The Cellars At Heathcote II

Watching the sunset from the balcony with a glass of wine was magical, with lovely views across the vineyard and olive orchard. The cabins sit right in the middle of the Heathcote II grounds and have everything you need, including a cellar stocked with superb wines from around the world. Heating and cooling respond quickly, the showers are great, and the thick Sheridan towels are a treat. Breakfast provisions were wonderful too: a big sourdough loaf, Danish butter, eggs, orange juice, looseleaf teas and coffee. There’s an Everdure by Heston Blumenthal barbecue machine if you fancy a barby. Kudos to Peder Rosdal, the Danish winemaker, and Lionel Flutto for a job well done!

The team kindly extended our gift voucher, which had been given for my 40th birthday almost three years earlier, after delays from having young children. We really appreciated being able to finally use it for two nights over the weekend. This was our first full weekend away together since before kids, nearly seven years, and the quiet reset was exactly what we needed. We arrived late Friday after dinner at Ms Batterhams in Bendigo. Even after a hot January day, the steel-clad cabin was at a perfect temperature. Its warm, subtle lighting made it instantly calming, and the bed was as comfortable as it looked. A recommended bottle of onsite-produced Tempranillo at a discount was a great welcome. We sat on the deck with wine under a sky full of stars before turning in to crisp, fresh sheets. In the morning, opening the automatic curtains from bed revealed a quintessential Australian landscape. The kitchen was very well appointed, and we made breakfast with the complimentary local eggs, sourdough, jam and excellent coffee. Then we sat on the deck, happily child-free, while kangaroos hopped in the distance and gentle downbeat electro played through the Bluetooth speaker. It was peaceful and grounding. The cabin feels private, immaculately presented and carefully designed, with a lovely balance of luxury and simplicity. Nothing felt overdone. Peder and Lionel curate both the space and the fabulous wines, and were accommodating, generous and talented. The cellar in the middle of the room, with wines from their winery and around the world, is a unique touch. The selection was thorough, well priced and felt luxurious. Our stay at The Cellars at Heathcote II was restorative, romantic and deeply relaxing. We’re grateful for the flexibility with the voucher and hope to return without leaving it another seven years. We’d recommend it to anyone after a quiet, high-quality escape. Thanks guys!

The wine was excellent, and Lionel and Peter were fantastic hosts. My wife and I had an amazing two-night stay at the cellars. The rooms were cosy and comfortable, and we highly recommend it.

Sitting with a pot of tea on the balcony, looking out over the olive grove and beautiful canola flower field, was lovely and romantic. We left already planning to come back. Peder and Lionel were super accommodating hosts and amazing at the cellar door, and they’ve made a relaxing, romantic haven in Heathcote. The wine cellar has an incredible range of local and international bottles at prices that’d rival a standard bottle shop. The bed was beyond comfortable, and having the curtain controls and master light switch beside it was genius for those moments when you can’t be bothered getting up. Every detail felt thoughtful, from the heated bathroom floors to the relaxing bath. Breakfast provisions were more than enough, with amazing farm eggs and the most delicious jam we’d ever tasted. We bought some jam to take home, along with their olive oil.