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The dark sky stay with incredible stargazing an hour from Melbourne

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
At this luxurious Yarra Valley retreat, the stars align for the ultimate celestial experience.

By day, Kangaroo Ridge Retreat in Victoria is all relaxed vibes and resplendent views. But come nightfall, it’s now a private gateway to the cosmos. Partnering up with Yarra Valley Stargazing, the secluded escape has launched an exclusive astronomy experience, transforming its perch among the mountains into the ultimate dark-sky destination.

The accommodation

Kangaroo Ridge Retreat exterior
A private, design-led cabin retreat made for wanderers. (Image: Gunvor Jakobsen)

Just over an hour outside of Melbourne, Kangaroo Ridge Retreat is an exclusive, adults-only property sitting on 20 hectares of pristine farmland. With just two self-contained cabins in the charming regional town of Healesville, it’s the perfect getaway for those seeking seclusion and stillness.

Kangaroo Ridge Retreat interior
Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal magnificent valley views. (Image: Dominey Flores)

Sitting just above the cloud line, Kangaroo Ridge Retreat reads like a love letter to its natural surrounds, with sweeping views of the Great Dividing Range. Each luxurious cabin features a queen-sized bed, indoor fireplace, spa bath, wine bar, vinyl player and east-facing balcony. You’ll also be treated to board games, bath robes and your own set of cosy pyjamas.

larder at Kangaroo Ridge Retreat
Enjoy a complimentary larder stocked with local gourmet treats. (Image: Gunvor Jakobsen)

But guests won’t be spending all their time lazing around the fireplace with a good book, although that’s definitely part of it. A stay here goes beyond simply switching off, with a curated range of inclusions that fuse indulgence with self-care. From an in-cabin larder filled with local produce to DIY spa treatments using complimentary products – you’ll leave feeling deeply restored and utterly spoiled. Additional extras include sunset yoga sessions, couples’ massages and a private chef.

The experience

stargazing at Kangaroo Ridge Retreat
Stargazing enthusiasts will revel in sights of the night sky. (Image: Kangaroo Ridge Retreat)

If the accommodation hasn’t already convinced you to stay, its new stargazing experience will. Kangaroo Ridge Retreat has officially joined the country’s line-up of private stargazing cabins like Starscape in NSW’s Abercrombie River region. Its high-altitude location, combined with low light pollution, results in Class 5 conditions on the Bortle Scale.

Created by amateur astronomer John E. Bortle in 2001, the nine-level numeric model measures night-sky brightness by the observability of celestial objects and light pollution interference. Class 5 conditions indicate darkness levels are suitable for deep-space observation – placing the stay among some of the best stargazing spots in Australia.

Kangaroo Ridge Retreat is taking full advantage of this, teaming up with Yarra Valley Stargazing to deliver exclusive celestial sessions. Led by an expert guide, the 90-minute experience allows guests to observe deep-sky nebulae, ancient star clusters and even the Aurora Australis using a high-powered telescope and laser guidance.

Guests can book their stay around the year’s cosmic calendar, timing visits with celestial events like the Eta Aquariids meteor shower in May and the Perseids in July. Can’t line it up? Conditions still promise views of the Milky Way and iconic constellations like the Southern Cross and Orion the Hunter year-round.

“Usually, stargazing involves a late-night drive to a remote lookout. Here, we’ll have you back in your robe with a glass of local pinot in hand within minutes. It’s dark-sky luxury without the travel," says Kangaroo Ridge Retreat owner, Rebecca Ritte.

Kangaroo Ridge Retreat stargazing
Plan your celestial retreat around key cosmic dates this year. (Image: Kangaroo Ridge Retreat)

But that’s not all – the launch coincides with a rare planetary window. Jupiter is currently at opposition (when Earth passes directly between Jupiter and the sun), meaning it is exceptionally bright and visible. With a magnitude of –2.7, the planet reigns as the brightest object in the night sky right now, apart from the moon.

Saturn is also having a moment this year with a rare ring-plane crossing. The phenomenon occurs every 13–15 years when Earth passes through (or close to) the plane of Saturn’s rings, causing them to seemingly disappear from view. After 2026, it won’t happen again until around 2039.

“We are currently in a solar system sweet spot, not only is Jupiter at its biggest and brightest, but we are witnessing Saturn in a way most people never see it," says stargazing guide, Jessie. “Kangaroo Ridge Retreat’s 360-degree horizon gives us a front-row seat to see rare celestial events like this."

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The details

The new stargazing experience is now open for bookings, available exclusively to guests of Kangaroo Ridge Retreat as an optional add-on. Accommodation rates vary depending on dates and length of stay. All reservations can be made via the Kangaroo Ridge Retreat website.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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Film lovers need to add these Victorian theatres to their bucket list

    Ricky French Ricky French
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    Theatres have always been a cornerstone of regional Victoria, reflecting the character and history of their local communities.

    From grand, gold rush-era masterpieces to Art Deco wonders to repurposed prisons, we’ve rounded up four of Victoria’s best regional theatres to catch a show at next time you’re travelling through.

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat

    Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat 
    Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat has been standing for 150 years. (Image: Michael Pham)

    A monument to the immense gold rush wealth flooding through Ballarat in the second half of the 19th century, Her Majesty’s Theatre (‘Her Maj’ to locals) celebrates its 150th anniversary as the city’s premier performing arts venue this year.

    Built in a classical style and immaculately preserved (thanks largely to a recent $16-million restoration), this Lydiard Street landmark is the oldest continuously operating theatre in mainland Australia, notable for its double balcony and a stage that slopes towards the front, making it one of the most audience-friendly venues in the country to see a show.

    The Capital, Bendigo

    The Capital Theatre, Bendigo
    The Capital in Bendigo was built in 1873 as a Masonic Hall. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Denoted by its distinctive Corinthian columns, more reminiscent of ancient Greece than regional Victoria, The Capital theatre in Bendigo has been through several iterations since the first stone was laid in 1873.

    Originally a Masonic hall, the renaissance revival-style building became a theatre in the 1890s, falling into disrepair for a time during the 1970s, before being restored and reopened (as the Bendigo Regional Arts Centre) in 1991. Today, the 480-seat venue hosts everything from comedy to cabaret to traditional theatre, dance, opera and live music.

     Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo

    a look insideBendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre
    Inside Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, a former prison. (Image: Michael Pham)

    Bendigo has busted out as a regional performing arts hotspot, so it’s fitting that one of its newest venues is housed within a former prison. Meaning ‘meeting place’ or ‘gather together’ in the language of the local Dja Dja Wurrung people, the $26-million, 950-seat auditorium rose from within the red brick walls of the historic Sandhurst Gaol in 2015.

    It’s an eerie feeling as you approach the imposing granite facade, pass beneath the old gallows and pick up your ticket from the box office occupying a repurposed cell block. With the building playing a main character in the show, this is performative architecture at its finest.

    Rex Theatre, Charlton

    the Rex Theatre in Charlton
    The 1938-built Rex Theatre in Charlton is an Art Deco gem. (Image: Jenny Pollard)

    Regional theatres don’t come more romantic than this Art Deco gem in the river town of Charlton, in north-central Victoria. Built in 1938, the 350-seat community-owned theatre provides an essential entertainment outlet for residents in the Wimmera Mallee region, as well as visitors making the trip up the Calder Highway from Melbourne.

    The volunteer-run venue is the last remaining purpose-built cinema in regional Victoria, and hosts the Charlton Film Festival every February, plus three weekly film screenings (Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday).