Worlds Away: Country Victoria’s Best Luxury Accommodation

From the Goldfields to the Great Ocean Road, discover country Victoria’s best luxury accommodation. 

From time to time, the need to leave the city, breathe and reboot arises. And when it does, the bushland, leafy vineyards and rolling farmland of country Victoria await, ready to embrace us in a comforting blanket of tranquility.

Heading away from the cosmopolitan hub of Melbourne doesn’t mean you have to compromise on luxury. A selection of high-end resorts, luxury hotels, homesteads, cottages and lodges are upping the ante for the humble countryside sojourn, offering not only views to die for but exquisitely appointed accommodation to boot. Here’s our pick of the best luxury country accommodation in Victoria.

Ready to escape the city? Plan your next regional Victoria break with our curated collection of escapes and experiences.

Mornington Peninsula

RACV Cape Schanck Resort

If clifftop walks, rugged coastline and blissfully deserted beaches in a stunning wine region sounds like just the tonic you need, prescribe yourself a stay at the luxurious RACV Cape Schanck Resort. Nestled amid the dramatic landscape of the Mornington Peninsula, this sprawling resort takes its lead from nature, while offering facilities you’d expect from a five-star city hotel.

After windswept walks to Bushrangers Bay and the old lighthouse, wind down with a spa treatment, a few laps in the pool or dine on modern Australian fare across four onsite dining outlets. There’s also an 18-hole, ocean-view golf course, considered one of Australia’s finest.  

Jackalope

Planning to take a break from social media on your country escape? You might want to make an exception when you set foot on the grounds of this art-inspired hotel, which offers more Insta-perfect shots than you’ll have time to take. 

This whimsical, show-stopping property draws you down a rabbit hole of art installations, chef-hatted cuisine and fine wines, all while offering the highest level of service and breathtaking vineyard surrounds. A dip in the infinity pool overlooking the vines, an evening toasting marshmallows by the firepit and a stroll through the foliage of Willow Creek Vineyard are sure to soothe your soul. This is one luxury stay that should be on every Victorians list.

Goldfields

Koendidda Country House

This Victorian-era homestead will transport you back to the days of the Gold Rush with its crackling fireplaces, ornate dining room and library. The mansion sits amid beautiful leafy grounds, which gently herald the changing of the seasons as the leaves transform from green to burnished orange.

Head out into the countryside for scenic walks, take a tour of the surrounding award-winning wineries and breweries, follow the banks of the Murray River or explore Rutherglen, home to a 1900’s water tower, the ruins of the Netherby Cellars Victorian vineyard and the serene Lake Moodemere.

Mitchelton Hotel, Goulburn Valley

Wine lovers may already be familiar with the Mitchelton name thanks to its acclaimed vineyard in this tranquil wine region – but did you know you can stay amid the vines in the utmost luxury?

Designed by the acclaimed Hecker Guthrie, this contemporary boutique hotel sets a new standard for regional indulgence, welcoming guests with world-class spa treatments, modern farmhouse cuisine and award-winning drops. All rooms in this stunning country retreat offer tranquil views over the Goulburn River or leafy vineyard, meaning nature is never far from reach.

Read more: 7 Must-Have Experiences in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley

The Trawool Estate, Goulburn Valley

Wake each morning to the whisper of hundred-year-old trees dancing on the breeze and kangaroos hopping across the paddock at this serene country estate, nestled in the National Trust-listed Trawool Valley.

On the doorstep of this boutique hotel is the Great Victorian Rail Trail, perfect for a bike ride or relaxed amble in the afternoon sun. And when you return? A swimming pool, crackling fireplaces and a restaurant serving dishes crafted with native Australian ingredients await, all offering views over the rolling bushland.

Read more: 48 Hours in Daylesford: How to Spend a Weekend in Victoria’s Spa Capital 

High Country

Mansfield Glamping

If you truly want to get back to nature, you can’t beat a glamping escape. Sleeping beneath the stars with nothing but the gentle buzz of the bush around you is the ultimate way to reconnect with nature. Mansfield Glamping is located on a historic farming property, where a collection of seven luxurious bell tents offer views over the mountains and rolling greenery. By day, explore the High Country’s rivers, lakes and bountiful wildlife, and by night, indulge in gourmet produce and local wine beside the firepit.

Lancemore Milawa

Milawa, in Victoria’s High Country, is one of Australia’s oldest gourmet regions, where local farms sell fresh produce over the gates, and leafy vineyards – including the famous Brown Brothers – invite lazy afternoons in the sun. In the heart of it all is Lancemore Milawa, a tranquil country house hotel where emphasis is placed on enjoying the spoils of the region: picture days ambling amid alpine scenery and fields of wildflowers, followed by an evening beside the crackling fire with local cheese and wine.

Read more: A Taste of Europe in Northern Victoria: Ultimate Winery Experiences

Great Ocean Road & Bellarine Peninsula

The White Shack, Bellarine Peninsula

If a chilled-out self-catering escape is your idea of holiday heaven, you’re sure to find paradise at The White Shack: a luxurious six-bedroom cottage nestled amid one hectare of gardens on the Bellarine Peninsula, with views over sprawling vineyards and Port Phillip Bay. Wandering with your morning coffee barefoot into the gardens, with nothing but rolling hills before you, sets the tone for days of relaxation. Explore the dramatic coastline and granite peaks of the You Yangs and gather supplies from regional producers – including wineries such as Scotchmans Hill – before settling in for an evening beside the fireplace, where stargazing through the onsite telescope awaits.

Lorne Surf Apartments, Great Ocean Road

Lorne is a much-loved weekend destination of Melburnians for good reason. Its seaside charm, arty spirit and proximity to Great Otway National Park and soft sand beaches means there’s the perfect balance of nature and entertainment for all ages.

The ocean-view Lorne Surf Apartments is perfectly placed for discovering Lorne and beyond, offering a selection of studios and apartments, some even with luxurious two-person spa baths – the perfect way to wind down after days exploring the waterfalls and ancient forest of the Otways.

Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs, Great Ocean Road

On Warrnambool’s foreshore sits Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs, a tranquil retreat where ocean views clear the mind and hot springs soothe the soul. This 80-room hotel is is one of Victoria’s best luxury accommodation options for a reason — it’s on the doorstep of some of the Great Ocean Road’s finest beaches and bountiful cycling and walking trails, beckoning you to salt-kissed days beside crashing waves. Back at the hotel, a soak in the onsite hot springs flanked with fragrant lavender, followed by a blissful treatment at the day spa, is sure to wash away any lingering reminders of city life.

Ready to escape the city? Find Victoria’s best luxury accommodation with our curated collection of escapes.

Read more: Put a Spring in Your Step: 5 Springtime Experiences in Victoria  

The Grampians

Royal Mail Hotel

Gourmet food, great wine and the stunning natural landscapes of the Grampians come together at the sublime Royal Mail Hotel for the ultimate luxury escape. Wake to mesmerising mountain views, best enjoyed with a fresh cup of coffee on your room’s private terrace.

Fine-dining restaurant Wickens lies at the heart of the Royal Mail and delights foodies with its exquisite degustation menus, crafted by Executive Chef Robin Wickens. Take a kitchen garden tour with the man himself and discover how seasonal produce informs the ever-changing menu (best enjoyed with wine pairings). A little more casual but no less impressive is Parker Street Project, offering a relaxed à la carte selection of dishes like grilled snapper, ham hock terrine and Royal Mail lamb.

Keep busy with the onsite wine cellar tour, lazy strolls through the hotel’s grounds and surrounding Dunkeld, and day trips to the Grampians National Park – or simply enjoy being wined and dined in style. Victoria’s best Luxury accommodation doesn’t get much better than this.

Daylesford

Lake House

Undoubtedly the ultimate luxury hotel in Daylesford, Lake House is your personal sanctuary in Victoria’s spa country. Everything you need to unwind is onsite: from a spa offering signature treatments to a fine-dining restaurant and beautiful infinity pool overlooking the lush rural landscape.  

Lake House’s very own Dairy Flat Farm supplies the restaurant with seasonal, fresh produce, informing a menu that may include chestnuts and pheasant, spring lamb, Winter Nelis pear and free-range chicken. The indulgent spa rituals are a must, soothing and relaxing with warmed luxury oils, hot volcanic rocks and treatments by skilled therapists. Look out over the lake from the Lagoon Foreshore (warmed by a firepit in winter), join a masterclass at the cooking school, take a tour of the working art studio or sit back and relax in the jacuzzi and sauna.  This is some of Victoria’s best luxury accommodation.