Mr & Mrs Smith

Spa Country Villa Parma

Daylesford, Australia

For a dash of Swiss-Italian elegance in Australia, treat yourself to a stay in stylish heritage-listed Spa Country Villa Parma in Victoria's rustic spa country. Built in 1864 by early settler Fabrizzio Crippa, this four-bedroom getaway, with seductive ensuites, is one of the oldest properties in Hepburn Springs, near Daylesford, but it has been given a chic modern makeover. Ideal for taking the waters or just relaxing with friends.

Need to know

• Rates information From AU$1012 a night midweek–AU$2060 for two nights at the weekend, including cooked breakfast at Wild Birch restaurant at adjacent sister hotel Peppers Springs Retreat & Spa. Weekly rates, from AU$6,300 (for two guests) to AU$8,400 (for eight).
• Ideal for Up to four couples or adult friends and family holidaying together; gal pal spa breaks.
• Sleeps Up to eight
• Property style A self-contained 1864 Heritage-listed villa with a whiff of old Tuscany. Charming original features and distressed walls have been preserved, but luxe contemporary styling brings the interiors up to date.
• Grounds Pretty European-inspired landscaped gardens flank the house, with a mini maze, bay tree hedges, blooming lilac and roses and a classical Neptune statue lording it over the pond. The outdoor fire pit and dining gazebo make for convivial entertaining.
• 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 Villa Parma is more of an adult retreat and doesn't cater for young kids.
• Booking process Daily rates quoted are based on taking a minimum of four rooms (sleeping eight); alternative rates apply if guests take less than four rooms or for last-minute deals. Guests pick up keys from reception at sister hotel Peppers Springs Retreat & Spa, adjacent to Villa Parma, and can make use of its bar and restaurant for lunch and dinner, as well as allied retreat Mineral Spa (these facilities are not included in rates). Smoking is not permitted.
• Also Warm up in the sleek infra-red steam room, beside the outdoor dining pavilion, before eating alfresco.

Floor plan

• Bedrooms

  Split over two levels, Villa Parma offers four spacious bedrooms all with ensuites, two downstairs and two upstairs. In contrast with the heritage building, decor is chic and contemporary, including generous beds with over-scaled patterned upholstered headboards, bedside tables and lamps, pretty wardrobes, a wall-mounted LCD flatscreen TV in each room, plush rugs and Baltic pine floors. Two come with showers only and two with modern freestanding white oval double spa baths plus showers.

  To the right of the entrance and downstairs dining room, Bedroom 216 includes a zingy yellow and beige headboard, a sleek ensuite shower, sink and toilet with a dramatic mosaic wall panel featuring classical statues, and garden views.

  To the left of the dining room, Bedroom 217 sports a turquoise and ecru headboard and an ensuite with a huge freestanding white spa bath for two, clear-glass shower box, basin and toilet. The bedroom window overlooks the garden, small road and adjacent hotel.

  On your right as you reach the top of the stairs, Bedroom 218 comes with a brown and white headboad, an ensuite with a contemporary glass and metal shower box, sink and toilet, and views over the garden, road and adjacent hotel.

  On the left upstairs, Bedroom 219 is arguably the pick of the bunch, with a brown and beige headboard, generous ensuite with huge white freestanding spa bath for two, shower, sink and toilet, and views of the garden and native trees in the distance.

• Kitchen

  The kitchen here is fairly small, but thoroughly modern, tucked away behind the ground-floor dining room at the back of the house.

• Living room

  Forming the heart of the upstairs floor, the spacious yet cosy living room comes with a huge double sofa, two smaller sofas, an ikat-covered armchair, large mirror and a big white fluffy rug. Entertainment includes a flatscreen TV and music system.

• Dining room

  The villa's front door opens onto the pretty, generous dining room, which boasts a large wooden table seating eight under an elegant chandelier. Complementing the dreamily distressed walls are an ornamental fireplace, overscaled black glass vases perched on console tables and a striking mirror, while a giant soft rug ups the plush factor.

• Gardens The villa's private Tuscan-style garden wraps around the back and sides of the house, away from the road. Directly beyond the back door you'll find a cobbled terrace area, including the sauna room, dining pavilion and barbecue, and an outdoor toilet. Quirky ornamental features include a mini maze, pond with classical statue, vine-covered driveway and the secluded firepit, boxed in by high hedges.
• Private parking There's parking space for four cars at the villa.

Also worth knowing

• Weddings This property is suitable for weddings. More...