodation, restaurant, cellar door and Upper Wine Garden all have step-free access.

Surfaces and widths

Walkways:concrete, 1.2 m wide
Deck:hardwood timber, 2.1 m wide at the entrance
Terrace:decomposed granite, 2.1 m wide
Lawn areas:grass, which becomes soft and slippery in wet weather
Where the surface changes, the step-up is 2 mm or less

A 1.2 m path comfortably takes a wheelchair or scooter, though it isn't wide enough for two people to pass side by side along its full length. If you'd prefer more room, the deck and terrace are 2.1 m across.

How far apart things are

Accessible parking to the restaurant:17.3 m
Restaurant to cellar door:10 m
Restaurant to deck:15 m
Dining areas to the accessible bathroom:21 m on a clear path
Restaurant to the villas:155 m — most guests drive between the two
Villa parking to the villa door:39 m on a sealed path

The Wine Garden — please read this one

Our Wine Garden has two sections, and they're very different.

Upper Wine Garden— closest to the bar and the bathrooms, with step-free access throughout. This is the one to ask for.
Lower Wine Garden— down on the lawn, reached either by steps or by a grassy slope of around 23 degrees. It's beautiful, but that slope is steep, it gets slippery when wet, and it isn't suitable for wheelchairs, walkers, prams, or anyone with balance or fatigue concerns.

If access matters for your visit, please request the Upper Wine Garden when you book and we'll make sure it's held for you. Everything you need — bar, bathrooms, restaurant, cellar door — is reachable without going down to the lower lawn.

Somewhere to sit

There's seating at the entrance and cellar door, and throughout the venue
Deck furniture has backed chairs, and cushions are available if you'd like one
Seating is available at check-in, while you're waiting for a table, and during tastings
We don't have chairs with armrests yet.We're buying some. If armrests make a difference for you, give us a call and we'll tell you where we've got to

Restaurant and Cellar Door

Doors

Main entrance:step-free, 930 mm wide
Cellar door:two entrances, 720 mm and 1020 mm. If you use a wheelchair, scooter or walker, please use the 1020 mm door
Restaurant to wine garden:930 mm
The restaurant and cellar door entrances swing both inward and outward, so you can push from either side

Tables and seating

Table height:750 mm
Space between tables:around 1300 mm on average, and we can widen it
No fixed seating, and no table legs in the way of a wheelchair
We're happy to move furniture to make things work — just ask
All restaurant chairs have backs. We also have wooden bench seating and wicker-style chairs
You can reserve a particular table or chair type in advance
There's a seated waiting area for when you arrive
There's a designated quiet, low-traffic seating zone if you'd prefer it

Tastings

Tasting counter height:945 mm
If the counter doesn't suit you, we'll host your tasting at a table instead — seated tastings are always available, just ask
Written tasting notes are available
If you'd prefer a quieter space or a smaller group for a tasting, let us know and we'll make it happen

Accessible bathroom

There's a unisex accessible toilet in the main building, 21 m from the dining areas along a clear path.

Door width:1020 mm
Door threshold:level, no step
Turning circle:1540 mm
Grab rails:on both the left and right of the toilet
Toilet seat height:450 mm, with transfer space alongside
Basin height:800 mm, with lever taps
Mirror:900 mm
Soap dispenser:900 mm
Hand dryer / paper towel:1020 mm
Baby change table:present, and positioned so it doesn't reduce the turning circle
The door opens easily from both inside and outside in an emergency
Braille signage on the door

If there's a measurement you need that isn't here, call us and we'll go and measure it for you.

Staying with us — Villa 4

Villa 4 is our accessible villa. Everything below is specific to Villa 4 — our other villas have different layouts and aren't step-free throughout. Please book Villa 4 directly with us so we can check it suits you.

Getting to the door

Parking is close by, 39 m from the villa door on a sealed path
The steepest point of that path is around 3–4 degrees (roughly 5–7%)
The entry ramp is built to a maximum gradient of 1:14
We can help with luggage during reception hours

Getting inside and around

Entry:level access via ramp and deck, with an outward-opening hinged front door. No steps
Entry door:900 mm clear
Bedroom door:850 mm clear
Bathroom door:880 mm clear
Hallway:1530 mm at its narrowest
Internal stairs or split levels:none
Balcony threshold:20 mm

Worth knowing:the bathroom door is 780 mm clear. That suits most manual wheelchairs but can be tight for a larger power chair. If you're not sure, call us with your chair's width and we'll work it out together.

Bedroom

Bed height:560 mm
Clear space beside the bed:around 1110 mm on one side, 1055 mm on the other
The bed can be reached from both sides
We can move furniture before you arrive to open the space up — just tell us what you need

Bathroom

Shower:walk-in and roll-in, with a level 0 mm threshold — no step at all
Shower rail, shower seat and handheld shower all provided
Turning space:around 1600 mm, pivoting from the toilet area
Toilet seat height:470 mm, with rails on both sides
Clear space beside the toilet:1600 mm toward the shower wall
Vanity height:870 mm

Kitchenette

Bench and sink height:900 mm
Fridge, underbench convection microwave, kettle, toaster and crockery
Everything sits below bench height except the freezer door, which is at around 1150 mm

Fittings and safety

Light switches and power points:1000 mm
Outdoor furniture can be moved
Phone and contact details are in the villa compendium and given at check-in
Smoke alarm compliant with AS 3786, and written emergency information in the villa
Villa guests have an after-hours emergency contact number
There are no visual or vibrating emergency alerts.The smoke alarm is audible only. Our staff are trained in evacuation procedures. If you're Deaf or hard of hearing, please tell us before you arrive so we can agree an alerting arrangement that works for you

Food and wine

Our menus and wine lists are available digitally on the website, so you can zoom in or use a screen reader. There's also a QR code menu on the table
Large-print menus on request
Our team is happy to read the menu aloud, or write things down for you
Written tasting notes are available
Dietary needs and allergies are always taken seriously, with close communication between the kitchen and front of house
Prefer a quieter space or a smaller group for your tasting? Just let us know
Our experiences are sensory and storytelling-driven, which many vision-impaired guests tell us they especially enjoy

What it's like here — noise, light and crowds

We're a working winery and a busy hospitality venue. Here's what to expect.

Noise:the restaurant is a large, open-plan space and gets loud during peak service
Music:background music through ceiling speakers. We can turn it down if you ask
Lighting:light and open, no dark corners or strong shadows. Lights can be dimmed. Nothing flashes or flickers
Smells:nothing strong or unusual indoors. Occasional winery and farm activity outside
Layout:one large open space, easy to take in at a glance. We move tables around to suit bookings, so the exact arrangement changes between visits
Busiest:weekends and peak holiday season
Quietest:midweek, and through winter and the off-season

If you need a quieter space:our atrium is a designated quiet space with step-free access, open to any guest who needs a break from the noise. Just ask a staff member. We also have a low-traffic seating zone in the restaurant, plenty of outdoor seating, and we can turn the music down or hold you a quieter table.

If you're blind or have low vision

Menus and wine lists are on our website so you can use your own screen reader, and the QR code menu works the same way
Large-print menus on request
Our team will read menus and information aloud, or write things down
Written tasting notes are available
Braille signage is on the toilet doors. We don't have it elsewhere yet
We have signs for the bathrooms, exits, reception, cellar door, restaurant and villas. We know the restaurant bathroom sign is hard to spot and we're replacing it — in the meantime, ask any staff member and they'll walk you there
Assistance animals are welcome throughout the estate
Our experiences are sensory and storytelling-driven, and many vision-impaired guests tell us that's exactly what they enjoy about them

If you're Deaf or hard of hearing

Our team can communicate in writing if that's easier
Menus, wine notes and tour information are all available in writing
We can turn the music down and hold you a quieter table to make conversation easier
Our atrium is a quiet, step-free space if you need to get away from background noise
We don't have a hearing loop.
Our emergency alarms are audible only — there are no visual or vibrating alerts anywhere on the estate, including in the villas.Our staff are trained in evacuation procedures and will come to you. If you're staying overnight, please tell us before you arrive so we can agree an alerting arrangement that works for you

Communication and cognitive access

We use clear, plain language and we'll always check you've got what you need
We can put any information in writing
Our team will give you the time you need to consider your choices — there's no rush
We can send details of tours, dining and accommodation ahead of time so you know what to expect before you arrive
Our team will explain what's happening next during tours, tastings and dining
You can ask for fewer interruptions during service
You can wait in a quieter area
You're welcome to bring a support person. For dining and tours that's no trouble at all. For accommodation, please talk to us first — depending on what you need, an additional villa may be required, which may involve an extra charge

Assistance animals

Assistance animals are welcome at Cupitt's Estate.

Welcome in the restaurant, cellar door, wine garden, villas, tours, weddings and event spaces
There's a water bowl in the restaurant
We'll seat you where there's suitable floor space
Our team understands the difference between an assistance animal and a pet
Let us know in advance so we can sort out the right seating

Our team

Some of our team have completed formal disability awareness training and we're working towards covering everyone. Training or not, every team member is expected to treat you with respect, give you the time you need, and ask before helping. We won't touch you, your wheelchair or your mobility aid without your permission.

We're happy to help with:

Arrival, parking and finding your way
Luggage
Doors, seating and getting settled at your table
Reading menus and talking you through the wines
Directions and getting around the property

When you book

We'll ask about access requirements when you book by phone or in person
Our online restaurant booking form has a field for access requirements
What you tell us goes into our booking system and gets passed to the right department before your visit
Managers brief the team at the start of the shift
Our admin team is your main contact before arrival. If it'd help to have one named person on the day, we can arrange that
During opening hours you can reach us on 02 4455 7888. Villa guests also have an after-hours emergency number

What we don't have yet

We'd rather tell you now than have you find out when you arrive.

No hearing loopanywhere on the estate
No visual or vibrating emergency alertsanywhere, including the villas. Alarms are audible only. We provide written emergency information and our staff are trained in evacuation procedures
Braille signage on the toilet doors only— nowhere else yet
Only one accessible villa(Villa 4). The others aren't step-free throughout
No chairs with armrests yet.We're buying some
The Lower Wine Garden and lawn areas are steep— around 23 degrees — and aren't accessible routes. They're also slippery and soft in wet weather
Our concrete walkways are 1.2 m wide, so two people can't pass along the full length
No dedicated audio menu.Our digital menu works with your phone's screen reader, we have large-print menus, and our team will read the menu aloud
Our accommodation booking form doesn't ask about access requirements yet.Please phone or email instead and we'll record what you need
Not all of our team have completed formal disability awareness training.Some have, and we're extending it. If something isn't handled well, please tell us — it's how we fix it

What we're still measuring

We're currently working through the access details for:

Winery tours, the barrel cave and the vineyard
Outdoor event spaces, ceremony areas and weddings
Emergency exits, evacuation routes and assembly areas
Signage contrast, font sizes and mounting heights

If you need any of this before you book, call us and we'll go and measure it for you.

Our commitment

We know we can do more, and accessibility is an ongoing journey for us. We're committed to making improvements and to learning from our guests along the way — so if something didn't work on your visit, or you can see a way we could do better, please tell us. Guest feedback is the most useful thing we get.

If you're wondering whether Cupitt's could work for you, please reach out. We'd love to chat and see how we can make your visit comfortable and enjoyable.

Email:info@cupitt.com.au

Phone:02 4455 7888

Last reviewed: August 2026. All measurements were taken on site by our facilities and operations teams.