Our top five places with a fireplace
Football is dominating television, days are short and it’s decidedly cold outside.Seems the best excuse for a relaxing or exhilarating drive (you choose) may be a destination with a cosy fireplace. Here are some worth a day trip.
Royal Hotel, Bowral, NSW
Out of Sydney there are numerous fireside winter destinations including the fog-shrouded Blue Mountains to the west or the crisp and frosty Hunter Valley up north. A more than admirable alternative is a trip south, a couple of hours down the Hume Highway to the Southern Highlands. The charms of the historic township of Bowral are well known and, when hunger strikes, you just need to pop into the Royal Hotel for lunch. The bistro has an open fireplace by which to enjoy winter classics such as bangers and mash, or if it’s just a restorative drink you’re after, the bar has a big log-fired stove.
Port Phillip Estate, Red Hill, Victoria
For Melbournians looking to escape the big smoke without driving too far, the Mornington Peninsula has long been a favoured destination. While the Peninsula’s beaches and golf courses are great year-round, in winter, when you need something cosy, don’t be perturbed if at first glance Port Phillip Estate winery might not exactly fit the bill. In fact its monolithic concrete façade hides a secret: a double fronted fireplace with one side facing the cellar-door tasting space, and the other into a restaurant consistently voted one of regional Victoria’s finest. Try some pinot, stop for lunch and enjoy the huge windows to gaze at the clouds rolling across Westernport Bay as you bask in the warmth of that fab fireplace.
Duck Inn, Coromandel Valley, South Australia
Adelaide residents and visitors alike often want to head to the hills – the Adelaide Hills, that is, which is beautiful area pleasantly close to the CBD. While the grapes in the renowned vineyards hibernate during colder months, the small Adelaide Hills towns, accessed via some glorious twisting roads, remain very appealing – especially if a roaring log fire is waiting when you arrive. Try the Duck Inn in the Coromandel Valley. Of course there’s an open fire, the main bar has big, comfy Chesterfield sofas, and the dining room has a contemporary menu showcasing the area’s finest produce.
Kalamunda Hotel, Kalamunda, Western Australia
It gets pretty hot in Perth so, when winter rolls around, the locals feel the chills more than most. Sure the West Coast beaches are terrific year-round, but it can get nippy in the hills east of town. So they know the value of a good log fire in picturesque Kalamunda. Visitors and local warm their tailbones at the Kalamunda Hotel, a sprawling pub which extends a generous welcome year-round. Built in 1902, there are shady verandas for summer and, in the cool months, they crank-up the fire so you can really enjoy a drink or a casual meal.
Ross Hotel, Ross, Tasmania
It’s no surprise Tassie does winter properly…which means escaping the cold is all the more satisfying. If you’re travelling between Hobart and Launceston – or just want a day out from either town – stop at Ross where the Ross Hotel puts on a warm welcome. This is a traditional Tassie pub (c1835), built by convicts from hand-cut sandstone, and features no less than five fireplaces to keep the cold at bay. It’s even featured on Ross’ famous (and somewhat puritanical) four-way signpost under the direction of “Temptation”. The chicken parmas, roasts of the day and toasties make it mighty tempting.
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