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Exterior of Clifftop. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The loungeroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The daybed. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The kitchen. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The daybed. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The stone bath in the second bathroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
Double showerheads in the main bathroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
Linen bedding in the bedroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The loungeroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the loungeroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The daybed, with its tremendous view. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The exterior of the villas. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The kitchen, taken from the loungeroom facing the street. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The view of the countryside from Clifftop. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The loungeroom from the kitchen. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
The loungeroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
A twin room with a view. Photo: Martina Gemmola -
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Exterior of Clifftop. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The loungeroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The daybed. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The kitchen. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The daybed. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The stone bath in the second bathroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
Double showerheads in the main bathroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
Linen bedding in the bedroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The loungeroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the loungeroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The daybed, with its tremendous view. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The exterior of the villas. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The kitchen, taken from the loungeroom facing the street. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The view of the countryside from Clifftop. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The loungeroom from the kitchen. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
The loungeroom. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
A twin room with a view. Photo: Martina Gemmola of -
You may also like these photo galleries
Our rating
Grand villas perched on a hilltop with splendid views of the rolling bush valley, this new luxury oasis is like the countryside version of Kangaroo Island's Southern Ocean Lodge.
The Location
Conveniently set in the heart of Hepburn Springs, Clifftop consists of three large completely separate, self-contained buildings off Main Street. A rampart walkway which lights at night escorts you into the buildings, where you'll be immediately drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows offering uninterrupted views of the countryside. The villas' rusted steel facades blend seamlessly into their surrounds, and with landscaped garden surrounds and the road to your rear, it feels secluded; except when a large kangaroo hops past in the morning, stops momentarily to peer in the front door like a nosey neighbour, and then continues down an adjacent road.
The Space
Inside, the buildings offer luxury and modernity. Villas Tranquility, Serenity and Evoke are similar in design but with their own individual flair - choose between novel facilities such as an arcade games or a massage chair.
Genuinely swoon-worthy views are seen from all rooms, but there's plenty else to delight. Amply-sized living areas include a sunken loungeroom, with a three seater lounge, two armchairs and a day-bed guests may argue over; from here you can admire the little touches such as locally designed upholstery and tiny, unobstrusive greenery in miniature cacti dotted around the rooms. Atmospheric winters are a certainty with the French imported oblica fireplace. Up a level, the modern, stainless steel kitchen entices would-be chefs with full service appliances, and a middle island begs for wines and snacks to be enjoyed from. A Clifftop feature - mood lighting - is a very swanky strip of light that stretches from one end of the kitchen to the other - creating the ambience of a restaurant. There's also a four-seater dining table, a study area and a laundry.
The Room
Villas contain two bedrooms, a king size and a twin, both with floor to ceiling windows. The spacious, bright rooms have comfortable beds with rustic linen quilt covers set against dark wooden panelling. The adjoining bathrooms are nothing short of spectacular; the king with a large two person spa bath, and a stone bath in the twin. They also feature double showers with rain, Italian washplane sinks, heated towel racks, and L'Occitane toiletries.
The Food
The kitchen comes with all mod cons including a Nespresso machine, however you don't have to cook to enjoy dining in luxury surrounds soaking up that fabulous view. Daisy Dining cooks and delivers decadent, homestyle French cooking straight to you door which is a really great option for newly arrived guests and breakfasts. Further afield in Daylesford Farmers Arms never fails to disappoint, but close by in Hepburn Springs, you can sample delicious salads and burgers, sensational cocktails and live music from the Blue Bean Love Cafe, open from breakfast through dinner. See daisydiningdaylesford.com.au; farmersarms.com.au; facebook.com/bluebeanlovecafe
Stepping Out
No trip to Hepburn Springs is complete without a visit to the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, a decadent place to while away an afternoon. When hunger strikes, you don't have to leave - simply grab lunch from the HS cafe, and don't forget to fill your empty bottles with fresh water from the nearby springs. There's plenty of walking trails, plus shops and cafes to explore along a rejuvenated Main Road in town. For longer stays, thriving tourist hotspot of Daylesford offers even more choices to eat, drink and shop, should you actually choose to leave your accommodation. hepburnbathhouse.com/
The Verdict
Spacious, comfortable and modern, with privacy offering seclusion but in easy reach of amenties, Clifftop has made a luxury getaway ideal for anything from a girls' weekend, romantic couple's retreat to a family escape.
Essentials
Clifftop at Hepburn, 203 Main Street, Hepburn Springs, Ph (03) 9017 3761, clifftopathepburn.com.au
Highlight
Settling into the daybed with a glass of wine and a book as the sun sets on that tremendous view has to be one of life's greatest pleasures. The generous amount of space means no-one will tread on anyone's toes.
Lowlight
With all that glass, villas heat quickly in the summer - leaving the air conditioning on overnight alleviates this problem.