Mr & Mrs Smith

Walking is the number one attraction here, with the Grampians National Park on your doorstep, and eight marked trails of varying lengths all starting within a five-minute drive of the property. Look out for kangaroo, wallabies, emus, echidnas, lizards and falcons on your wanderings. Wildflowers and indigenous flora abound too; there are Native Garden Tours on the first Sunday of each month, or by request. Wine buffs can savour a tour of the Royal Mail Hotel’s famous cellar every Saturday at 4pm, with tastings for AU$15. For tours of regional art galleries, visit the tourist information centre on Parker Street (usually the first weekend of the month); Hamilton Art Gallery is famous for its decorative arts collection, a short drive from Dunkeld. If classical tunes are more your thing, the Australian String Quartet performs every April for the Dunkeld Weekend of Music in the atmospheric Woolshed on the property. Other local distractions include yoga at Griffins Hill retreat, the 18-hole Grampians Golf Club in Dunkeld, horse riding and winery tours across the region.

Get up at sunrise for the best chance to see the resident roos in the grassy paddock by the cottages.