Our group consisted of six adults, and the Midland was exactly what we were looking for in a place…read moreto stay in Castlemaine. Although this hotel doesn't have a restaurant, and is only open on weekends, it is full of charm and very cosy. The rooms were in appropriate style, and were clean and comfortable with modern bathrooms. The Midland is run by friendly owners, and the shop incorporated into the building has an ecclectic mix of high quality goods.

Absolutely charming hotel with both Victorian and Art Deco architecture just by the Railway…read moreStation. Mauro, the host, is a friendly and welcoming fellow who is keen to make sure you make the most of your stay in this beautiful small town. Take advantage of the bar, the charming courtyard, or the magnificent sitting room, which is a real treat. Perfect base for a weekend in Castlemaine.

Having purchased a new "car" in Melbourne and heading home to Adelaide my Dad and I were late…read moreleaving and had arrived in Ballarat around 7pm. After sorting out some dinner it was close to 9pm before we decided to sort out some accomodation. Two unanswered phone calls to caravan parks and we gave the Comfort Inn a call, and Susan answered straight away. Although the check in desk was slated to close at 9, she was more than happy to organise us two rooms and hang back to check us in. Upon arriving we found the whole motel clean tidy and up to date. Over the years I have done extensive travelling for business both across Australia and overseas, and. I would have to say walking into my room reminded me of walking into a room in a Marriott or similar hotel across the United States. My Dad, who by his own admission is a picky old coot, was extremely impressed with not only the quality of the fit out but the cleanliness and obvious upkeep of the facilities. I would highly recommend this motel to anyone looking for a one night stop or an extended stay in the area. I will certainly be heading back with wife in tow for a quiet getaway ASAP!

Apparently this place has the largest range of beers of any pub in Australia. Sure, when you look…read moreat the tap beers it doesn't seem to be all that extensive, though I should point out that there are some pretty good ones there nonetheless. However, it isn't just the tap beers, but rather the selection that they have elsewhere. The menu is nothing short of massive. In fact I spent ages just looking through it. Oh, and the alcohol selection beyond beers is also pretty good. Yeah, and the service is pretty top notch as well. This is definitely a place to check out if you love your craft beers.

Love it here. Been here several times over the years including twice this weekend. Genuinely…read moreinteresting restaurant with a range of lovely thoughtful dishes that can hit lofty heights. Examples of superb dishes are the beef cheeks and pie of the day. The wine list is also nicely composed with a refreshing emphasis on the superb local wines from one of the best but strangely unappreciated wine areas in the country. This is easily the best eating option in the area. Can't wait to return.

Relaxation akin to Meditation that simply melts your stress away.-…read more Another delightful visit to Darlinton's Elephant Bridge Hotel. We led into the visit with a BBQ lunch at Deep Lake at Derrinallum which was very enjoyable, with a pleasant number of people around engaging in yachting, kayaking, camping and chatting. Arrived at Darlinton's beautifully refurbished Elephant Bridge Hotel at 2pm complimented with a warm welcome from owner Karin. If you are looking for an escape into a totally different dimension of life, as we were, I suggest you take a picnic rug and lay under one of the large palm trees on the undulating slope in the rear garden, with a good book and a friend to read it to you. The clouds and sky are a beauty we take for granted and rarely we take the time to lie on our backs to observe and appreciate them. On this day the sky was a brilliant blue and the fluffy white Cumulus clouds contrasted with the distinct feathery lines of the Cirrus clouds, reminiscent of those often depicted in early paintings, all of which helped to transport us back to a time that was fitting for such a fine old building. As requested in advance, Karin prepared a very pleasant evening meal and joined us later over tea, coffee and wine. Conversation flowed easily and Karin is an excellent hostess. The rooms are immaculately furnished and decorated to perfection and the bed comfortable, with a height that immediately makes my mind flash back to my grandmother's high bed from my childhood. The bathroom is large, exquisite and conveniently located. Breakfast of a magnificent nut muesli, and a generous variety of toasted breads, with a selection of spreads, is provided with the option of adding a cooked breakfast for an additional cost. To complete the day we ventured back into Derrinallum and later onto Terang Hotel Bistro, next door to IGA, for lunch, which was also an excellent meal. In the past a climb up Mt Noorat has added an interesting completion to our stay at Darlington's Elephant Bridge Hotel. Noticed on a more recent visit that the Mt Elephant Tourist Centre is open on a Sundays 1-4pm. Thus it is easy to pad out a stay at Darlington's Elephant Bridge Hotel with some simple, pleasant activities that allow the body to slow down and recharge.

Thoroughly enjoyed an overnight stay at the Sovereign Park Motor Inn…read more A last minute booking made it necessary to call the hotel to make reservation for family room. The friendly staff member on night duty were most obliging and was able to provide a most suitable second floor room at a discounted price. The room was very comfortable and included microwave, toaster and tea and coffee making facilities. The room was very clean and had the softest large white towels I have seen in any previous hotel experience. Also available for dining needs are a restaurant and cafe both providing extended service hours. We chose to select from the room service menu and the meals were delivered promptly by very friendly staff. The children loved their ham and pineapple pizza and were delight with the specially created ice-cream desert which came with snakes, smarties and crushed chic mint cookies. The adults selected a pulled pork with spicy barbecue sauce and coleslaw pizza which was perfect with the cab merlot selected from the quite large wine list. The breakfast menu is varied and has some really interesting selections including breakfast fruit crumble. As the children wanted to take full advantage of the beautiful poof we chose a cold breakfast of cereal and bread to toast. The servings of bread were 3 slices and not the usual 2. The pool area is covered and warm in winter. The under water coloured lights create ambiance even in daylight. As well as a main pool area there are additional pools sectioned off and included are a shallower young children's area with water feature spouts and a large spa pool. All in all our stay was wonderful and we will most certainly return!!

Staying at the Lodge overnight when coming to Ararat for a tour of the gaol and asylum made all the…read moreexperience and ensured a cosy night after several hours digging up history. Although this hotel's features are quite dated, for a budget hotel the room itself was quite spacious and very homely. There was a nicely set out lounge area, with a small table and chairs next to the full length window next to the door where I was able to set up my laptop and not be facing against anything. A definite winner. The kitchenette area had a bit of a strange layout. The bathroom sink in some way doubled up as a kitchen sink, with the mini bar fridge and microwave to the left of it on a type of low bench with coat hanging railing above it. The bathroom was in a separate space to this mind you. The shower went over the bath tub, with no glass screens or curtains, which was also capable of being a single person spa bath. The motel offered up a selection of room service breakfast items. Fairly traditional western foods like toast, cereals, variety of spreads, coffee and tea. The bathroom also came with a generous amount of hygiene products, including a conditioner and a bubble bath/body wash, which I've noticed a lot of places don't bother offering. The Lodge was a lovely place to stay. The owners are Chinese I think, and there is a Chinese restaurant at the reception area of the motel which is handy. On Saturdays they offer up a buffet dinner, and Sunday's the restaurant only do dinners for patrons who ask for room service dinner. I'm yet to try out the restaurant, which I'll do one day as I would consider staying at this motel again. Was a great experience.

This was certainly an interesting pub, though I'm not sure how long it is going to be here for…read more Basically, it is the only remaining building from the original gold mining settlement at Avoca. It isn't located in the town, but along the main highway leading it, and it is walking distance as well. Don't expect much in the way of beers here, but like a lot of country pubs, the bartender is very friendly, and quite chatty. Yeah, this pub turned out to be pretty cool, but it is a shame that it may not be around for much longer.

Although they are not usually open for lunch on a Wednesday, we were lucky enough to co-inside with…read morea group booking. Thus, we had a delightful lunch, professional service, with a greeting on arrival, and a table in a spacious, light bright position with an outdoor view. There were at least four seafood options on the menu including a seafood pasta dish; two chicken choices, and two beef choices. One of which was the homemade pie of the day. On this occasion there was a pork rib and rice dish as well. The good quality meals were beautifully presented and served with a warm friendly smile. Bar service was good, with a mixed drink being to my liking. New carpet, interesting tables and comfortable chairs added to the experience as did the clean, very adequate, toilet facilities. Well done Mount Elephant Hotel-Derrinallum