★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars, Tripadvisor
“Payne’s Hut – A Very Special Place”
Reviewed 7 June 2016
“What Graeme and Tess Payne have created in this wonderful High Country retreat is something very special.
From the moment you arrive you are made to feel at home. The accommodation, the dining room, the outdoor bar and kitchen are all unique and blend beautifully into the magnificent garden that surrounds the property. Greame and Tess provided us with a wonderful dinner and talked of their life in this idyllic place. Breakfast was just as wonderful with home cooked breads and preserves.
When you stay at Payne’s Hut you have the choice to have a meal provided or to cook for yourselves in the outdoor kitchen.
Whilst people may find the location a bit off the track it is certainly worth the drive and makes a great base to visit all that the Victorian High Country has to offer.
Heather and I would certainly recommend staying at Payne’s Hut if you are looking for a unique experience away from the pressures of everyday life.
We will definitely be visiting again.”
★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars, Tripadvisor
“A real ‘Must do!’”
Reviewed 2 April 2016
“Having been talking of going here for over 4 years, I can finally say I’ve done it, and we’ll definitely be back! This really is an amazing place to unwind and relax.
The surroundings are beautiful and the hosts, Graham and Tess just as beautiful. It was so nice to relax by the fire and spin a few yarns before settling in to some amazing local food.
No TV, no internet, no phone reception. You have to unwind and it’s great.
In the wise words of Molly Meldrum ‘Do yourself a favour’ and go!”
★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars, Facebook
Reviewed 15 May, 2016
“Cannot thanks Graeme & Tess enough for our wonderful weekend away at Paynes Hut. Everything was perfect. The food. The accommodation. The fluffy bedding. Everything. You know you’ve found a new favourite place when you want to come back again before you’ve even left. Thankyou ❤️”
“Dear Tess & Graham, Right from the start I knew we were in for some great fun. Sitting near hot fire was much fun. Thank for Everything.”
Create Great Memories.
★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars, Facebook
Reviewed 1 January, 2016
“Magic oasis in the middle of the Vic high country. The attention to detail by Tess and graham would have any interior stylist and chef green with envy. Unwind, unplug, undo the madness of normal life – actually comes true here (unlike other places that say that like a bumper sticker). Do yourself a favour get in your car and don’t stop until you see the turnoff to Paynes Hut”
★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars, Tripadvisor
“Heaven in the hills”
Reviewed 13 June 2016
After calling up on the first morning of the long weekend to make a booking for two nights, Graham answered and we were in luck. The website and the photos gave us a good idea what to expect but when we arrived it was more than what we imagined! Absolutely fantastic!
The property is about three km from the main road up into a valley. There are huge gums everywhere and ample parking. We arrived in the darkness so didn’t get to see the grounds till the morning.
Warmly greeted by Graham wearing trademark hat, who showed us around “The Hut” which is just inside the front gates. Lovely smell of natural wood and a small gas pot belly heater in the corner, great rain shower with a large door looking out on the verge patch. Beautiful big hand crafted wooden bed and wonderfully warm bedding which we would need later as the mercury dropped to minus six that evening 🙂
Dinner was prepared by Graham (who has trained as a cook) and Tess and served on the long table in the large barn like room in the centre of the garden next to the main house. Perfectly cooked local ribeye and veggies from the garden was on the menu, washed down with a smooth 2009 Ceccanti Shiraz from Mt Beauty. Desert followed, warm stewed rhubarb compote with yoghurt.
We shared dinner with two fellow travellers from Melbourne, Tom and Gemma who had Payne’s Hut on their to-do list for four years. An enjoyable dinner and then down to Graham’s Bar to enjoy another wine by the fire pit. Settled in to watch the stars with a roaring fire at our feet, after then retiring into the huge bed just before midnight.
The next day was a three and half hour mountain bike out to Falls Creek via the Kelly’s track and the Big River Trail. For those without a bike, the Bogong High Plains Road will take you over to Falls Creek, about an hour drive.
Graham and Tess’ extended their hospitality further for dinner the second night where we were treated to a lovely home made tagliatelle with pine nut pesto, an entire chicken (!) with carrots from the garden, and a vegetarian quiche, all washed down with a recommended Montepulicino that Graham fetched from his well stocked bar. Desert was home made crepes with a healthy dollop of local dairy cream. Divine.
Breakfast both days was Graham’s famous home made breads – a fruit toast and a plain sour dough. The second morning was a lot colder and piping hot porridge was served, as delicious as everything else we’d eaten.
Graham and Tess are wonderful hosts and they’ve worked hard to make their mountain side home a haven for like-minded adventurous types. The open fires, the amazing food, the remoteness, the bright starry skies and the tastefully decorated but slightly quirky but beautiful accommodation make this getaway somewhere worthy of a six hour drive.
Graham said to me that word of mouth is the way they want to cultivate their growing but loyal returning guest list and I couldn’t agree more.
Some people may not like the cold mornings, some may not enjoy the remoteness or the communal dining – but these are the things I most enjoy and therefore my recommendation here is so people reading can try and understand why Payne’s Hut is an absolute gem in one of the most remote parts of the Victorian High Country. Do yourself a favour and try it at least once. It’s absolutely awesome.
Graham, good luck with the NBN dish!
★★★★★ 5 out of 5 stars, Facebook
Reviewed 5 August, 2016
“Fabulous stay again after 3yrs..warm welcoming hospitality. A beautiful recharge in glorious settings. So lovely to see the place evolving. We will be back!”