Escape to the country: we stayed at Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm and discovered a design-led darling outside of Melbourne

There’s something incredibly restorative about a country sojourn. Maybe it’s the fresh air, the outdoor activities, or the wholesome food, but it’s practically impossible to come away less than rejuvenated. And, if that country living experience is delivered by one of Australia’s most iconic names in hospitality, you know it’s going to be good. We recently checked into Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm – some two hours outside of Melbourne – to find a rustic retreat delivered in designer style.

While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Review of Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm

Pulling up the driveway, you get the sense that you’ve stepped into a country estate that combines an upscale Australian farmhouse with manicured Italian gardens. Hannah – our host for our stay – greets us with a cheery smile and immediately asks if we’re ready for lunch. It’s clear that, much like at sister property Lake House Daylesford, food is central to any stay at Dairy Flat. I quickly realise that this is the kind of special place that needs to be experienced to be believed.

Country living

Nestled amid sweeping rural landscapes bursting with vivid greenery in peak summer, Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm is the second property by the Wolf-Tasker family. Having perfected the award-winning Lake House Daylesford over 40 years, the family recently seized the opportunity to expand their empire with a sumptuous countryside retreat just 10 minutes away.

Across 40 acres, Dairy Flat includes the farmhouse-style lodge – this has the guestrooms and indoor communal spaces – a 250-tree olive grove, vineyards (they’re about to launch their first wines), and a farm garden that grows a dizzying array of fresh produce – from vegetables to seasonal fruits and herbs – that serves both the Lodge and the Lake House.

Hannah takes us on a late afternoon stroll through the gardens, and the sheer variety of produce – and experimentation – happening here is mind boggling. And you can’t beat the freshness, either – strawberries off the vine? Sign me up. The Farm is the fruition of a long-cherished dream of Alla Wolf-Tasker, the culinary mastermind behind the Lake House, who’d always wanted to grow the ingredients used in her kitchen.

The lodge and the gardens are wonderful, but personally, it’s the Italianate formal gardens that I find magic. We spend an hour at dusk wandering through the tall hedgerows, discovering hidden walkways, private nooks – they’ve already hosted microweddings – and even, in one instance, a secret garden holding a statue of a pensive Cupid opposite a standalone iron gate between two red-brick pillars bearing the words “Mary’s Way” and the image of a couple. No one knows how these came to be here, and that’s just one of Dairy Flat’s many charming elements.

No farm worth its salt would be without animals and at Dairy Flat, the resident mascots are the alpacas that sit in the front paddock and are more than happy to eat from the hand of any guest who cares to feed them. There are also beehives that produce Dairy Flat honey, a small herd of British white cattle, as well as a host of wild creatures like rabbits.

The Lodge

Dairy Flat Lodge is a unique piece of architectural history. From the front, it appears almost like a chapel with a double-sided porch, steeple, and spire. But if you look closely, you’ll realise it takes the shape of a capital W, the initial of the property’s first owner. The central area of the building is the heart of Dairy Flat – full of cosy spaces where guests can gather in comfort – while the two wings house the property’s guest suites.

The Lodge is rendered in splendid designer country-chic style masterminded by Larissa Wolf-Tasker – Allan and Alla’s daughter – who could clearly turn her hand to interior design if she ever decides to leave the family business. Craftsmanship infuses every inch of the lodge, from the custom-made furniture, cabinetry, and upholstery to the abundant artwork painted by Allan, as well as local artists like Francoise Pigeon, Carly Williams, and Bridget Bodenham. All around, there are plenty of small touches that turn the lodge into a gorgeously rendered home, from fresh flowers and plants, and patterned textiles.

Stepping into the Lodge from the portico, we enter a welcoming space of plush upholstered seating, restored fireplace and – of course – a mounted goat’s head alongside a collection of animal and nature-inspired tchotchke. This segues into a resplendent kitchen dressed in deep teal and brass fittings, a sprawling farmhouse dining table, and another cosy seating area.

Perhaps my favourite space, though, is the small room to the side – is it a library? Perhaps a conservatory? – that has nature-inspired wallpaper, a four-seater dining table, and shelves the same shade as the kitchen all filled with books, records, and an honesty bar. With so many communal areas, guests are spoilt for choice when looking for somewhere to cosy up with a book or indulge in a meal.

Then, of course, there are the six individually designed guest rooms which are split across the Northern and Southern Suites, and the Vineyard suites. No matter which one you’re in, you’re in for a treat. We’re in a Southern Suite and without a doubt, the room’s highlight is the French windows that open onto sweeping views of the Dairy Flat gardens. Though, there’s also an oversized king bed dressed in locally made linens, a comfortable couch overlooking the view, and a gorgeous bathroom rendered in modern Art Deco style complete with a standalone rolltop bath. Like the rest of the Lodge, the room brings together soft colours and pops of patterns to create a compelling aesthetic.

There’s nothing like enjoying a comfortable sleep in the inky darkness and deafening silence of a country night and waking up to the smell of freshly baked bread and the dawn sunlight painting the gardens outside rich shades of green.

Fresh feasts

There are many highlights to a visit at Dairy Flat, but food might just be the standout. Stays here include breakfast, dinner, and aperitivo, and Hannah ensures that we are fed and watered so frequently that we don’t go hungry for even a minute. Some 90% of food served here comes from the onsite farm and gardens; the rest is sourced locally. There’s even an onsite bakehouse specialising in slow-fermented sourdough and Viennoiserie – guests are welcome to pop by in the early mornings to grab a snack, though if you ask nicely, you might be shown the secret entrance.

On arrival, Hannah settles us onto the terrace overlooking the gardens to enjoy a deliciously fresh lunch of a garden salad, a beetroot salad, salmon wraps, and a decadent lemon cake. Just a few hours later, we’re invited to relax in the lodge living room for aperitivo – here, it’s a spread of cheese, bread, cucumber, olives, and Prosecco.

Dinners at Dairy Flat are usually a convivial affair where guests gather around the communal dining table to enjoy a farmhouse feast. But, since it’s only the two of us tonight, we enjoy the cosier setting of the library. Dishes here are simpler than those at the Lake House – and designed to be shared – but no less exquisite.

We start with a zesty cured salmon before moving onto a rich, hearty lamb stew accompanied by deliciously saucy carrots and cooked greens. There’s dessert, of course, and just as we think we couldn’t possibly have another bite, Hannah moves us to the living room – she’s set up a full spread of local cheese, crackers, and homemade chocolate cookies. We give it a red hot go, but couldn’t do justice to this gastronomic nightcap.

The next morning, Hannah makes me a quick coffee before I head out for a run through the vineyard and olive grove, and by the time I get back, breakfast is ready in the library. Surprisingly hungry, we tuck into an opulent spread of salmon and avocado, berries, fruit, and yoghurt and granola as Hannah whips up fresh eggs and sausages in the kitchen. Of course, there’s also plenty of bread and pastries from the onsite bakehouse, and a host of wonderful jams and relishes made from the farm’s produce.

In every bite, the freshness and quality of the ingredients shine through, elevating each culinary experience to truly masterful gastronomy.

Final thoughts

A visit to Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm is like staying at the country manor of an effortlessly chic friend who has mastered the art of hospitality. Every whim is expertly catered to, all meals are fresh and decadent – all that’s left is to sit back and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and wander the gardens. We’re only here for one night, but we leave thoroughly relaxed and ready to come back for more.

Good to know: While Dairy Flat Lodge & Farm is usually offered for private bookings of the whole estate, suites are often available for individual bookings. In both cases, it includes two nights’ accommodation, daily housekeeping, an onsite concierge, and a tour of the farm’s gardens and bakehouse, as well as daily farmhouse-style breakfasts, dinners, and aperitivo hours.

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