If you’re still looking to buy unique and gorgeous Christmas presents for your loved ones, I highly recommend the pop-ups by one of my new favourite brands, Utopia Goods.
To celebrate their first birthday, they’re selling their hand-printed textiles and accessories – much of which is inspired by Antipodean flora and fauna – at popup shops in Sydney and Melbourne until 28 December.
Last month, the other half and I enjoyed a packed weekend in cold but beautiful Daylesford. In fact, we took in Daylesford, Kyneton and Trentham and the stunning countryside on the drives in between. If you love homewares and antiques shops, great local food and wine and friendly hospitality, I thoroughly recommend a trip!
We arrived in Daylesford (just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne Tullamarine airport) late on Friday night and had more than one scarily close encounter with a mob (that’s the actual term!) of wallabies. It really is out in the country so do be careful if you’re tired and driving after dark. We spent our first night at Hotel Frangos, which can only be described as pleasantly eccentric, in the Alpha Suite. It had the honour of being both the largest headboard and the largest hotel bathroom I have ever experienced. Frangos is definitely unique. It’s part Alice in Wonderland, part Addam’s Family, with a lot of black and red. It’s very dark, and it’s clearly geared towards couples (apparently some of the rooms have mirrors on the ceiling, go figure) and trying hard to be arty and romantic.
The service from general manager Bernard was faultless, the bed and goose down pillows, exceptionally comfortable.