When did you last make love in the afternoon… in front of a cosy fire? C'mon be honest, we've all done it or dreamt of doing it.
When it's bitingly cold outdoors, nothing beats huddling indoors beside a flickering log fire nursing a good red wine. These places to stay take it to the next level with fireplaces in rooms, so you can unbutton in the warmth of the dancing flames and slip between the sheets for snuggle-time by firelight. What could be more romantic than that?
Winter = belly-warming gourmet food, loads of quality red wine and roaring fires. Spicers Vineyards Estate has it all. There are two indoor fireplaces in the onsite restaurant that are lit every night in winter: one is in the lounge area where you can relax with a pre-dinner drink and the other in the main dining room. There's also an outdoor firepit beside the vineyard, but the unique feature of this elegant winter bunker is that all 12 guestrooms have a fireplace, so it doesn't matter which room you book you'll be lulled to sleep by the crackling sounds of wood burning in your sleek bluestone fireplace. Every suite also has an indoor spa bath if you like a warm soak after a day's sightseeing.
This twin-gabled timber guesthouse is a snug space to hole up in winter thanks to the wood-burning fireplaces in six of the eight pretty bedrooms. The homestead is set on a working vineyard and oozes charm with its classic country vibe that includes crisp white bedlinen, timber accents and comfy sofas indoors with extra-wide verandahs perfect for lounging overlooking the gardens and vines. There's also a two-bedroom cottage, which also features a beautiful fireplace.
Stonehurst really comes into its own in winter when the lovely scent of woodsmoke drifts through the air. All seven of the self-contained cottages dotted around the working vineyard feature a wood fire – some have a rustic brick hearth, others a blazing combustion fire – where you can curl up with a good book and glass of complimentary Stonehurst port and chocolates. The cottages have an old-world feel, built from convict brick or timber slabs in the early settler style, with gleaming timber floors and spa baths. And it's just a short stroll to the sandstone cellar door, so if you finish off the complimentary port you can pick up another bottle at 20 per cent discount.
Another fire-warmed establishment just for couples with gas log fireplaces making the indoors cosy and wood fireplaces in the outdoor courtyard near the Jacuzzi to really make your spa experience sizzle. There are three luxe adobe-style villas to choose from, all inspired by the Santa Fe architectural style with exposed log timber ceilings, sturdy timber furniture and stone hearths. And for the quixotic romantic, you can book a package that includes sparkling wine, chocolates, rose petals on the bed and an outdoor fire crackling in the candlelit courtyard when you arrive.
As you can see, the Valley has an eclectic mix of places to stay with a fireplace. For more options, click here.
