Araluen Lodge - Yarra Valley — Hotel in Melbourne

We booked the Hillside Villa for two nights to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and could not have made a better choice for such a special occasion! Set in a stunning tranquil setting, the villa was beautiful with all the amenities and special little touches that made for an unforgettable experience. The cosy villa has everything - super comfortable bed & pillows, modern bathroom with generous sized spa bath & walk in shower (plus heated floors & towel rails), gas log fireplace (so cosy on a cold night) or air conditioning for warmer weather, Large smart TV, Bluetooth speaker to play your own music & comfy lounge, dining table for 2, kitchenette with dishwasher, fridge & Nespresso coffee maker (plus all cutlery/utensils you need - including continental breakfast supplies). Walk onto the front deck and you overlook the billabong with recliner chairs to lay back, relax and take it all in. The weather was magnificent, and we thoroughly enjoyed this outdoor area to chill out, enjoy a glass of wine and cook our dinner on the hooded BBQ on the deck. There's a walking track directly opposite that follows the road and makes for a beautiful morning stroll, The location is only a short 5-10 min drive to the township of Yarra Glen and similar to numerous wineries so you really don't have to venture far to experience all that the Yarra Valley has to offer once you settle into this little hidden gem. The communication with the hosts (Rachel & Neil) was excellent and they really do take care of every little touch to make it a special place to stay. We took advantage of the offer to book 2 x 90min relaxation massages (at additional cost) which Rachel arranged for the day we arrived and that was simply the perfect way to unwind and start our stay. We could not rate or recommend this place more highly and know you will not be disappointed! Thank you to our hosts Rachel & Neil, we loved our stay and will be coming back and referring you to family and friends which is the best compliment we...

If you are looking for a relaxing weekend away in the Yarra Valley with your choice of stunning restaurants and wineries on your door step, then a stay at Araluen Boutique Villas is a must.

Your gracious hosts, Rachel and Neil Hansen, are a wealth of knowledge and happy to offer advice and suggestions regarding local eateries and attractions that will best match the experience you are looking for. Anything you need, just ask and they are happy to oblige, be it making bookings or whatever else you need.

Your villa itself is your self contained patch of paradise and the perfect base from which to explore the Yarra Valley. Each villa has a kitchen with fridge, cook top and convection microwave plus crockery, pans and cutlery, allowing you the option to cook a casual evening meal relaxing in comfort in front of the roaring gas fire after a full day out and about exploring the local sites.

Breakfast provisions are included, with the resident chickens laying fresh eggs daily that you are welcome to gather yourself or spend some time picking citrus from the on site trees laden with fruit (lemons, oranges, grapefruit, mandarins plus olives and pears).

The luxury bathroom has a spa for 2, walk in shower, plush towels plus heated floor and towel rail. You'll also enjoy wifi and a suberbly comfortable king bed to lay your head. In the warmer months you'll also enjoy the solar heated swimming pool.

This is our second time enjoying Araluen, having stayed in both the garden and hilltop villas. We'll certainly...

Superb location in magnificent Yarra Glen. My wife and I stayed for three nights over the New Year weekend.

The grounds are well maintained, and relaxing views over the surrounding areas in front of the property are provided from the cottage balconies. The backdrop behind the property is a steep hill covered by Australian native plants. Kangaroos are frequently seen in the area, and may have to be avoided when driving on the local roads. The swimming pool is not very big, but adequate for the guests to swim in and cool down after returning from sightseeing.

And the cottages ! Spacious and comfortable, with a king size bed, lounge chairs, large flat screen TV, adequate kitchenette with small fridge, microwave, small dining table, crockery, cutlery and glasswear for four, sun lounges and seating on the balcony. The spa bath in our cottage could probably squeeze in four if you were so inclined, and the spacious shower also included fragrant cleansing lotions etc. The breakfast supplies were more than adequate, and the added touches such as chocolates were appreciated.

Information and suggestions about local vineyards and restaurants provided by our hosts were reliable, and any extras requested were quickly forthcoming.

We...