Spa country sleeps in Daylesford
ADVERTORIAL FEATURE - From luxury boutique retreats to private self-contained escapes, the Daylesford accommodation options are as bountiful as the natural springs that flow through the region.
No, you're not in Tuscany. Despite first appearances at Villa Parma – rambling stone walls, topiary and soft pastel paintwork – this is Daylesford, in the heart of Victoria’s spa country.
Daylesford offers luxury accommodation of all stripes, from sexy, city-sleek lodgings to rambling English-style country houses. And Villa Parma, a heritage-listed 1860s building that references the region’s Swiss-Italian settlers, is about as good as it gets. This beautiful building, restored to its former glory by owners Chris Malden and Wayne Cross, is a microcosm of unstuffy Italian elegance – you can dine beneath a chandelier on an antique wooden table or alfresco under the vines in your own private garden.
Villa Parma is set within the grounds of Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat, also owned by Malden and Cross. Since they bought the iconic 1930s hotel in 2000, the property has undergone a series of upgrades, not least of which has been the in-house spa that ranks among the best in the country, and, most recently, a $1 million facelift that has seen the opening of Wild Birch restaurant and Tipperary Bar + Lounge. Accommodation options include what they dub ‘traditional’ hotel rooms, in an art deco style, contemporary garden rooms and spa villas that epitomise industrial chic. Stuart Rattle, who has an eye for reinventing gracious country houses, designed the interiors of both the hotel and Villa Parma, and his idiosyncratic touches are everywhere amid the polished wood, leather furnishings and black and white photographs that lend a feeling of regional nostalgia.
A love of Daylesford has seen Cross and Malden expand their business interests further and pool some of the area’s best accommodation under online booking service Dayget Retreats. Dayget properties run from self-catering cottages for couples to luxury villas, like Villa Parma. What all have in common is a level of individuality and creature comforts that appeal to guests beating a weekend retreat from the city. Places like the three-bedroom weatherboard Lakewood, which, while contemporary, boasts plenty of character. Or Hisha, an architect-designed lodge set at treetop level at the end of a country lane. The Anglophile Lakeleigh is a neat counterpoint to Villa Parma, its English-style gardens feel romantic and its airy whitewashed charm decidedly non-chintzy.
At the recently opened Elira, meanwhile, you’ll find two contemporary villas a stone’s throw from the heart of Daylesford. Inspired by Japanese bathhouses, they combine a tranquil environment with all mod cons – think plasma TVs, sunken bathtubs and underfloor heating, with culinary treats and a pampering beauty pack included.
There are views over Daylesford’s famous Wombat Hill at Comma, a stunning four-bedroom French provincial-inspired house and another Dayget property. Crisp white interiors mellowed with timber furniture, a smart contemporary kitchen, an open fireplace and designer touches by artist Matt Martino make this the perfect place to gather together a group of friends.
At Hepburn at Hepburn, the 8 Hotels Collection – known for its stylish inner city boutique hotels and apartments – has brought its own brand of urbane luxury to the Victorian countryside. Featuring moodily dark exteriors and sleek fit-outs by Melbourne designer David Hicks, each of the 14 plush, one-bedroom villas is the perfect retreat for those after a little inner city panache.
By contrast, the multi-award-winning Lake House epitomises the country house hotel. Alla Wolf-Tasker’s prodigious culinary talents are legendary, but there’s more on offer here than just textbook regional cooking and an outstanding wine cellar. Try a world-class spa, lakeside suites, gentrified activities such as billiards and tennis, and personality in spades, as seen in the paintings throughout by Wolf-Tasker’s talented husband Allan. If you’re after more seclusion, the recently built Lake House Retreat reaches new heights of luxury. Tucked away among its own gardens and decked out in cream tones and a fresh yet quirky decor, it features soaring ceilings, abundant natural light, fireplaces and pretty chandeliers, an adjacent massage pavilion and high-tech essentials such as Nespresso machines and Bose sound systems. Grab a book from the well-stocked library and stake out one of the daybeds.
Still not spoilt enough for choice? Check out Daylesford Accommodation Escapes, which offers more than 150 accommodation options ranging from fully hosted to self-contained hideaways, and which can help you secure a spa or restaurant booking to round out your spa country experience.
Published On: Thursday, December 30, 2010, 12:00 AM AEDST
|
Win a luxury spa break for two in Daylesford
You and a friend could enjoy an indulgent two-night break thanks to Hepburn at Hepburn Villas and Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa.
more
Daylesford Gourmet Delights Package
Enjoy a rejuvenating getaway at the beautiful Peppers Mineral Springs Retreat, only an hour's drive from Melbourne Airport. Just $255 per couple.
more
|