Wining and Dining at the Healesville Hotel

We've visited the wonderful TarraWarra Museum of Art a few times now, the last time being their Open Weekend. While we were there, we entered a competition and lo and behold, a few weeks later my husband got a phone call saying he had won a voucher for the Healesville Hotel.

My tummy rumbled just at the thought of it, so FF a couple of months, on a sunny Autumn day, we found ourselves cruising up Maroondah Hwy for a lazy lunch.

We were welcomed to the grand dining room by friendly staff and immediately felt relaxed and comfortable. The Autumnal decor was perfect, featuring a vase filled with Maple branches, their leaves a kaleidoscope of changing colours. 
Entrees of local fig, prosciutto and gorgonzola;eggplant, yoghurt and almonds. I noticed crispy chestnuts were featured on a chicken dish, and was thrilled that the Chef accommodated my request to add some to my chosen duck dish.
Mains were mouth watering dishes of Ocean Trout and Lamb.

Outside in the ivy covered courtyard, a Chef cooked chickens on the wood fired rotisserie as diners inhaled the aroma and enjoyed the alfresco setting.

After our meal, we grabbed a takeaway bottle of something cool, waddled outside and headed next door to the Kitchen and Butcher store, where we purchased exotic cheeses from afar, as well as local produce like figs and pine mushrooms.

We finished our time in Healesville with quick visit to my old school classmate, Tim, at Silvermist Studio. I hadn't seen Tim for many years, but recently reconnected with him on Instagram. Tim is a goldsmith and his jewellery making talent is evident in the beautiful pieces he creates on site and which are available for purchase. The gallery also sells works from other local artists. Beautiful, shiny things everywhere - worth a visit. 

What: Healesville Hotel

Where: 256 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville

When: Daily

Why: historic building, fine food

How Much:prices vary

Nearby: Tarrawarra MOMA

Mt Donna Buang, Warburton

10 years since my last visit to Mt Donna Buang, but an update on the Warburton Info page turned our stay-at-home-and-laze-around-like-sloths-Saturday into hurry-up-and-get-dressed-we're-going-to-the-snow-Saturday.

We stopped in Warburton to grab some lunch, then headed up the hill. The road was clear and fairly dry. Patches of fog did disappearing tricks with the trees on either side and a big blanket of cloud hid the valley below.

We arrived kind of late in the day - around 1pm -but there was still plenty of car parks. Terry the Toboggan Man was doing a roaring trade - we hired 2 toboggans and set off up to the summit.

 

The mountain looked stunning in its Winter coat. White is the new black.

 

Our Snow Bunny stood out in a crowd of 6,534 Snowmen. 

2 hours of non-stop toboganning for $10 hire fee was money well spent.

A hot chocolate and some jam snonuts - I mean donuts -  to warm up before we started our journey home. At about a 90 minute drive - it's an easy day trip. We're looking forward to coming back in Spring and doing some of the walking trails.

What: Mt Donna Buang

Where: Mt Donna Buang Rd, Warburton

When:  Daily

Why: Snowplay

How Much: FREE access to the mountain. (Toboggan hire fees apply)