Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley

“Pleasant stay”

Nestled in the Yarra Valley, the Balgownie Estate provides good accommodation for people wanting a central location. The staff were helpful and pleasant. The room was clean and comfortable. A drawback is that some of the rooms are located on the far end of the block of rooms. So, it can be a bi... more

Nestled in the Yarra Valley, the Balgownie Estate provides good accommodation for people wanting a central location. The staff were helpful and pleasant. The room was clean and comfortable. A drawback is that some of the rooms are located on the far end of the block of rooms. So, it can be a bit of a trek from the carpark. This is made up for though with the landscaping.

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“Corporate Hotel”

Starting with positives the rooms are nice, clean with great views and comfortable. All of interactions with the staff were pleasant and friendly. We only marked this is a 3, the lowest score we used on our trip to Australia, because this is a conference hotel which we should have spotted. Men ou... more

Starting with positives the rooms are nice, clean with great views and comfortable. All of interactions with the staff were pleasant and friendly. We only marked this is a 3, the lowest score we used on our trip to Australia, because this is a conference hotel which we should have spotted. Men outside your room at 3 in the morning shouting because they cant find their room was part of it. The other part was our restaurant experience. The food is very good, a talented chef who prepares a great menu. Our problem was that we felt incredibly rushed. Having booked for 8pm we were advised to sit down earlier, as the litchen closes at 9pm. We thought that would be for last orders but clearly they wanted the room clear and fully set up for breakfast by 10pm. The ambience is also very corporate, laddish banter, loud, clattery and not at all for couples. Other couples sat close to us felt the same. Portable tables for the breakfast cereals and hotplates were being erected shortly after we sat down, we were rushed to the point that we were asked to settle our bill at 9.40 'as the till was closing'. Our dinner plates were collected by a server who had been cleaning tables with a spray and setting them up for breakfast, she had two dirty cloths is one hand and a bottle of spray under her arm. All in all not that enjoyable. We have raised it direct and they have apologised and asked if we would like a free return visit, assuring us that they will use our feedback to improve things in the future. If we do travel back to Australia from the UK it is unlikely we would stay here again.

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“The stay could have been 5 stars and outstanding but…”

I am writing this from the comfort of my suite of the 3rd day here in this establishment. I booked a queen standard room and subsequently made arrangements for an upgrade to a renovated suite after discovering that the initial room booked had not been refreshed. This was nicely done and the sui... more

I am writing this from the comfort of my suite of the 3rd day here in this establishment. I booked a queen standard room and subsequently made arrangements for an upgrade to a renovated suite after discovering that the initial room booked had not been refreshed. This was nicely done and the suite was well worth the price paid for the upgrade. The suite was new, spacious and more than adequate for our 36th anniversary celebrations. As for meals, we ate at the 1309 for breakfasts and an evening at the open deck savouring delights from the Grazing menu. We also participated in a Hot Air Balloon ride where the meet up was at the reception area of the resort here…. Nice and convenient. The experience was awesome and beyond expectations. Finally, we decided this afternoon to pop by the cellar for a wine tasting experience.. after all, how could we spend 4 days here and not partake in the wine offerings of this place. The cellar was full.. but the lady sommelier assured us the wait should not be longer than 5 minutes. Well.. 15 minutes later, we decided to give this “must try” a miss. Why? I guess we were forgotten altogether. If not for this episode, this place certainly warrants 5 stars .. I would also like to think and hope that it’s not because we were not locals here.

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