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 country Victoria.
Ready to escape the city? Plan your next regional Victoria break with our curated collection of escapes and experiences.
Discover Victoria
Luxury stays on the Mornington Peninsula
The Keith Motel
A few steps from Capel Sound Beach, The Keith Motel brings a retro-cool edge to the Mornington Peninsula, with light-filled rooms, casual coastal styling and shared spaces made for lingering over a barbecue, board game or good book.
The real draw is the chance to pair beach days with all-day access to nearby Alba Thermal Springs & Spa, where 25 geothermal pools, a sauna and steam room offer a slower way to unwind. Daily à la carte breakfast at Alba’s Thyme restaurant completes the experience, while the peninsula’s wineries, farmers’ markets and beaches are all within easy reach.
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. 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.
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.
Luxury stays on the Goldfields
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.
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.
The Sebel Yarrawonga Silverwoods
Set on the shores of Lake Mulwala, The Sebel Yarrawonga Silverwoods brings together lakeside calm, championship golf and locally inspired dining in Victoria’s Murray River region. The resort’s suites and apartments open towards the water or landscaped grounds, while the 18-hole Black Bull Golf Course winds through the surrounding landscape.
After a morning on the fairways, Stock & Barrel offers locally inspired dishes and regional wines, or you can retreat to SOL Wellness Centre for an infrared sauna and ice bath. There’s also an infinity pool overlooking the lake, giving you an easy place to slow down as the afternoon light settles across the water.
Luxury stays in the 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.
Luxury stays on the Great Ocean Road & Bellarine Peninsula
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.
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.
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.
Luxury stays in the 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.
Luxury stays in 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.
