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THE EXPERIENCE The hut is perfect as a solo retreat or love shack for a couple. There’s not much to do or see around Ruffy – the nearest shops are an hour-round trip away – so leave the city behind and bunker down. Pick a read from the impressive book collection or stroll across the property puzzling about the origin of the giant granite boulders. DON’T MISS The outside bath, serviced with salts and lotions, is a highlight, positioned for views over the dam. FROM $270 a night; two-night minimum stay. Melissa Fyfe Boat Harbour Jetty B&B 25 Wharf St, Port Albert; 0429 832 535 EV charging THE LOCATION Settle into a studio apartment in the tiny fishing village of Port Albert in Gippsland, almost three hours’ drive south-east of Melbourne. THE PLACE The waterfront views here – of the marine life-rich Corner Inlet – are as wide as they get. Directly opposite Port Albert’s historic wooden jetty, each of the three meticulously clean studio apartments features big windows that frame the vista – and blackout blinds for when the morning light gets too dazzling. Decked out in soothing neutral tones, each studio has a small kitchenette, living area and an elegant en suite bathroom. One studio is specifically designed for wheelchair accessibility. THE EXPERIENCE Looking for a break from the hustle? Port Albert offers a serene coastal escape where you can unwind and breathe in the sea air. Take a guided fishing trip or birdwatching tour with the B&B owners’ boat charter service, or walk the fern-lined trails in the nearby Tarra-Bulga National Park. At your accommodation, the provisions are generous. From a fully stocked continental breakfast to toiletries, wine, and snacks, guests are exceptionally well-catered for – a huge convenience in this isolated hamlet. DON’T MISS This corner of Gippsland is dotted with charming towns, but none more so than picture-perfect Toora. Drop into Toora Deli for coffee, smallgoods and made-to-order sandwiches; browse covetable homewares at the Panton Store. FROM $310 a night. Roslyn Grundy Chrismont Wines Retreat Studios 251 Upper King Valley Rd, Cheshunt; (03) 5729 8220 EV charging THE LOCATION Chrismont Wines is near the tiny town of Cheshunt in the pretty upper King Valley. It’s a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Melbourne and 50 minutes from Wangaratta. THE PLACE Three stand-alone studios have been added at Chrismont, the vineyard established in 1980 by winemaker Arnie Pizzini, and where Jo Pizzini opened a striking restaurant and cellar door a decade ago. The new studios (there was already a renovated homestead and guest house nearby) feature north-facing terraces overlooking prosecco and pinot grigio vines. The open plan design comprises a spacious main room, compact kitchenette with Smeg appliances and a glamorous bathroom with a double shower and heated floor. THE EXPERIENCE The vibe is Italian – even the landscape reminded early Italian migrants of their homeland. Sink into the caramel leather sofa in the sitting area; there’s a TV, but the starry night skies are better viewing. Sip one of Arnie’s award-winning drops on your private terrace – a selection is available for purchase as well as a breakfast package. Head to the restaurant for a late lunch – the home-made ravioli and the tiramisu are heaven-sent. DON’T MISS The King Valley and its wineries host annual festivals including A Weekend Fit for a King, La Dolce Vita and the King Valley Balloon Festival. FROM $460 a night; two-night minimum stay. Sue Wallace RACV Torquay Resort 1 Great Ocean Rd, Torquay; (03) 5261 1600 EV charging THE LOCATION As the address suggests, the RACV Torquay Resort marks the starting point of the famous Great Ocean Road, a 90-minute drive west of Melbourne. THE PLACE A landmark Wood Marsh-designed concrete monolith overlooking Zeally Bay, RACV Torquay Resort was the motoring (and other business) organisation’s first five-star property when it opened in 2014. In December 2024, RACV Torquay completed a full refurbishment of all 92 rooms, including the luxurious ocean spa suite, where a framed print of dark clouds suspended over a moody sea captures the tone of the renovation well. Charcoal carpet, black timber walls and warm chestnut furnishings create a cosy sense of intimacy, while full-length, tinted windows deliver a spectacular panorama of the resort golf course. The tone lightens considerably in the queen bedroom and en suite thanks to white terrazzo, a walk-in rainfall shower and an egg-shaped bathtub big enough for two. A telescope is a nice touch for stargazing on your private balcony. THE EXPERIENCE You could comfortably hole up inside the resort and never need to leave the grounds, especially if you’re into golf. The ocean serves as a shimmering backdrop to the resort’s prestigious 18-hole links course. But if golf isn’t your thing, the tennis courts, swimming pool and premium gym will keep you moving, the spa and hammam bath scrubbed and rested, and the in-house restaurants and bars well fed. If you can drag yourself away, Torquay’s collection of breweries, excellent restaurants and cafes are right at the resort’s doorstep. DON’T MISS Book ahead for a table at newly two-hatted Torquay restaurant Samesyn, which takes a zero-waste approach to producing creative dishes. FROM $299 a night; minimum stays can sometimes apply. Justin Meneguzzi Barwon Heads Caravan Park 1 Ewing Blyth Dr; Barwon Heads; (03) 5254 1115 EV charging THE LOCATION A two-hour drive south-west of Melbourne brings you to Barwon Heads, a quiet coastal town popular with day trippers, golfers and anglers. THE PLACE The park recently added two new oceanfront beach houses, including one that is accessible. The vaulted ceiling and timber flooring makes the open-plan living, dining and well-stocked kitchenette feel light and spacious, punctuated by coastal flourishes like navy throws, rattan-backed dining chairs, and sandy-hued pillows. An en suite bathroom means you won’t be sharing the communal shower block. THE EXPERIENCE Overlooking the estuary where the river meets the sea with Point Lonsdale lighthouse in the distance, the two-bedroom beach houses offer million-dollar views without the price tag. Home to the community footy oval and located a stone’s throw from the cafes and restaurants on Hitchcock Avenue, this historic caravan and camping park is right in the heart of Barwon Heads. The grounds are a hive of activity (especially on weekends), but the prime location means tranquillity is never far away. DON’T MISS Just down the road is Thirteenth Beach, a popular summer swimming spot and a good place to watch the surfers who brave even the frigid waves of winter. FROM $380 a night; two-night minimum stay during peak periods. Justin Meneguzzi Peninsula Hot Springs Eco Lodges 140 Springs Ln, Fingal; (03) 5950 8777 EV charging THE LOCATION Find this property roughly 90 minutes south-east of Melbourne in the middle of the Mornington Peninsula (just past Rosebud and short of Rye). THE PLACE Peninsula Hot Springs has long been a spot to soak an afternoon away. That offering became an overnight proposition four years ago when glamping accommodation was built into the campus of naturally heated pools. Three new eco lodges comprise 10 rooms, three of which offer dining areas plus kitchenette and bedroom with king-size bed, and the highlight: a private hot springs pool just outside your door. Guests can book individual rooms (the smaller ones have geothermal bathtubs) or an entire lodge. THE EXPERIENCE This is designed as a “sleep wellness” getaway, from the calming decor paired with essential oil diffusers to the room temperature set to a cool and sleep-conducive 19 degrees (there is, though, underfloor heating, powered by geothermal water). Circadian lighting offers ambient hues alongside boxes for locking up your device, and there are no TVs or alarm clocks. Even the complimentary breakfast buffet is tailored to the land of nod, from herbal teas to an organic menu high in tryptophan, an amino acid linked to sleep. DON’T MISS Guests are given one free “signature wellness experience” per stay. The “Fire & Ice” workshop involves alternating a hot sauna with an arctic cold plunge. FROM $799 a night. Konrad Marshall Mount Sturgeon Cottages 98 Parker St, Dunkeld; (03) 5577 2241 EV chargingPet-friendly THE LOCATION Drive three hours west of Melbourne until you hit the southern edge of the Grampians ranges. Unscathed by the January bushfires that tore through the abutting national park, these country cottages crouch below the craggy face of Mount Sturgeon, just outside Dunkeld. THE PLACE Originally shearers’ quarters, six 1850s bluestone cottages were converted to motel-style accommodation in 1997 by owners Royal Mail Hotel. Two are interconnected, with one and two bedrooms, and carry the launch design. The four remaining one-bedroom cottages received a luxe refurbishment in 2022, resurrecting their original character by accentuating the power of raw materials. A blazing woodfire warms the jarrah floors and casts flickering reflections across the textural stone walls and marble sommelier’s bar, while the original water tank forms the shell of a spacious en suite lined with mosaic tiles. THE EXPERIENCE Dark green drapery and leather sofas in stockman’s saddle brown make for a drover’s dream pad, but the cottages are more a conduit for the wider Royal Mail Hotel experience, which definitely means dinner at one of Victoria’s most celebrated regional restaurants, Wickens. Schedule in feeding time of a different sort at the wildlife conservation centre, which runs a captive breeding program for endangered eastern quolls and, for full effect, time your visit to see the full moon rising above Mount Sturgeon. Pets are welcome in the unrenovated cottages only. DON’T MISS Pack your hiking shoes and tackle the seven-kilometre loop to the summit of Mount Sturgeon, or follow a flatter trail lined with river red gums five kilometres into Dunkeld. FROM $650 a night; two-night minimum stay. Ricky French River House Kyneton 36 Pohlman St, Kyneton; 0438 160 671 THE LOCATION The picturesque and historic gold rush town of Kyneton is an arty, culinary enclave 87 kilometres or an hour’s drive north-west of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges. THE PLACE The house, built on a disused tennis court in 2019, is slickly modern and generous in size. A lack of heritage constraints meant Moloney Architects were free to design something fresh with glass and open spaces, unusual in a town known for bluestone buildings and heritage homes. It’s set into a hill right by parkland and the Campaspe River. THE EXPERIENCE With two living areas, a huge kitchen, four generous bedrooms, all with garden views, a fireplace, excellent central heating and full-size laundry, this is contemporary comfort. The large windows throughout the house frame lovely garden views. But step outside and immerse yourself in the lovely riverside location. There’s dining indoors and out and direct access to the path along the Campaspe. However, the proximity to the river means the house is not suitable for young children. DON’T MISS Stroll five minutes along the river to the 1858 Kyneton Botanical Gardens. It’s whimsical at any time of year, with a 1903 water fountain and bluestone walls dating from the 1800s. FROM $590 a night plus $250 cleaning charge; two-night minimum stay. Gay Alcorn The Yellow Box Wood 329 Costerfield-Redcastle Rd, Costerfield; 0415 103 911 THE LOCATION Set amid 40 private hectares of native bushland in central Victoria, The Yellow Box Wood is around two hours’ drive north from Melbourne in wine country close to Heathcote. THE PLACE Two off-grid glamping tents (bookable singly or together) are more like canvas-walled apartments than tents. A sliding glass door leads to a large open-plan space with bed, bathroom, kitchen, dining and living areas, plus a cosy nook with a second double bed (suited to kids happy to share). Timber floors and a woodfired heater imbue it with a warm, farmhouse feel, but the gentle rustle and glow of sunlight through canvas keep it (just) in the realm of camping. THE EXPERIENCE There’s ground coffee for the machine, chopped wood for the fire, and blankets for stargazing from the sofa on the deck. With firepits, barbecues, bush trails to wander, a separate games room (ping pong, quoits, board games, giant Jenga) that doubles as an emergency shelter in the event of bushfire, and a mineral salt pool for the hotter months, there’s no need to leave. But serious hikers might want to explore the Heathcote-Graytown National Park next door. DON’T MISS The six-course degustation at 2024 Good Food Regional Restaurant of the Year Chauncy in nearby Heathcote is reason enough to visit – but make sure you book well ahead. FROM $325 a night; two-night minimum stay on weekends. Karl Quinn Motel Flinders 30 Cook St, Flinders; (03) 5989 0666 Pet-friendly THE LOCATION Seaside Flinders is 100 kilometres from Melbourne on the Bass Strait-facing southern edge of the Mornington Peninsula. THE PLACE This 1980s motel was destined for demolition until the owners – proprietors of the pub and Quarters at Flinders Hotel across the road – decided to embrace the existing with Melbourne-based Studio Tate designing a fresh and playful reinvention. The clever use of space, the furnishings that are design-forward yet beachy casual and practical, the luxurious green-blue (or is it blue-green) carpet that changes with the light just like the ocean off the Flinders shoreline – the scheme has a pleasing location-referencing narrative, a highlight being the bespoke wallpaper and upholstered bedheads by Walmajarri artist, Jimmy Pike. THE EXPERIENCE Today’s Flinders is characterised by well-heeled weekenders, the famous golf course and upmarket boutiques, yet, with its gargantuan cypress trees and pier dating to the 1860s that’s popular with today’s anglers, it maintains its laidback, historic crayfishing village identity. The motel is a budget-friendly alternative to a house stay, especially if you’re not planning to cook. Eat at nearby wineries or the fabulous pub, use the barbecue and picnic tables on site or settle in front of the giant TV in your room or suite, with a bottle and cheese from the excellent local bar and takeaway, Plonk and Stink. Bring your pup, too. This dog-friendly stay even has a washing bay for post-beach bathtime. DON’T MISS The Green Olive at Red Hill serves generous grazing plates and wines in a garden setting that’s so dog-friendly, you can purchase a pooch picnic pack. FROM $179 a night. Julietta Jameson Lanson Place Parliament Gardens 502 Albert St, East Melbourne; (03) 8638 7800 THE LOCATION Although bearing a swanky East Melbourne address, Lanson Place is right within cooee of the desirable Paris end of the Melbourne CBD, bursting with theatres, restaurants, bars and cafes. THE PLACE Once the site of the early 20th-century printing house of the Salvation Army, Lanson Place, opposite Parliament Gardens Reserve, is a five-star, 137-key boutique/apartment-style hotel. Although the distinctive red-brick facade of its original building was retained, the Salvos probably wouldn’t recognise its innards nowadays. A deep blue, panda-white marble and neutral palette was chosen for the public spaces, above which rises a new and sensitively set-back reflective glass tower designed by Melbourne architects Denton Corker Marshall. THE EXPERIENCE This is the Australian debut of both Hong Kong-based Lanson Place Hospitality and the London interior design house Conran & Partners, founded by the legendary Sir Terence Conran, and some rooms deliver stunning day and night views of the Manhattan-esque Melbourne skyline and the adjacent 19th-century St Patrick’s Cathedral. Downstairs, Lanson’s lobby is dominated by Chronicle 502 Bar and Dining, a relaxed eating and drinking hole that’s also a perfect place to linger and chill. DON’T MISS The hotel is adorned with no fewer than 300 commissioned artworks, the most conspicuous of them being a daring 40-metre installation, inspired by the native melaleuca paperbark tree, that winds along the ceiling of the lobby. FROM $359 a night. Anthony Dennis Hyde Melbourne Place 130 Russell St, Melbourne; (03) 7035 2900 THE LOCATION Find this stylish stay within Melbourne’s East End Theatre District, just across the road from the QT. THE PLACE Only six months after its debut, independent hotel Melbourne Place relaunched under the Hyde brand, thus becoming the first Australian property to fly the flag of the trendy London-born Ennismore hospitality group (an Accor offshoot). The handsome, rust-hued high-rise cleverly emulates aspects of the street’s heritage splendour, blending familiar red-brick and masonry with modernist design. Rooms punch above their weight in both style and value: enormous curving doorless showers, terrazzo benchtops, yawning alcove windows, electric blackout blinds, Frette linen, Leif amenities and free minibar (excluding alcohol) make for a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing stay. THE EXPERIENCE It’s all about location here, set amid a maze of laneways, cafes, theatres, restaurants and swanky retail outlets. Its short-lived Instagram-famous rooftop bar and restaurant Mid Air has closed to make way for a new, all-day-dining Mediterranean venue, Cleo. The new space is on track to launch in December after a redesign led by Carte Blanched, Ennismore’s in-house food and beverage studio. DON’T MISS Good Food Guide-hatted Marmelo, Hyde’s ground-floor restaurant run by hospitality power duo Ross and Sunny Lusted, is a must-book, taking menu cues from Portugal and coastal Spain. Go for the sizzling arroz de marisco rice dish. Cap dinner with a digestif at the relentlessly cool neon-lit basement supper club, Mr Mills. FROM $300 a night. Katherine Scott 1 Hotel Melbourne 9 Maritime Pl, Docklands; (03) 7053 0888 EV chargingPet-friendly THE LOCATION On the once gritty north bank of the Yarra River, an area rich in maritime history, heritage-listed Goods Shed No. 5 has been transformed into a nature-led luxury hotel. It’s just a 10-minute walk to Southern Cross Station and a free tram ride to CBD attractions. THE PLACE As per the 1 Hotel group’s ethos, this is a hotel-as-urban-sanctuary. Greenery wends through the property, with 7000 living plants on site and an emphasis on natural light. The organic melds with industrial – reclaimed timber and bluestone pavers feature in the Crane bar and lounge area, a bow to the building’s heritage. Artworks include Portuguese tapestry maker Vanessa Barragão’s striking depiction of Victoria’s rugged coastline and marine life, made from 60 kilograms of textiles otherwise destined for landfill and suspended above reception. 1 Hotels’ biophilic principles extend to 277 rooms and 36 suites that feature filtered water on tap, recycled wine bottles fashioned into tumblers and bedheads made from timber railway bridges. The River Reserve King suite has floor-to-ceiling views of the Yarra, stretching to Seafarers Bridge and the historic Polly Woodside. THE EXPERIENCE Connection to self is invited at 1 Hotel Melbourne, the group’s first Asia-Pacific hotel. That might mean finding time by the inviting indoor pool or in the day spa, or joining with others on early morning river runs. If your tastes run to the more sybaritic, find wine and cheese tastings on a regular timetable of happenings in the lobby. Your stay might even coincide with the scheduling of tarot readings. DON’T MISS Dinner (or any other meal) at the on-site From Here by Mike, is a local produce-only affair, from Skull Island prawns down to Spud Sisters potatoes and standout Victorian wines. FROM $350 a night. Jane Reddy Bruno’s Beach House Venus Bay, address provided on booking Pet-friendly THE LOCATION Venus Bay, 180 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, inhabits a narrow peninsula in South Gippsland, with wild Bass Strait on oneside and calm Andersons Inlet on the other. THE PLACE Locals have fought hard to limit development in their one-road-in, one-road-out piece of coastal nirvana. That gives Venus Bay a lower-key vibe than many towns with its attributes. Those attributes include some seriously wide, long and wild sandy beaches. Nearby one of those stretches is Bruno’s Beach House, a casual but design-considered black-clad modern home that exudes a warm welcome. This adults-only stay features a cathedral ceiling over the split-level living spaces, eclectic artworks that speak to the owners’ personalities, a toasty wood burner, well-laid-out kitchen, two bathrooms (one with a deep tub) and three bedrooms (sleeping six all up) with quality bedding. THE EXPERIENCE It’s a barefoot beach break at Bruno’s, with occasional wombats and many coastal birds passing across the back lawn. The barbecue and big, comfy deck lure you outside. But the nearby beaches are the main outdoor attractions. Take a 10-minute walk, or a minute’s drive, to the glorious yellow sands and thick scrub of the Cape Liptrap Coastal Park with some hills along the way and stairs down to the water. Time your visit for spectacular sunsets. Dogs are allowed on leash (though only before 9am and after 6pm December to March inclusive). DON’T MISS Stop in at Loch on the drive from Melbourne. This gorgeous 1876-founded historic village has a clutch of great boutiques and eateries. FROM $450 a night; two-night minimum stay. Julietta Jameson Get more short-break inspiration from Good Weekend‘s 2025 52 Weekends Away round-up: Just 90 minutes from Sydney, you can relax in your own balcony bathtub with stunning views: 16 NSW short-break ideasAn hour from Adelaide, you can wake up to giraffes outside your window: Great escapes in SA, Tasmania and NT‘More Med than Rotto’: 4 of the best weekend getaways in Western Australia right nowFrom farm stays to island escapes – 5 perfect Queensland getawaysFor more travel inspiration, visit our Traveller section. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald,The Age and Brisbane Times.
