5 star Melbourne Citystay and Yarra Valley Wineries Experience

Melbourne is known for its vibrant cultural scene and hosts a variety of seasonal events throughout the year. Some of the best events include:

1. Melbourne International Arts Festival and Fringe – held 1 – 20 October in 2024, this festival features a diverse range of performances, including dance, music, theatre, and visual arts, from local and international artists. Fringe festival details here.
2. Melbourne Food and Wine Festival – this festival celebrates the city’s thriving food and wine culture with a variety of events, including tastings, masterclasses, and dinners.
   All the details here
3. Melbourne Fashion Festival, Runway series, exhibitions and performances across the city.  Details of events and workshops here
4. Australian Open – held in January, this major tennis tournament attracts the world’s top players and is one of the four Grand Slam events on the professional tennis calendar.
5. Melbourne Festival – held in October, this festival features a wide range of performances, including theatre, dance, music, and visual arts.
6. Melbourne Cup Carnival – held in November, the first Tuesday of the month (5th November 2024) the Melbourne Cup is a week-long horse racing event that is considered the premier event on the Australian horse racing calendar, it’s also a major social and fashion event. The race that stops a nation…
7. Melbourne International Comedy Festival – held in April, this festival features a wide range of comedians from around the world, performing stand-up, sketch, and improv comedy. Shows, dates and venues here.
8. White Night Melbourne – held in February, an all-night arts festival with free exhibitions, live music, film screenings, and interactive installations across the city.

Melbourne:
The Kingston is a sophisticated, yet relaxed hotel and dining experience, nestled in the quiet leafy streets of Melbourne/Narrm’s inner city suburb of Richmond. The 168 year-old, historic Richmond icon has undergone a $1.5 million update including a total refresh of the public bar, while the 120-person courtyard was redesigned by landscape architect Jim Fogarty with a provincial Tuscan look. The centrepiece of this iconic venue is the addition of Marble & Pearl, a refined dining room showcasing premium Australian beef and local seafood, all cooked on a charcoal Parilla grill where the Head Chef has been trained in the essence of cooking with fire. The menu is complemented by an extensive curated list of local and international wines, beers and cocktails. Featuring stylish leather booths, a stunning centre fireplace and unpretentious service, Marble & Pearl is where you come for the steak and stay for the banter. The Kingston details here. 

Stella: Multi-story hospitality venue Stella is opening this September on the prominent corner of Chapel and Grosvenor Street in Melbourne/Narrm’s inner city suburbs, set to deliver an Italian food philosophy with a modern Australian twist, alongside a collection of signature drinks and stellar rooftop vistas. Perfect for a quick bite or a more elegant meal, Stella will offer house-made artisanal pasta with seasonal sauces, pizzas topped with classic and modern, adventurous combinations (made using Stella’s signature dough recipe passed down through the generations), as well as regional Italian favourite dishes, desserts and smaller sharing plates. Details for Stella here.

Amphlett house – good honest fare and vibrant drinks on tap!
Located in the heart of Melbourne’s restaurant and theatre district, Amphlett House, is the new 120-seat taphouse with a designers 80s vibe which sees exceptional drinks and elevated pub classics come together in a welcoming and upbeat atmosphere. The new venue is spearheaded by two of Australian hospitality’s finest, Andrea Gualdi (named ‘The Best Bar in Australasia 2021’ by ‘The World’s 50 Best Bars’) and celebrated Melburnian chef, Ian Curley. Gualdi has curated a drinks list that will tap into a new way of drinking, with a variety of tipples on tap including craft beers, wines and a unique selection of handcrafted cocktails using Australian ingredients. Designed by renowned interior designer, Rachel Luchetti, the interiors nod to the building’s 80’s era, elevated by the injection of colour and energy throughout the building.
For more information, click here for the website.

Melbourne’s best laneway secrets. From rooftop bars to basement boutiques, they are filled with one-of-a-kind experiences. There is an Alice in Wonderland feel to Melbourne’s lively laneways: you never know what lies around the next corner. You might come across a cobbler creating made-to-measure shoes, or a talented chef reinventing Indian favourites. There’s really only one thing that’s certain – you’ll find something new every time.
Art: Try Union Lane, walk down this quiet thoroughfare and you find yourself in a different world, dominated by the ever-changing street art that covers every wall. You might even bump into an artist creating a new work as you watch.
Coffee: Step into this converted warehouse in Rankins Lane and you will immediately understand why Manchester Press café is always full. The high ceilings and oversized wooden tables create a welcoming feel, but what really keeps its devoted followers coming back is the fabulous coffee and the tasty selection of bagels.
Garden Rooftop Bar: This offshoot of the much-loved Loop art space has become almost more popular than its big sister. Climb the long staircase in Meyers Place and you will emerge into Loop Roof, a verdant oasis framed against a striking view of the city skyline. The cocktail list continues the garden theme. The specialty of the house is juleps, which come in unusual variations such as herbaceous (dill, cucumber and capsicum), and earthy (beetroot and walnut).
A leafy Laneway: Many of Melbourne’s laneways give off an artsy alternative vibe, but one laneway is brightening its alley with green. Part of the ‘Green Your Laneways’ campaign, Guildford Lane has become home to potted plants, window boxes and creeping vines. Within the urban oasis you’ll find equally pleasant cafés. Krimper features tables made from recycled lift doors and a menu of hearty yet fresh breakfast and lunch options, while Cat Café Melbourne – as the name suggests – houses rescue cats that wander freely throughout the two-storey premises.

Golf Retreat: Yering Gorge Cottage guests can lunch or dine in the understated elegance of the Eastern Golf Club’s Dining Room or the more relaxed Members’ Lounge & Bar.

Close to Yering Cottages is the Maroondah Highway – an easy drive of approximately 10 minutes – and where you will find a great selection of wineries that you can book in for a cellar door tasting, linger a bit longer over some incredible food designed to perfectly complement the wines being poured – all whilst enjoying the unique stories that are waiting to be told and spectacular landscapes that can be discovered at each destination. And, for those that enjoy their cocktails, there’s a couple of wineries that are now producing their own spirit ranges.

The Yarra Valley Grand Hotel is our go-to-place when wanting classic ‘pub style’ food in a relaxed environment. Built in 1888, this landmark historical hotel is classified with the National Trust. Offering casual bistro dining with indoor and outdoor spaces, the menu offers something for everyone – with local Yarra Valley producers well-showcased.

Did you know?

1. Melbourne was founded in 1835 by John Batman, a wealthy entrepreneur who negotiated a treaty with the local Indigenous tribes to gain control of the land.
2. The city experienced rapid growth in the 1850s during the Victorian gold rush, which brought thousands of immigrants to the region in search of wealth.
3. Melbourne was the capital of Australia from 1901 to 1927, during which time it played an important role in the country’s political and economic development.
4. The city was heavily affected by World War II, with many residents enlisting in the military and a significant number of refugees and migrants arriving in the post-war period.
5. Melbourne is known for its diverse cultural heritage, with significant contributions from early Chinese and Italian immigrants, as well as more recent arrivals from all over the world.

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Yara Valley Wine and Wildlife tour: Healesville Sanctuary, De Bortoli Wines and the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery have created the perfect Yarra Valley self-drive day out. From $320 per couple.

De Bortoli “Locale” Restaurant Premium Experience: Indulge yourself in a seasonally Italian-inspired 3 course menu featuring a selection of the finest local produce from the Yarra Valley and their very own garden on site, all matched with one of De Bortoli’s finest wines. From $340 per couple.

Dominique Portet Cellar Door Le Tour De Rose: Enjoy a warm welcome from a Dominique Portet host, who will provide you with an overview of the estate’s history, then guide you through three wines matched with a selection of charcuterie, cheese and rustic baguette. The perfect match for rosé. Santé! From $160 per couple.

De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate Behind the Scenes & Wine Blending: Before touring the wine making facilities, enjoy the spectacular views of the vineyard whilst learning about viticultural practices. You will have the opportunity to taste wines from barrels and tanks. Your knowledgeable host will then spoil you with premium and reserve wines and food pairing in a private tasting room. Finish your visit at the Blending Table, a hands-on, interactive experience where you get to be winemaker for a day by creating your truly unique blend of wine with your chosen distinct flavours and textures. Bottle, name and label your own personalised sample to take home and enjoy! From $540 per couple.