High-end holiday playgrounds: The top spots across regional Victoria

The arrival of spring is seeing the Victorian prestige market gear up for a predicted rush of buyers looking for all-year holiday homes around the Macedon Ranges, Daylesford and the snow.

“A lot of people are looking to change their lifestyle, especially as they approach retirement, and are looking to sell the big house in Melbourne and buy something smaller, and then buy a place in the country too,” says RT Edgar director Jeremy Fox. “That’s something that’s very popular, for families too, and we’re hoping there’ll be more property coming onto the market as spring gets underway.”

At Jellis Craig Macedon Ranges, agent Paul Keane – who’s selling a three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence in Tylden – is also anticipating a spring bonanza. “We believe it’s now ready to pick up and we think spring will be very busy with more good-quality homes coming up,” he says. “Areas like this have been becoming more and more popular for the past five or so years. They’re very scenic, with lovely long views, and offer good value for money.”

His Tylden listing — a period country estate on nearly 38 hectares — has been extensively renovated, and features high ceilings, a fireplace in the living area and surrounded by lawn, hedges and trees. It’s being shopped around with a $2.295 million guide.

The appeal lies in their setting, very similar to NSW’s Southern Highlands for Sydneysiders. “They are comparable in many ways, except for their price!” says John Keating of Keatings Real Estate, who has a beautiful eight-bedroom French Colonial-style property at nearby Trentham East on his books.

“There are lots of little townships and lovely undulating hills, mixed-use farming, mature landscapes, little heritage villages and beautiful homes on good-sized land.”

Daylesford, of course, is always a magnet for Melburnians, and everyone beyond. There, many homes are now being renovated to create more prestige properties, while tourism is absolutely booming.

“Our biggest buyers are investors from Melbourne who want a holiday home and might put it on the holiday rental market when they’re not using it, or who plan to live there later,” says Nathan Skewes from Hocking Stuart Daylesford. “Everyone knows the area for its mineral springs and it’s becoming more popular all the time.”

Further away, there will always be those who want the snow, and Falls Creek is a magnet, especially with Vail Resorts buying the ski fields at the Falls Creek and Hotham alpine resorts for $174 million this year, and offering global passes.

Three homes in holiday hotspots

Trentham East

Just two years old, this luxury grand eight-bedroom, five-bathroom residence with a separate self-contained guest wing has modern French Colonial-style interiors, containing a huge lounge with open fireplace, vaulted ceiling windows and chandeliers. 

There are wide verandas with French doors, shutters, lofty 3.6-metre-high ceilings and oak floors, with a glass walkway linking the main house to the east wing. 

Set on 9.8 hectares of lawns and countryside, with views to Mount Macedon, the home is being offered for sale by John Keating of Keatings Real Estate for $2,995,000.

Daylesford

This five-bedroom, five-bathroom home is actually on the foreshore of Lake Daylesford, one of the most premium spots in the area. Built originally in 1912 and renovated completely over the past two years, it’s currently trading as a popular guest house.

Four of the bedrooms have en suites with under-floor heating and three also have private balconies and lake views, with downstairs is a completely self-contained apartment.

Outside, there’s a terraced landscaped garden on 920sqm. It’s on the market with Nathan Skewes of hockingstuart Daylesford for $2,095,000.

Falls Creek

A four-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse with stunning north-east views over the valley in a central ski-in, ski-out location, has just come up for sale for $1,295,000 through Zirky Real Estate agent Cristina Smit.

Capable of sleeping 10 people, it’s 145sqm internally with a 95sqm balcony equipped with a large hot tub, and is the largest home in the complex. 

It’s being sold fully furnished and has stone kitchen benchtops, stainless steel fittings, European appliances, and stone bathrooms, with two of the bedrooms having large en suites with bathtubs.