Five quirky and unique Australian winery stays
Combine a weekend drive with a unique stay location topped off with a great glass of wine and you're set.Winery visits are all well and good, but usually involve a designated driver who misses out on some of the fun. Solution? Book one of these quirky winery stays and there'll be no arguments, just plenty of time to enjoy a glass (or three), a long lunch and probably dinner, take in the sublime views and just ... relax.
Hotel California Rd @ Inkwell, McLaren Vale, South Australia
Welcome to the Hotel California Road. Such a lovely place. Co-owner Dudley Brown loves music (hence the name) and created this extraordinary hotel from 21 shipping containers roughly the same scale as Lego bricks. The result is a tiny adults-only hotel with only three suites. Each features a floating king bed, twin rain showers, a soaking tub, and a deck. Various 45-minute Inkwell wine-tasting flights can be enjoyed from the rooftop viewing deck, around the fireplace, standing up at the bar or with table service.
Barrel View Luxury Cabins, Ballandean, Queensland
Queensland might not be known for winemaking in the same way as the Barossa or Hunter Valleys but that’s changing. The Granite Belt is where the grapes are growing and Ballandean – about 200km inland, on the NSW border – is at the epicentre. Barrel View has three luxury cabins shaped as giant wine caskets, each with views of the 40-acre bushland property and beyond. A breakfast hamper, bottle of local wine, peace and solitude are all provided so you’ll be revitalised for another day of touring.
Nashdale Lane Glamping, Orange, NSW
It’s almost a four-hour drive from Sydney to Orange, so if you’re ready to explore this cool-climate wine area you’ll want somewhere spectacular to stay. Nashdale Lane has you covered – literally – with its permanent glamping tents. Solid timber floors, a warming wood-box fire and a canvas roof are for starters; views across the countryside to Mount Canobolas and access to Nashdale’s rustic cellar door are bonuses.
Mona Pavilions, Hobart, Tasmania
You all know MONA, right? The monumental Museum of Old and New Art is Tassie’s biggest attraction but it’s also home to Moorilla Estate winery, which itself is home to the MONA Pavilions. They literally hang out over the Derwent River so the views are fabulous and each is named after an Australian artist so, for instance, you’ll share the Arthur pavilion with a bona fide Boyd painting. MONA describes the accommodation as “super flash” and Moorilla’s pinot noir is world class so you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to stay.
Mount Ophir Estate, Rutherglen, Victoria
Rutherglen is about a three hour drive from Melbourne – but that’s a bonus: the wineries are old, the architecture grandly colonial and the foodie scene is definitely worth the trip. Mount Ophir is not only a renowned winery, but offers a wide range of luxurious and stylish accommodation options. Most impressive is The Tower, a three-level suite for couples in the old red brick winery, but for bigger group getaways consider The Residence (up to 10 people in the old homestead), or The Pickers’ Cottage (max 20).
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