I decided to take my son and grandkids to this hotel for dinner, it was a freezing, cold night and…read moreas we walked in we instantly felt the warmth of an open fire in the bistro, I ordered a porterhouse steak and it was massive, smothered in mushroom gravy, and tasted awesome

I used to LOVE this place. My family and I would come here every other Sunday and always be met by…read morewonderful, friendly service and exceptional food. However, since our good friend left and passed the pub onto new owners, it has gone so very downhill. The night we went to see how the new owners were doing, our meal took forever, the bartender had a mile long line because she was working so slow, and when we finally got our food it was the kind of frozen chicken you buy at Woolies, and it tastes awful. That, and the dish I got was supposed to be served on a bed of rice, but instead I got only the mushroom sauce and bits of chicken that was supposed to go on top. When confronting the owner, she apologised but did not offer to correct the mistake. Could not have been more disappointed.

I guess the thing that annoyed me about this place is that it wasn't quite open when we were here…read more I say wasn't 'quite' open, namely because the bottle shop was open, and you could actually buy a drink from then, and then take it out the back to the beer garden where you could sit down and drink it. Yeah, that I did think was pretty cool, though it was a shame that I couldn't quite see what it was like inside. However, the beer selection was pretty awesome, and they have a great beer garden as well. Yeah, this place actually wasn't too bad.

A warm welcome, just the beginning?!?…read more On arrival (after 1pm) we were 'enthusiastically' informed that check in was from 3pm without 'prior written arrangement'. Although hilarious, a simple hello and welcome would have been nice. If the room is ready why not let guests check in a little early? When offical check in time did come around, I asked about in house dinner reservations, where we might order some casual drinks, what facilities the hotel offered. Finding out any information was like extracting teeth. No information about what might make the stay more comfortable was offered. The room itself was comfortable but very basic. No bar fridge for that bottle of wine acquired from the Yarra Valley, no built in robes - 2 coat hangers (with a do not remove sign) hung from a shelf. 'Hotel policy - they shouldn't have'.... On checkout, I went to settle the bill for incidentals with the same card that I registered upon checking in. Surprisingly, I was informed the hotel doesn't accept that type card. Very strange considering that the same card was accepted and processed by their colleague just the day before. Apparently a breach of policy. My firm view is that staff at the Healesville could greatly benefit from some basic hospitality training. If you're happy to share a bathroom with the other hotel guests, an acceptable room awaits - certainly not a 4 star hotel and certainly not worth $200 per night.

Every one had a great time and food was very nice. Went with a group of 35 people and no trouble…read morewith food or drinks at all, staff are a pleasure. Recommended.

The Yarra Valley Grand Hotel is located in the heart of the Yarra Valley in the sleepy little town…read moreof Yarra Glen. The hotel is the hub of this community and is the most happening area every night of the week. There is good honest Australian pub food up for grabs, a decent range of beers and wines, and live music regularly. The pub itself is substantial in size and is a historic, heritage listed site. We stayed here as part of a winter special where you got a 3 night stay for the price of 2. The rooms were a decent size and had a very large and comfy bed (hands down the most important factor for me for a room). This is prime bed and breakfast accommodation as there is so much to explore in the day -wineries, breweries and more - and then a warm and inviting place to come back to in the evenings. It all makes for a great romantic getaway. There aren't so many accommodation options in Yarra Glen but you'd be hard pushed to find much better than the Yarra Valley Grand Hotel. Did I mention the owners were really nice to?

Certainly is a grand old lady. The atmosphere was great, staff are well presented and very helpful…read more Stayed in the smallest room and was still very comfortable. Best hotel bed that I have ever slept in. Live music was great, the sort of music that you can enjoy while having a general chat with your mates over a pint of beer. Didn't have to fight the music to be heard. All in all a very good choice for a romantic getaway.

Sometimes it pays to get out of the big smoke, hide your mobile phone, and breathe in nature. I was…read morefortunate to get to do this last week when I attended a health retreat and I really wasn't sure what to expect of our venue, Amarant Retreat in Don Valley. Arriving at Amarant was part of the charm. It's a long winding road from the main road and as you climb higher and higher in to the hills it gets cooler, the bush more dense and the sound of birds louder. I even saw a little Wallaby on the side of the road! The building itself is stunning. From the entrance is doesn't look like much but as you move from room to room, it opens itself up to big open living spaces, cosy sitting areas and warm nooks all surrounded by huge windows that give sweeping views of the bushland and valley below. Breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe it. You couldn't not be relaxed in this space. For large groups wanting to rest and recharge Amarant is perfect. I believe there's beds for around 20 guests, and the large dining area and countless lounges (all complete with wood fires) mean there's space for everyone to relax separately or altogether. The Celestial room is perfect for yoga classes or contemplating the world while lying on your back and looking out of the glass ceiling. The surrounding bush land has a number of trails carved out meaning you can go and explore in nature in between yoga or reading sessions. If you're looking for a place to host a health retreat, then Amarant is well worth investigating.