Bellinzona Grange Country Retreat - Hepburn Springs

Don't you love a romantic country escape?

We've just returned from a few beautiful days staying at the Grange Bellizona in Hepburn springs. It is a grand Edwardian style accommodation filled with rich and authentic history! It was destroyed in the fires in 2003 and was rebuilt with authentic style to reopen some years later.

I had booked a 2 night package through wotif which included a deluxe spa room and fully cooked breakfast each morning and I certainly wasn't disappointed with our beautiful room, full corner spa and the service each morning {both chef's are to be commended for their energy and enthusiasm and the small details that your service / meal comes with).

Yes, we didn't bring the children on this occasion! Some adult pampering and relaxing time!

View of the Bellinzona from the back gardens.


One of the many lounge areas to sit, read, relax and chat.



An indoor pool, sauna and hot tub! Divine!

For a dining experience to match your stay, just down the road was a lively little place full of atmosphere, wooden fire and delicious food! After enjoying our first meal, we certainly had no reservations returning the next night again for more! Some of the delight we savoured (and would recommend) were the rustic bruschetta, garlic sourdough, sicilian pasta, creamy fettucine carbonara, greek lamb pizza, creamy chicken & bacon risotto, italian doughnuts with ice-cream, rum & raisin, licorice ice-cream and the meringue with berries and ice-cream! What a feast over two nights!

And now I have a new wine love to top that off as well - Plunkett Shiraz Dulce, a sweet vibrant wine with slight fizz, for easy drinking, enjoy chilled! NICE!

Rubens ~ Hepburn Springs!

Of course no holiday is complete without taking the time to meander amongst the endless opportunities of boutiques and specialty shops in Daylesford! I particularly enjoyed the Paradise Book Store home in an old style Georgian Bank and full of rich literary delights, the girls from the Cutting Studio were wonderful and pampered my hair while I visited and of course you can't go past the Chocolate Mill (for the serious chocoholic)

We also were fortunate enough to enjoy one of the short walks from Parks Victoria down to "The Blowhole." It was also evident still the power of the raging torrents from torrential rainfall and floods to the damaging effects on many areas of the walking tracks too.

Quote - Parks Victoria - "This artificial diversion tunnel on Sailors Creek was built by gold miners, probably in the early 1870's. A hole through the spur was cut to redirect the water flow from the original creek line. The soil in the dry creek bed was then sluiced for gold. It is an impressive sight when the creek is in full flow."

I did stop off and have a look at the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa complex and would love to visit another time around!

Quite a lot packed into 2 nights away, but completely worth it :)