Marysville: A great destination to escape from the city
NESTLED within the heavily forested mountains of the Great Dividing Range, Marysville is located only 90 minutes drive from Melbourne in the picturesque Yarra Valley.
Due to its scenic location, Marysville has long been a popular holiday retreat for visitors – especially LGBTI visitors. It is particularly popular during the springtime blooming season and the colourful autumn period.
Founded in the mid-1800s when gold was discovered in the area, and it wasn’t long before guest houses were established and Marysville became a favourite for honeymooners due to its tranquil setting amongst native bush and waterfalls.
Marysville and surrounds is an ideal destination for lovers of the the outdoors. In terms of things to do, sights to see, the choices are plentiful.
Situated on the Steavenson River, which runs through the town centre and lined by parks and gardens, the town of Marysville is full of landscaped gardens and parks, tree-lined streets and a quaint shopping village.
Three kilometres south-east of the town centre along Falls Rd is Steavenson Falls. They are one of Victoria’s highest waterfalls with a drop of around 84 metres, and a relatively easy 350 metre long track leads from the car park to the falls where there are several viewing platforms.
Marysville is also an ideal area for bushwalking, with many tracks scattered in the surrounding forests. Keppels Lookout, which can be accessed by a walking track from either the town centre or Steavenson Falls (or by driving along Paradise Plains Rd), also offers stunning views of the landscape and forests surrounding Marysville.
If you prefer to stay in the car, a breathtaking drive is along Lady Talbot Drive which is accessed via Woods Point Rd just east of Marysville. Attractions include the Phantom Falls, Keppel Falls, Taggerty Cascades and The Beeches Rainforest Walk. The latter features a scenic four-kilometre circuit through forests over three centuries old.
Further east, around 25km from Marysville to be exact, Lake Mountain offers fantastic views of the Victorian Alps. With a height of 1.43km, during the snow season the mountain becomes a hub of cross country skiing, while bushwalking is the activity to do during the warmer months.
If you’re looking for a place to stay, we recommend Vibe Hotel Marysville. Unveiled in February this year, the 4.5-star hotel boasts 101 guest rooms, including five suites, a restaurant and café, gymnasium, outdoor pool and a spa/wellbeing centre.
The hotel’s restaurant and café, Radius Bar & Grill and Radius Café is led by executive chef Leigh Colville – formerly of Chateau Yering, The Press Club, St Katherine’s (now Hellenic Republic) – a local who has returned to the area where his obsession with food began.
“Having the opportunity to work with top-notch seasonal ingredients from the Yarra Valley every day is the driving force behind my creative inspiration. This allows me to adopt a more back-to-basics approach, letting the produce be the superstar,” Leigh said.
Vibe Hotel Marysville provides a friendly stay and experience, inspiring and allowing guests to connect with local surroundings, people and experiences.
MARYSVILLE
WHERE TO STAY: Vibe Hotel Marysville – click here for details and to make a booking
SPECIAL OFFER: Save 30 per cent on your next escape at the new Vibe Hotel Marysville. Book by July 16, 2015.
PRICE: Starts from $111* per night
CONDITIONS: Minimum two-night stay applies. Subject to availability and fluctuation. Must be pre-paid at time of booking, and is non-refundable, non-changeable.
The Star Observer is offering one lucky reader the chance to stay at Vibe Hotel Marysville for three nights including breakfast. To win, send an email to [email protected] and explain in 25 words or less what your most ideal weekend away is. The most creative answer will win.
