How to have the ultimate regional Victorian getaway at home

Usually on a Friday night many of us would be checking into a schmick boutique hotel somewhere in Victoria. So why not recreate that experience at home? Regional Victorian accommodation providers like Lon Retreat (Bellarine Peninsula), Jackalope (Mornington Peninsula) and the Lake House (Daylesford) are offering luxury care packages to help you unwind. 

Dinner is served thanks to regional restaurants like Daylesford's Sault delivering two or three course meals all the way to Melbourne. To finish, consider a sweet or boozy nightcap from Echuca Chocolate Company. And no matter what you do, make sure you tune in to Phillip Island's nightly penguin parade for a much needed dose of cuteness. 

Wake up and try your hand at making some wattleseed pancakes using ingredients from Wild Food Farms. Then check in on how Victoria's koalas are doing at Healesville Sanctuary and how our seals and other underwater denizens are doing on the Port Phillip Bay Reef Cam.

The days are starting to get warmer, so why not enjoy a Covid-safe picnic in your own backyard filled with regional produce? Hamilton Hampers (Grampians) and Hamper Yourself on the Mornington, and the Regional Pantry in the Yarra Valley. You can even score yourself a swanky picnic rug from Grampian Goods Co to elevate that home alfresco dining experience.

It's never been more important to treat yourself gently, whether that means using some spa products from the Mornington Peninsula's Olieve and Olie, or enjoying a gin tasting from Bass and Flinders distillery.

Then for dinner, celebrate the the bounty of Gippsland with a products from the likes of Vic Country Market, Lightfoot and Sons, Sailors Grave Brewing and Toms Cap Vineyard. 

Enjoy a sleep in before rustling up a hearty brunch inspired by one of your favourite regional cafés. You can support businesses by buying products like smoked eggs, bacon, mushrooms and more from Vic Country Market. 

For a creative break, try some online art activities and exhibitions from Bendigo Art Gallery. Or flex your gourmet muscles with a coffee and wine judging workshop from the High Country.

Finally, no Sunday is complete without a roast, which you can get from Woodman Estate on the Mornington Peninsula. Pair it with a sampler from Flying Brick Cider or Queenscliff Brewhouse.

Even if you can't visit for real right now, you can still get some of Victoria's favourite souvenirs delivered to your door. Everyone remembers buying a jar of Sovereign Hill's raspberry drops, which you can now buy online. Other super souvenirs you can order include honey from Walk About Apiaries in Milawa, choccies from Audley and Hall in Port Fairy, ceramics from Bendigo Pottery or even a wee cactus clipping from Cactus Country (it's Australia's largest cactus collection).

Victoria's regions are still celebrating spring this year, and you can join them remotely via the Yarra Valley Garden Party on the weekend of October 3 and 4. 

The event features a range of active, creative and gourmet activities including virtual yoga from Alowyn Gardens, sourdough making workshops from the Providore, a Yarra Yalley Opera festival show, a cooking class with Rochford Wines and even a virtual "stroll" through CherryHill's gorgeous orchards. Anyone can join in with the events, but for the full experience you can order the Garden Party pack which includes plenty of wine plus plant seeds, garlands, recipe cards and music suggestions.