Hidden away from the city of Melbourne the Japanese Mountain Retreat is at the foot of the…read moreDandenong Mountains accessible through a few small roads. We booked a spa session for two and here are the prices below. 60 Mins Outdoor 1-3 People $99 pp 4 + $75 pp 90 Minutes Outdoor 1 - 3 people $149 pp 4 people $125 pp When we arrived, there was plenty of parking and it was just so QUIET and peaceful. We signed in and were shown to our private bath area that had a small change room, and a large spa with a small garden on the edges and tables and chairs. Quiet music was played and the spa has a bubble machine if you like that but it was just soothing and relaxing. The bathrooms are shared with the spa next to you but are clean and easily accessible. For the price you pay, it is relaxing however a bit pricey for me and I wouldn't go very often. It has a complete different feel than the Penninsula Hot Springs such as no kids running around and is very exclusive. They do other packages such as dinner and accommodation however be prepared to leave a big hole in your wallet!

Omg omg omg!! What a…read moreplace! This is just a fantastic place!! I took my partner here for Xmas for his present! OMG you felt like you where in japan! Driving up to this place you wouldn't think it existed! Located high on the mountains through off road tracks! You turn the corner in and BAM you see this beautiful bamboo gate and it already feels like japan! We went here for a massage treatment! As we walked through the entrance we were greeted by a host who new my name before introduction (they new my booking remembers my name and had everything ready for the time of arrival)!! We were seated in the dining/bar area to fill out some forms with a nice green tea to enjoy whilst sitting on a lovely long couch with a view of their outside garden and decor! We were then shown to the massage room, a hut with two massage tables overlooking an amazing water fountain! Whistle getting the massage with beautiful aroma door left slightly open to hear the treakling of the outside water fountain! Massage was great, they made sure it was good the whole way through! After the massage shown back to dinning room To have some more green tea and green tea cake to relax and recoup before our journey home. Service was brilliant. Yes it is a little bit pricey but it was worth every cent :-) loved it and will be back to try out the mineral spas and the authentic Japanese hut for accommodation!

Comfortable room & beautiful surroundings. Big sofa bed in addition to master bed. Love the decor…read morein the corridor lounge. There's a lovely lake and grassy hills with wild kangaroos just outside the rooms.

Candelight Cottages up in Mount Dandenong are a beautiful place to getaway from the hustle and…read morebustle of everyday life and relax. They have four self-contained cottages available for hire - the Candelight Cottage, Cottage in the Village, Cottage in the Forest and Clare Cottage. All of them are close to Sassafras and offer open fireplaces and cosy quaint living spaces. I stayed in the Cottage in the Forest for one night in early March and found it to be absolute bliss. Tucked away on an acre of forested land, the open plan cottage features a king-size bed that overlooks a floor to ceiling window through which is a gorgeous view of the forest. The bathroom has a two-person spa bath and another large window overlooking the trees. There were a reasonably good selection of books and DVD's provided, I remember watching "Meet the Parents" snuggled up on the comfy couch in front of the warm fire. The owners are really kind people and make your stay comfortable by providing breakfast provisions - they even stocked up the fridge with vegetarian delights, as my companion didn't eat meat. I was really surprised and appreciative of this. Pricing is quite high but the place is amazing and definitely worth a visit. For Cottage in the Forest and Twilight Cottage it is $245 per couple per night Monday-Thursday and on weekends it is $599 for two nights. Clare Cottage is $230 per couple per night Monday-Thursday and $570 for a two-night weekend. Candlelight Cottage is $260 per couple per night Monday-Thursday and $630 for a two night weekends. They often have deals and special offers so make sure to check out their website ahead of time.

I cannot say enough how comfortable and relaxing our three night stay at the "Koopalanda" Spa…read moreChalet was. We arrived in the late afternoon, and straight away collected the key to our private chalet. We could park literally at our door - yay! As we entered, we noticed how bright and sparkling clean it was, something that makes a big impact on whether I relax or not. The kitchen was excellently equipped with everything including wine glasses...important. We moved the outdoor setting onto our landing to survey the property. The view was stunning, looking out over rolling hills. Native birds hung out on our landing and the weather was lovely. By the end of the trip we had worked out that we overlooked a paintball field! We didn't see anyone though, as trees covered the area. The first evening, we immediately tried out the spa and were not disappointed - the spa is set in the bedroom overlooking large windows (with a remote controlled blind) so you can take in the view while you soak. It was large and comfortable for the three of us. (Us and our kid) The bed was INCREDIBLE. We have a swanky king bed at home, so usually we have a worse time away than at home, but I don't know where this soft, plushy queen bed came from...heaven... Seriously considering calling to find out where I can buy one. We were all unwell our weekend away, so having a soft bed to sleep it off was amazing. There is A LOT of natural light in the morning though, we wake up this early anyway so it wasn't a big deal at all. Bathroom and shower were super clean and worked great. Hot water was abundant, however on the first night, something tripped the switch and we had to flip it in the morning. No big deal as it didn't happen again. The whole holiday was comfortable and felt so private, we knew there were caretakers close by if we needed them - but we weren't bothered by a soul. LOVELY! Only on leaving did I realise that they have a BYO Horse arrangement - for all the trails in the area...if only I had a horse.... The price for staying here was amazing, given the luxury of the chalet, however as we stayed on the weekend that a management handover was occurring, we were advised that the price was set to increase soon. Even given that information, I would 100% book this again and 100% recommend you do the same. You won't be disappointed. THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL TIME!!! ***Not suitable for small children or people who cannot easily go up and down a narrow spiral staircase. ****The sofa is a fold out bed for a guest. Or for making "Bed-Couch DVD-fest", which was an excellent afternoon indeed.

My flight cancelled and all hotel rooms were taken this weekend in Melbourne due to Taylor Swift…read moreand the Melbourne Cup so.... we had to come here to Dandenong which is 30 miles away from the central business district. The staff are very friendly polite and kind. There's a free breakfast buffet from 7 am and it was quite delicious. Eggs, meats, waffles, cereal, oatmeal and a nice variety of fruits and yoghurt as well. Across the street is a mall with a food court, Coles and Woolworths for groceries and even a movie theatre. The room itself is small and minimally furnished but everything worked well and the tv had many channels unlike some of the hotels I've stayed at by the famous wharf in Melbourne

My review is mixed. The people were very nice and the location is close to lots and lots of…read morerestaurants (mostly every type of Asian cuisine) and near The Glen Shopping mall. The hotel feels a little tired, but everything works fine. The decor is very plain and it didn't seem to matter what temperature I set the thermostat at, the temperature didn't change much. The breakfast (included with my stay) was good, with lots of choices and healthy ones, too. There's huge "For Sale" sign out front, which leads me to believe why they may not be investing in the property.

I stayed in this hotel with my husband for our anniversary. We chose here because I managed to find…read morea good deal, and we wanted to stay in luxury accommodation. The room was okay. I think I was excepting more considering the price we paid, and the fact that it is so far out of the city (which we were okay with, as we were not planning on leaving the hotel!). The room was neat and clean. The bathroom was spotless. There was only one towel, and some of the amenities were missing, but a call down to reception soon fixed that. I found the reception staff helpful and friendly. Upon finding out it was our anniversary they offered us a late checkout of 12pm, which was greatly appreciated. My only real issue was the rooms was a little dated in comparison to some of the other 4-4.5 star hotels I have stayed in, and the bed was on the hard side so I woke up with a sore back. Overall, I would stay here again if I needed something in the Glen Waverley area.

After a quick and convenient meal as we passed through Mansfield. It was quite late in the…read moreafternoon for lunch, in fact the menus flipped to dinner at 4:55, so after a quick stroll we were lured in to read the menu by a $10.90 lunch special. Being one that will go for the healthy option 9 times out of 10. I was impressed by the range of healthy meals on offer from quinua, lentil and wild rice salad to chicken and sumac salads soups and share platters all reasonably priced. This occasion being slightly worse for wear after a big night we opted to share the lamb burger which was the daily special. Luckily we decided to share as this burger was of quite generous portion with a nice thick party that filled the bun and a side of beer battered chips. The hotel is also host to Mansfield spring art competition so there was a great range of locally produced artworks on display to buy.

I stumbled in after a 79km bike ride. My muscles ached. I was in need of beer and something…read moreproteiny and delicious, stat. Firstly, it's one of those places where you order at the counter in the 'bistro' and then have to go off and buy your drink separately. Never mind, I got to speak to two friendly staff members that way. Score. I ordered the Moroccan lamb rump. It arrived swiftly and was enjoyed with a local Mansfield Brewing Company amber ale. The lamb was cooked and spiced to perfection, and sat on a salad of quinoa, lentils, and black rice. The salad was lively and tantalizing, with little bursts of flavour from the beetroot, nuts, and various dried fruits. The whole lot was covered in a minted yoghurt that married all the components together. Honestly, mouth is watering thinking back to it. I haven't tried any of the other pubs or eateries in Mansfield but by heck, I don't think I'll bother. I'm keep to do that meal and beer combo again. Stat.