SLOW STAYS

Steer your wheels to Shepherds Hill Cottage in the Macedon Ranges, and say ‘no probllama’ to the ease and tranquillity of country life, just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s stressy streets. Set on a 110-acre working alpaca farm, the gently restored miner’s cottage is right next to the cutest spot of all: the nursery paddock. Mum and baby alpacas (crias) roam here from sunup to sundown. Wander next door for a cuteness overload or sit on the classic wrap-around deck to peek at their antics over the white-picket fence draped with blooming wisteria. Inside, the cottage has been renovated to honour its historic bones while bringing in mod cons. You’ll find a kitted-out kitchen, reverse cycle A/C, a wood burner plus solar and rainwater. Two bedrooms, one king and one queen, are appointed with luxe decor and on-theme furnishings – cosy alpaca wool throws on the beds and striking herd portraits adorn the walls throughout. Find a snug nook to settle into with a book or board game and let the days meander by. Or trot down the road to soak up Daylesford region’s best – from the tree-lined boulevards of Trentham to the mineral springs and markets of Kyneton only 10 minutes away.