Hesket House, VICTORIA
Airing Date: May 7th, 2002
Only 25 minutes from Melbourne airport and five minutes from the legendary Hanging Rock, Hesket House is one of Victoria's best-kept guesthouse secrets.
From sitting by a cosy fire with a book to an energetic hike on the surrounding five kilometres of walking trails, the choice is yours.
Get to know the area with a personalised, chauffeur driven tour. Mount An Event tours will pick you up from Hesket House and take you to all the local must see spots.
Luscious gardens featuring a mixture of rare exotic trees and rich Australian bushland are part of the tour and are sure to revitalise and refresh the body and mind as you breathe in the fresh country air.
The first destination is Mount Macedon, here the relaxed pace will roll on with a leisurely viewing of a garden that has been strategically planted so that it blooms all year round.
The smell of natural habitat is invigorating and a delicious morning tea of smoked salmon sandwiches and blueberry tarts is very civilised.
An added benefit of a Mount An Event tour is that you can choose your own itinerary if you wish. Other stop offs can include art galleries, wineries or native wildlife venues.
Upon completion of the tour you are returned to Hesket House where you are treated to country style homemade lunch prepared on the traditional wood-fired stove from organically grown produce.
The indoor rainforest atrium, complete with a waterfall is the perfect place to enjoy a spa or to eat.
After lunch a pampering massage wll melt your worries away.
The area isn't without its share of culture or history either. Just down the road is Memorial Cross, a war memorial reserve dedicated to the Australians who fought and died for our country.
The original cross, after years of weathering, was destroyed in the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires; a replacement was kindly donated to remember our fellow Australians.
Hanging Rock, a rare geological formation that stands 711 metres above sea level, is only a short trip away.
The facts
Qantas flies to Melbourne daily from all capital cities. Prices start from $176 ex-Sydney return and $462 ex-Perth. Additional taxes, levies and charges apply.
Qantas
Tel: 13 13 13
Overnight accommodation packages at Hesket House including a three course meal, cooked breakfast, a one hour massage and aromatherapy spa costs from $210 per person.
Hesket House Retreat
Tel: 03 5427 0608
Mount An Event tours cost between $100 and $385 per person including morning tea and return transfers from Hesket House.
Mount An Event
Tel: 03 5426 1246
For more information about Victoria visit the Tourism Victoria website.
Tel: 03 9653 9773
