Wellness Escape: Bed and Breakfast Stay at a Private 5-Hectare Homestead

The property sits in a valley at Arthurs Creek, roughly 40 minutes' drive from Melbourne's north-eastern suburbs and inside the boundary of the Yarra Valley. It's 5 hectares of a mix of native bush, open lawns, orchard rows and grazing paddocks, with a dam/lake that draws wildlife — kangaroos, ducks and a long list of local birdlife. The homestead itself is the centre of the property: guest rooms are in and around it, and the verandas look out over the garden and down towards the water.

Accommodation is in private rooms, with a choice between double-glazed garden-view rooms that sleep up to two people, and a rammed-earth retreat room that sleeps up to four and has its own ensuite bathroom. Every room is fitted with a flat-screen TV, DVD/MP3 player, bar fridge and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Some rooms have their own bathrooms; others share. It's comfortable farmhouse-style accommodation rather than a polished resort — think fresh linen, solid walls, thick rammed earth in the newer room, and windows that open onto the garden.

Breakfast comes with the room and is the part of the stay the owners clearly care most about. Fruit and vegetables come from the garden and orchard, eggs from the property's chickens, and the rest of what's on the table is sourced from Yarra Valley producers. Dinners are available on request Sunday to Thursday (they're not normally served Friday or Saturday), cooked by the homestead cooks and built around what's in season. Guest kitchen space and a shared lounge with a fireplace are available, so self-catering is an option if you'd rather do your own thing.

Location-wise, the property works as a base for the region. Healesville Sanctuary is about a 45-minute drive, the Yarra Valley's wineries and cellar doors are within easy reach, the Kinglake National Park and the Great Dividing Trail are nearby for walking, and Arthurs Creek itself has a local pub, golf course and monthly farmers market. Melbourne Airport is roughly an hour away by car. Days here tend to be split between being on the property and heading out into the valley — guests often do one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

What this is: a hosted farm stay on real working land, with good breakfast and space to yourself. What this isn't: a fitness retreat, a yoga programme or anything with a daily class timetable. There's no group schedule, no teacher, and no shared activity agenda. If you're looking for structured training or a class-based week away, this isn't that — it's a quiet place to sleep, eat well and walk in the bush.

What's included

- Overnight accommodation in a private room - Breakfast daily, made with garden, orchard and Yarra Valley produce - Access to the 5-hectare property, gardens, lake and walking tracks - Shared lounge with fireplace - Free parking on site - Flat-screen TV, DVD/MP3 player, bar fridge and tea/coffee facilities in every room

What's not included

- Lunch and dinner (dinner is available on request Sunday to Thursday only) - Transport to and from the property - Flights - Travel insurance - Personal expenses