Windows down, head out, sun on the face...drive to Torquay

For the time-poor road tripper, Torquay is an easy drive from Melbourne for sun, sand and surf. Just over an hour's drive outside of Melbourne, Torquay is a relaxed surfer town. You know you're in serious surfer territory when the surf stores lining the main street are almost as large as the average department store.

The beach was packed on a 40 degree day, but rather than going for a dip I walked along the beach where couples sheltered beneath the rocky coves and children splashed in the shallows.

High Tea at the Hotel Windsor

Traditional High Tea at the Hotel Windsor is a Melbourne institution. When my bestie informed me we were going to high tea in Melbourne I had a sneaking suspicion that was where we were headed.

On a pleasantly warm Friday afternoon dressed in a ladylike fashion, we were ushered to a table whilst the smiling waiter explained high tea to us first-timers. Firstly, we were treated to a glass of sparkling rose, the 3 tiered stand featuring finger sandwiches, petit fours and scones would be brought out and we would be offered freshly brewed tea or coffee. Simple, right?

High tea was being served in the Grand Ballroom due to renovations, an ostentatious Victorian-era room with high ceilings and decorative walls. Most tables were filled with couples, families including one with a toddler who charmed the socks off the patrons around us, mothers with their young daughters dressed in their prettiest floral dresses with matching handbags and (low) heels and then there were us - Ladies Who High Tea.

We couldn't help but say yes to the rose which was light and had a fruity palate.

The delicate finger sandwiches featured smoked salmon, egg and cucumber. No crusts in sight!

The plain and raisin scones were warm and fluffy with the choice of strawberry, blueberry and clotted cream. There is no slathering during High Tea. Gently slicing the scone in half lengthways, you use separate knives to layer the scone first with jam and then with a generous helping of cream. Be generous, you don't go to High Tea everyday!

Just as we bit into our scones and craving piping hot tea, it was served in its own pot with additional hot water.

Then there were the petit fours - which to start from? The standout was the delicate pear tart which had a custard dream filling wrapped in a glazed, ultra thin slice of pear. It was heavenly.

The service at High Tea was prompt, friendly and anticpated our needs before we could voice them. Upon leaving one of the waitstaff asked if we enjoyed it and we replied strongly in the affirmative.

The Hotel Windsor
111 Spring Street, Melbourne
High Tea is served 3 - 5 pm weekdays

My Balinese Birthday – Part 2 Sofitel Seminyak

On my recent trip to Bali, we stayed at the Sofitel Seminyak. My colleague had recommended this to me and an online special included free breakfast, Internet and airport transfers with the booking.

Located right on Seminyak beach the four-star resort has lush rainforest gardens throughout the secure complex. Bamboo grew right outside our hotel room door and banana trees with early fruit hung over a nearby walkway.



The gardens were home to a croissant-eating lizard. Whilst I enjoyed breakfast, this lizard leaped into the water to devour breakfast rolls from the waitstaff. He seemed friendly enough although I’m not sure that I’d want to meet him if I was walking alone in the evening.



We stayed in a ground floor room with a balcony that overlooked the moat. Ok, so it was more of a man-made waterhole surrounding the ground floor rooms but it did have the appearance of extra security from the balcony.

The hotel boasts two pools, a garden view pool and the more popular and crowded oceanview pool. Guests nabbed prime positions near the latter before breakfast so its recommended to go early although there were still some sun lounges available mid afternoon. The garden pool is a little more peaceful and secluded, plus its jacuzzi was great to relax in.







We were genuinely surprised by the food at the Capris beachside restaurant. There are a lot of negative comments on Tripadvisor about Balinese hotels having inflated prices at their restaurants. Yet I think if you’re hungry and don’t feel like venturing out from your hotel after a shopping expedition – you do get what you pay for. We ordered the mixed satay and gado gado salad with fresh juices. The satay came with an array of sides including white rice, steamed sambal spinach and sauces. The still-sizzling satay had to be turned over a couple of times on the hot rocks – which were not just for decoration!





On my birthday, we went for a hot stone massage at Le Spa. The massage was soothing for me but way too hot for my mum! Hot stone massage involves heating stones which are then used to massage all over your body with pairs of stones placed on your pressure points. It’s my favourite massage but maybe not for everyone.

Back in the room after the massage I was flicking through the TV channels when I noticed out of the corner of my eye a colourful cake on the coffee table. The hotel staff had left it there when we were away – it came with candles so I can only surmise that they wanted to sing to me? Either way it was a genuine surprise adding to a one-of-a-kind birthday. And yes, we did eat most of the cake for morning tea…

What completed our holiday though was the attentiveness of the staff. They were always friendly and assisted us with tour information, organising a taxi to Ubud and of course presenting a birthday cake. It perhaps accounts for the “regulars” that continually choose to stay there.