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The dark sky stay with incredible stargazing an hour from Melbourne

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
At this luxurious Yarra Valley retreat, the stars align for the ultimate celestial experience.

By day, Kangaroo Ridge Retreat in Victoria is all relaxed vibes and resplendent views. But come nightfall, it’s now a private gateway to the cosmos. Partnering up with Yarra Valley Stargazing, the secluded escape has launched an exclusive astronomy experience, transforming its perch among the mountains into the ultimate dark-sky destination.

The accommodation

Kangaroo Ridge Retreat exterior
A private, design-led cabin retreat made for wanderers. (Image: Gunvor Jakobsen)

Just over an hour outside of Melbourne, Kangaroo Ridge Retreat is an exclusive, adults-only property sitting on 20 hectares of pristine farmland. With just two self-contained cabins in the charming regional town of Healesville, it’s the perfect getaway for those seeking seclusion and stillness.

Kangaroo Ridge Retreat interior
Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal magnificent valley views. (Image: Dominey Flores)

Sitting just above the cloud line, Kangaroo Ridge Retreat reads like a love letter to its natural surrounds, with sweeping views of the Great Dividing Range. Each luxurious cabin features a queen-sized bed, indoor fireplace, spa bath, wine bar, vinyl player and east-facing balcony. You’ll also be treated to board games, bath robes and your own set of cosy pyjamas.

larder at Kangaroo Ridge Retreat
Enjoy a complimentary larder stocked with local gourmet treats. (Image: Gunvor Jakobsen)

But guests won’t be spending all their time lazing around the fireplace with a good book, although that’s definitely part of it. A stay here goes beyond simply switching off, with a curated range of inclusions that fuse indulgence with self-care. From an in-cabin larder filled with local produce to DIY spa treatments using complimentary products – you’ll leave feeling deeply restored and utterly spoiled. Additional extras include sunset yoga sessions, couples’ massages and a private chef.

The experience

stargazing at Kangaroo Ridge Retreat
Stargazing enthusiasts will revel in sights of the night sky. (Image: Kangaroo Ridge Retreat)

If the accommodation hasn’t already convinced you to stay, its new stargazing experience will. Kangaroo Ridge Retreat has officially joined the country’s line-up of private stargazing cabins like Starscape in NSW’s Abercrombie River region. Its high-altitude location, combined with low light pollution, results in Class 5 conditions on the Bortle Scale.

Created by amateur astronomer John E. Bortle in 2001, the nine-level numeric model measures night-sky brightness by the observability of celestial objects and light pollution interference. Class 5 conditions indicate darkness levels are suitable for deep-space observation – placing the stay among some of the best stargazing spots in Australia.

Kangaroo Ridge Retreat is taking full advantage of this, teaming up with Yarra Valley Stargazing to deliver exclusive celestial sessions. Led by an expert guide, the 90-minute experience allows guests to observe deep-sky nebulae, ancient star clusters and even the Aurora Australis using a high-powered telescope and laser guidance.

Guests can book their stay around the year’s cosmic calendar, timing visits with celestial events like the Eta Aquariids meteor shower in May and the Perseids in July. Can’t line it up? Conditions still promise views of the Milky Way and iconic constellations like the Southern Cross and Orion the Hunter year-round.

“Usually, stargazing involves a late-night drive to a remote lookout. Here, we’ll have you back in your robe with a glass of local pinot in hand within minutes. It’s dark-sky luxury without the travel," says Kangaroo Ridge Retreat owner, Rebecca Ritte.

Kangaroo Ridge Retreat stargazing
Plan your celestial retreat around key cosmic dates this year. (Image: Kangaroo Ridge Retreat)

But that’s not all – the launch coincides with a rare planetary window. Jupiter is currently at opposition (when Earth passes directly between Jupiter and the sun), meaning it is exceptionally bright and visible. With a magnitude of –2.7, the planet reigns as the brightest object in the night sky right now, apart from the moon.

Saturn is also having a moment this year with a rare ring-plane crossing. The phenomenon occurs every 13–15 years when Earth passes through (or close to) the plane of Saturn’s rings, causing them to seemingly disappear from view. After 2026, it won’t happen again until around 2039.

“We are currently in a solar system sweet spot, not only is Jupiter at its biggest and brightest, but we are witnessing Saturn in a way most people never see it," says stargazing guide, Jessie. “Kangaroo Ridge Retreat’s 360-degree horizon gives us a front-row seat to see rare celestial events like this."

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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The details

The new stargazing experience is now open for bookings, available exclusively to guests of Kangaroo Ridge Retreat as an optional add-on. Accommodation rates vary depending on dates and length of stay. All reservations can be made via the Kangaroo Ridge Retreat website.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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Heathcote has evolved into the ultimate eco-escape for foodies

    Margaret Barca Margaret Barca
    Continue
    From cabins to canvas, craft distillers to destination dining, Heathcote locals reveal their eco-savvy passions in ways that resonate with those seeking to travel lightly. 

    Heathcote, on traditional Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, is synonymous with its garnet-hued shiraz, but wine isn’t the only string to its bow. The town itself is sprinkled with heritage buildings from the gold rush era, and beyond that a growing collection of sustainable gastronomy and eco-friendly escapes. Nearby Bendigo, one of only 65 cities in the world recognised as a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy, plates up an astonishing calibre of produce, wine and food for its size. Increasingly the entire region is taking up the challenge, though Heathcote in particular shines with its focus on sustainability. 

    Pink Cliffs GeologicalReserve
    The dramatic landscape of Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Goodfrey)

    The eco-stays bringing sustainability to Heathcote 

    Yellow BoxWood’s safari-style tents
    Yellow Box Wood’s safari-style tents are nestled on 40 hectares of bushland. (Image: Emily Goodfrey)

    Andee and Lisa Davidson spent years working in southern Africa before settling in Heathcote. “We had a vision of how this could be,” explains Andee. “We wanted a retreat, but one that was off-grid and environmentally sustainable.” Now, at Yellow Box Wood, two luxury safari-style tents are at the heart of 40 hectares of rolling hills and native bush, with kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, goanna and birdlife aplenty. It’s all solar-powered, wood for the fire is mainly fallen timber, and water is collected on the carport roof.  No lack of creature comforts though – en suite with rain shower, espresso coffee maker, comfy seating, wood-burning fire all set to go. There’s also a solar-heated, mineral salt pool in a bush setting, walking tracks, and even a mini bush golf course.  On my visit, I put the vision to the test. Cocooned in the plush four-poster bed I can glimpse the stars, while the heater casts a golden glow on the canvas. In the morning, I wake to a blush-pink sunrise, kangaroos feeding and a soundtrack of magpies.

    Mt Ida Eco Cabin
    Mt Ida Eco Cabin is rustic and simple but oozes comfort. (Image: Graham Hosking)

    If a tent is not your style, Stephen and Cally Trompp’s carbon-neutral Mt Ida Eco Cabin might entice with its generous deck and farmland views.   Inside the cabin, corrugated iron walls as rusty as a shearing shed, gleaming (recycled) floorboards, timber truss ceiling (crafted by Stephen), wood-fired heater and an old-school turntable with a pile of vinyls to spin. It’s fun, and a little boho. “Everything is recycled. The cabin takes maximum advantage of the sun in winter. It’s all solar-powered. Don’t panic, though,” says Stephen, “you can still charge your phone and get 4G reception!” Settle into an Adirondack chair on the deck or pedal off on a mountain bike to suss out the wineries.  

    A taste of Spain in Central Victoria 

    Three Dams Estate
    Three Dams Estate make Spanish-style wine.

    Another person with a vision is Evan Pritchard at his Three Dams Estate where the wines reflect his deep love of Spain and of Spanish-style grapes, such as tempranillo. Afternoons in the ‘wine shed’ or cantina are matched with music (flamenco is a favourite), Spanish bites from tapas to paella (with Evan on the pans!) and views to Mount Alexander. Sustainability is also a passion. “You don’t need to buy anything. We decided to be off-grid from the start, but it is a lifestyle change,” he says. “You need to think about it and be careful.” Everything here is recycled, reassembled, refurbished. Evan has an electric car (with solar-powered charger), solar-power for the winery, and even a jaunty little electric tractor/forklift. “I love the idea of all the things you can do using the sun.” Sipping a crisp rosado (a Spanish rosé) with Evan in the sunshine, I couldn’t agree more. 

    The vineyard redefining sustainable winemaking 

    Silver Spoon winery
    The Silverspoon Estate winery is completely off-grid. (Image: Graham Hosking)

    On the other side of Heathcote, Silver Spoon Estate demonstrates sustainability on a more extensive scale. Tracie and Peter Young’s winery, cellar door, award-winning restaurant and their own house are all solar-powered and off the grid. Sustainability is intrinsic to everything they do.  The property sprawls across 100 hectares, with 20 hectares under vine – shiraz, viognier, grenache, tempranillo. As the climate has changed, so too has the approach. These are dry-grown vineyards. “We prune for drought. That means lower yields but more intense flavours,” says Peter.  The fine-dining restaurant offers sweeping views, a wood-burning fire and a deck for languid lunches. Head chef Ben Hong sources regional, sustainable ingredients and weaves estate wines into the menu – think crispy wild mushroom arancini, viognier-infused chicken breast.   

    Silver Spoon’s award-winning restaurant
    Silver Spoon’s award-winning restaurant.

    Heathcote’s other hidden gems 

    Heathcote Wine Hub
    Heathcote Wine Hub is housed in a 1855-built timber church.

    Not all local wineries have a cellar door, but I find local treasures at the Heathcote Wine Hub, a petite 1855 timber church in the main street, lovingly returned to life by Karen Robertson and Carey Moncrieff.  “Carey is a scrounger,” says Karen. “He doesn’t throw a single thing away.” He does, however, craft things into something quite special. Heritage floors, light-filtering lancet windows and shelves of regional wines create the perfect ambience for wine tasting. Or order a glass and linger over a cheese platter.  

    Heathcote is not all wine, of course. Nathan Wheat and partner Vanessa Curtis run Envy Distilling with a committed sustainable ethic – and a serious love of gin. Their small-batch distillery produces grape-based gin, and soon brandy. Distilled water is reused in an ingenious cooling system. All waste is treated on site. They buy excess wine from winemakers to distil and buy recycled barrels. “Distilling with the sun,” as Nathan says. Each Envy gin has its own story. Spicy, award-winning The Dry, is designed to capture the region’s dry, rugged nature. Pull up a stool at the bar (reclaimed timbers and tiles, of course), order a Gin Flight, or kick back with a cocktail and let Nathan share his eco journey.   

    Envy gins
    Sample gins at small-batch distillery Envy.

    A traveller’s checklist 

    Getting there

    It’s less than two hours’ drive from Melbourne. The scenic route we take goes past Sunbury, then along a splendid country road through Romsey and the magic, boulder-strewn landscape of Lancefield. Watch for kangaroos on the road! 

    Staying there

    Go off-grid in style at Yellow Box Wood for glamping or try Mt Ida Eco Cabin for a couple’s weekend hideaway. 

    Eating there

    French dishes at Chauncy
    Award-winning French restaurant Chauncy.

    At award-winning Chauncy, French chef Louis Naepels and sommelier wife Tess Murray have created a tiny, elegant pocket of rural France. Meticulously restored 1850s sandstone building, sun-drenched dining room, impeccable service, a menu suffused with local flavours and thoughtful wine pairings.  

    Fodder is both cafe and social hub. Chef Mo Pun and sister Lalita serve classic Aussie breakfast-to-lunch fare, though their Nepalese heritage sneaks through. 

    Playing there

    Sanguine Estate
    Sip on wines among the vines at Sanguine Estate. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Sanguine Estate’s cellar door and terrace overlook bucolic vineyards. Its award-winning, dry-grown wines include the distinctive D’Orsa Blanc dessert wine, reflecting the family’s Swiss-Italian heritage. Order a charcuterie board and stay a while. Keep it carbon neutral by cycling some (or all) of the 50-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail to Bendigo.  

    At Bridgeward Grove, learn about the property’s Old Mission Grove heritage olive trees, do a sommelier olive oil tasting, and stock up on sustainably grown olives and oil. Explore the unique landscape, wildflowers and wildlife of pink cliffs geological reserve.