Ard Choille Cottages

3 heritage listed properties: the Pipers Cottage, The Stables and The Loft. Set within the heritage-listed gardens of the Ard Choille hill station estate, perfect for groups who want privacy but connection. Offering 5 bedrooms with separate entrances, lounges, bathrooms, laundry and kitchen facilities. Can be joined or separated via a dead-lockable door. The Stables and The Loft form a duplex. The Pipers Cottage stands seperate, yet very close, next door.
The Pipers Cottage, the Stables and the Loft have views of the garden and down Mount Macedon to the plains of Hanging Rock. All have their own external entrance. Perfect for a family, artist retreat, wedding party, or group of couples.

The Pipers Cottage was built to house McGregor's personal Bagpiper who would play for McGregor when he was in residence as the mists rolled down the Mountain. The Pipers Cottage has been renovated in keeping with the historic style. It has two bedrooms, each with its own entry, fully equipped kitchen and dining area, modern bathroom, lounge with wood burning fire, TV and free WIFI. Every window looks out onto the magnificent gardens. The Pipers Cottage itself has its own private and gated small garden.

The Stables has two bedrooms (Queen, Double), fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and laundry. For entertaining, there is a large lounge with dining table, a fireplace, TV, free WIFI and games. The Stables Cottage has its own private and gated small backyard.

The Loft has one Queen bedroom, its own bathroom with a stunning claw foot bath and separate shower, and a kitchenette. For entertaining, there is large bright open-planned lounge with expansive views across the garden and down the valley, TV, WIFI and boardgames.

Ard Choille, a private Heritage-listed garden, is one of the best of the renowned Mt Macedon hill station estates. Sprawling over 12.5 acres with a finely detailed and elegant curved fernery, sweeping lawns, lakes, the arching frames of Rimus, Japanese Cedars, Tulips, Birches, Beeches, Elms, Oaks, Firs, Lindens, Rowans, Dogwoods, Conifers, and numerous tree ferns. There are also masses of rhododendrons, camellias, hydrangeas. In spring, the hills of the estate come alive with thousands of daffodil bulbs. The fernery is the housed in a rare 19th Century metal shade house, the only in existence in the southern hemisphere.

The gardens of Ard Choille date back to the 1890s when Scotsman William McGregor (Chairman, BHP) found a piece of the Australian bush at Mount Macedon in Victoria that reminded him of his native Scottish highlands. The estate was designed in the Scottish manner with a chain of seven lakes.

During your stay, you can still wander to the spring fed top lake (Fern Loch) take in the history and tranquility. The owners are happy to offer a tour if booked in advance.

The gardens flow through lawns and gullies, secret bluestone lined pathways in the shade of laurels weave down to "House Lake" that was formed in the shape of Australia and now edged by camellias, rhododendrons, cabbage trees and laurel.

For children, there is much to marvel at. A secret fairy garden with a hut and swing is hidden next to a stone-lined brook running through a sheltering grove of laurels. Through a holly hedge, there is a potager garden with chickens and a grassy field shadowed by ancient walnut trees providing a stunning sunset view to Hanging Rock.

Ard Choille is in the perfect position to explore the entire Macedon Ranges. The restaurants, cafes and convenience of Woodend are a quick (7 min) drive and it is equally easy distance to the beauty of Hanging Rock (10 mins), Mount Macedon (10 mins), Kynton and Gisborne (15 mins). The Daylesford spa area is an easy 45 minute drive.