Jacob's Creek Retreat, Barossa Valley, Australia

A small collection of old rustic Australian bluestone buildings, tucked down a dirt track, by the side of a creek in a dell surrounded by old redgum trees. A quintessentially and romantic Aussie setting with some accommodation set in the old settlement. The owner, Wyndham, is at work in the kitchen putting out some exceedingly tasty creations; he handcrafts his own sausages and the bircher muesli is a delight. It is cosy and intimate, with staff who pay particular attention to detail, to the point of raking the gravel into concentric rings! The native birdsound is magical and it is one of the few places I stayed in Australia where I felt completely at home.
Their inspiration has come from their European travels, and particularly noticeable in their manicured gardens, mixing the indigenous with some formal Italian cypress trees which create definition in the garden. They also produce some award winning wines under their Moorooroo Park label and have a fat and lazy ginger cat that walks the tables.