Plantation on the Peninsula

A quick getaway is pretty self-explanatory: you throw your togs and toothbrush in a bag, jump in the car and head out onto the open road, leaving your stressful city life behind you.

One of the more popular summer sojourns for Melburnians is the Mornington Peninsula, home of great beaches, wineries of Red Hill and the rejuvenating waters of the Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs.

There’s no shortage of accommodation either. Plantation House at Whitecliffs is one of the newest luxury B&Bs in Rye. Built in 1932 using hand-made bricks from local sand, the sprawling house has had many incarnations: it’s been a private residence, an aged care facility and holiday apartments.

Owners Charles and Lorraine are true-blue seachangers who moved from Doncaster to completely renovate the house, half of which is their residence, the other half divided into B&B accommodation.

There are three suites, each named to resonate the plantation theme the couple has chosen: there’s the Havana, the Georgia and the Bahama. Each room has a brand new en suite, a comfortable queen-sized bed and a TV. The Bahama suite is the most upmarket, with a spa bath in the newly renovated bathroom.

The outdoor area has reclining chairs in the palm-fringed garden for midday sun worshipping, a large table for afternoon cocktails, and a hot tub for a late evening soak. There’s even a masseuse who can be ordered in for an in-house day spa special.

In order to ensure the most relaxing environment for guests, Plantation House is a child-free zone. If you don’t like the idea of sharing accommodation with strangers, convince two other couples to travel with you on the same weekend and you can have the B&B to yourselves.

Lorraine is also an artist-in-residence, with a studio at the rear of the buildings. Her beautiful seascape paintings adorn the dining room where a gourmet breakfast is served to guests each morning. There’s also a sitting room with books, DVDs and a bottle of rather nice port.

Plantation House is within walking distance of a strip of restaurants on Point Nepean Road, and a short driving distance to the boutiques and galleries of Sorrento and Portsea and the boiling pool at Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs. Adventurers can also jump on board a three-hour dolphin swimming tour which departs from Sorrento Pier. Head into the Mornington Peninsula’s hinterland hills to sample wines at Red Hill Estate, one of 60 cellar doors in the area. Its restaurant is run by gay chef Max Paganini.

Rye is an hour and a half from Melbourne by car. Plantation House is at 33 Maori St, Rye (03 5985 5926). For more information on the area, see www.visitvictoria.com.au.