The Lake House, Daylesford

The Lake House offers sublime food (it’s actually one of the best restaurants in the country), luxury accommodation and a blissful spa, and it’s just 90 minutes from Melbourne. Owned by renowned chef Alla Wolf-Tasker and her family, the Lake House is a must for any food lover. Alla almost single-handedly put regional produce on Australia’s food map and it’s still an integral part of the food scene at the Lake House today.

This is, however, more than just a sensational restaurant; there are 33 stylish rooms and suites offering every creature comfort, and a divine spa. Sculptures from some of the region’s top artists grace the gardens whilst art from the equally talented Allan Wolf-Tasker, whose work hangs in private galleries and collections around the world, can be found throughout the hotel. His on site studio is open by invitation and appointment for Lake House guests.

Location

Daylesford is a charming country town around 90 minutes drive from Melbourne and an eclectic mix of artisan shops, cafes and galleries. The surrounding area is filled with pristine bush, waterfalls and with Australia’s largest collection of natural hot springs it has led to an abundance of treatment studios and spas. The Lake House itself sits on the banks of Lake Daylesford in six acres of gardens and there is direct access to the Wombat State Forest beyond.

Accommodation

The rooms here are stylish and elegant and come in a number of different guises. All are individually decorated and include outside space, WiFi, iPod docking station and a mini bar filled with locally sourced nibbles and treats. The waterfront rooms are amongst our favourites with a beautiful furnished balcony overlooking the lake and comfortable seating area. The lodge suites are more spacious and open out to a private courtyard whilst the waterfront suites occupy prime position overlooking the lagoon and shores of Lake Daylesford.

Dining

It’s hard to know where to start; the restaurant here is the one of the best in the country. Alla Wolf-Tasker is the Executive Chef assisted by Head Chef David Green and the kitchen produce almost everything from the ground up. As you would expect dining here is a memorable experience, everything is local and seasonal with a menu which changes twice in a season following what Mother Nature decides to offer. Dinner can be à la carte or a tasting menu and the wine list is world class. Residents receive priority booking for the restaurant but we would strongly advise booking a table in advance of your stay.

Facilities

All guests enjoy complimentary parking and there is a full size tennis court, sauna and spa plus a DVD library for guests’ use. Salus Spa is a state of the art spa set in the grounds of the Lake House offering 9 treatment rooms surrounded by waterfall fed streams. There are also a series of cooking classes and food-led masterclasses throughout the year.