The best Melbourne staycations to curb your Euro summer envy
image via @napier_quarter
words by fashion journal
Phones away, robes on.
It’s that time of year again: time to start muting your friends’ Instagram stories as their Euro summer highlights roll in. No one needs to see bronzed bodies on the beaches of Hydra while they’re rugged up in a drafty sharehouse, blasting a Kmart heater.
I can’t be too bitter. I spent three weeks in Italy last year doing the same thing, and I know I was insufferable about it. But with no beachy holiday on my calendar this year, I’ve been trying to keep the SAD at bay by embracing everything cosy and romantic in Melbourne. The longer I live in this city, the more winter gems I uncover – usually thanks to locals who know exactly how to make the colder months feel worth celebrating.
Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.
While a weekend escape out of the city can feel like a full reset, sometimes a midweek staycation in a new neighbourhood is all it takes to break up the routine. Hotel rates are often cheaper, and there’s something about waking up in a hotel bed on a Wednesday that tricks your brain into thinking you’re on holiday.
Whether you’re planning a romantic trip, a solo retreat or a group getaway, find some of our favourite winter accommodation in Melbourne below.
Glamping at Peninsula Hot Springs
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Come for the geothermal pools, stay for the glamping. Located in Fingal, Peninsula Hot Springs is perfect for a romantic getaway with your partner. Rain, wind or shine, once you slip into the plush robes and pop that complimentary bottle of champagne, you’re in heaven. Make the most of the experience and book a package – full-site bathing is always included, but you can add a massage, breakfast buffet and wellness activities like contrast therapy.
Book it here.
Cosy retreat at Napier Guest House
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For a dreamy midweek break, book a night or two at the Napier Quarter Guesthouse. Ideal for couples or a solo stay, it’s the stylish Melbourne home you wish was yours: ’70s terracotta tiles, a moody tonal colour palette, classic architectural pieces, Aesop in the bathroom, art and local ceramics everywhere you look. When you get hungry, you’re mere steps away from some of the best dining Fitzroy has to offer, including the wine bar downstairs.
Book it here.
European luxury at Le Meridien
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You don’t have to be staying at Le Meridien to enjoy its stunning rooftop pool, but I’d highly recommend it. While it’s a hot spot in the summer, there’s still plenty to enjoy here in winter – like jumping between the sauna and the pool before wrapping up in a robe and taking in the view while you sip a martini. For dinner, head to the hotel’s underground restaurant, Dolly, for steak frites and live jazz on Friday nights.
If you’re after something extra special, round up your besties and book the Presidential Suite – it has two king bedrooms, a generous kitchen and living room for entertaining (get into the record player and vinyl collection), and sweeping views across Parliament House, the city and the pool. When you wake up, stay in bed and watch the early-morning brides make their way up the steps of Town Hall.
Book it here.
Old world charm at Hotel Windsor
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The Hotel Windsor is the city’s grandest Victorian-era institution. Overlooking Spring Street and the Treasury Gardens, the hotel’s charm hits you the minute you set foot in its polished marble lobby. For the full boudoir experience, you’ve got to book the Royal Suite (think antique chaise lounge, a fireplace, a guest powder room) and invite your girlfriends over for an afternoon of high tea and gossip. Get dressed up (an impromptu photoshoot on the grand staircase is required) and head out to the nearby wine bars, before ending the night with a bubble bath in the deep claw-foot tub.
Book it here.
Mini wellness retreat at Alba
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Hot springs, saunas, log fireplaces. Romanticising winter doesn’t get much better than this. Alba brings White Lotus-level luxury to the Mornington Peninsula with its lush villas and sleek, modern spa lounges in the privacy of the natural bush. When you book an overnight stay, wellness is embedded in every part of the experience – seasonal health food at Thyme, the onsite cafe, yoga mats in the room and Aesop in the bathroom. If it’s good enough for Dua Lipa…
Book it here.
For more on where to stay in Melbourne, head here.
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