Be invigorated and revived by these wonderful wintery destinations. Put your precious winter days off to good use and instead of staring at the television, get out and explore our misty and magical frost-coated landscape.
Be invigorated and revived by these wonderful wintery destinations. Put your precious winter days off to good use and instead of staring at the television, get out and explore our misty and magical frost-coated landscape.
Wine expert, Stuart Robinson aka The Vinsomniac shares his guide to planning the ultimate wine weekend.
For me, the holiday starts long before my arrival at the intended destination.
If fine food and wine are on your getaway menu, then we’ve found a great escape for you in the Mornington Peninsula. Mornington Peninsula is a mecca for foodies, with wineries, restaurants, markets, art galleries, boutiques and beautiful gardens easily accessible and just one hour from Melbourne.
Arriving at Melbourne Airport I’m advised by the rental car company that there are no cars available despite the fact that I’ve booked a car to be picked up exactly at this time. I’d love it if someone could explain how hire car companies work, as a regular road trip traveller it continues to baffle me? Surely they are like hotels, you book a room/car and it’s allocated in the system – right? After an extended delay, eventually a car arrives, but the process takes an hour longer than I’d planned. The saving grace on a frustrating experience is the rental car attendant at the exit gate who asks where I’m going and then quickly presents me with a map hand marked with directions to the Mornington Peninsula. I keep quiet on the fact I’ve already punched in the destination on my GPS, as this old school gesture just makes me happy.
There’s nothing better than leaving the city behind and relaxing for a weekend getaway and indulging in top quality food & wine. You can go one better and have it all in one place and that’s where these gourmet getaways are a standout. Eat, stay and play without even leaving your luxury accommodation at these fine establishments, we’re you’ll be hard pressed to reach your Fitbit goals!
We’ve scoured the alluxia collection and gathered our Top 10 Gourmet Getaways:
As a highlight of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival regional events on Sunday 16th March 2014, Terminus the One Hatted restaurant at Flinders Hotel will be hosting a Moroccan-inspired food & wine adventure - Feast of the Full Moon. This will be followed by a horse and carriage ride to the beach to learn more about bio-dynamic wines under the light of the silvery full moon.
A 6 course meal of shared plates from the kitchen of Flinders Hotel Executive Chef, Pierre Khodja will be served alongside bio-dynamic wines from Prancing Horse Estate from 7pm.
Tables of 10 are available and pre-booking is essential on 03 5989 0201 at $140 per person. Accommodation at Flinders Hotel is available from $275 for the ultimate gourmet getaway.