Planning the perfect romantic escape can be tough when life is hectic. So Urban List has done the hard work for you, searching high and low to bring you the best romantic getaways in Victoria.
There's spa sanctuaries, luxury rooms in wine country and cosy cabins in secluded spots, so whether you're headed to Victoria's Mornington Peninsula or fancy a trip to the High Country and beyond, we've got a romantic escape that'll have you packing the champers and praying for rain.
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Sassafras Mimosa Spa House
This romantic spot located on three acres of private temperate rainforest just an hour out of Melbourne, is the perfect place for a couples’ pamper sesh. Featuring a Tylo cedar dry sauna and spa as well as a sunken lawn and badminton area, this hideaway has nooks and crannies galore to explore. If you’re not busting out the scented oils and fragrant candles or wandering the forest trails arm in arm, head down to the heated glass house conservatory lounge and immerse yourself in nature from the comfort of a cosy couch.
Buckland Valley The Buckland Studios
Image: The Buckland Studios | Supplied
The High Country's mountains, wines and fireplaces ('cos you know how chilly it gets up there) make it textbook romantic getaway territory, and up there with the romantic getaway spots in Victoria, is The Buckland Studios.
The refreshed studios numbered one through five each offer their own unique charm, whether it be a bushview bath, or mountain vistas and superb alfresco dining. The chalet-style one bedders are kitted out with everything you would expect including a breakfast hamper, except for (thank goodness) wi-fi, meaning you actually have to switch off when you’re here.
Little touches like the plush furnishings, the pillow menu, gas or wood fires, robes and slippers, and genuine local produce really elevate the accommodation.
Gruyere Re'em Yarra Valley At Helen & Joey Estate Winery
Re’em Yarra Valley, tucked away in the enchanting Helen & Joey Estate in Gruyere, offers a romantic escape that feels straight out of a fairytale. Each of the 16 boutique rooms is a luxurious sanctuary, featuring indulgent oversized baths designed for two, inviting couples to soak together while gazing over the lush vines.
For those celebrating a special occasion, the estate’s restaurant offers a tempting four-course set menu. Imagine savouring dishes like smoked Aurum duck or handmade dumplings, paired with the estate’s finest cabernet as the sun sets over the vineyards. The dining room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, transforms dinner into a dreamy affair, where the golden glow of dusk casts a romantic spell.
Walkerville Liptrap Loft
Liptrap Loft is one of the best romantic getaway Airbnbs, set amongst the leafy surroundings of South Gippsland just thirty minutes from the stunning Wilsons Promontory, this house has been crafted with recycled tin and timber, and keeps you comfy and cosy against those wintery elements. It has retro features like a 1960’s style oven and stove but its crown jewel is the outdoor Japanese bathhouse with a tiled tub with exposed pipes and views of the surrounding valley.
Daylesford The Hideout
Oozing with historical charm. The Hideout in Daylesford is a fully converted 1860s miner cottage that celebrates the old while still tailoring itself to modern-day desires. With a rich soulful interior, this romantic stay—and one of the best weekend getaways—is loaded with a large open-plan kitchen and living room, rich blacks contrasted against the re-claimed wooden furnishings with a fireplace and modular couch overlooking the property. The sprawling deck is ideal for a wine and parking up in one of the hanging bamboo chairs suspended from the rooftop, or if the weather doesn't permit you can hop into the big stone bathtub with views of the outdoor garden and barn-style doors leading in and out.
Wyelangta Josephine
Josephine is the picture-perfect luxury getaway for two with prime positioning on the Otway Ridge. Its interior is sleek and minimal, making the jaw-dropping scenery from the panoramic windows the main attraction. If you’re an outdoorsy couple you can take advantage of the five acres and close proximity to the Great Ocean Road by hiking and biking the serene surroundings. Or, if you’d prefer to retreat into the home you can start up the wood fireplace and sit back with a glass of vino to soak up the sunsets through the wall-sized windows.
Hepburn Springs Clifftop At Hepburn
Nothing says romance quite like the Clifftop at Hepburn. You've got mountain views, outdoor bathtubs, a super cute design that strikes the perfect balance between cosy and luxury, plus a roaring indoor fireplace smack bang in the middle of the living space. Better still, because it’s a boutique hotel, availability isn’t too scarce with more than 18 rooms available to nab.
Wensleydale The Wensley
Does a slice of "rustic luxury" float your boat? The Wensley’s worn wooden farm-style building conceals one of the most carefully curated spaces you’ll find and it's a big contender for the best romantic getaway in Victoria. Inside you’ll experience a country-style aesthetic with dark stained timber flooring, exposed beams, and leather and cane furniture throughout. The indoor fireplace and surrounding lounge look out onto the fields and a wide dinner table leads into the refined yet state-of-the-art kitchen with thoughtful additions that add to The Wensley’s overall laid-back feel.
Gippsland Eco Bush Retreat
Quite literally part of the Grand Designs family, having been one of the first houses of the Australian series, this romantic getaway in Victoria’s Gippsland is just gorgeous. It’s 100 per cent off-grid, powered with renewable energy and positioned out in the lush bushland, around 20 minutes from Traralgon. The property is set on five acres and is an architectural marvel with exposed rustic beams and weathered wooden decks with an oasis pool surrounded by native plants. Plus, when it's time to hit the hay, you can spread out in a luxurious king-sized bed.
Rye The Wanderer
Welcome to The Wanderer. This couples’ escape on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, is a romantic spot whatever the season. Grab the complimentary magnesium salts, fill the outdoor bath with toasty water and jump right in! Your home away from home is just as snug in winter, thanks to its indoor fireplace that comes with firewood supplied. You’ve got a dining table for romantic dinners and a daybed, hammock and record player so you can enjoy those lazy Sundays in style.
Forrest Otways Loft
Otways Loft is more of a romantic hideaway than a romantic getaway. The three-storey hand-built tree house is nestled amongst the treetops of Forrest and looks pretty much like a scene out of a storybook. The craftsman responsible for the 80’s build lived on-site in a tin shed for five years, sourcing materials from the region including remnants of an old train carriage and a nearby church. Retreat into the loft and discover the unique nooks of the home or explore the Forrest region’s rainforest and waterfalls. Equipped with both a cosy fireplace and a breezy balcony, there really is no bad season to visit Otways Loft.
Glenlyon Adsum Farmhouse B&B
Tucked away in the quieter suburb of Glenlyon in the Hepburn region of Victoria, this quaint little stay at Adsum Farmhouse is a lock for a romantic getaway. Set with real country rustic charm, the house, which originates back to the gold-rush era, has been lovingly restored with plenty of modern creature comforts and even has breakfast included which is perfect for those slow Sunday mornings.
Moyston Hillrise Cottage
Set on a hill above the gum trees with breathtaking views, Hillrise Cottage has a sense of tranquillity that you just can’t find at urban hotels. This is one of the best romantic getaway spots if you’re trying to get back to nature. Here you can fish for yabbies in the dam, collect fallen wood for the fireplace, use the property's telescope to stargaze and stroll the six-acre property in search of wildlife. Or, you can take advantage of Hillrise Cottage’s prime location and venture out to the historic towns of Ararat and Halls Gap to explore and winery hop.
Hepburn Springs Vintage House
The elegant but understated Vintage House sits on almost an acre of land surrounded by fruit trees, creating the perfect setting for a romantic getaway in Victoria. The lounge room invites you in to relax with its chesterfield couches and oversized arched windows surrounding an open wood fireplace. But it's definitely the cosy white bedroom with a king-size linen-covered bed and vintage clawfoot tub that says romantic getaway. If you’re savvy in the kitchen you should be sure to take advantage of the property's edible garden by picking fresh herbs and garlic to whip up a romantic dinner for two.
Metcalfe The Hillplains
Resting just outside of Castlemaine in the quieter suburb of Metcalfe, The Hillplains is a serious aesthetic retreat. The entire wooden barn-style stay has been immaculately designed, with clean lines, polished concrete floors, expansive views across the pool and a minimalist placing of furniture and artwork throughout. The pool is a natural oasis with fresh water from the nearby mineral springs, it provides a stunning vista of the entire expansive range of country that slopes below and beyond the property.
Wye River The Deckhouse
What makes The Deckhouse so good? Well for starters it’s positioned up in the hills of Wye River and its wooden deck gives an absolutely spanking view of the coast. The secluded spot on the Great Ocean Road provides the ultimate romantic getaway and is only a short stroll from the water and the quaint gem that is Wye River. The house is an open-plan dream and the floor-to-ceiling windows provide views through every room except the ensuite, is it one of the best romantic getaways Victoria has? We’ll let you decide.
Daylesford Contemporary Barn
Purposely built for couples, the Contemporary Barn was designed romance in mind. The entire space is reminiscent of a conservatory, with its open floorplan and restored schoolhouse windows which bathe the barn in natural light. Step inside, whip off your shoes, and you'll find whitewashed floorboards, plants galore and a heap of one-off curated pieces. You're right in the heart of Daylesford here, so you're a simple stroll from all the cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars you could want.
Apollo Bay Killala Retreat
The private sanctuary that is Killala Retreat is located directly across from Otway National Park. It’s very much a country-style home but its eclectic interior design has made the space feel anything but stuffy. With original artworks, a central wood fire heater, country-style kitchen and a vista overlooking the hills above the township, you’re sure to feel right at home. There is also something to be said about Killala Retreat's prolific garden which makes it the perfect destination for the outdoorsy couple.
South Yarra Howard’s End
How about the romance of a super cute Airbnb combined with the allure of Melbourne’s epic dining scene? This historic inter-war abode in South Yarra provides a stay to remember. Built in 1942, Howard’s End is set on the ground floor of a boutique apartment block and has easy access to a shared footpath which leads towards the city’s many delights. Wake in your queen size bed and enjoy a cuppa on your private balcony before heading to the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens for a romantic picnic. Back at base at the end of the day, there’s a shared rooftop from which you can admire the urban skyline with your loved one, glass in hand.
Poowong East Marges Cottage
Marge’s Cottage is part of a small family-owned dairy farm in the undulating hills of South West Gippsland. Restored piece by piece by local craftsman, it gives guests a charming glimpse of its character-filled past in a romantic setting like no other. Soak the day away your rainwater bath, enjoy a glass of red by the fire or watch the sunset from the verandah with your special someone. This rural escape just wants you to unwind, relax and recharge.
Chewton Riversdale Retreat
Why not combine your romantic getaway in Victoria with a country escape and book a stay at Riversdale Retreat. This Chewton spot was designed with the eco-friendly and ultra-modern couple in mind. The home is equipped with solar hot water, a rainwater tank and is super insulated. While the home is environmentally friendly it certainly does not compromise on design with its Tatami lounge area and Japanese-style bathroom. If you're both nature lovers you will be sure to enjoy the privacy of the home being surrounded by bushland on three sides.
Cape Otway Sky Pod
The Sky Pod is maybe the most picturesque romantic getaway in Victoria. The off-grid pod has floor-to-ceiling windows surrounding the queen-sized bed for you and your significant other to catch the sunset over the ocean and stargaze come nightfall. Take movie night to the next level with the 100-inch projector that you can enjoy from the warmth of your bed. This secluded hideaway gives you ultimate privacy while being just a stroll away from the Great Ocean Walk, Beach Station and Rainbow Falls.
Contributors: Katherine Davison
Main image credit: Airbnb | Supplied by host
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