Situated in southeast Australia, the state of Victoria is renowned for its magnificent mountains, world-class wineries, natural springs, remote beaches, lush forests, and pristine peninsulas. With space being the ultimate in luxury, Upscale Living magazine brings you five of the most incredible properties where you would want to escape to.
Balgownie Estate Bendigo
Nestled among the vineyards sits one of Bendigo’s oldest wineries, Balgownie Estate Winery, Retreat, and Restaurant. Offering a choice of contemporary homestead accommodation, luxury glamping, and historic cellar door wine tastings, all traveling styles are catered for.
Guests can choose between seven bedrooms, each with an en-suite, two fully self-contained cottages, and 15 luxurious glamping tents. Located in the heart of Victoria’s Shiraz Central wine region, reconnect with nature from private decks with uninterrupted views of the vineyards or untouched bushland while enjoying a glass of wine from the estate’s vineyard.
Clifftop at Hepburn
Located just 48 km northeast of Ballarat and an hour-and-a-half from Melbourne, the splendid Clifftop at Hepburn was voted Australia’s best romantic getaway in 2017 and Australia’s No 1 Interior & Design in 2016. The three five-star two-bedroom villas boast an imported French fireplace, framed by breathtaking floor-to-ceiling panoramic views that plunge to the native bushland below.
Famed for its luxury design and interior, each villa includes a quirky feature, be it a pinball machine, massage chair, airbrushed street art, or outdoor fixtures. Outside of enjoying the breathtaking accommodation, guests can venture off and explore the nearby quaint towns of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.
Lon Retreat
Opened in October 2018, Lon Retreat in the Bellarine Peninsula welcomes guests to escape the busyness of life on over 200 acres of rural and conservation land, hidden away on a hill by the ocean.
Guests searching to reconnect with the beauty of slow and simple, this adult-exclusive retreat and mineral spa awaits. Seven luxury suites spread throughout the sandstone retreat, each individually designed with its unique character and connection to the ocean, lakes, and surrounding farmland. Each suite is a personal sanctuary inspired by its natural surroundings combining earthy tones with contemporary luxury.
Pole House
Suspended 40 meters above Fairhaven Beach, the Pole House is one of Australia’s most iconic homes. With a redesign by Franco Fiorentini from F2 Architecture, the Pole House is a brilliant new statue on an already famous pedestal. The house is a blaze of architectural craft: the taps have lights hidden in their mouths shining down along the bubbling paths of falling water.
Couches recline and stretch at button-press. The main room curves around a central bathroom pod clad in burnt ash panels. In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, a suspended fireplace hangs from its own chimney, essentially a fire burning in a cold sea.
The Church House
Located in Gippsland’s Fish Creek, three hours’ drive from the city, guests at luxury accommodation The Church House Boutique Gourmet Retreat can experience Bed and Breakfast at a whole new level. Guests can also opt for gourmet dinners that showcase local produce, which is matched with some of the region’s best wines.
Paddock-to-plate is taken here, with most of the food served coming from the grounds of Church House’s 20-acre property. For overnight stays, the vaulted ceilings and exposed timber beams epitomize the refurbished Church, with eclectic furnishings and décor creating a relaxed ambiance.