We enjoyed an indulgent two nights at Emma's place, making use of the open fire place and the many wonderful experiences nearby. The residence was lovingly styled and appointed, and the kitchen stocked with essentials, including oil and garlic, ground coffee and an aeropress. Plenty of reading material and DVDs available too.
Emma's cottage is about 25 minutes from the hot springs, which we visited for an evening. We also recommend a visit to Foxeys Hangout cellar door and restaurant in Red Hill - beautiful food and wine, and manager Chris took care of us so wonderfully! No bookings required.
Closer to the cottage, we visited Rare Hare wines at Jackalope for a tasting, as well as Yabby Lake which is right next door.
For cafes you can't go past Phase 2 at Balnarring (10 min drive) for specialty coffee and amazing all day breakfast. Pop into the Red Hill Baker at Balnarring too, for a delicious array of artisan breads 🍞
For a more casual dinner and an experience you won't forget, definitely book in for a rum appreciation session at JimmyRum in Dromana (12 mins). We had such a great time, the cocktails were amazing and the food was delicious.
Emma's place was the perfect spot to do a bit of local exploration, highly recommend!
A note: there appears to be a shooting range a little way away, didn't bother us, as we were out and about a lot. Something to consider if you're hoping for a weekend of silence though, you can hear the faint but persistent pop-pop-pop throughout the day.