In your own cosy stone cottage, relax by the fire as you gaze over the private, trout-filled lake
Features
- Historical Towns
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Beauty Therapies
- Yoga
- Vineyards
- Golf
| Tuki - Smeaton, Victoria, Australia | |
Sustainability Scorecard
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From AUS$145 p/dbl
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good for you
Tuki Retreat is a collection of cottages - including one heritage-restored miner's cottage - on the historic sheep grazing property, "Stoney Rises".
In your own cosy stone cottage, relax by the fire as you gaze over the private, trout-filled lake. Awake to the call of the magpies and a full self-serve breakfast featuring fresh ingredients from the farm, while at night you can enjoy a delicious three-course dinner delivered to your own cottage.
There's plenty to do - if you can be bothered - with trout fishing at the Tuki trout farm (your catch can be cooked for you that day), sheep-shearing demonstrations at the shearing shed, and lamb-feeing in season. Beyond the farm, there are plenty of local wineries to visit and the fascinating historical town of Ballarat nearby. The in-house beautify therapist and yoga exert can help rejuvenate you during your stay.
Before leaving, you can pick up your own supply of smoked trout, trout pat´ and grass-fed lamb to take home with you.
Hosts Jan and Robert Jones know the land intimately - it is their family heritage and they share it with pride.
good for australia
Over-grazing has created a great deal of soil damage in rural Australia, while salinity and protracted drought have taken their toll on the river systems. At Tuki Retreat and Stoney Rises farm, responsible, sustainable tourism is being used as a way to complement the farm economy and support the land. By using local materials such as stone quarried on the property, and with one cottage and the restaurant in recycled and restored buildings, Tuki Retreat has carefully made the most of its own resources.
Highs
- The romance. The cosiness of the fire and the romance of a candlelit dinner cooked at the restaurant make this a perfect weekend away for couples.
Lows
- The accommodations are small-scale and sustainable in that sense, but no alternative energy is used at the farm.
Rooms
Tuki has seven cottages - one heritage restored Miner's cottage and seven new stone cottages, some with spas and extra amenities.
The stone cottages are situated in the middle of the property and offer a wonderful view of the Loddon-Campaspe Valley. The cottages are surrounded by dry stonewalls, landscaped gardens and established trees, and they are all just steps away from a private lake.
Tuki stone cottages all have open fireplaces, cathedral ceilings and a veranda where you can enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sun set. The master bedroom has a queen size bed, with electric blankets and linen and towels all provided. There is a double sofa bed in the lounge room for additional guests.
The cottages are all self contained and the tariffs include a self-serve full breakfast which is left for you in the cottage. All the cottages have a television, radio and hairdryer. An iron is available on request. Some of the stone cottages also have a spa in the bathroom, and a CD player and a DVD in the lounge.
The Miners cottage is a restored heritage weatherboard cottage with three bedrooms, one master bedroom with spa ensuite, and second bedroom with either a king size bed or two singles and a third bedroom with two single beds. It has a cast wood box in the lounge room and is suitable for families or two couples. The cottage has a wood burning heater, a full size stove, two bathrooms, a balcony, TV, VCR, and clock radio.
There is spring water on tap in all the cottages and they all come with linen, towels, big fluffy quilts and chemical-free shampoo and bubble bath in the bathrooms, along with hand made soap.
Food
The cottages are all equipped for self-catering, and as the restaurant doesn't open until lunchtime, you'll have to rely on yourself for at least the first meal of the day. Fortunately, the fridge is laden with free range eggs, bacon and home made lamb sausages, and there is plenty of fresh bread, organic muesli, cereals, and conserves.
Tuki's restaurant is open daily and serves modern Australian cuisine often featuring the farm's own produce, like smoked trout and Tukidale lamb - famous among the region's best restaurants. If you prefer to stay in your cottage in the evening, dinner will be delivered to your own fireside table.
Owners Robert and Jan have been perfecting their home-farmed trout for well over a decade, and Robert smokes a fresh batch every week. They serve it in various manifestations, including the freshest trout pat´ you're ever likely to taste. Tuki also produces its own pasture fed lamb.
Features & Facilities
- All cottages have CD and DVD players and open fires.
- All cottages have self-catering facilities.
- Yoga
- Tuki can send a tarot reader or an astrologer to your cottage to help with any self-exploration you may care to indulge in.
- Tuki provides a range of beauty and massage therapries, from the one-hour facial ($65 AUD) to the 1.5-hour salt and reflex massage package at $125.
the tuki trout farm
At Tuki even the most luckless fisherman is guaranteed to catch a trout - with assistance, if necessary! There are 6 ponds you can fish from - a couple at the top of the hill are heavily stocked so success for even small children is generally assured. After you have caught your trout the staff will clean & package it for you to take home, or you can have it cooked in the restaurant.
The gear the farm hires out include well maintained rods & reels, giving you a chance to become acquainted with casting and using a rod. Corn is generally used for bait, so it is easy to bait up and proceed with fishing.
For the experienced fisherman, the farm's lower ponds offer a chance to practice with your own equipment, whether it be a lure or fly rod.
Local Info & Activities
the region
Tuki Retreat can help you plan excursions in the area and offers guests plenty of information on what the region offers.
The nearby city of Ballarat has plenty to see, and as home of the Eureka Stockade, it occupies an important place in Australia's story. An historic mining town, Ballarat has a very pretty main street and offers several worthwhile museums, including the gold museum and the Ballarat Aboriginal Cultural Experience. There is also the Eureka Centre, full of information about the miners' rebellion came to be seen as a nation-making event and one of Australia's first grasps at independence. Kids will enjoy Sovereign Hill, the recreated 1850s goldfields township
Ballarat also has plenty of shops and galleries, a botanic garden, as well as many restaurants and pubs..
There are also several excellent wineries in the neighbourhood - Tuki can help you visit them.
There are three golf courses nearby and plenty of walking trails that the hotel can help point out for you.
Sustainability
Tuki Retreat and the Stoney Rises property have a green philosophy. They recycle grey water for irrigation, use chemical-free cleaning products, serve organic produce as much as possible, and recycle as much as they can.
The Tuki trout ponds are spring-fed and established on a permaculture system, while the stock management system is as chemical free as possible.
In terms of community involvement, the farm and restaurant employ locals, donate to local charities & participate in local community activities.
The Tuki restaurant is in a recycled stable. The Miner's cottage is a restored heritage weatherboard cottage, while the new cottages are built from volcanic rock quarried at the property. There is access for disabled folk & both the restaurant and accommodations are child-friendly, with plenty of activities for kids to enjoy on the trout and sheep farms.
The property is owned by Robert Jones.
Getting There
From Melbourne, take the Western Highway to Ballarat, then go North along the Midland Highway through Creswick. Follow the signs through Kingston and Smeaton to Tuki.
Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.
Rates & Bookings
mid-week packages - per couple
stone spa cottages on the lake
Bed & breakfast: $205.00
Dinner, bed & breakfast: $285.00
3 nights bed & breakfast: $500.00
stone cottage on the lake
Bed & breakfast: $130.00
Dinner, bed & breakfast: $220.00
3 nights bed & breakfast: $330.00
historic miners cottage
Bed & breakfast: $145.00
Dinner, bed & breakfast: $240.00
3 nights bed & breakfast: $360.00
Family of 4 b&b $200 per night.
weekend packages - per couple
stone spa cottages on the lake
2 nights b&b $490.00
2 nights, one dinner and a self serve breakfast for two mornings: $570.00
3 nights: $680.00
stone cottage on the lake
2 nights b&b $320.00
2 nights, one dinner and a self serve breakfast for two mornings: $400.00
3 nights $480.00
historic miners cottage
2 nights b&b $340.00 per couple
2 nights, one dinner and a self serve breakfast for two mornings: $440.00
3 nights $520.00. A family of 4 b&b $480.00-2 nights
- All prices are per couple and are valid until 31 December 2007.
- Check in time: 2.00pm / Check out: 11am
- All prices are in Australian Dollars
booking & cancellation policy
- A booking is secured on the payment of a 15% non-refundable deposit.
- The remaining 85% is payable on arrival / departure from Tuki
- Cancellation fees apply - details will be given before a booking is made.
Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.
