Take a trip on the retro side
Embark on a nostalgia-fueled getaway in regional Victoria with a stay at one of our favourite retro motels. Complete with colourful poolside umbrellas, quirky linen and lush velvet furnishings, these motels have been revamped to ensure your good ol' fashioned road trip is one for the 'gram.
1. Kyneton Springs Motel
Nostalgic yet undeniably modern, Kyneton Springs Motel has been renovated to embody all the charm of yesterday, with all the comfort of today. Picture bold wallpaper, colourful wall prints and neon outdoor signs. Up the charm with a visit to the motel's onsite eatery, Cathie's Kiosk, where you can sip cocktails on the patio, grab a paper bag lunch to go, or order a breakfast tray direct to your room. Literally everything about this motel screams fun.
2. Sunnymead Hotel
Head down the Great Ocean Road for a splash of fun in Aireys Inlet, a vibrant coastal town with art, great food and nature galore. While you're there, fall in love with the retro revival vibe at Sunnymead Hotel.
The boutique accommodation has all the ingredients for a good time – an outdoor magnesium pool, pool bar, fire pit, Indian-inspired restaurant and unique day spa. But the rooms, the rooms are something else. We're talking playfully styled with lux finishings, a mini bar filled with locally-sourced treats and luxe bathroom products from local suppliers. So kick back and enjoy your getaway with a trip to the spa, a good feed, and a healthy dose of art and design, before you step foot out of your hotel.
3. Old Mill Park
Shake your groove thing right back into the 70's at Old Mill Park in the alpine town of Bright. Freshly renovated and large enough to house 18 people (plus your pooch), the holiday home contains everything you need for a stellar stay.
Wake up to views of the surrounding mountains, cook up a storm in the funky lime green kitchen and relax in front of a roaring fireplace. Bring your bikes to roll along the local Rail Trail or take a short stroll into the town centre, to enjoy everything Bright has to offer.
4. River Drive Motel
Lights, camera, action on your very own 70s-style escape. Head two hours from Melbourne to Tarwin Lower in South Gippsland, where you'll find River Drive Motel. The self-contained motel has been lovingly refurbished with a nod to holiday nostalgia and is situated amongst one-acre of eye-catching gardens, just a breezy stroll from the Tarwin River or a short drive into the coastal town of Venus Bay.
5. Bright Velo
Come for the High Country's endless mountain ranges, chilled-out breweries and boutique vineyards, but stay for the evocative charm of Bright Velo.
Located in the heart of Bright's charming township, and close to various cycling and hiking trails, the hotel has been fully renovated to include a 120-seat bistro, a wine and whisky bar (yes, please!) and updated boutique rooms. Think rich mahogany throughout, opulent lighting, leather barstools and intricate wallpaper, packaged within an adorable weatherboard exterior. The hotel is an ode to vintage design and good ol' fashioned hospitality.
6. Alpine Hotel Warburton
You're in the hills, surrounded by lush greenery and mountains exploring the best of the Yarra Valley's alpine region – where better to stay than a classic, heritage-listed pub? Alpine Hotel Warburton has been carefully-restored to honour the hotel's history (which goes way back to 1885) while providing all the modern comforts travel-weary guests desire.
Rooms have views of the Yarra River, Warburton Valley's mountain ranges or the hotel atrium, all right above the main bistro. Go for a cycle nearby then grab a parma downstairs or a drink in the beer garden, then take a short stroll upstairs when you're ready to call it a night. What a dream.
7. Hara House
A classic reimagined, Hara House is a boutique hotel in Bright with mid-century luxe furnishings, wood veneer accents and gloriously patterned tiles. Step outside into a luxury courtyard showcasing a classic exposed brick exterior, or find a sun lounge by the pool and laze the day away with a cocktail in hand.
