VIC

Fresh country air, sprawling hillsides, bloody good wine and 14 of your closest friends. Here, unique country houses perfect for group getaways.  By Alissa Jenkins and Megan Arkinstall Aghadoe Estate, Springmount, Vic Where: About 25 kilometres southwest of Daylesford in Victoria’s central district. What we like: This 1860s heritage-listed homestead has been stylishly revamped to blend period charm with modern luxury. Think high ceilings and chesterfield lounges, a large gourmet kitchen and a lavish home theatre system. The exterior is also beautifully designed, nestled amidst 60 acres of farmland so you can enjoy expansive gardens and a fully fenced playground...

  The goldfields of Central Victoria were once the richest in the world. In just one decade, from 1851 to 1861, the population of Victoria swelled from 97,000 to almost 540,000. During the same period, the diggings yielded almost 2.6 million ounces of gold each year. It’s only 120km from Ballarat to Bendigo, the two main goldfields towns, if you take the Midland Highway, but take the back way through historic towns full of grand architecture, historic houses, galleries and antique stores to get a real sense of what life in the giddy golden boom days was like.  From Ballarat,...

  As we head into autumn, it’s time to start thinking about places to snuggle up for a romantic weekend away. Set on a working cattle stud in Ovens Valley, in the snow country of north-east Victoria, The Kilns overlooks 15 acres of grapevines – a gorgeous location for a gumbooted wander. For much of last century, the property was a tobacco farm. In 2006, the current owners converted the tobacco kilns into Cavedon’s Kilnhouse (above), self-contained accommodation featuring two large living areas clad in washed grey pine; a master bedroom with king-size bed, ensuite and spa; as well as...

Where is it?  In the Australian Alps, 230km north-west of Melbourne How to see it for yourself? Drive up towards Mt Buller from Mansfield, then take a left after the Mirimbah tollgate onto Stirling Road. Then it’s 8km of sealed road to Telephone Box Junction, the limit for vehicles in winter. But in the warmer months you can continue to the gravel by 2WD Circuit Road: turn left and drive for 20km to the junction with Clear Hills Track. From there it’s a 20-minute walk or short 4WD drive to Craig’s Hut. The spectacular, minimally developed Mt Stirling attracts cross-country skiers, horse riders and bushwalkers. The original Craig’s Hut, inspired by those used by...

Quentin Long reckons you can’t keep a good town down – and the pretty Victorian village of Beechworth is proof. If one could drive to Shangri-La I imagine it would be akin to the drive to Beechworth. The road begins its climb towards the town through gentle, verdant hills. The sun shines, the blue sky contrasts prettily against green peaks and marshmallow clouds. The animals in the fields are healthy. It’s a content land. I can’t help thinking how different this drive would have been three years ago. In my imagination, thick smoke rolls down the road and the benign...

From road trips to secret beaches, day hikes and sunset sails: Alissa Jenkins gives a rundown on hot activities to keep you on the go in VIC this summer. Enjoy the outdoors 01. Lie back and enjoy the outdoor cinema at Falls Creek this summer. fallscreek.com.au/OpenAirCinema 02. Channel the Man from Snowy River with a horse riding tour in Victoria’s High Country, through the Bogong High Plains and surrounding national parks. Rides range from an hour and a half through to five-day camping trips and cater for various riding abilities. horsetreks.com 03. Beat the heat among the ancient trees at...

Miriam Blaker ventures out into the north-west corner of Victoria into Murray Sunset National Park, and discovers the unique Pink Lakes. The bottom of the shallow lake bed is crusty with salt, and underneath the cloudy sky the water looks rosy pink. In the distance our camper trailer is set up, surrounded by a carpet of desert wildflowers and wide open spaces. Friends had told us of this magical wilderness area so, being always open to new camping locations in the Australian outback, we decided on a homeward trip from Mungo National Park, to experience it for ourselves. There were...

Could a newly rebranded airport hotel be an undiscovered accomodation gem? Elisabeth Knowles finds out Unless you’re a plane spotter, there are really only two reasons why you’d stay in an airport hotel. One: you have an early morning flight out of a city, or two: you have a late-night flight in. I’d never stayed at an Australian airport hotel until a recent trip to Melbourne, but I heard about the recent ParkRoyal rebranding of the former Hilton at Tullamarine and curiosity got the better of me. You never know, I thought, maybe the greatness of airport hotels is a...

Lee Sherman checks out one of the world's most elite Japanese restaurants, Nobu in Melbourne, to determine how it fares against your average sushi joint. We’re pretty lucky in Australia – there are great Asian restaurants almost everywhere you go. You could take your tastebuds on a tour of Asia every day of the week in most capital cities. You don’t have to travel far to find delicious Korean barbecue, Chinese dumplings, Vietnamese pho, pad Thai, Indonesian nasi goreng, Malaysian Penang curry and, of course, sushi, the most popular choice for Aussies on cheap first dates and city workers taking...

Australian Traveller tracked down the best food and wine destinations in the country, from traditional favourites to up-and-coming foodie meccas, farmers’ markets and regional cooking schools. Bon appetit!  Tried-and-tested gourmet destination Yarra Valley If you’re a gourmet who is yet to visit the Yarra Valley, you haven’t lived. Wine is a huge part of this picturesque region’s attraction, but the home-grown produce on offer is so plentiful and diverse that even if you had a wine allergy (like our editor, poor thing) you could have a terrifically satisfying holiday here. Local blueberries, stone fruit, trout, salmon, dairy and game meats feature...

Hunting lodge chic and rare-beast feasts make this Melbourne pub hotel a cut above most boutique city stays, writes Elisabeth Knowles.  Australian pub accommodation can be pretty be awful, often typified by flickering fluorescent strip lighting, wire-sprung mattresses and musty shared bathrooms, but the Middle Park Hotel is  at the other end of the spectrum entirely. While it may have a similar skeleton to some Victorian-era pubs, it’s borrowed its décor from the English countryside. Think rural hunting lodges rather than Fawlty Towers, with monogrammed carpets in royal blue and red, the requisite stuffed stag’s head above the fireplace and...

Rachael Oakes-Ash tells us why Lake Mountain Resort is still a cool place to be in 2011.  Best for: Cross-country skiers and first-timers to the snow. Where is it: 120km from Melbourne or 22km from Marysville. Total skiable area: 2400 hectares. Number of lifts: 0. Number of runs: 30km of groomed cross-country ski trails and 10km of non-groomed, plus four toboggan slopes. Cross-country trails are divided into four beginner trails, four intermediate and two advanced. Lift pass prices: No lift pass required. Why this resort has always rocked: It has the best toboggan slopes in Australia, and extensive cross-country skiing...

 Rachael Oakes-Ash sees what's new on Mt Hotham this season.  Best for: Extreme skiers and boarders  who like their snow steep.   Where is it: Hotham has its own airport; QantasLink has direct flights from Sydney. It’s a 4.5-hour drive from Melbourne.  Total skiable area: 245 hectares.  Number of lifts: 13. Number of runs: Mt Hotham has a vertical drop of 395m. The terrain is divided into 20 per cent beginner, 40 per cent intermediate and 40 per cent advanced.  Lift pass prices: Adult $106; child $53.  Why this resort has always rocked:  Hotham’s airport seriously reduces travel time, making...