The sprawling vineyards and rolling hills of the Yarra Valley are just an hour’s drive from Melbourne. So you can hit the road for a weekend away and be sipping wine by dinnertime on Friday. Make the trip worthwhile with an Airbnb deep in the wilderness. We round up the best.
Start your day peacefully, savouring breakfast with spectacular views over the surrounding mountains from Kookaburra Cottage. This airy and impeccably furnished home, which sleeps nine across three bedrooms, has a French farmhouse feel to it. Take a soak in the bathtub after a day on the vineyards, then relax by the fire, which keeps the house warm and toasty no matter what the weather.
Set among trees, greenery and lush plants, this clapboard cottage feels like your very own treehouse, with only the birds to keep you company. It’s the perfect getaway for two, with a fully stocked kitchen so you can cook your own meals, leaving more time for you to take in the atmosphere. Enjoy sundowners by the pond, or while away the time with a good book in the enormous indoor spa bath.
This sky-blue, solar-powered tiny home is the ultimate off-the-grid hideaway for two; its only neighbours are cows grazing in the nearby field and the occasional kangaroo hopping by. While space might be on the cosy side, the place has everything you need for a comfy stay, including a fully functional kitchen, luxury bedlinen and a Bluetooth speaker and board games to keep you entertained.
This cylindrical home blends into its surroundings, making it look a little like the lair of a James Bond villain. With four double bedrooms, there’s oodles of living space, inside and out, so you can make the most of the spectacular location. An enormous bathtub in the main bathroom looks out over peaceful countryside – a great place to soak with a glass of locally produced wine. The huge windows and doors throughout give a sense of airiness and light – you can even hear the river trickling nearby.
The ideal choice if you’re visiting during summer, this modernist house comes with an enormous pool that’s perfect for cooling off after a steamy day. It overlooks the valley, so you could spend all day watching the sun drifting across the sky, casting different hues and shadows as the day wears on. Sleeping up to six (although best suited for four), the property is a short drive from some of the Yarra’s best wineries, many with tasting tours available.
Arriving at this unique eco-hut, you’ll quickly realise why it graces the pages of many glossy magazines. Feeling somewhere between a Tuscan villa and a safari lodge, the yurt – which sleeps two – is made up of terracotta-coloured concrete, exposed beams and rattan furnishings. The al fresco kitchen encourages you to embrace the outdoors as much as possible – offering up a magical experience of cooking while the morning mist rolls in around you.
Set on the grounds of the family-owned Dominique Portet Winery, the House in the Vines sleeps 10 guests across four bedrooms, making it perfect for a family or large group of friends. Start the morning with a fresh and frothy coffee made with the Nespresso machine in the kitchen, take in the vineyard vistas and repeat later with a glass of red produced from the same vines staring back at you. Its proximity to some of the area’s best vineyards and sights make getting around easy work.
Set on the edge of a sprawling pond, this dome-like hut sleeps four guests over two bedrooms, making it an ideal place for two couples. With its distinctive curve shape, the space feels a little like sleeping in a grandiose arch – one that just so happens to be surrounded by lush, wildflower-studded gardens. Breakfast is best appreciated on the patio table in front of the house, while the early morning sun slowly turns the pond into a gorgeous honey hue. Spend your day strolling the grounds of the working farm, and round off with a home-cooked hearty dinner in the fully equipped kitchen.