Less than an hour outside of the hip and bustling city of Melbourne, Australia’s Yarra Valley wine region is a popular getaway for visitors and locals alike. Worthy of planning your day to arrive before sunset, Chateau Yering Hotel boasts stunning vistas and a deeply rooted history.
A restored 1854 Victorian mansion turned hotel, a number of owners have made changes throughout the years, but the original house remains. Set on 250 acres, the property features 32 suites, each uniquely decorated with antique furnishings and ornate fabrics. Only the Yering Suite is in the original building; all other suites are in two modern buildings.
No two suites are exactly the same. In the De Castella Suite, colorful floral-patterned material frames the king bed and glass doors that lead to the spacious balcony. In addition to a comfortable sitting area, a circular table provides ample space to spread out travel gear, or have a bite to eat. The marble bathroom features a walk-in shower and clawfoot tub.
Romantic in feel, antique furnishings pay tribute Chateau Yering’s past, however accommodations are not without modern touches. All suites have televisions, DVD players, and Wi-Fi, along with supplies to make coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
Instead of room numbers, every Chateau Yering suite is named after people or things to do with the property since the 1800s. Every suite is also home to a resident privacy cat. Place the stuffed animal outside your door and it serves as a fun twist on the traditional hotel “do not disturb” sign.
Chateau Yering Hotel has two onsite restaurants. Sweetwater Café serves a cold breakfast buffet alongside made-to-order entrees the likes of Eggs Benedict and Rolled Nutella French Toast, daily from 7:30am to 10:30am. Lunch is available every Friday through Sunday (and holidays) from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Eleonore’s Restaurant serves tasty and beautifully plated dishes with French influences. Elegant, but still comfortable, it’s open daily for dinner; reservations are recommended.
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The hotel offers a number of amenities that encourage guests to get outside. In addition to a pool, there’s a tennis court, croquet, and Petanque (French Boules). In-suite massages can also be arranged.
The property’s historical gardens were planted in the 1850s. They make the easy walk to neighboring Yering Station winery, Victoria’s oldest winery, colorful and enjoyable. All hotel guests receive a complimentary tasting.
Chateau Yering works with local hot air ballooning companies, making sure guests are up before the sun and ready to go on flying days. Since bad weather can occasionally ground flights at the last moment, hotel staff stay in close communication with pilots. (If balloons aren’t taking off, guests aren’t woken up at 4:30am.) The property also has a membership at The Eastern Golf Club for guests interested in teeing off, or simply visiting the course to see the numerous kangaroos that call it home.
The TarraWarra Museum of Art, and popular Australian wildlife park, Healesville Sanctuary, are both less than a 20-minute drive. The property is located about an hour’s drive from Melbourne Airport.
Chateau Yering suites are divided into four different accommodations categories. The De Castella Suite is in the Melba Suite category. Room rates start at $284. Wi-Fi, breakfast, Petit Fours on arrival, and wine tasting at neighboring Yering Station Winery are included. You can go to Hotels.com to compare rates and make reservations as well.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by Visit Victoria, but as always her thoughts and opinions are her own.
