Marysville and its leafy surrounds is an ideal destination for a tranquil and relaxing getaway. Only 90 minutes drive from Melbourne, Marysville in the picturesque Yarra Valley, feels a million miles away and is perfect for those looking to reconnect with nature. If you're planning a visit to the area and wondering where to stay and what to eat (both important questions!), we have you sorted!

DAY 1

2pm - Check in at Vibe Hotel Marysville

Vibe Hotel Marysville was unveiled on 12 February 2015 in a landmark opening for the resilient township of Marysville in Victoria’s Yarra Valley region.

Set at the foothills to Victoria’s alpine resort via the picturesque Black Spur, Vibe Hotel Marysville boasts 101 guest rooms, including five suites, a conference centre with associated conferencing /exhibition spaces catering for up to 350 guests, restaurant, café, gymnasium and an outdoor pool.

With modern and stylish natural finishes, each room reflects the local environment through its colour schemes and soft furnishings as well as locally inspired art and a fully stocked mini bar of local produce and craft beer and wine.

The hotel's open spaces create an instant feeling of comfort which come alive through communal spaces and a comfortable lounge for work or networking.

7pm - Dinner at Radius Bar & Grill

Whether or not you are staying at the Vibe Hotel, a visit to the hotel's Radius Bar & Grill is a must.

One of Marysville's best restaurants, Radius Bar & Grill highlights the best of the region's produce by offering a mouth-watering menu that praises and reflects the beauty of Victorian produce within the dishes.

To start we enjoyed a selection of delectable entrees. Each item was wonderfully fresh and expertly prepared. Of particular note was the mushroom bruschetta - Moreish Field and Button Mushrooms were served on crusty Sourdough Bread. Simple but simply beautiful.

For mains, we recommend the baked whole Buxton Rainbow Trout slathered in Pistachio Butter and served with Charred Vegetable Salad. This is a stunning dish which allows the subtle sweetness of the trout to truly shine.

With your mains, a side of Radius Bar & Grill's Scalloped Potatoes is a must. Far from being just a side dish, denied due love and attention, these were sheer pleasure.

Our evening concluded on a sweet high with a duo of moreish desserts. The sticky date pudding and apple strudel. The sticky date pudding was wonderfully rich and satisfying while the apple strudel boasted perfectly poached caramelised apples with a rich toffee flavour.

Radius Bar & Grill transports you on a culinary journey through Victoria's finest produce perfect for matching with wines from the region to create a memorable dining experience.

Location: 32-42 Murchison Street, Marysville
Phone: 03 5957 7700
Link: www.tfehotels.com/brands/vibe-hotels/vibe-hotel-marysville

DAY 2

12pm - Lunch at Elevation 423

Elevation 423 is a well-loved local pub. The menu focuses on pizzas but also offers pub favourites as well as signature dishes to ensure there is something for everyone.

To start, we enjoyed the Chicken Dumplings. We loved the lean chicken filling and the crispy pastry exterior which went really well with the soy and sesame dipping sauce.

For mains, do not go past the curry specials. We absolutely loved the goat curry special that was on offer - hearty, full of flavour with melt in your mouth morsels of tender goat meat.

If you are a sweet tooth, then make sure you get the chocolate pudding with vanilla ice cream - this chocolatey, decadent treat warms the soul.

Location: 41 Murchison St, Marysville
Phone: (03) 5963 3312
Link: www.elevation423marysville.com/

7pm - Dinner at Terracotta

The brainchild of Chris and Barbara Muir, Terracotta is picturesquely located in the grounds of the Marysville Golf Club overlooking the course. Chris and Barbara have been a part of hospitality and tourism in Marysville since 2007.

Terracotta offers a dining experience for those who love food with the quality service.

Featuring local producers, wineries and suppliers, the menu reflects seasonal availability and has a range of dishes to suit all tastes. We loved that the menu is enhanced with house-churned butter, freshly baked breads, pastries, chutneys and jams in addition to the house cured meats.

The caramelised onion tart with black savourine gratin was wonderful. We loved the combination of gooey melted cheese and rich buttery pastry contrasted with the sweetness from the onions and the sharp tartness of the balsamic jus. Just lovely.

The smoked trout linguine was another beautiful starter - Think al dente ribbons of pasta laced with luxurious cream with just the perfect hint of lemon.

The dish of char-grilled Black Angus Sirloin met our expectations admirably. The accompaniments to the steak were each delicious – the crispy herb roasted potatoes were perfectly seasoned and wonderfully flavoured and the butter sautéed green beans provided a thoroughly enjoyable green element. Of course, the true highlight of the dish were the slices of sirloin – a light searing ensured that it was lined with a thin crisp layer packed with caramelised beef flavour. The meat was intense with a deep earthy richness and texturally it was sublime with a decadent melt in the mouth, almost buttery, consistency.

Our final course for the evening was a lemon and quince steamed pudding with quince puree and chestnut ice cream. Each element was well-executed but the real wow factor came when each was eaten together - absolutely delicious!

Location: 956 Buxton Marysville Road, Marysville
Phone: 03 5963 3241
Link: www.terracotta-room.com

DAY 3

9am - Breakfast at Fraga's

Wonderfully inviting, locals will tell you that Fraga's is Marysville's most loved brunch spot.

Brimming with charm the café is often bustling with locals and foodies excited to try their delicious and comforting brunch options. We loved the vegetarian breakfast which featured poached eggs encasing dripping yolk, mushrooms, tomato, wilted baby spinach, Spanish tortilla and hot buttered toast. Just yum!

For something heartier, do not go past Fraga's beef burgundy pot pie. Think tender morsels of beef in a hearty stew topped with a layer of flaky puff pastry.

Location: 19 Murchison St, Marysville
Phone: (03) 5963 3216
Link: https://www.facebook.com/pg/FragasCafe/

1.30pm - Lunch at Coombe

On your drive back to Melbourne from Marysville, we suggest stopping for lunch at Coombe, which was once the home of Dame Nellie Melba. The estate boasts award winning wines and luscious gardens and of course the delightful restaurant.

Located within the restored motor house and historic clock tower, the restaurant offers a menu inspired by the seasons and made using locally sourced produce.

Ceiling to floor windows affords the dining room with plenty of natural light and views of the landscaped courtyard and gardens.

The kitchen is led by Chef Patrick Dang who has an impressive resume with stints at Mo Bar at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel under the 2 star Michelin chef Richard Ekkebus and Shanghai’s T8 restaurant.

We loved tasting our way trough the menu. The Quail from Wandin was a stunning starter. The quail was cooked to a rarely found perfection with the accompanying butternut pumpkin and streaky bacon adding an amazing depth of flavour.

The confit then smoked Tasmanian ocean trout served with celery panna cotta, finger lime, passion fruit and ginger was similarly beautiful. We loved its smoky flavour.

For mains, the Eden blue eye cod was a winner. Beautifully poached in olive oil and served with a hearty white bean and chorizo mix alongside artichoke and saffron butter.

Whatever you do, save room for dessert and indulge in the spiced pineapple tarte tatin - think sweet fruit over a comforting blanket of gloriously sticky sweet toffee and melt-in-your-mouth pastry finished with ice cream. Simply lovely.

Housed within an iconic location with stunning views, a delicious menu and great service, Coombe offers a compelling proposition.

Location: 673-675 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream
Phone: (03) 9739 0173
Link: coombeyarravalley.com.au