RINGWOOD, VICTORIA

East Melbourne may seem tranquil when you arrive but it’s a great place to take a walk on the wild side. When city life gets too much, the Dandenong Ranges offers the antidote. The gateway to Victoria’s natural adventure park, soar the skies in a hot-air balloon or take an aerial challenge through the treetops on flying foxes, tight ropes and tunnels. If you want to keep your feet on the ground, enjoy a sedate long walk through pristine national park, or venture to SkyHigh Mount Dandenong with views to take your breath away. Enjoy a ride on Puffing Billy Railway, or find a meditative space inside William Ricketts Sanctuary, a place of beauty and tranquillity. Last but not least the Yarra Valley is home to many young, progressive winemakers and breweries. Alongside the vineyards you’ll find apple and pear orchards, strawberry fields, olive groves and many more farm gate producers. Spanning five floors atop Eastland Retail Destination, a shopping precint at your doorstep, the 120-room SAGE is designed to blend HOTEL, RINGWOOD industrial and innovative styling with the natural views of the Dandenongs. Each room delivers premium comfort, the in-house Partake Restaurant and High & Dry Bar showcase locale epicurean choices, and there’s a gym to keep active when you’re not exploring the great outdoors. For further information head to sage-hotels.com