The Best Romantic Getaways in Victoria

It’s an incredibly unromantic fact of long-term love that the most romantic getaways happen when you make them happen. Rostering in romance doesn't often make it into the movies the way a surprise trip to Paris might, but for adult humans in the real world there are fewer signs of true intimacy than a shared Google calendar.

Sometimes a weekend, sometimes even just a night, at the right hotel can do as much good as two weeks in Montmartre. (It just has to be a really, really good hotel.) A study on the positive relationship impacts of time away with your person of interest spoke to the truth that while routine is what keeps life moving, breaking routine is what keeps the spark sparking.

Even mini-breaks gave the couples surveyed a feeling of higher relationship satisfaction, improved communication and, eh-hem, increased physical intimacy that lasted beyond the time away. Step outside the humdrum and suddenly the person you see brushing their teeth every morning, who still hasn’t unloaded the dishwasher, becomes the person you’re ordering breakfast in bed with.

Whether it’s a chic city-break or staycation in Melbourne, or a road-trip into wine country, we found the most romantic getaways in Victoria.

With its ever-turning carousel of world-class theatre and exhibitions, and more boutique bars than you can shake a cocktail at, Melbourne is an essential place to visit in Victoria and one of the best cities in Australia for a city break - even if you’re lucky enough to call it home.

Why we love it: Quay West Suites is a ring-side seat to Melbourne’s beautiful circus. You’re perched above the Yarra River, all the lights of the city and Flinders Street Station below, but none of the noise. With 100 meticulously furnished suites, each featuring a balcony, a luscious bed and a lazy 11am checkout.

As the city hums around you, a five-minute walk will take you to the NGV, Federation Square, the Casino, or some very dangerous shopping. You can lean into the romance of golden hour with a private dinner cruise for two on the Yarra, or cuddle up at one of Melbourne’s favourite riverside bars like Arbory or Ponyfish Island. The hotel also has a gorgeous, romanesque magnesium mineral pool and spa. Their award-winning restaurant and bar, Jarrah, has panoramic city views and an outdoor terrace.

If you’re an Accor ALL member, expect extra spoils like suite upgrades, breakfasts, and welcome drinks depending on your status.

Pro tip: The National Gallery of Victoria’s permanent collection is home to some of the country’s most romantic pieces. Salvador Dali’s Trilogy of the desert: Mirage which he described as, “a metaphor for woman's idea of love” and Picasso’s Weeping Woman (romantic because it’s thought to be of his wife, weeping because it could also have been one of his many mistresses).

Why we love it: The Como Melbourne is a bit of an institution when it comes to discreet decadence. The spacious suites have had everyone from Robbie Williams to Paris Hilton (a girl who knows a thing or two about hotels), Bruce Springsteen to Fred Again rest a head on their perfectly plumped pillows.

Built for romance, the rooms feature magnificent bathtubs (some sunken, others free-standing, all big enough for two), yummy Morrissey toiletries and a signature Como rubber ducky in each bathroom. The glass ceilinged rooftop pool has amazing views of the city, or relax hand in hand in the traditional Finnish style dry sauna.

The Como is known for its signature breakfast brasserie, with a heaving buffet of every conceivable breakfast whim, an impressive à la carte menu and eggs made to your request on the spot.

Pro tip: Crowning the rooftop of the nearby Goldfields tower, the lift up to Beverly for dinner takes longer than the walk - but only if you were clever enough to make a reservation. High above the city, this stylish rooftop spot marries the laid-back ambience and food of SoCal with a sweeping 270-degree view spanning from the MCG to the Dandenongs.

Sometimes you have to disconnect to reconnect, get out of the city and into a place where you can look at some stars together. These destinations are all about space, luxury, and a slower pace…but with excellent WiFi.

Why we love it: Set beside its own winery, The Mitchelton Hotel is proper indulgence. No passing traffic, no light pollution.

The rooms are exquisite, many with a private balcony overlooking the shimmering 20m infinity pool and the gentle bends of the Goulburn River. The building itself is an actual work of art, with a modern, almost Tim Burton-esque tower rising over the vines. Step inside and the warm glow of open fires in the foyer, restaurant, and cellar door immediately signal that it’s a place to take your time with.

Wander the impeccably manicured grounds together, following walking trails that weave through vineyards and gardens, or find the excellent art gallery hidden beneath the hotel. The hotel has a full-service spa, complete with coupless' treatments and massage.

Then there’s the wine. Mitchelton’s award-winning cellar door is part of the hotel, meaning an exceptional tasting experience is just steps from your suite. Their shiraz is legendary, their rosé a delight.

Pro tip: Pair your wine with a long, leisurely meal at in-house restaurant, The Muse, where local produce shines in dishes crafted for indulgence. Standouts are the slow-cooked lamb, freshly caught trout, and decadent chocolate and Tawny marquis with summer cherries.

Why we love it: Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, Peppers Marysville is set in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, surrounded by towering mountain ash trees and rolling hills. This is the perfect weekend escape for self-described “outdoor types”. Take a scenic drive through Yarra Ranges National Park, where dense forests give way to breathtaking mountain views, or lace up your hiking boots for a trek through Cathedral Ranges.

Back at the hotel, indulge in a little tandem R&R. At the wellness spa at Peppers Marysville you can start with a full-body salt scrub and a luxurious frangipani body wrap, followed by a blissful full-body massage. The rooms are designed for comfort and intimacy, with bedding of the highest quality, blackout curtains for a much needed sleep-in, and attractive lighting. There’s also a lap pool and a full-sized gym, though no one would blame you if your biggest workout was raising a glass of local wine at dinner.

Speaking of, the on-site Andiamo Restaurant and Bar is known throughout Victoria for using some of the best produce from this rich food and wine region.

Pro tip: Nothing says romance like floating over the Yarra Valley at sunrise in a wicker basket. Book a hot air balloon ride and watch the Yarra Valley drench in gold light from above.

You never have to forget Paris, but you should definitely forget waiting for the perfect time to get away. Because in the end romance isn’t ever really about where you go, it’s about how the place makes you feel and most importantly, who you want to go there with. Even if they still haven’t emptied the dishwasher.