Weekend Getaway to Marysville, Yarra Valley
Situated in the alpine region of Victoria is the small town of Marysville, approximately 2 hours from Melbourne CBD, makes for the perfect day trip or, in our case, a weekend away.
STAY
PEPPERS MARYSVILLE
Our stay at Peppers Marysville was full of mixed emotions, but overall the accommodation was comfortable. At this time of year (snow season) the resort caters very well to families with young children (and those young at heart). In saying that, there were children everywhere and as a young couple without children this was less than ideal for our relaxing weekend. Peppers offers packages allowing access to Lake Mountain Resort for a visit to the snow however the weather was quite warm while we were there so any snow around was artificial. The township does have a number of shops from which you can hire your snow gear, including toboggins but as that is what the majority of families were doing, we opted to avoid the snow.
The heated outdoor pool was a nice addition however the lack of robes or slippers provided, and the excessive amount of duck poo in and around the pool was less than ideal.
We had booked the ultimate indulgence retreat for our stay which included daily breakfast, a spa credit of $100, and wine and chocolates on arrival. Upon check-in, the receptionist assisted with a booking at their restaurant, despite my attempts in the week prior to making a reservation with no return communication. We ended up with a rather late dinner reservation, which was fine as we had nowhere else to be, and we made our way to our room to enjoy the local wine.
Our intention was to head to the bar, adjacent to the restaurant, and enjoy a mulled wine by the outdoor fire, as is promoted on Peppers social media, however, this did not occur. The staff at Andiamo were few and incredibly busy, so we took a seat by the indoor fire and waited for our reservation. Approximately 5 minutes prior to our seating time another couple walked in for dinner only to be told by a staff member that the kitchen was closed and could maybe make them a dessert (not an ideal conversation to overhear when we were due to take our seats at any moment). About 15 minutes later (pesky impatient patrons wanting complicated split bills) we were taken to our table as the kitchen was still open for dinner! But this dinner we would not see for over an hour as it took 30 minutes for our order to be taken… Again, we had nowhere to go but we were hungry and one of the staff members was sitting down talking to another table. To top off the evening, the food was over-priced ($40 pork belly with less than 2 baby potatoes…), bland and cold (soggy chips anyone?) and the service appalling! Andiamo should be avoided for anything other than the simple buffet breakfast.
Remember my $100 spa credit, well I had booked a massage a week or two prior to our stay and was very much looking forward to a fresh start on Saturday morning, following the dining debacle that was Friday night! So 15 minutes before my treatment time I make my way to the hotel spa and find the door locked with no one inside. I waited half an hour for anyone to show up before I made my way to reception to see what had happened where I was informed that my spa therapist had forgotten about my appointment. This weekend was off to a brilliant start!
While the hotel itself was comfortable, the periphery businesses made for a disappointing experience. Some additional improvements the hotel would benefit from would be the aforementioned robe and slippers to aid access to the pool and sauna, as well as an in-room coffee machine or at the very least a more premium offering than the sachets of Nescafe.
There is a bright side to this weekend though!
EXPLORE
STEAVENSONS FALLS & KEPPEL LOOKOUT
A short 5 minute drive from Peppers will take you to the stunning Steavenson Falls. The walk to the base of the Falls is approximately 80 meters and offers gorgeous views of the waterfall. We would recommend that the adventurous should take the 20-30 minute light hike to the top of the falls for amazing views over the Valley.
Another 10 minute drive will take you to Keppel Lookout for more breathtaking scenery. The stillness and serenity you experience at this lookout is unapparelled, especially if you are as lucky as we were to have the entire lookout to yourself. This is the benefit of doing off-season activities!
HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY
Healesville Sanctuary is an absolute must while out this side of the state. Get up close and personal with so many native Australian animals, including dingoes, kangaroos, and emus (remember we lost a war to these birds…). The Tasmanian Devils were a favourite for us as were the very friendly Wallabies!
SIPS & EATS
In Marysville, the food options after 5 pm are lacking (especially if avoiding Andiamo) so a short 30-minute drive into the heart of Healesville is probably your best option. For a substantial meal, Monroe’s Burgers & Beers is great! Otherwise, enjoy a tipple and bar snack at Cavanagh’s Whisky & Alehouse (our dinner choice for Saturday night). Drink your way through a stunning selection of premium local and international whisky and you must try the Buffalo Chicken Jaffle!
On your journey home on Sunday be sure to stop in at Cheesemonger Sophie! Open from 10 am they offer an extensive range of cheese, baguettes and bagels to purchase! Do as we do and go for the cheeseboard to sample the best cheese around, and your pick of a bottle of wine! Sophie (the cheese expert herself) will talk you through all the cheeses and suggest pairings of dried grapes and fig jam to enhance your experience. If it’s too early for wine, be sure to grab a coffee from one of the many cafes to enjoy with your cheese or baguette.