Mr & Mrs Smith

Spa Country Spa Villas

Daylesford, Australia

Spacious and soothing, the seven super-contemporary, split-level Spa Country Spa Villas, near Daylesford, offer open-plan lounging pads with vast rustic views over Victoria's mineral springs heartland. Drawing on simple vernacular Australian architecture and drought-resistant landscaping, the five one-bed and two two-bedroom chalets are the ideal modern-rustic retreat for sybaritic spa-seekers.

Need to know

• Rates information From AU$573 a night midweek–AU$1,032 for two nights at the weekend, including cooked breakfast and one dinner at adjacent sister hotel Peppers Springs Retreat & Spa. Weekly rates, from AU$3,171 (for two) to AU$4,081 (for four), including breakfast.
• Ideal for Romantic getaways, honeymoons and spa breaks (in one-bedroom villas); adult friends or family holidaying together (in two-bedroom villas).
• Sleeps 2-4
• Property style Luxe contemporary split-level villas, with a hint of mountain chalet. Exteriors harness simple, local corrugated metal cladding, echoing vernacular architecture, while interiors are light, airy, open-plan and sleekly modern.
• Grounds A shared dought-tolerant native Australian garden surrounds the villas, alongside a small vineyard, but the main attraction are big bush views on the horizon.
• Minimum hire One-night minimum hire midweek (Sunday–Thursday); two nights on weekends (arriving Friday or Saturday). A three-night minimum hire applies on Long Weekend public holidays.
• Children This is really a chilled out, adults-only retreat, geared towards serene spa-seekers rather than families with young kids, but older children over 14 would enjoy the two-bedroom villas.
• Booking process Rates quoted are based on two people sharing; alternative rates apply for single or twin shares. Guests pick up keys from reception at sister hotel Peppers Springs Retreat & Spa, adjacent to the Spa Villas, and can make use of its bar and restaurant for lunch and dinner, as well as sister retreat Mineral Spa (these facilities are not included in rates).
• Also Smoking is not permitted inside the villas.

Floor plan

• Bedrooms

  Built in modern Australian vernacular style, with metal-clad exteriors and light, contemporary open-plan interiors, the seven Spa Villas offer expansive floor space over two levels. The five one-bedroom villas are ideal for couples; the two two-bedroom villas sleep up to four (in double and twin bedrooms, both on different floors), so offer a sociable yet private space for friends holidaying together. Bedrooms are equipped with flatscreen TVs, and bathrooms boast generous two-person spa tubs.

  Two-bedroom Spa Villas:

  Villa 225: the most private of the two-bedroom villas, 225 stands apart near the Topiary Gardens, below sister properties Villa Parma and the Mineral Spa. There's a twin-bedroom and bathroom on the ground-floor beside an open-plan kitchen-diner and a sumptuous open-air double bedroom and lounge upstairs, with a wood-burning fire, rugs, art and an impressive horse figurine. The bathroom includes a large mosaic-tiled shower and a huge Jacuzzi spa tub in a separate adjoining space, which opens onto a small outdoor courtyard with table and chairs.

  Villa 232: the other two-bedroom villa is grouped together in a row with the rest of the Spa Villas a little further down hill. A twin bedroom and bathroom (with a large seamless-glass shower box and black-stone-flanked fitted tub) sit downstairs, giving onto the main living/dining area and kitchen, with steps down to a small outdoor terrace. Upstairs, there's a generous open-plan double bedroom and lounge with wood-burning stove, flatscreen TV and soft rugs. Views from the bedroom are a little less private than from 225.

  One-bedroom Spa Villas:

  Villa 236 is a one-bedroom villa, with a swish apartment feel. The bedroom is downstairs with a seductive white oval freestanding spa tub concealed behind a translucent voile curtain opposite the end of the double bed. There's also a seperate shower room with a small outdoor area beside it. Upstairs is even more impressive – a gorgeous open-plan living/dining space including a contemporary fitted kitchen with dining table, desk, LCD TV, indoor lounge with wood-burning fire, and outdoor seating area on a semi-enclosed deck offering great rural views.

  Villas 227, 229 and 234: these three one-bedroom villas mirror the lay-out of 236, with bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs and kitchen-diners, desk, lounge and outdoor deck with day-bed and seating upstairs. There are slight styling variations and similar views (we like 227's rustic vistas), but all include luxe modern touches from bold wallpaper to mohair throws, art and sculpture. Bedrooms are more private in these villas than the upstairs master bedroom in the two-bedroom villas, but enjoy less natural light.

  Villa 231: another one-bedroom villa, but with a slightly different, more intimate spin. Downstairs, there's just a neutral-toned modern kitchen/dining space with an adjoining outdoor dining terrace, making this villa great for entertaining. The bedroom is housed upstairs (with a bath opposite the bed and separate shower room), beside a cosy lounge with a small balcony, guaranteeing privacy when you want to retire.

• Kitchen

  All kitchens are spacious, slickly contemporary and open-plan, making for handy entertaining in the dining areas alongside. Expect all mod cons. If eating outdoors is a priority, ask for a villa with a small alfresco dining area.

• Living room

  Depending on your villa configuration, generous contemporary living rooms either run alongside master bedrooms on the upper floor (for a slightly less private set-up) or adjoin kitchen and dining areas with bedrooms above or below. Tactile rugs, come-hither leather sofas and wood-burning fires put the revs into relaxation.

• Dining room

  Dining zones run alongside kitchens in all villas for easy living. Some are on the ground-floor, with bedrooms above; others are on the upper level adjoining outdoor covered decks.

• Gardens The native Australian garden, and small vineyard, flanking the villas is attractive but can't compete with the major star: voluptuous views of distant bush and verdant hills, best soaked up from your deck lounge. A quiet road fringes the property, and the row of attached villas is near sister properties Villa Parma, and a hotel and spa complex, so don't expect secluded wilderness.
• Private parking Private off-road parking is available.