Girls Weekends Away Blog

Ladies, Piaf Day Spa, (a GWA Merchant) is offering a set of Winter Chill Out Packages to make you glow this winter. So remember to get your GWA card to get the deals. Also visit our privilege card page to see what else is on special

 1) Relax massage
- Jasmine /green tea facial
- Lotus foot treatment
- Hydro-spa (in private)
Allow 2 hours all for $165

2) Taminga Infusion
- Walnut Body exfoliation
- BodyWrap
- Includes Relax massage using rich creamy jasmine
  & lotus oils &creams
- Facial massage with Rose & Honey mask
Allow 1.25hrs $125

3) Choc Divine Duo (for couples)
- Essential choc massage (Romantic Duo Room)
- Duo Hydro-Spa (private)
- Glass of Vino
Allow 1.5hrs $199

711 Don Road Healesville
Monday to Sunday 9:00am to 6:00pm,
Closed Tuesday.Treatments are by appointment only.
Extended hours by prior arrangement.
Phone: (03) 5962 2797
Mobile: 0432 543 146
Email: amanda@piafdayspa.com.au

Girls we have found a little hidden treasure in Warburton; Beautiful Birchwood Manor, one of Warburton’s finest homes.
Walking distance to all the boutique restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries and galleries, that make Warburton so special. Situated on the slopes of Mt Donna Buang, Birchwood Manor is ideal for family groups, reunions, clubs, girls weekends, golfing groups, bush walkers etc. Sleeping up to 15 guests, with 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, Birchwood Manor has it all. Being fully self contained with a luxury indoor spa and fire places you can chill out or perhaps relax in the sun room with Coffee, a fresh croissant and daily newspaper. You may prefer to watch a proramme on the huge home theatre screen. Whatever your choice, indulge your senses Click here to book a great weekend or week at Birchwood Manor.

Just an hours drive from Melbourne in Yarra Glen is the Grand Hotel. This majestic heritage listed property is representative of the history that is the Yarra Valley;Victoria’s premier wine growing region. The Grand has traditional pub food, and finer delicacies for the discerning palate. In the warmer months they have live music Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the Beer garden, what a great way to end the day after trying the local wines. The pub has large tables so that a group of girls can gather and giggle and also some cute nooks with open fires. The food is reasonably priced and when we ate, our little party were seated in one of the side dining areas. This provided us with a little more privacy and quiet; until we got there of course! Our meals were well priced and so was the wine (good wine list), later we headed to the public bar, another great nook. If you like you can also stay as they have guest rooms. Good idea if you do the wineries, lunch and then take in the entertainment on a weekend. For more information check out their web site at  http://www.yarravalleygrand.com.au/index1.html.

Warburton is going ‘Nordic’ this weekend! (May 22-23, 2010) with the inaugural Nordic Festival. What a perfect place to go Nordic with teh mountains and trees of Warburton. The Festival is a not-for-profit event organised by the Warburton Chamber of Commerce & Industry in consultation with local Nordic communities. So why not learn about Nordic culture and have fun doing it! And to make the festival that little more special BABBA is playing Sat May 22 and there will be Nordic treats and Nordic Vodka. Please make all enquiries direct through the Nordic Festival website or the Nordic Festival listing on WarburtonInfo.com

Girls, if you are planning a weekend away, then can I suggest you add a bit of spice and put the 15th of  May into your diary. The Yarra Valley is set to sizzle as the Healesville RSL is hosting an All Male Review! Yes, the RSL !!
And they are all the way from Sydney, ladies.
I am unsure if they realise what they are about to get themselves into. So before any of our returned service men and women wake up to the fact that a horde of  women edged on by watching a bunch of hunks strip down to their sivvys will be let loose on the Valley; I suggest you book quickly and get ready for a night of giggles and girly laughs.
Where :Healesville RSL, Maroondah Hwy Healesville
Contact: 5962 5017 to book Cost: $35 for members or $40 for non members.
I suggest you also check our website for accommodation in the  http://yarra.girlsweekendsaway.com.au/rental_accommodation.html or e-mail us at bookings@girlsweekendsaway.com.au nd we will take care of all the planning for you

Girls Day Out at the Wineries
Why not gather a group of girls and head off to the Yarra Valley for a full day of wine tasting and a vineyard lunch experience.  Visit some of the best wineries including the famous Domaine Chandon. The day tour includes pick up and drop off to designated areas in St. Kilda and the Melbourne city centre. All wine tastings  and two course lunch’s include a glass of wine and tea or coffee. Finishing with a glass of sparkling wine, cheese and relish. Some of the wineries you will visit are De Bortoli, Train Trak Vineyard, Yering Station and Domaine Chandon. What a great way to support the local industry and have a Girls Day Out.
Cost: $103 per person and we even include a GWA discount card which can be used at our participating merchants.
For more information email contact_us@girlsweekendsaway.com.au

Wow, we have now posted our pamper packages to the web site and are sure you will be delighted with the result.

Go to http://yarra.girlsweekendsaway.com.au/Packages.html

We have also created a mystery pamper pack at a very special price!

Go to http://yarra.girlsweekendsaway.com.au/Day_spas.html but be warned, it is only available at this price until the end of  February.

If you want to know more or are interested in us packaging weekends up for you, just drop us a line at contact_us@girlsweekendsaway.com.au

Here is a sneak speak at a couple of our Girls Weekends Away packages that will be posted soon on our web site and are available now!

Yarra Valley Package One
(massage & relaxation) $305 per person based on 4 girls sharing.
Includes:-
 • 2 nights accommodation staying at Harvest Farm
• Bottle of Wine on arrival
• Breakfast provisions ( free range eggs, bacon, crusty bread and all the trimmings OR a voucher for breakfast at the Harvest Store for a choice of cooked breakfast and espresso coffee
• Full body exfoliation in the comfort of your Accommodation
• Full body massage
• Girls Weekends Away Privilege Card ( which can be used in the Yarra Valley & other destinations)

Yarra Valley Package two (wine tour) $305 per person based on 4 girls sharing.
Includes:-
• 2 nights accommodation staying at Harvest Farm
• Bottle of Wine on arrival
• Breakfast provisions ( free range eggs, bacon, crusty bread and all the trimmings OR a voucher for breakfast at the Harvest Store for a choice of cooked breakfast and espresso coffee
• Wine Tasting; visiting 4-5 wineries, includes Pick up & Drop off from your accommodation
• Lunch Including a glass of wine with wine tour
• Girls Weekends Away Privilege Card ( which can be used in the Yarra Valley & other destinations)

 To book any of the above packages simply email us at contact_us@girlsweekendsaway.com.au or click on the contact us tab on this page and provide us with suggested dates you would like to have your Girls Weekend Away



Girls we have discovered a designated driver service. What a great way to relax and enjoy all that the Yarra Valley has on offer. No blue lights to worry about as you have your designated driver, Sandy Bogusis at the wheel, guiding you throughout the day.  And for all GWA members Sandy will throw in a bottle of bubbles when you book a full day wine discovery tour (10am to 5pm). And can I say, Sandy may have to pour you out of the car by the end of the day, but who cares, isn’t that what having fun with friends is all about?

So if you like doing your own thing, while having an indulgent day amongst the vines with your own local guide, host and driver, then Driven indulgence is the answer. Just go to the Website at   www.drivenindulgence.com.au

Or drop Sandy an e-mail at sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au

Or give her a call. Remember to quote your GWA card details to get the bubbles flowing. Sandy m. 0408 244 531

Ripple – The day spa that comes to you – massage and beauty. It’s so easy!

Yes, they come to you in your home or hotel and they are located in the Yarra valley. Ripple has lots of beauty treatments to make you happy – from the lush Chocolate massage to the deeply relaxing Hot Stone massage. Girls they have treatments that will help you to take a breath, slow down and relax.

Also Ripple Massage is offering a free full body lime and tangerine exfoliation with every massage a GWA card holder books. This is valued at $60. To take advantage of this great offer go to the Ripple Massage Web site and make a booking. They are located in Mornington, Yarra Valley and Melbourne. Remember this is an exclusive GWA member card offer. http://www.ripplemassage.com.au/index.html

Also remember to go to the GWA card offers page to see the value you get for a small investment of $20 in you!

http://offers.girlsweekendsaway.com.au/#Yarra_Valley

Yes girls its time to tip toe through the tulips at the Tesselaar tulip festival. So if you have never been then now you should. The festival is more than just viewing all the magnificent blooms, there is also an abundance of things to do. You can savior dutch treats, buy wine and sit and listen to the live music, or you can take a ride on a horse drawn cart through the tulip farm. This blooming event only happens once a year and is on from 16^th September through to the 13^th October. Entry prices are Adults $16, Concession $12, Under 16 free, and on the 8^th October they are supporting breast cancer with a pink lady day.

This may not be an entire weekend away but it is a destination that is a great girls day out.

Remember girls when we as children sat on Puffing Billy with our legs hanging out the windows waving our plastic flags that our reluctant parents purchased after our constant and incessant harping. And usually due to the unpredictable mountain weather we were either rained on or used the flags to swat those pesky flies. Well Puffing Billy like us has grown up and is now inviting us back for Jazz, wine, dancing and food. The experience starts whilst you wait to board the train at Belgrave with live Jazz, then it’s nibbles and wine on the train as you make your way to the historic Nobelius Packing Shed where you will enjoy a three course buffet dinner and more Jazz, dancing and wine. On the way back to Belgrave you will be served cheese,coffee,port and chocolates (yes, a girls basic 4 food groups)..what a great way to enjoy a childhood memory, less the flies and rain. Adults are $95 and children under 12 $50.  go visit www.puffingbilly.com.au for more information.

Healesville accommodation

For all of you girls out there wanting to have a get together, have fun and at the same time support the Yarra Valley region, here is a perfect house nestled in the leafy hills overlooking Healesville. This is an exquisite 6 bedroom (sleeps 12) period home with majestic furnishings and all on 65 acres so you can really stretch out! This property is smack bang in the middle of green pastures, bushland and botanical gardens and just to make it more interesting it even has an outside spa where you can sip bubbles in the bubbles. Girls, just click on the image above and go to our Yarra Valley accommodation site and have a look. There are accommodation ideas and things to do there as well.

Girls, we are happy to announce a great package from Ripple Massage. They are a mobile massages provider and service the Valley, Mornington and Melbourne. Here is there web address http://www.ripplemassage.com.au/index.html and they are offering a a free full body lime and tangerine exfoliation with every massage that a GWA member books with them, this is valued at $60. So get your card girls and start enjoying the benefits.

Well Girls we have finally launched our privilege card. We also now have a list of GWA merchants, all ready to offer you benefits for becoming a GWA member. The investment in you is only $35 and you can use the card continuosly for 12 months. Yes, you can go back to the same merchant as many times as you like over a 12 month period. You just have to present your GWA card. So what are you waiting for ? Go to http://gwa.girlsweekendsaway.com.au/ to subscribe and also have a look at the current list of benefits http://offers.girlsweekendsaway.com.au/

Girls we all like to eat and drink and sometimes yes we need to prepare a meal. Why not get a group of girls together and head for Al Dente Cooking School located in the Yarra Valley and do both!  Here you can learn of the Italian heritage and the passion that the Italian people have for their food. Learn the secrets of Nonna’s hearty chicken and vegetable, freshly made fettuccini with meat balls or a delicious authentic Amaretto biscotti all in a friendly atmosphere . So get ready to put your aprons on roll up your sleeves and learn the secrets of Italian cooking. Al Dente Cooking School is located at 12 Towers Road Lilydale ph 9735 1798.