The Hill's Hosts

The Age

Saturday April 19, 2008

Peter Wilmoth

Peter Wilmoth books a weekend and backs a winner in Red Hill hospitality.

It was just a feeling. Heading down Meadowood's driveway, with the promise of geese to feed and alpacas to pat and local wines to enjoy on the terrace amid Easter's Indian summer warmth, I made a little bet with myself that we were in for a treat.

The bet was a payer, and no small credit for that goes to hosts Wendy and Richard Fleetwood for their attentions. The success or otherwise of a weekend away is, for me, largely aligned with the host. If they're good - and the Fleetwoods are great - you know the rest will fall into place.

Our accommodation - there are a couple of options within the one big property - is a self-contained cottage with two bedrooms, a bathroom and a living area incorporating a kitchenette with cooking appliances. There is a fireplace with a glass door and a stereo and DVD player. The bookshelf contains some good titles in book, CD and DVD form. It is all very comfortable.

Outside there is a table where you can eat and take in the stunning view across the garden Wendy designed and constructed. At the bottom of the property is a dam where ducks and geese gratefully accept the bread you throw at them. There is a big trampoline there, too.

The two alpacas are Mr Brown and Mr White, but fortunately comparisons to Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs end there.

The tennis court is a winner. I am travelling with a couple of young tennis enthusiasts, and the fact that we didn't bring their racquets doesn't matter: Wendy loans us three. We play three times, and manage to save some of the balls from the slobbery jaws of a beautiful honey-coloured golden retriever named Chloe.

The Red Hill area is a wonderland of activities. On the recommendation of a friend, our big event for the holiday is the famous picnic at Montalto Vineyard, a few minutes' drive away.

Our group meets at the wine-tasting area, where we taste a few, then pick a wine. Then, following a map, we walk to a dam under a huge gum tree next to the vines where our table has been formally set. The wine arrives by farm vehicle five minutes later.

It is stylish and relaxing, and the antipasto-style food is beautiful but, at $70 a head, it is exorbitantly priced, especially when kids are charged the same as adults.

Down the road is T'Gallant winery, famous for its lovely pinot gris wines. Their little bistro is a good spot for lunch. We also drop in on an old favourite, Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm, across from T'Gallant, where we pick up a couple of punnets of strawberries and some local apricot jam.

What to do for dinner? We head to Red Hill's impressive supermarket for supplies.

Next morning there is a knock at the door at 8am and on the doorstep Wendy has left a basket with local jams, bread baked by Richard, and a newspaper.

On our last morning, Wendy takes the kids for a ride on her ride-on mower (with blades up). Eyes out like organ stops, the kids declare it a highlight, right up there with the tennis and alpacas.

Wendy leads the kids to collect eggs from the chickens, she takes them to see the alpacas and makes sure we are having a great time, without being overbearing. As we leave, Richard collects four eggs and presents them to us. It's a nice touch. The Fleetwoods are, I think, what all bed-and-breakfast hosts should be.

VISITORS' BOOK

Meadowood

Address Beaulieu Road, Red Hill.

See meadowood.com.au.

Bookings: 5989 2368.

Getting there: 70 kilometres from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula.

How much: Ranges from $140-$220 a night for the unit or the cottage. On Saturday night there is a surcharge of $40.

Summary: An excellent base for a wine-and-food tour of the area, or a great place to chill out.

The verdict: 16

The score: 19-20 excellent; 17-18 great; 15-16 good; 13-14 comfortable, well run.

All weekends away are conducted anonymously and paid for.

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home