Episode 29: Great Escapes 2
It's time for another Postcards Great Escapes special with 10 can't-say-no deals. To get you in the mood for some time at the coast, Giaan Rooney and the team to check out a luxurious Mornington Peninsula holiday house, dog friendly accommodation on the Great Ocean Road. And they head inland to visit The White Wedding Dress exhibition and Fountain Apartments in Bendigo and a new property in Daylesford.
Neervana Haven and Laneway 73
Neervana Haven is on a hill overlooking the Great Ocean Road. With it's mantra of simplicity, sustainability and serenity, you'll soon relax and there's artwork from India to inspire you. That Indian connection flows through the villa from Maharani Queen Room downstairs to the Maharaja Master Bedroom upstairs. The surrounding garden of native plants is welcoming to you and your dogs. Dogs are not allowed inside, but there's an insulated dog kennel waiting in the garden.
If you and your dogs need a feed on your Great Ocean Road trip, the Laneway 73 cafe is pet friendly. It may be the narrowest cafe on the coast, but its menu is wide and regularly changes with Moroccan and Spanish specialties, all-day breakfast and panini’s, freshly made muffins and scones are always a hit.
Neervana Haven
Fairhaven
www.neervanahaven.com
Laneway 73
73 Great Ocean Road, Anglesea
Ph 03 5263 3113
Belle Maison and Perfect Drop
Oozing romance, Belle Maison is a stylish one-bedroom cottage made from timber and bluestone cottage in Daylesford, about 90 minutes from Melbourne. You can spend the whole weekend whipping up feasts in the kitchen, curling up on the couch with movies and books and sleeping amongst the stars in the glamorous loft bedroom.
Or Daylesford is home to some of this country's most talented chefs and there's no denying the perfection of the food, wine and relaxed atmosphere of Perfect Drop.
Belle Maison
Daylesford Getaways
Ph 03 5348 4422
www.dayget.com.au
Perfect Drop
5 Howe Street, Daylesford
Ph 03 5348 3373
www.aperfectdrop.com
Blairgowrie
Squeezed between Rye and Sorrento, Blairgowrie is a hidden gems of the Mornington Peninsula. Its shopping strip has everything that you need, without any of the hustle and bustle. Pizza D'oh was opened five years ago by chef Andrew Grinter and friends and is still the favourite place for pizzas, pastas, seafood and hearty Italian dishes.
To stay the weekend with family or friends, Koonya Retreat is the ultimate in luxury holiday living with six bedrooms across three separate wings. There's plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the open plan chef’s kitchen, floor to ceiling Portsea Limestone fireplaces, three modern bathrooms, electric blinds, louvre windows that let the sea breezes in and the surround sound system.
Pizza D'oh
2845 Point Nepean Highway, Blairgowrie
Ph 03 5988 8089
pizzadoh.com.au
Koonya Retreat
Ph 1300 161 780
holidayshacks.com.au
Bendigo
The White Wedding Dress: Two Hundred Years of Wedding Fashions is enjoying its world premiere in at the Bendigo Art Gallery before it opens in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2014. See exquisite gowns, headpieces, shoes and photos over the ages. International designers featured include John Galliano for Dior, Christian Lacroix, Vivienne Westwood, Zandra Rhodes and Vera Wang.
To make a weekend out of your experience Fountain View Suites are on the same street as the gallery and offer boutique accommodation in a Victorian building.
The White Wedding Dress
Bendigo Art Gallery
42 View Street, Bendigo
Ph 03 5434 6088
www.bendigoartgallery.com.au
Fountain View Suites
10–12 View Street, Bendigo
Ph 03 5435 2121
fountainview.com.au
Postcards diary
Yarra Valley Grape Run
Take a run through the Victoria's most beautiful and best-known wine and tourist areas.
Where: Yarra Valley, 10am
When: 3 September 2011
Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival
Welcome spring with 10 days of garden and flower show celebrations.
Where: Kyneton
When: 1–11 September 2011
More: www.kynetondaffodilarts.org.au
Tour of the Murray River
Cycling fans are heading to the Murray and beautiful lakeside Yarrawonga for the 16th Tour of the Murray River.
Where: Yarrawonga and The Murray Region
When: until 4 September 2011