Comment

Trish Cosgrove, director of Different Tracks, discovers a magical oasis on the coast of Victoria, Australia

Where would you find a place such as this? Somewhere to escape to, somewhere that is environmentally aware and eco-friendly. Somewhere away from the world' as we know it.

Hidden just outside Lorne - a small Victoria town two hours from Melbourne - the secluded setting is surrounded by the sea and a pristine national park. The views are so world-class that the windows are strategically placed at bed level to ensure guests don't miss even one frame of the sunrise. In fact, the architect even insisted that the ceilings be free of light fixtures to avoid interfering with moon and stargazing.

Fortunately, the out-of-the-way location doesn't confine guests to days spent relaxing on the living room's Pelton Frau sofas, watching kangaroos hop by - though if you really wanted to, why not?

At the mid point of the Great Ocean Road in coastal Victoria, Australia, rising up from the Southern Ocean, lies Moonlight Head. It is here that you will find Moonlight Head Lodge, a magical combination of privacy, tranquillity and luxury in total harmony with nature. The lodge is a remote, all inclusive, exclusive retreat hidden amongst tracts of mature Eucalypts.

Set against a backdrop of the ocean and the many greens that make up the Australian bush, the luxury lodges at Moonlight Head have been designed by the acclaimed recipient of the Pritzker Prize, Glenn Murcutt with Wendy Lewin.

The ambience filling each room is created from modern pieces of furniture, antique Persian rugs thrown over blue stone floors and completed with original art from Karl Maughan.

Understated European chic is the key to the décor, with furniture from B&B Italia, Cassina, Pelton Frau and Savior beds all complemented with lighting from Artemide. This is all set against perfect white walls that spread the abundance of sunshine and moonlight throughout the lodge.

Fabulous bluestone bathrooms are equipped with the softest of towels from Descamps and your own selection of Jo Malone, Ren or Malin + Goetz goodies complement a swimming pool sized bath to soak in while gazing towards the southern night sky.

The cuisine at Moonlight Head is led by your needs. The resident chef focuses on creating a dining experience to tempt the most mature to the youngest of family palates. Your dining experience, should you wish, is complemented by an exquisite selection of wines from Australia & New Zealand.

Peace and tranquillity are rare commodities in the modern world. At Moonlight Head they are the norm. A sanctuary for man and kangaroo, without a jet trail in the sky, Moonlight Head is the perfect refuge in which to soothe the soul and refresh the body.

While in this almost untouched wilderness what can you expect to get up too? There is an abundance of eco-tourism activities. For most of us, a ramble in the clean ocean air is something that can't be resisted; at Moonlight the Great Ocean walk is ready to hike. A 90km coastal hiking experience that can take from four hours (not all of it!) to six days. You will be provided with two radios, emergency beacons and appropriate guides should you wish to be accompanied along the Great Ocean Walk.

Or, what better way to explore the remote parts of the Great Otway National Park than on horseback? Different specialists such as ecologists or wildlife photographers are available to join you on different days. Former Olympic three-day eventers are also available or horse specialists such as Wayne Benny should you wish.

If you are a golfer, there is access to five great links golf courses along the coastline and for those who want to meander the coastal road on wheels there is the use of a classic car or motorbikes to explore the Great Ocean Road. Other activities include whale and seal watching, deep sea or fly-fishing, mountain-bike riding or wreck-diving.

So, apart from enjoying the sheer spectacle of Moonlight Head there is plenty to keep you busy - or not!

Trish Cosgrove is a director of Different Tracks, one of the UK's leading providers of unusual and luxury travel experience. To find out more about Moonlight Head, visit www.differenttracks.co.uk

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login