News from the world of travel
The AJN takes you around the world to see what’s new in travel.
Private villa offers relaxed luxury at Lake House
ACCLAIMED restauranteur and tourism stalwart Alla Wolf-Tasker’s Lake House restaurant in Daylesford has been a favourite with diners visiting Victoria’s spa country for almost 40 years.
The two-hatted restaurant, where local produce is a key feature of the gourmet menu, is the centrepiece of the Lake House retreat comprising suites and a spa that overlooks the lake in Daylesford, about 110 kilometres north-west of Melbourne.
Now Lake House has expanded with the opening of Dairy Flat Lodge, a European-style private villa set on a nearby 38-acre farm that has six suites for the exclusive use of small groups of up to 12 people.
Offering a peaceful haven, Dairy Flat Lodge appeals to couples, families including multi-generational and skip-generational, and groups celebrating special occasions.
At certain times of the year, individual suites can be booked.
The farm is set on rolling hills highlighted by vineyards, olive groves and bee hives, as well as plots of vegetables and herb gardens that supply the Lake House restaurant.
The heart of Dairy Flat Lodge is a majestic building that houses a stocked kitchen and bar as well as sitting and dining rooms for guests to relax in armchairs in front of a log fire.
It also houses four spacious suites, each with private ensuite, while two additional suites are set in a high-gabled barn.
Art by local artists and from the private collection of Allan Wolf-Tasker, who died last December, adds to the lodge’s charm.
Nearby are manicured formal gardens divided by a maze of high hedges which add an English flavour.
A short stroll from the lodge is the bakery, filled with the aroma of fresh sourdough made by a traditional slow fermentation method, as well as rolls, croissants and pastries that are also destined for the Lake House restaurant and the lodge.
Guests staying at Dairy Flat Lodge are attended by the team from Lake House and start the day with a country-style cooked breakfast.
A shared-platter dinner is prepared in the lodge on one night and guests can use the kitchen and BBQ to prepare their own meals. They can also make reservations at the Lake House restaurant.
Activities include relaxing walks around the farm and exploring local wineries by electric bike.
While the opening of Dairy Flat Lodge was delayed by COVID lockdowns, it is now fully operational.
Alla Wolf-Tasker said: “Dairy Flat Lodge offers the possibility of ‘exclusivity’, much in the manner of other existing super retreats and ‘owner cottage’ destinations within or adjacent to other lodges.”
Lake House, along with Dairy Flat Lodge, is a member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, a national marketing organisation of prestige properties.
For more information: dairyflatfarmdaylesford.com.au
Lightscape set to light up Brisbane
LIGHTSCAPE, the internationally-acclaimed light and sound after-dark experience set around a 2-kilometre trail, comes to Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens on August 31.
More than 100,000 small lights are used to illuminate installations and sculptures and create special effects in the gardens.
Lightscape has already delighted audiences in Sydney’s Botanic Gardens in May-June (as part of Vivid Sydney 2023) and then in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens and is billed as one of the highlights of the Brisbane Festival, which runs from September 1-23 with more than 1000 events and performances.
The Lightscape displays have been created by local and international artists and range from giant poppies and larger-than-life flowers to neon roots from brightly coloured trees. Lightscape continues until October 8.
A great place to stay in Brisbane’s CBD situated just a few minutes walk from the City Botanic Gardens is the Brisbane Adina Apartment Hotel at 171 George Street.
The hotel – part of the TFE stable – blends historic features with modern décor, housed in the heritage-listed former bank building dating from 1922. The spacious lobby with wood-panelled doors has soaring ceilings and marble floors.
The hotel has 220 rooms with art deco style taking up the first seven floors of the original building while five floors of apartments were added in 2018. All apartments have a kitchen, lounge and dining areas, while some have balconies and spectacular river views.
Check out the Boom Boom Room, an opulent basement-level lounge bar, and the open-air heated pool surrounded by brick walls.
Brisbane Adina Apartment Hotel is close to city attractions including the Queen Street Mall and South Bank.
Enquiries: adinahotels.com; brisbanefestival.com.au
Crystal ships return with a sparkling new look
FOR more than three decades, Crystal cruises catered for the luxury market. In 2022 the A&K Travel Group acquired the Crystal brand and its two ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, which have just completed multi-million-dollar refurbishments.
Earlier this month Crystal Serenity embarked on its inaugural post-refurbishment voyage, cruising from Marseille to Lisbon with 600 guests, while Crystal Symphony will resume service on September 1 with a cruise for 740 passengers departing from Athens to Venice via the Greek islands and Turkey.
Updates to both ships have resulted in larger, modern cabins and suites, revamped dining and public spaces, new entertainment areas and additional wellness facilities including an Aurora Spa.
There is an extensive choice of dining options on Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony headlined by the return of master chef Nobuyuki (Nobu) Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma featuring innovative Japanese-Peruvian cuisine.
A&K Travel Group CEO Cristina Levis said: “Crystal has been recognised for decades for exceptional experiences and we are excited to welcome guests back onboard for its new gilded era.”
Crystal Serenity’s first season of cruises includes Britain, Iceland, Canada and USA while Crystal Symphony’s first season focuses on Europe, Africa and Australia.
Enquiries: crystalcruises.com
comments