Royal Mail: Award-winning gourmet food and wine escape

A gourmet lovers’ paradise awaits in Victoria’s famous Grampians, with two nights at the award-winning Royal Mail Hotel – home to one of regional Victoria’s most-renowned degustation experiences.

Guests will enjoy daily a la carte breakfasts, a complimentary bottle of wine, cellar tour of a world-leading wine collection, a tour of Australia’s largest kitchen garden and a 1pm checkout.

Highlights

Nestled in a native garden at the southern end of the Grampians National Park, the hotel is in the perfect location for guests to make the most of the area.

Spot wildlife from your room, enjoy easy access to walks in the Grampians, take a stroll to Dunkeld Arboretum and lake, or hop in the car for a short drive to one of Australia’s most picturesque golf courses – Grampians Golf Course.

The hotel recently opened a brand-new restaurant, Wickens. It is headlined by Robin Wickens, the executive chef who has led the Royal Mail’s two-hatted Dining Room restaurant for years.

Under Mr Wickens’, the Royal Mail kitchen garden has increased in size and is now the most productive kitchen garden in Australia. He also redeveloped the hotel’s casual diner, Parker Street Project, ensuring the hotel is still at the forefront of exciting farm-to-table regional produce.

Enjoy a tour of Australia’s largest kitchen garden. Photo: Royal Mail Hotel

What you’ll love

The award-winning Royal Mail Hotel has put Dunkeld and the Grampians on the map as a leading Victorian food and wine destination. Awarded two hats by The Age Good Food Guide (2015, 2016 and 2017), best regional accommodation, best regional restaurant of the year, gold at the Victorian Tourism Awards and a 2016 TAA award of excellence, the hotel has become a firm Victorian favourite.

The 1.2-hectare kitchen garden is the largest of its type in Australia, providing the hotel with up to 80 per cent of its produce.

Paired with a world-leading wine collection that was carefully curated for more than 40 years and was recently awarded best hotel wine list worldwide by Britain’s Fine Wine magazine, the Royal Mail Hotel offers an unparalleled dining experience set beside the breathtaking Grampians National Park.

Guests will relax in a well-appointed deluxe mountain-view room, which has luxurious comforts such as a plush king bed, spacious bathroom with heated floors, complimentary Wi-Fi, cosy bathrobes and slippers, minibar, a private verandah and outdoor setting and beautiful views of the Grampians National Park.

Enjoy views of the stunning Grampians from your room. Photo: Royal Mail Hotel

Sleep in and enjoy your time in this scenic part of Australia with a late 1pm checkout and the most fitting souvenir – a complimentary bottle of wine to take home.

Wake up to daily a la carte breakfasts for two served at the Parker Street Project. Choose from a delicious cooked-to-order menu with fresh, local ingredients such as house-made sausages, eggs from the hotel’s free-range chickens and produce from the kitchen garden.

Enjoy a tour of the Royal Mail Wine Cellar led by expert sommeliers showcasing highlights of the collection and providing insight into how it is developed and managed. The 45-minute tour also includes a comparative tasting, where local wines will be compared with internationals.

Discover paddock-to-plate practices with a tour of the Royal Mail kitchen garden – featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia. The hotel chefs will teach you about the organic practices used to grow more than 400 types of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and nuts, and how the garden dictates what goes into the menu.

Upgrade to a Dining Extravaganza package and enjoy a lavish five-course degustation dinner at the new Wickens Restaurant, with delightful cuisine that highlights the region’s exceptional fine produce. Plus you’ll receive a welcome drink of beer, wine or a cocktail to enjoy at Parker Street Project.

You’ll also receive an Experience Passport that entitles you to discounts on wine purchases, chocolate purchases at Audley & Hall and flaxseed products from Waltanna Farms.

This is the perfect opportunity to treat a special someone to an unforgettable escape – relax among the majestic beauty of the Grampians while indulging in some of Victoria’s finest produce and culinary creations.

Packages at the Royal Mail Hotel start from $499 for two nights. For more, visit luxuryescapes.com.