DESIGN DESTINATION

A trip to the Grampians is good for the soul

For over 20,000 years, the Grampians (Gariwerd) has been home to its traditional owners and custodians, the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people. The region’s storied sandstone escarpments, sheltered gullies and glittering waterfalls have not only protected the highest concentration of rock art sites and Aboriginal art motifs in Victoria, but its breathtaking landscapes have also inspired the likes of artists Arthur Streeton and Eugene Von Guérard, who immortalised the Grampians’ bold and rugged beauty. It’s not hard to see why. There’s a magnetic pull that hangs heavy here. The air is crisp and ripe with native botanicals; regular sightings of grazing eastern and western grey kangaroos and rock wallabies never fail to excite; and the surrounding mountain ranges that pierce the skyline beyond winding bends are an arresting reminder of the land’s spiritual significance.

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the local area, there’s no better base than Aquila Eco Lodges – a sustainable nature retreat set in dense bushland and comprising four luxurious architect-designed, self-contained, totally off-grid lodgings. Wake to misty mornings among the trees, where roos and wallabies, mostly hand-reared by owners and wildlife rescue foster carers Harry and Iwona Wakeling, greet you with curiosity.

Those wanting a more cosy, country vibe can’t go past the newly opened Salt Creek Cottage. Its quintessential weatherboard exterior belies an interior that expertly mixes antique furnishings with luxe contemporary fixtures and absolutely everything you need to make your country dreams come true. Pay attention to the divine candles and soaps from the host’s own company,

The Grampians Goods Co, and pick up a couple to take home from the Dunkeld General Store down the road.

THIS PAGE (clockwise from top left) One of the cosy bedrooms at Salt Creek Cottage. The weatherboard holiday home sits below Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt. Its traditional dining area and fully equipped kitchen. Breathtaking Boroka Lookout over Halls Gap. The walk to Hollow Mountain (Wudjub-Guyan) in the Grampians National Park is a little steep, but well worth the view you get over Wimmera Plains. OPPOSITE The magnificent Dunkeld Arboretum.

CLOCKWISE (from top left) The Spanish arches of Mount William Station will be updated to their former glory by October this year. A twin-singles room in the converted Shearer’s Quarters. Navigating the winding roads of the Grampians was a breeze in the smooth and luxurious plug-in hybrid BMW X5 XDrive45e car. The Grand Canyon loop in Grampians National Park is a short but rewarding walk along trickling streams and rocky terraces. Heavenly Grass Treehouse at Aquila Eco Lodges. Drop in to Koopmans for a co ee in the ex-garage.