6 luxury escapes near Melbourne for pampered weekends away

How about a lavish escape right within the city limits at the Royce Hotel? Located smack on St Kilda Road, it’s an ideal spot for a weekend of letting go. The calming beauty of Albert Park Lake is an easy 15-minute stroll away, and you can get some serious retail therapy at the boutiques on Toorak Road.

Your room’s palette of muted earthy and maroon tones will provide an elegant backdrop for your weekend of luxury accommodation in Melbourne. Spread out in a two-storey loft apartment, or treat yourself to a stay in the Royce Suite and snooze like royalty in a king-size four-poster bed.

If romance is on the cards, opt for a Spa Suite for long soaks in the tub with your special someone and a bottle of champagne. Chill out with a low-key evening of Netflix in bed – cast from your own device onto the 55-inch TV – or a new release from the hotel’s list of complimentary films while room service brings a barbecue Angus burger straight to your door.

Head to on-site Dish Restaurant in the morning and take your pick of healthy Birchers and homemade sourdoughs or feast on something fried with a side of illy coffee. With your hunger satisfied, you can venture to the Royal Botanical Gardens (15 minutes’ walk) for a peaceful morning exploring the historic Guilfoyle’s Volcano or lazing in the shade next to the ornamental lake.

When you’ve had your fix of urban nature, head back to the hotel for an indulgent in-room massage. Then for dinner, rub shoulders with VIPs at the on-site Amberoom bar. Order a mojito from the mixologist while you peruse the menu – you might fancy classic duck confit, or a shared tasting platter of olives, baba ghanoush, pickles, sliced meats and cheeses.

Swap the city for the countryside with luxury accommodation in Victoria – and make it a weekend to remember at Balgownie Estate Vineyard, Resort and Spa. Kick off your stay with a wine-tasting session at the estate’s cellar door, where you can sample Yarra Valley Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs and pick up a bottle to take home.

When you’ve farewelled the clouds and are back on land, head to on-site Natskin Day Spa for a re-balancing massage. A rumbling belly will signal that you’re ready for some substantial fare – or another glass of bubbles – at light-filled Rae’s Restaurant. Grab a table by floor-to-ceiling windows looking into the garden, or snuggle up by the fire and take your pick from a menu that incorporates local produce such as rainbow trout from Buxton Farm and tangy Yarra Valley cheeses.

Head back to your spacious accommodation for a nap in fresh bedding drenched in the gentle afternoon sunlight. Rooms are furnished in a neutral palette, allowing the verdant vista beyond sliding glass doors to truly shine.

To make the most of the countryside setting, book a garden terrace room and welcome the evening from your patio with a bottle of Balgownie Pinot. Or to really up the indulgence, opt for a one-bed spa suite and spend the weekend alternating between your own private balcony and your round spa bath.

Check out of the office and into a weekend of bliss at Hotel Crown Towers. The hotel’s Aqua Retreat and Spa lets you leave the city behind – despite its locale in the buzzing Southbank – with a transportive menu of sensory indulgences. Slip into the sparkling vitality pool or treat yourself to a session in the stream room, then ease any remaining tensions with a Swiss shower.

For that extra bit of pampering, book a spa treatment and let your skin be swathed in luxurious products by La Prairie and Subtle Energies. For a head-to-toe refresh, try the Swiss Bliss treatment, which includes a full body massage, exfoliation and facial.

Once you’ve found your zen, retreat to your room to maximise the moment. Dock your iPod – chill playlist at the ready – and wrap yourself in a fluffy robe while you drink in views of the city or bay from behind floor-to-ceiling windows. Original artworks bring a homely touch to the modern décor in each room, while scatter cushions and throws invite long naps and late mornings in bed.

Each restaurant at Hotel Crown Towers provides a different dining experience, but all are accompanied by panoramic views over Melbourne. Turn dinner into a theatrical event at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, where traditional British dishes like venison and cherries are served in a playful setting. For an intimate celebration, dine in a private Mongolian tent at Silks, an opulent spot designed in the style of a Chinese mansion. Fresh seafood dominates the menu, so try the decadent wok-fried lobster or a whole braised abalone.

You’ll fill your lungs with that soul-mending sea air at Brighton Savoy. Right on Brighton Beach and just 30 minutes by car from Melbourne’s Central Business District, it’s a sunny spot for a weekend of unwinding on the sandy shore.

Book a table at the Seaview Restaurant for chatty catch-ups as you feast on dishes like linguine with prawns and scallops or duck and wild mushroom risotto balls. Make it a lunch date and savour beachside views through the restaurant’s towering windows, or linger over a long dinner while you watch the bobbing lights of passing boats.

Book a deluxe room for a photo-worthy view overlooking the beach and Port Phillip Bay. After a dreamy sleep in crisp white linen, wake to the sounds of gentle waves breaking on the shore. Take five by the window with a coffee brewed fresh from your in-room machine, then switch on the radio or catch up with a cable show for half an hour of ‘you’ time.

Breezy mornings are well spent with a leisurely walk down to Brighton beach just steps from the hotel. When you return to the hotel, sink into a velvet armchair in the library with a title from the varied collection, or order some champers from the restaurant and cosy up for long conversations by the fireplace.

Make a quick escape out of the city by booking a weekend at the secluded Lake House, a welcoming countryside retreat that’s less than 90 minutes by car from Melbourne. Sitting on the serene shore of Lake Daylesford, you can choose to immerse yourself in nature or up your skills with a cooking master class in the hotel’s kitchen school. Fire up for a friendly game of tennis on the on-site courts, or steal away for some down time in the library, complete with leather sofas, roaring fire and premium whiskey.

The hotel’s suites are individually styled and spread across six acres of gardens, giving you that coveted privacy away from the city. Splash out on the Atrium Villa and stargaze by your very own fire-pit at night. Alternatively, Waterfront Suites look out over the lake and are decorated with works by a resident artist. After a luxurious soak in your double spa bath, warm your feet on the heated floor as you wrap up in your robe, then settle in on your private terrace to spot kingfishers and kookaburras.

You can enhance your escape with a trip to a deep soaker tub in a tree-top hut at the hotel’s spa. Rejuvenate your body in bubbling mineral water from the Daylesford region, followed with a knot-busting bamboo massage.

With your spirit at ease, nourish your body with a decadent meal at the on-site restaurant. Head chef Alla Wolf-Tasker crafts a seasonal menu that showcases the best produce the region has to offer, with drool-worthy plates like McIvor pork from central Victoria or dry-aged duck from the Macedon Ranges served with heirloom fruits from nearby orchards.

Golf-lovers rejoice: you can jet off for a luxury weekend away of putting and playing on the beach at Peppers The Sands Resort, less than 90 minutes by car from Melbourne. The hotel’s 18-hole championship course was even ranked in the top 10 in Australia by Golf Digest!

As you follow the winding dunes of the coast, take a moment away from the ball to soak up the expansive views of crystal water and a rolling green landscape. And if golf’s not your thing, there’s always the health club with its sparkling indoor lap pool – or you can head to the beach to check out the waves (famous surfing spot Bells Beach is a 15-minute drive away).

After sinking some holes, ride the high of your golfer’s paradise back to your room for a private massage to ease your muscles and relax your mind. The hotel’s modern glass design makes the most of the panoramic surrounds, so choose a studio or suite with a view over the golf course.

For that extra bit of swank, reserve a suite with its own private balcony – a quiet place to sit with a glass of Merlot as the sun goes down. Alternatively, grab a bubbly bevvie from the minibar and kick back on your sofa under a snuggly throw after a day on the greens or nearby White Beach.

The on-site Hanners restaurant will keep you well fed, with palatable menu items that can be delivered right to your room. Share a bottle of Chardonnay and plates of chilli chicken spare ribs and sticky pork belly while watching players on the course from your window seat – a relaxing way to spend an afternoon with friends.