Driven Indulgence

Great Day With 'Do The Yarra Valley's' Michael and Tania

2010-02-18T21:31:00.000+11:00

A fun interview with Tania and Michael Chanter of the new site Do The Yarra Valley was had yesterday. We were able to secure a vehicle from Andy and Tania Chirnside of Affinity Limousines to produce a little clip of what my driving business is all about.A big thank you to Andy and Tania and Dianne Curtis of Yileena Park, who opened cellar door at the picturesque cellar door in Steeles Creek for us to complete the picture.

Making touring wine regions affordable by hiring your own driver for a well earned break, tasting and indulging your way through wines and lunches, cheeses and brews.

Look out for the video clip on Do The Yarra Valley, look forward to seeing you out there enjoying what our region has to offer.

Two more winners of a driver for a day in the Yarra Valley

2010-02-09T22:14:00.000+11:00

Congratulations to Tim Varney and Allison Walker who put their hand up for their very own driver for a day in the Yarra Valley wine region. Look forward to booking and taking a hosted indulgent wine tour with you and your friends.

Two winners of a driver for a day, one more draw to come!

2010-02-02T22:30:00.001+11:00

Congratulations to Catherine Harry of whattowear.com.au and Llew Duval from New Zealand. You have won a driver for a day during February in the beautiful Yarra Valley.

February 2010 - win your own driver for a day in the Yarra Valley

2010-01-18T22:44:00.009+11:00

In February 2010 Driven Indulgence is giving away a complimentary driver for your own designer tour or night out for up to four people every week.

All you need to do is visit driven indulgence blog to find how to be in the running to win your own driver for the day to enjoy the Yarra Valley.

Driven Indulgence welcomes you to explore the Yarra Valley region for a day. I have four mid-week designated driver service days to give away during February. Win your ticket to explore and discover the tastes and sights of our Yarra Valley.

All you need to do is email me and tell me why you deserve your own driver for a day! Then the rest is easy, we design a day for you and three friends to take a tour, tasting wines, beers great food and relax lapping up breath taking scenery and fresh valley air.

Conditions apply.

Must be taken in your vehicle during February 2010 on a mid-week day to suit both the person taking the driver for the day and Driven Indulgence. Driven Indulgence reserves the right to publish the winners emails as to why they deserve a driver for a day. Not redeemable for cash. Up to six hours, your own driver, perfect.

Winner will be notified via email and must be able to enjoy the best the Yarra Valley has to offer. This is for a driver only, discussion may be entered into over times and dates and of course bribes and tips all welcome to make it perfect!

sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au
m. 0408 244 531

First two days will be drawn Jan 30th 2010, Second two days will be drawn 9th Feb 2010. Winners will be notified via email and announced on this blog. Entries will be taken right up to the day before the draws.

Designated Driver For Hire

2009-11-13T14:11:00.022+11:00

Are you aware that we have our own designated driver service in the heart of the Yarra Valley?

Driven Indulgence is available to retrieve you and your guests in your own vehicle from any of the restaurants, hotels, wineries and events in the Yarra Valley and surrounds. Your very own designated driver.

You will relax having your own designated driver to take you home or back to your accommodation in the Yarra Valley, you can enjoy as much food and wine as you like, enjoying your guests company to the full. Your designated driver is fully qualified by the Victorian Taxi Directorate and is a local guide and host.

Rates for designated driver vehicle and guest pick up service start at $65.00. Pick up after 11.30pm is $90.00

To explore other options for a designated driver for the entire evening, rates start at $150 for the first three hours then $25.00 per hour thereafter please call Sandy on: 0408 244 531

Bookings essential for your designated driver . Call or sms on mobile 0408 244 541 or email sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au

Gifts for the Fussy Friend!

2009-11-12T12:06:00.013+11:00

Christmas is here, well almost which means ~ running around looking for that perfect something for someone who has everything or doesn't seem to need or want for anything. The answer is here, book a driver for your friend or family to enjoy a delightful day or evening out. A wine tour of the Yarra Valley for a Christmas gift ~ just perfect.

It's simple. Driven Indulgence rates are $150 for the first three hours and $25 for each hour thereafter. This is a driver only service using your vehicle. If you wish to include a luxury vehicle in the gift just add $220 to the driver for hire rates. You choose how many hours you would like to give and we do the rest. The perfect gift.

Your friend or family member will love receiving a Christmas gift that will bring lasting memories and fun on a chosen day out. Visit local wineries, take time out for a lavish lunch and a couple of glasses of wine, do a brewery tour or just take someone special out to dinner. Take a drive tour around the valleys and hills of our beautiful state, drive up the historic Great Ocean road or take in Melbourne's scenic sites. Take a tour of any of our wine regions, Yarra Valley, Beechworth, Alpine Valley, King Valley, Rutherglen and Peninsula's. Wine tours, brewery tour, gourmet food tour, photography tour, design your own tour! Christmas has never been easier, a Christmas tour for the whole family.

Conditions apply. Minimum of three hours, must be redeemed within three months, booked ahead and must be fun! Call Sandy for your Christmas gift voucher now on 0408244531 or email sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au

Book Your Driven Indulgence Here

Adopt a Marysville Filly for Cup Day Celebrations.

2009-11-05T18:48:00.032+11:00

Jan, Sharon, Milly, Sarah, Jenny and Barbara.

Many of you would have received an email or personal invitation to make a donation which would allow women in Marysville to purchase a new dress for the Marysville Cup Day celebrations on Tuesday 3 November. These women, who lost everything in the February fires, although truly grateful for pre-loved clothing generously donated, haven’t had the luxury of purchasing a new dress for a special occasion.

Well, you gave, and in one week we managed between us all to raise over $2000 towards outfits for 15 'fillies' from the Marysville area. You are acknowledged for your compassion and generosity. Last Sunday was the day we picked to take the girls shopping. Some girls had to work or had prior commitments, they made it on the Monday we hear!

BODY in Healesville, Cherie putting some ideas to the fillies!

Here are some pics we promised of the day spent in Healesville enjoying that much deserved retail therapy. We are waiting to see who has some pics of the actual Cup Day. We know channel 7, 9 and 10 do, but the fillies were so excited and exhausted from the big days and bubbles, they may not have many for us!

Milly has found something already!

We have a huge thank you firstly to Barbara and the girls for taking us up on our offer. Barbara, when we said we would adopt you for a new dress, we never imagined that within hours we would be working on such a delightful project. Thank you for all your efforts in administering funds and organising the list of adventurous girls. I know it was a big thing for some as many felt they had among other things, lost their sense of identity since loosing their homes, town centre and businesses. We were happy to see they soon made a red hot go of discovering in part some lovely outfits and a sense of fun in their special day, perhaps even discovering a renewed sense of courage to put the big toe into uncharted waters, trying on things they may never have done previously.

Barbara and Jenny in Marysville on the day we 'adopted her for the cup'.

Thanks Andy and Tania, the limo was a treat, we all had a great time.

We would also like to thank Andy and Tania Chirnside from Affinity Limousines in Yarra Glen for giving me the keys to their beautiful 10 seat black Chrysler limo, letting me drive the girls from Marysville to shop in the Yarra Valley in style was heaps of fun. The day came together as a beautifully wrapped gift. Thank you Andy for popping out to see us personally, we know you and Tania were really keen to assist in anyway possible. We are especially grateful for the gift of luxury and comfort you afforded us, the limo certainly turned heads in down town Marysville.

Stories on the balcony, thanks for popping by Andy. Left to right: Barbara, Sharon, (standing) visitor to winery and Di in pink, Jan, Janette and Andy,

We met at Yileena Park winery with Bob and Dianne Curtis showing their hospitality by opening a bottle of sparkling on the balcony. Di put on a lovely cheese platter for us and we soaked up the last of the afternoon warmth on the balcony before heading through the Black Spur home. Thank you Bob and Di for spoiling us.

Jenny, Glenys and Bob with some bubbly!

Yileena Park's Bob and Dianne put on a platter and bubbles for us.

Jenny from Gracedale Yarra Valley and I had organised with the fashion retail stores ahead of time to make the girls welcome and assist us with fitting and making sure the girls were looked after. Of course they were all very accommodating and very generous. BODY, Black Cat, Strides, KG on Maroondah, Bella and Mr. Simon, the lovely shoe shop, Jamar and Re-Healed all worked hard to assist the girls in their selection, thank you to all the wonderful gift vouchers, discounts and fitting assistance. Thank you to Janette at Argyles Massage (above BODY) who gave all of us girls feet and hand creams and serums, that was truly appreciated and a lovely surprise. Thank you also to my dear friend Janette for coming with us and giving us the pleasure of your company, your contribution and the assistance in cleaning and re-fuelling the limo back at its' home in Lilydale with me. (That burger was good wasn't it!)

Back at the Golf Course in Marysville, nice hat girls!

We want to thank all who contributed at such short notice. Jenny's friends and work colleagues and my friends and work colleagues and our families - you quickly took up the offer, and passed the hat around, thank you! The day was quite emotional on many different levels. It was the first time some girls had had the courage to try on new clothes or venture far. Some had even mentioned that they would not have come, had it not been for a loving 'pushy' boyfriend, husband and family. Thank you to everyone who made a difference and reminded these gals that they are not forgotten, they deserve so much.

Thanks Jenny.

And last but not least, thank you to my dear friend Jenny Parker. Jenny, together we are discovering that we are dangerous. You are a delight to work with and a pleasure to know. We open our mouths and look what happens. Out tumbles love. With deep respect for our sisters in the hills, we wanted it to be a fun day with dignity and a day for them to experience choosing for themselves something lovely to wear. I think we did accomplish this for our new mate Barbara and all the lovely girlfriends that were invited. Looking forward to many more fun and heartfelt times together making a difference to the silent hurt to bring cheer and joy. Thank you for your friendship.

Thank you everyone!

Indulgent Golf and Wine Discovery Tour of Marysville and Surrounds.

2009-11-02T12:27:00.034+11:00

Plans are well under way for an amazing Golf and Wine Discovery Tour of the Marysville region. We have discovered many businesses open and would love to share with you their hospitality. driven indulgence

The idea for the indulgent golf tour was born from a guests' question. Staying with Richard and Jenny Parker, 'Gracedale Yarra Valley' in Healesville, where could he play golf without becoming a member? From there Jenny took it upon herself to call around. She discovered that neighboring Marysville golf course was one such club that welcomes visitors with open arms with just a social membership for the day.gracedale yarravalley

We visited with Barbara who manages the Marysville Golf Club (formerly of Terracotta-Room.) terracotta-room shortly thereafter, to discover the wealth of tour operators open for business and eager to give us a tour to showcase the area. Jenny and I headed up to see for ourselves what is on offer. marysville golf and bowls

We stopped firstly at Fragas' cafe for lemon cake and tea, yes Barbara, it was damn good cake as you said it would be. Jenny and I have had lovely lunch and coffee there a couple of times on our trips to visit, really good little spot to wind down after the climb through the magic forests of the Black Spur. One thing you will be delighted to see is the chandeliers hanging in the cafe, reclaimed glassware from the fires, beautifully done. We were eager to see how we could put this indulgent wine and golf tour together in Marysville.

Barbara and Jenny enjoying our coffee at Fragas Cafe.

On visiting 'Brunos Sculpture Garden' for the fourth time, we discovered significant work had been done, with new sculptures and heaps of plantings, massive trees that had been blown over all ready for removal, or integrated back into the changed landscape. As you may already know or can imagine, the trees did as much destruction as the fires, crushing and destroying many sculptures. Some of the sculptures have been re-modelled, some picked up and reset, others given back the bits that were burned, new ones high up in trees, even some familiar sculptures from the main street have been given a new home. It is a must see, you can see so much going on, it is truly remarkable. You will be touched by how beautiful it is, having never had the privilege of seeing it prior to the fires ,it is probably easier for us to appreciate what it is today, having no way to compare it, we just love the garden and the stories that Barbara was able to tell us. The creek is flowing and it looks like Bruno has a new boat to go back onto the water, just the way it used to be. You certainly have inspired us Bruno, thank you. brunos art and gardens

Bruno's mate looks like he has been busy! I reckon he may enjoy a game of golf and glass of wine.

We headed out to Buxton Ridge Winery just out of Marysville, about a ten minute drive Michael and Katie indulged us in regional fare, from olives, salmon, crackers and cheeses followed by their own sparkling wine. We had a taste of their range in their new cellar door. I have found another perfect Pinot! Michael and Katie shared stories of the devastating fire and difficult recovery period, including some quite personal stories on how it has affected their beautiful young family. We wish them all the very best, we want to create an ant-like track to their cellar door, there is a wine for everyone and Michael will show you his piece of paradise taking you into the vineyard to answer all those questions you may have about growing wine grapes. This is were you meet the winemaker, the vineyard manager and cellar door staff all in one! Lovely outdoor setting looking over the vineyard, quiet, tranquil and indulgent indeed. Book ahead for the platters! meet the maker buxton ridge

Michael from Buxton Ridge gets us into his reds.

Katie's made this lovely local platter to enjoy with our Sparkling.

We made tracks back to Marysville to meet Linda and Peter from Chrystal Journey. They are opening for coffees and cake in the gardens. Peter will share his stories from being on the land and show you his 'Big Tractor', you just have to watch your tea doesn't get cold, he has stories and a shed full of man treasures and all the time in the world for you. One of these sheds they have kindly set up relief aid for the entire area. Toothpaste, plates, quilts, loo paper, everything you may need, kindly donated to the community and stored at Chrystal Journey.
After Pete's tour we entered the gift store from the veranda out of the heat into the coolness of the old homestead. It has been in Peters family for some time. His dad made sure it was a home of quality for the period, being a piano builder, his work is with beautiful timbers and the high ceilings and wide verandas remind you of a quieter time before we had air conditioners. They made us a lovely afternoon tea, which we shared in the shade of the big old trees in the rambling gardens and Jenny found some lovely gifts to take home from the store, thank you for your hospitality, we will be back to see your progress and enjoy another pot of tea. marysville tourism

Pete tells us this tractor was used in Scotland to remove Peat for fuel, from the bogs.

Finally back at the Golf and Bowls Club house, we meet members of the golf club, Lesley and then liz, who takes fun golf clinics for newbies like myself. Barbara introduces us to two more very special women, Nora and Kay of Cathedral View Bed and Breakfast and Retreat. Wellness is their game and passion even though now all they have left of their former retreat is a concrete slab on a burnt baron landscape. They have the magic of vision and a passion for well-being for their own futures and their healing hands and knowledge for your body to be enlivened while you visit. We envision long massages in tranquil spots, perhaps in a private tent on the golf course,???, Tai Chi in the park and foot massages after the long walk playing golf or bare foot bowls at the bowls club. cathedral view massage and relaxation therapies

Barbara's Bocce` balls still remain on her property, not much else though. Bare foot bowls at the club might be the go this summer Barb.

So much to choose from and there is much more that we are yet to discover. Looking forward to putting the tours together from the Yarra Valley, bringing guests on an indulgent golf and wine tour will be fun. Give yourself the gift of a visit to our neighbors in Marysville, bring along your cheeriest smile and leave some lovely hugs and indulge in what they have to offer and support our mates in Marysville. It's inspiring.

Kepples Lookout. Marysville in the distance and in the background, the magnificent dramatic Cathedral Range.

King Valley Gourmet Food and Wine Tour

2009-10-31T23:54:00.013+11:00

Way up in the Highlands above Whitfield on your way to Mansfield on the back roads, you will find breathtaking views and cottages tucked away in the hills. Behind hand stacked rock fences, up a cow 'patted' dusty lane-way was one such cottage, I managed to find my way into using the tourist maps provided at the information centre in Beechworth. My guests were found eagerly awaiting for their driver to show up to get into the wine tasting trip they had planned for months. They had found their way in the dark the night before, thank the mistress of technology they had Sat. Nav. Now that the day was underway Will, Tom, Angie and Sally could all see what a magic spot they found themselves in. We didn't waste much time, cheese, chocolate, wine and lunch, more wine and then of course, more wine. So many Italian varieties to taste. They quickly found the boot of the car full of King Valley treasures.

Milawa Cheese Factory and Chocolates! Tom, Sally, Will and Ange.
Sam Miranda and his gorgeous daughter at Sam Miranda King Valley. Meeting the winemaker is half the fun.
Wine tastings at Sam Miranda cellar door, choosing which wine to have with lunch.

Chrismont Wines lovely lab, lapping up all the attention,' ohhhh, little to the right, yer, yep oh yes!'
What stock?

Give Way To Stock, not 'give hay to stock' Sal!

What can I say.

2009-10-29T15:11:00.001+11:00

Photography Tour of the Yarra Valley

Bookings Essential contact SandyMobile: 0408 244 531

sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au http://www.drivenindulgence.com.au

Driven Indulgences' Photography Tour will find you exploring the magic spots of the Yarra Valley with your local guide and photography enthusiast Sandy. You don’t need a professional camera, point and shoot owners very welcome to create some valley magic. You will find yourself amongst old fern forests with rock strewn creeks, vineyards and open fields, atop hillsides and country streets. We will chase the perfect view, light or moment to capture that one great shot that gives you that feeling of breathless wow. ( I am still working on getting the weather to order)
Includes pick up and return to accommodation or home, lunch at Mt. Rael’s 3777 restaurant and your own driver for the day, for up to four people. We have time to stop at any spot on the map to enjoy a wine tasting or coffee or stroll to do a little shopping in town. You may even have some ideas of your own that we could explore.

Cost for the day for your driver, guide and lunch is: (Please note this is taking your vehicle)

$120.00 per person for four persons.

$150.00 per person for three persons.

$180 per person for two people and

$310 for one person.

Cost to include a luxury vehicle is an additonal $220 per day.(You are welcome to make your own lunch arrangements, just take off $60 from the above prices, bring a picnic or graze as we go at any of the wonderful eateries dotted through the landscape)
This is for up to 8 hours of relaxing scenic and indulgent viewing of the Yarra Valley pick up and return. We can make it an early day to capture those misty morning or sunrise shots, make the time to suit your interests.
Book ahead so as not to miss out. Deposit required, any questions please email Sandy on sandy@drivenindulgence.com.au or call on 0408244531.

Indulgent tour of the Yarra Valley

2009-10-29T14:06:00.000+11:00

New tours throughout the Yarra Valley region now available with Sandy from Driven Indulgence. Tour with your camera, your host and driver will provide you with top spots with views, natural environments such as winding roads and creeks, lush paddocks, wines and food to click and indulge till your heart is content.
http://www.yarravalleynow.com.au/driven-indulgence

Your day is packed full of educational experiences, delightful tastes, sights and you may even meet the wonderful people behind the wineries, restaurants and local business that make this valley so rich and wonderful.

Check out the affordable rates for the driver for hire service from your doorstep to ours! http://www.drivenindulgence.com.au/driver-for-hire.html

Alex and Amy met wine maker Tom (left) in the barrel room at Sticks Winery ~ Yarra Valley