Crown Metropol

Housed within a historic building, boasting quirky architectural features and six individual suites, this beach-inspired haven has all you need for a heavenly seaside sojourn.

Each suite, adorned with an assortment of textiles, patterns and a distinctive colour scheme, is also decked out with home comforts, modern amenities and a kitchenette. Some feature deep stone baths, taking up centre stage in the room,  private walled courtyards, original Edwardian elements and open fireplaces.

Mornings are commemorated with a superb continental breakfast, served in the airy salon, which opens out onto the garden. Locally-sourced produce, fresh fruit and homemade bread is on the menu and can be washed down with cups of artisanal tea or coffee. Maxibars, stocked with regional wines and organic treats can be found in the suites for further snacking and refreshment.

With the beach down the road, guests can spend their days surfing in the waters,  strolling past hidden coves and cycling along scenic tracks. A solar-heated pool, tucked behind a rock wall on the grounds of the hotel, means that you don’t have to venture far to cool down.

An exquisite conception of a collection of award-winning designers, this modernist-inspired residence featuring 12 suites, serves as a ‘home hotel’, with an additional level of luxury. Looking out across the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens or the city of Melbourne, each suite encompasses a spacious terrace, an ideal spot for tucking into the complimentary gourmet breakfast at the start of your day or for unwinding with a nightcap.

Every fitting and furnishing has been carefully selected to enhance the hotel’s overall feel of understated sophistication. Fully-equipped kitchens, with laundry amenities and airy living areas, sporting mini-bars allow guests to feel completely at home. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the interior spaces with natural light, illuminating the muted or dark colour schemes, and the soft velvet elements.

A designer in his own right, Melbourne chef, Scott Pickett heads the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant, Matilda 159 Domain. Here, the dishes are masterpieces of contemporary flame-grilled delights, made with local meats, and seasonal produce and created to match the equally enticing décor. If you aren’t dining in this low-lit, wood-panelled den, then you can enjoy a meal served by your personal butler in the comfort of your suite.

During your stay, your on-call butler can assist you with reservations or recommendations for restaurants or activities in the city. Additionally, you can make use of the butler service to arrange yoga, Pilates or personal training sessions, or to book a treatment at a local salon.

Designed to reflect the natural surroundings of the beautiful Goulburn Valley, this remotely positioned accommodation, encircled by vineyards, promises the most serene and quality wine-filled escape.

The interiors present a soothingly neutral colour scheme, with earthy tones, wooden touches and natural materials. Grey marble flooring is softened by woollen rugs, and expansive windows allow light to inundate the corners of the suites. You can opt for views of the vineyard, or the river, and conclude each day on your private balcony, with a glass of the nearby estate’s wine.

Further sampling of local labels can be enjoyed at The Muse restaurant, alongside modern farmhouse cuisine on the banks of the Goulburn River. Fresh, seasonal produce plays a pivotal role in the dishes on offer, in a simple yet sophisticated setting. If you fancy packing a picnic and setting off for the day, The Provedore has all the cured meats and preserves that you need, hailing from artisans in the area.

Guests who are happy not to leave the grounds can book a treatment at the spa, where botanical therapies and natural products are central to its ethos. You can also unwind by the infinity pool, and take a stroll around the shady lawns or through the vineyards.

Dunkeld’s historic Royal Mail Hotel is idyllically located at the southern end of The Grampians National Park, offering spectacular mountain views, endless hiking and nature activities combined with some of Australia’s best food and wine.

Originally established in 1855, the hotel retains its historical charm while providing guests with contemporary, architecturally designed facilities that take advantage of the stunning natural surroundings.

The Royal Mail Hotel has been long known as a destination dining experience which sees diners travel from all over the country and internationally to sample the hotel’s seasonal menus. The dining options focus on fresh seasonal produce much of which is grown organically on-site. The options include a bistro serving hearty, rustic-style fare and a fine dining restaurant which serves modern Australian cuisine based around produce grown in the hotel’s kitchen garden.