Episode 17: Winter indulgence

Ride the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail

Mount Pleasant Homestead and Wardens

Mount Pleasant Homestead in East Wangaratta is a secluded, self-contained and hideaway. The Homestead is in the middle of a working cattle farm but guests are not expected to pitch in and help with the chores. Instead, you can make yourself a latte, settle in and enjoy the luxurious refurbishment of this former farmhouse.

Mt Pleasant is located in the heart of North East Victorias gourmet region. Borrow a bike and make your way along the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, a 98-kilometre track that follows the areas old railway lines, and meanders from Wangaratta to Bright, with an optional detour to Beechworth.

Make a stop in Beechworth at an old corner pub is now Wardens Food and Wine, the creation of Italian native and passionate wine guy, Rocco Esposito. In the morning you can drop in for one of his excellent espresso coffees but if you stay for lunch or dinner, youll be rewarded with a modern Italian masterpiece.

Mount Pleasant Homestead
181 Wightons Road, East Wangaratta
Ph: 03 5722 2616
www.mountpleasanthomestead.com.au

Wardens Food and Wine
32 Ford Street, Beechworth
Ph: 03 5728 1377
www.wardens.com.au

Altitude and Koala Cove Café

Even when temperatures drop outside, Altitude beach house is cosy. Situated high on a hill and sleeping up to 12 people, the amazing ocean and coastal views from this architecturally designed home will take your breath away.

Inside there are four bedrooms and a study, an open fire in a large living and dining area, three bathrooms and a gourmet kitchen. The house is well-equipped for entertainment, including two Plasma TVs, two DVD players, Foxtel, an integrated surround sound system, children's retreat, outdoor shower, BBQ and two decks.

And just down the road in Kennet River youll find the Koala Cove Café, a place thats home to great food and some very interesting locals.

Altitude - Separation Creek
Holiday Great Ocean Road
Ph: 03 5237 4201
www.holidaygor.com.au

Koala Cove Café
15 Great Ocean Road, Kennet River
Ph: 03 5289 0025

InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto

Following a renovation with a price tag of $60 million dollars, the InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto is easily now one of the grandest hotels in our city. Boasting two bars, one restaurant and 253 rooms, the luxury hotel is home to the Market Lane Bar, serving 100 different martinis. If your taste is classic, dry and bubbly you could nip downstairs to Rialto Bluestone and sip a glass of French champagne.

The hotels Alluvial restaurant features a 52-metre mosaic wall made from Italian glass tiles, and serves a menu designed around produced supplied by local farmers and growers. Executive Chef, Nick Reade, guarantees that the freshest produce ends up on your plate, with a rooftop garden providing the kitchen with a never ending supply of herbs, limes and olives.

After gorging on the offerings of dishes and drinks you can check yourself into the hotels Iconic Suite for the ultimate nap.

InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto
495 Collins Street
Ph: 1800 221 335
www.intercontinental.com/melbourne

Signature dishes

One of the delights of winter is a brisk walk by the water. Warm up afterwards at The Point, an Albert Park institution with great views. Famous for its beef, The Point serves meat dry-aged on site. Try the Rib Eye from Clare Valley South Australia over one kilo of glorious grain fed beef, served with a peppercorn sauce and carved at the table for two to share. Or try the fish and chips at The Stokehouse in St Kilda. Lunch overlooking the wonderful bay views at The Stokehouse is considered an iconic Melbourne eating experience.

Wander down the road to Donovans, and make yourself at home in the homely designed interior. The signature dish is a comfort food classic - Donovans old fashioned chicken pie is creamy, rich with tarragon, and ladled tableside from its dish into a buttery pastry lid.

The Point
Aquatic Drive, Albert Park Lake
Ph: 03 9682 5566

The Stokehouse
30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Ph: 03 9525 5555
www.stokehouse.com.au

Donovans
40 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Ph: 03 9534 8221
www.stokehouse.com.au

The White House

The White House is a 1850s miners cottage that opened this year in Spa Country (Daylesford). The three-bedroom property has been restored with attention to detail, including linen handmade for each bedroom. Two bedrooms are located in the house, with the third outdoors in a garden studio.

The collections and vintage furniture in The White House have been sourced from all over regional Victoria. The dining room sports a long table with ex-boardroom chairs and the lounge has comfortable traditional club-style sofas. One-off cushions hand made from union jack flags and flour bags, vintage artworks, industrial lighting and chunky furniture pieces complete the look. The cottage is the creation of Melbourne interior designer Lyn Gardener, who runs a shop Empire Vintage in Albert Park; another great spot for a little winter indulgence.

The White House
58 Albert Street, Daylesford
Ph: 0416 032 111
www.thewhitehousedaylesford.com.au

Empire Vintage
63 Cardigan Place, Albert Park
Ph: 03 9682 6677
www.empirevintage.com.au

What's on

Circus Oz Barely Contained
Dont miss the comedic mayhem of this years spectacular from Circus Oz under the big top.

Where: Birrarung Marr
When: 17 June12 July 2009
More: Ticketmaster 136 100 or visit www.circusoz.com

Annual Eastern Subaru Shortest Lunch
Next weekend head to the Yarra Valley and visit some of the regions smaller wineries for the annual Shortest Lunch celebration, held on the shortest weekend of the year.

Where:Yarra Valley
When: 20-21 June 2009
More: Ph 03 5962 4800 or visit www.yarravalleywine.com

Buda Contemporary Australian Silver and Metalwork Exhibition
And for something a bit different, the Contemporary Australian Silver and Metal Exhibition will be showcased at Buda Historic Home.

Where: Castlemaine
When: 6-21 June 2009
More: Phone 03 5472 1032 or visit www.budacastlemaine.org