Elite Traveler January-February 2019

EXPLORE TOP SUITES

The Spa Villa LAKE HOUSE, DAYLESFORD, VICTORIA

Just over an hour fromMelbourne, Daylesford is known as a place of healing as it has the largest number of natural mineral water springs in Australia. The area also has the largest concentration of holistic therapies in the southern hemisphere and is a mecca for wellness enthusiasts. The Lake House, a charming hotel enveloped by pristine bush and, as the name suggests, overlooking a vast and serene lake, will soothe your soul by location alone. It is sheer bucolic romance with a marvelous award-winning restaurant (plus a cooking school, should the delicious dishes inspire you), an impressive wine cellar and a farmwhere local wine growers and food producers supply the kitchen. The Spa Suite is homey loveliness with neutral, simple tones and eclectic furnishings. It lies beyond a discreet gate and has its own garage and entrance, so it is ideal if you’re on a romantic wellness getaway and want utmost privacy. The master bedroom has a quirky iron four-poster bed, and we love the en-suite bathroom’s ceramic deep-soak bath, near tall candlesticks and beneath a chandelier. The private courtyard with garden has a sunken hot tub and a striped upholstered daybed for quiet afternoons. Guests of this suite can organize an in-suite, tailor-made, head-to-toe treatment without having to step foot outside. Into the wild The cooking school is not to be missed, and a range of culinary experiences are available on demand. We love the culinary ‘Forage and Feast,’ where you’ll venture out with a scavenger list of seasonal produce, then return to the kitchen to prepare a lunch from your haul with a helping hand from the Lake House chefs.

Rate $1,150 per night Contact Marco Castro, general manager, info@lakehouse.com.au, +61 353 483 329, lakehouse.com.au