Fancy a boutique getaway where the food is as important as the thread-count of your sheets? The Royal Mail Hotel in Victoria’s Grampians could be just the ticket. With acclaimed chef Dan Hunter at the helm, this country pub gone gourmet has garnered cult status among serious foodies, thanks to its 10-course omnivore or vegetarian tasting menus that simply cry out for an overnight stay.

Named Restaurant of the Year in The Age Good Food Guide 2011, Royal Mail is the current star of regional dining in Australia, thanks to Dan’s winning way with locally sourced, seasonal produce. It doesn’t hurt that he can draw from a kitchen garden that produces a reputed 170 different vegetables, herbs and edible flowers to create his earthy yet exquisitely styled dishes. Be sure to bag a table in advance when you book your room.

With a reputation as one of Australia’s best dining experiences, Dan’s is a menu that demands commitment – bank on around four hours from amuse bouche to petits fours – so it’s a good thing that your pillow’s just a stone’s throw away. There’s also a more casual bistro alongside the main restaurant offering lighter fare, handy for stretched stomachs or wallets if you’re staying several nights.

Bed down in one of the aptly named Mountain View Rooms, which offer mesmerising panoramic vistas of Mt Sturgeon and the Southern Grampian Ranges. These contemporary abodes all boast modern furnishings, plasma TVs and iPod docks, but the real drawcards are the private verandas. Overlooking abundant native gardens, these sun-drenched stretches are the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine from the surrounding Great Western wine region. (Our tip is to ask for the more private room, furthest from the restaurant and bar.)

After continental breakfast in the restaurant, pick up a map marked with eight walking trails (they’ll even pack you a Hiker’s Hamper for the trip), or taste your way around such legendary wineries as Seppelt and Best’s Great Western. Fill your boot with their famed shiraz and vintage port before making the three-hour drive east back to Melbourne.

To book your stay at one of Mr & Mrs Smith’s hand-picked boutique hotels visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or call the Travel Team on 1300 89 66 27, 24 hours a day, five days a week.