Family Fun at Yarra Valley Lodge
We have just returned home from a fabulous mini-break at Yarra Valley Lodge.
This stunning property is just a 45-min drive from Melbourne CBD, within the Heritage Golf & Country Club and its two championship golf courses. It is just a short drive away from a host of incredible wineries and attractions.
Pete and I had stayed at this boutique hotel before, but pre-children, so we were keen to return with the kids for a school holiday staycation.
Ava and Alex absolutely LOVED the hotel and even dubbed it the 'Kangaroo Hotel' after witnessing some of the hundreds of kangaroos that live on the property.
Below are all the details from our stay at Yarra Valley Lodge!
The kids and I checked in on the Friday afternoon and as soon as we stepped outside our gorgeous ground floor room we spotted the first kangaroos on the golf course!
After an hour or so of kangaroo ‘watching’ we headed to the indoor pool, which is located at the Heritage Golf Club’s Retreat & Spa.
We didn’t last long in the pool as the pool heating wasn’t working (it will apparently be fixed by Easter) so we headed back to the room for bubble baths for the kids followed by some more kangaroo spotting.
Pete joined us at the hotel after work and we all headed straight to the Lodge Bar for an early dinner. The Kids Menu is offered in the bar, Bella Restaurant & Room Service and the little ones loved their dinners (Fish & Chips for Alex and Pasta for Ava) & ice creams.
The next morning we were straight onto the golf course to do some kangaroo spotting and the kids were thrilled to see a mummy and joey kangaroo right outside our room!
We then headed to breakfast at the hotel’s Bella Restaurant and had such a fab brekkie! The highlight was the fruit & salad bar, there were so many beautiful fresh fruits & vegies, along with all the classic hot dishes and freshly baked cakes and breads. It really showcases the very best of the region's produce.
After breakfast we began a fun day of activities in the stunning hotel grounds - we spent an hour on the tennis court, played basketball, went for walks on the golf course (and spotted some more Kangaroos on the way), kicked the footy on the lawns, and relaxed in the lounge at the Retreat.
Before we knew it, it was time for dinner at Bella Restaurant and this was such a highlight of our staycation! The food was absolutely magnificent, from the ‘Layered Chicken Spring Roll’ (for me) and 'Local Chorizo, Salsa Verde, Cherry Tomato Bruschetta' (for Pete) Entrées, to the Rib Eye and Pork Cutlet Main Courses, and the most incredible Bailey’s Cheesecake and Baked Alaska for dessert! The restaurant is super family friendly too and there were lots of other families dining at the same time as us.
It was such a relaxing and fun-filled day and we all had the best sleep after the day’s activities.
The next morning we had a final buffet breakfast in Bella Restaurant, some final kangaroo spotting and then it was time to check out.
Ava kept a journal during our time at the Lodge jotting down whenever she spotted a kangaroo, a galah, cockatoo or other animal. To give you an idea of just how many animals we spotted during our stay, Ava managed to fill all the pages in just two days! It really is just such a special hotel and I highly recommend Yarra Valley Lodge for anyone looking for a relaxing hotel for a family staycation! (Plus, kids under 12 stay free in existing bedding, including breakfast. Bonus!)
Yarra Valley Lodge has lots of fun activities planned for Easter weekend too, including a Easter egg hunt and Brunch on Easter Sunday – you can find all the details here:
Until next time, ‘Kangaroo Hotel’!
Yarra Valley Lodge
2 Heritage Ave, Chirnside Park VIC 3116
