A Review Of The $20 Million Campbell Point House

At the end of a majestic driveway, lined with some 10,000 hand planted trees, there is a gentle dip. A proud private estate stands tall in that dip, and it may just take your breath away. This is Campbell Point House.

Details:

Campbell Point House
199 Matthews Road, Leopold, Vic

Campbell Point House in all it’s glory

The property:

For those who have long dreamt of staying in an elegant, multi-million dollar luxury accommodation, Campbell Point House on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula is the only way to do it.

Surrounded by lush lawns and with a distant view of water, it’s hard to find the words to truly encompass the lavish beauty that is this place.

Pictures barely do this facade justice

Originally built as a family home, the now-boutique hotel feels reminiscent of the Palace Of Versailles. Perhaps that’s why it’s been chosen several times as the backdrop to many TV shows, including Masterchef, Getaway and Unreal Estate.

Owner and visionary Aaron Parkhill assures building costs were shy of $20 million, but that doesn’t stop the quarter of a million dollar bill from appearing every year for maintenance. That’s on top of the five full-time gardeners, and a few robot mowers.

Upon arrival I make a note to spend hours roaming the magical gardens, but the real magic happens once I step inside.

The enormous entry and staircase (actually nothing is small here) makes my neck spin as I take it all in. I look down to see a myriad of checked tiles under my feet, as well as marble accents as far as the eye can see.

First impressions of the staircase

To the left there’s a light-filled conservatory, featuring a hidden chef’s kitchen and a quaint table set-up.

The rest of the ground floor is just as you’d expect. There’s a games room, complete with a full-scale pool table for a healthy post-dinner scrimmage, plus plenty of rooms for sitting, chatting and marvelling at your surrounds.

Go for a scrimmage in the Games Room

The rooms:

Up to my quarters.

Campbell Point House offers eight luxurious suites; the emphasis here is definitely on quality over quantity.

I was assigned the greatest and grandest of them all, the Master Suite.

An unassuming door on the top floor of the property opened to a set of stairs. Once atop, I am greeted with a light-filled room that I can confidently say is more than double the size of my Bondi Beach apartment.

The Master Suite is waiting

As my bare feet stepped on luxurious jute flooring, a king bed reveals itself as the centerpiece. Behind it, a backdrop of his and hers walk-in wardrobes, inviting me to unpack and make myself at home.

The beds are as comfortable as they are grand, complete with butter-soft linens that almost demand a good night’s sleep. It’s clear that no expense is spared to ensure the Nirvana-esque fantasy is kept alive.

Marble accents adorn the bathrooms

Each room comes fitted with its own private en suite, featuring a toilet, walk-in shower and vanity. The marble accents continue from the ground floor, with each benchtop handcrafted and imported using the finest finishes possible.

The food:

Guests at Campbell Point House are treated to a culinary experience that delivers the very best of the Bellarine Peninsula.

A kitchen is worth a thousand words

All produce is either grown at the estate’s potager garden, caught from the ocean, sourced from local producers or made onsite. Fresh doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Southern calamari with sage and soaked plum; dry aged snapper with mustard and potato; Crayfish and zucchini ravioli; dry aged duck with cumquats and bitter chocolate – although seasonal and subject to change, I can personally attest to the deliciousness of every bite taken.

All produce is either grown at the estate’s potager garden, caught from the ocean, sourced from local producers or made onsite

And while I expected nothing less based on my experience so far, an in-hotel degustation of this calibre is seriously something to pay attention to.

Head chef Tobin Kent is understandably proud of what they produce at Campbell Point, and his team are thrilled to chat about how they have achieved an interesting, diverse, delicious and well-paired menu. As we quickly realised, all you have to do in this place, is ask…

Head chef Tobin Kent is understandably proud of every meal he presents

Morning brings homemade croissants and jams, sourdough bread, beautiful coffee, and eggs to your liking.

After breakfast, I take a winery tour before heading home feeling refreshed, spoiled and knowing this is how the other half wished they lived!

Getting there:

If you’re a Melbourne local, type Campbell Point House straight into the GPS and you’ll do the trip to the Bellarine Peninsula in 1.5 hours.

Light-filled hallways

For those coming from interstate, your best bet is to fly into Avalon airport and hire a car. We chose a Toyota and boy, am I glad we did. The Kluger’s inbuilt navigation was pretty much the only reason that my backseat driving Mum and I got there in one piece…

The AT verdict:

If you’re in the mood to be treated like a VIP, this French chateau and English manor house hybrid is the hotel for you.

The room: 9/10

Whichever room you’re assigned is guaranteed to excite. No noise, privacy in all. And while the linen and finishes are all superb, perhaps a power board next to the bed for devices may be a good touch?

The food: 10/10

Extremely hard to fault. From the unexpectedly brilliant eight-course degustation (duck paired with bitter chocolate – who’d have known!?), to the conservatory breakfast, and the paired sparkling and cheese on arrival; the food here is worth the journey alone.

We rated:

Regional properties can sometimes feel a little lonely, and you can often have trouble passing the time between excursions. But with such detailed execution, and an incredible story to boot, hours can pass simply marvelling at the interior decor, let alone when you go out on foot to explore…

We’d change:

It’s a shame that the region doesn’t get to enjoy the spoils of the garden and head chef Tobin Kent, because the restaurant is not open to the public. Perhaps a special occasion chef’s table would work well?

From waterfront hotels to restored warehouses and coastal retreats on the Bellarine Peninsula, here are some of the top places to stay in Geelong and surrounds.

A gateway to some of Victoria’s loveliest country and coastal locales, Geelong is also a city with a strong sense of history that runs along its waterfront and a creative spirit that permeates its laneway. These accommodation offerings tap into the area’s many facets.

1. Devlin Apartments

Devlin Apartments is housed within a Georgian Revival-style building in central Geelong that dates back to 1926. Behind its heritage exterior lies a suite of 27 luxury apartments in three distinct styles: choose to stay in The New Yorker, with high ceilings and tall arched windows; The Industrialist, with wrought iron and rustic timber furniture; or The Modernist, with clean lines, Danish-designed furniture and balconies. In addition, the property also offers 10 motel-style rooms.

Devlin Apartments is housed within a Georgian Revival-style building in central Geelong.

2. Anchor Geelong

Here, a little bit of Hamptons style is blended with boho chic to create a breezy, aesthetically pleasing accommodation offering just a couple of blocks away from the eateries of Little Malop Street and a short stroll to the waterfront. Anchor Geelong’s eight studio rooms are each styled uniquely and named after a different coastal locale in the region – from the deluxe king studio of Queenscliff to the two-bedroom studio of Torquay; some have their own private courtyard, all have bathrooms kitted out with Moroccan tiles.

Anchor Geelong combines Hamptons style with boho chic.

3. Sabina on Little Myers

This self-contained Victorian house in a quiet corner of town makes for an ideal base for groups of up to six people. Beautifully furnished and appointed throughout, Sabina on Little Myers has three bedrooms each with king-size beds and quality linen, a cosy lounge with open gas log fire, movies, games, magazine and books, and an outdoor backyard with barbecue to boot. The property is pet-friendly too, and within walking distance of Geelong’s waterfront and Eastern Beach as well as the city’s many cafes, restaurants and shops.

Sabina on Little Myers is the perfect accommodation choice for group stays.

4. The Warehouse Apartments

This hip ‘aparthotel’ is part of a new refurbishment of The Warehouse Geelong, a building originally constructed in 1890 as Hearne’s Cough Medicine Factory. Today, it is reimagined into three architecturally designed boutique apartments described as ‘Geelong meets New York’, with pendant lighting, exposed rafters and lots of greenery. Located on the edge of the CBD in the Western Wedge Art Precinct, it’s within walking distance of the city’s attractions including Geelong Gallery just seven minutes away. It also offers free private parking.

The Waterhouse Geelong brings New York vibes to the Victorian coast.

5. Novotel Geelong

Stay smack-bang on the waterfront in Novotel Geelong, which has 109 room all with balconies and some with water views. Following a $3.5 million makeover completed in 2019, its guest rooms and common areas are imbibed with a sense of Geelong’s creative spirit and signature street art. There’s also an aptly named Waterfront Restaurant, Bar and Lounge, with a Mediterranean inspired à la carte dinner menu and al fresco dining space.

Stay smack-bang on the waterfront in Novotel Geelong.

6. Quest Geelong

Within easy reach of all the city’s attractions – from the waterfront, iconic Cunningham Pier and Eastern Beach to Little Creatures Brewery and the Great Ocean Road beyond – Quest Geelong offers a stylish, relaxed and convenient stay with its 35 serviced apartments. Choose from studios and one, two and three-bedroom apartments for a ‘home from home’ experience.

Quest Geelong offers a stylish, relaxed and convenient stay with its 35 serviced apartments.

7. Riverglen Holiday Park

Located among the gum trees on the banks of the Barwon River, 10 minutes’ drive from central Geelong, Riverglen Holiday Park has a diverse choice of accommodation that ranges from powered camping sites to cottage-style cabins with wide verandahs. There’s also two swimming pools, a playground and ample free-to-use barbecue areas.

Riverglen Holiday Park has a diverse choice of accommodation.

8. Campbell Point House

A 20-minute drive from Geelong on the Bellarine Peninsula, Campbell Point House offers one of the most unique accommodation propositions in the area: a luxurious waterfront hotel and restaurant set in a multimillion-dollar countryside mansion. With only 30 guests accommodated at a time across a suite of stays including The Lake House, The Cottage and Mansion Suite, Campbell Point House is a super exclusive – and not to mention socially distanced – experience complete with high teas, degustation dinners, day spa and infinity pool.

Campbell Point House offers one of the most unique accommodation propositions in the area.

9. The Nest Luxury Stay

Half an hour from Geelong in a hilltop position above Point Lonsdale, near the historic seaside town of Queenscliff, you’ll find The Nest – a collection of luxury bed and breakfast pods custom-made for couples or those looking for a little solo time. These architect-designed pods each come with king-size beds and a private deck and spa overlooking the coastline. A sustainable accommodation option, The Nest is solar powered during the day and uses 100 per cent filtrated rain water. And while your stay provides the illusion of complete solitude – based as it is on a 16-hectare private sanctuary – you’re only a few minutes’ drive from the region’s best wineries, distilleries, restaurants and beaches.

The Nest is a collection of luxury bed and breakfast pods custom-made for couples or those looking for a little solo time.

10. Lon Retreat

Also located in Point Lonsdale on the Bellarine Peninsula, Lon Retreat is sequestered among over 80 hectares of rural and conservation land on a hill by the ocean. It features seven luxurious suites each named after a different cloud type and decked out in earthy tones and contemporary luxury touches. Plus, there’s a small and exclusive spa featuring mineral water-fed soaking tubs, steam rooms, and views to the ocean, lighthouse and coastal landscape. In the evening, enjoy a home-style meal in the comfort of your suite made with produce sourced from your surrounds.

Lon Retreat is sequestered among over 80 hectares of rural and conservation land on a hill by the ocean.

11. The Shearer’s Quarters

Stay amid 459 hectares of grazing and bush land on one of Victoria’s oldest pastoral properties, Moranghurk. The Shearer’s Quarters, 30 minutes north-west of Geelong and overlooking the Moorabool River, is based out of a 1920s bluestone building and caters to groups of up to 30 people. A screen-free environment with a limited number of power points ensures guests have a digital detox as well as a true rural escape. Here, eight bedrooms converge on a large country kitchen with an original brick bread oven; cook up a storm and wash it all down with local wine including pinot noir from Moranghurk’s very own vineyard.

The Shearer’s Quarters is set on one of Victoria’s oldest pastoral properties.

12. Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park

the exterior of Lancemore Mansion Hotel in Werribee Park

The five-star hotel sits within an 18th-century English mansion. (Image: Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park)

Once an 18th-century English mansion, the grand Lancemore Mansion Hotel in Werribee Park is now a stunning five-star accommodation, just 30 minutes from Melbourne.

Each of the 91 guest rooms is beautifully appointed with modern and luxurious amenities. Choose from a cosy Heritage Room in the original mansion, a contemporary Superior Room in the Spa Wing with garden views, a spacious Junior Suite featuring a spa bath and balcony, or a 2-Bedroom Family Suite ideal for groups or families.

There’s an exclusive day spa offering relaxing treatments, while the hotel’s restaurant serves a seasonal menu paired with world-class wines.

Hotel Review: Campbell Point House, Bellarine Peninsula