RACV Goldfields Resort Review: Our Kid-Free Getaway
Earlier this year, something very rare happened: both of our girls were away on school camps at the same time.
We decided to make the most of it, take some time off work and escape for a much-needed couples getaway. RACV Goldfields Resort in Creswick turned out to be the perfect place for it.
I initially found the resort while searching for accommodation on Booking.com. Because we are RACV members, I decided to check the RACV website before booking to see whether there was a member discount or a better direct-booking offer.
That was when I found the RACV Member Forage & Feast package. It included:
Daily breakfast
A set two-course dinner for two on one night of our stay
A $30 drinks voucher for the onsite bar
An $85 credit to spend at the Urban Grocer or Pro Shop
The best part? At the time we booked, the entire package was only $10 more than the accommodation-only rate I had found on Booking.com.
With everything included, our stay felt like a proper indulgent getaway without carrying the price tag we expected.
This stay was independently booked and paid for by us. All opinions are based on our own experience.
Landscaped waterfall at RACV Goldfields Resort in Creswick
Where is RACV Goldfields Resort?
RACV Goldfields Resort is located at 1500 Midland Highway, Creswick, approximately four minutes from the centre of Creswick and 20 minutes from Ballarat.
Our Room
We stayed in a 37 m² Resort Room featuring a king-size bed and sofa. The room was relatively simple, but it was clean, comfortable and well-appointed, with everything we needed for a short getaway.
The bathroom included a large vanity and a spacious walk-in shower. This wasn’t an overly luxurious or elaborate room, but it provided a comfortable place to return to after dinner and a day spent exploring the region.
Breakfast at THREE Founders Restaurant
Included in our Forage & Feast Package was breakfast daily. Breakfast was an extensive buffet at THREE Founders Restaurant. The buffet included cooked dishes - eggs, bacon, hash browns, sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc. It also included cereals, pastries, breads, pancakes, fruit, yoghurt, deli meats and a selection of juices.
Our girls love a buffet breakfast—it is one of their favourite parts of staying at a hotel—so we will have to bring them back to experience it for themselves.
THREE Founders Restaurant
We enjoyed our included two-course dinner at THREE Founders Restaurant on the first night of our stay.
Upon being seated, we were given a special menu to choose from. We had the choice of an entree and main or main and dessert each. MMy husband chose an entrée and main, while I chose a main and dessert. This meant we could share both the entrée and dessert.
For entrée, we chose the Western Plains Pork Momo (4 pcs). They were Sanjay’s Nepalese house-made steamed dumplings with cherry tomato Timur chutney and they were absolutely divine. I am a picky eater and don’t like to try new things but I was so glad I did.
For the main course, I chose the Josper Charcoal Loddon Valley Lamb Cutlets (3pce) served with maple-Dijon glaze, green pea and mint puree, roasted baby carrots, broccolini and lamb jus. The flavours of this dish worked perfectly together and I savoured every bite. I reluctantly let my husband have a bite and I think he instantly regretted not choosing this dish also. My husband chose the Sri Lankan Style Tamarind Coconut Curry with Aromatic spices, fresh curry leaves and fragrant rice with Swordfish. Whilst my husband enjoyed his dish, he very much had FOMO of my lamb cutlets.
For dessert, we chose the Baked Alaska. When we chose this we didn’t realise we were not only choosing a dessert, we were choosing an experience. The waiter came out with our dessert and a blow torch. On the table they toasted the meringue and then sprinkled the dessert with a sparkly berry powder. It was incredibly fun to watch and we got a good giggle when the waiter accidentally dumped too many sparkles on top.
he food and atmosphere in the restaurant were wonderful. We enjoyed uninterrupted conversation and the chance to reconnect—and the best part was that there was no additional dinner bill to pay because it was included in our accommodation package.
How We Spent Our $85 Urban Grocer Credit
Included in our Forage & Feast Package was an $85 Pro Golf Shop or Urban Grocer credit. We aren’t golfers, so choosing the Urban Grocer was an easy decision for us. We expected the Urban Grocer to be expensive and thought our entire $85 credit might only cover one item. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the prices. We were able to purchase 4 x 175g jars of Sovereign Hill Boiled Lollies, a Nomad Chilli Co sauce, a Roast Garlic & Mint sauce and a Black Garlic Drizzle.
There were a lot of very reasonably priced items in the grocer including alcohol and giftware. You could get a 750ml bottle of local gin for $75, a 3 pack of 100ml citrus pressed extra virgin olive oil for $35, bottles of wine from $14.50, a packet of salt-cured Kalamata olives for $7.50 and so much more!
The giftware and artisan foods were all locally sourced including handmade leather goods. If Artisan foods are not for you, they also had a selection of drinks, ice creams and chocolates.
Resort Facilities
- Heated Outdoor Pool
- Heated Indoor Spa
- Fitness Centre
- Golf Course
- Tennis Court
- Mountain Biking Trails
- Urban Grocer
- Playground
- Games Room
- ArtHouse
- Three Founders Restaurant
- Springs Bar & Terrace
We made use of the heated outdoor pool and indoor spa during our stay. The weather wasn’t particularly warm, but the heated pool was still inviting, while the spa was perfect for slowing down and enjoying the rare peace and quiet. Although this was a couples getaway for us, the playground, games room and other facilities also made us think the girls would enjoy staying here.
Things to do nearby
We spent some of our getaway exploring Lake Daylesford and the surrounding region. Other nearby places worth considering include:
- Visiting Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa
- Visiting Trentham Falls
- Daylesford Day Spa
- Visiting Daylesford Cider Company
Our Honest Verdict
RACV Goldfields Resort offered much more than we expected. It had everything we needed for a relaxing, romantic and genuinely affordable kid-free getaway.
The food was delicious, our room was clean and comfortable, and the resort felt peaceful and welcoming. When the package inclusions were taken into account, it also represented excellent value.
Our only disappointment was that the resort did not offer room service during our stay. Food could be ordered from the restaurant and collected, but we would have loved the option to have dinner delivered to our room while we relaxed with a movie.
Would we return? Absolutely.
Next time, we would love to bring the girls so they can enjoy the buffet breakfast, pool, playground and games room. We will also be watching for another Forage & Feast offer when we are ready for our next sneaky couples getaway.
