It’s a long way from the Land of the Rising Sun, but you can enjoy all of the charms of the Orient Down Under at the Japanese Mountain Retreat.
This resort is nestled in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, a 45-minute drive from Victoria’s capital city, Melbourne.
The luxurious rooms are kitted out with tatami mats and Japanese hot tubs, known as ofuro. Step outside and you can relax in the five acres of manicured zen gardens, or take a dip in the hot spring pool, called an onsen.
It offers all of the creature comforts you’d expect from a five-star resort, but with a delightful Asian twist.
The friendly staff will serve you up a six-course Japanese banquet, or for something lighter you could participate in an authentic tea ceremony. The banquets are served in your room, so they make for a great romantic night in. Miso soup, sushi, and sashimi are dished up alongside Asian potato croquettes, gyoza dumplings and chicken kara age, a succulently tender chicken dish marinated in ginger and sake. Make sure you save room for dessert though, as the red bean and green tea ice-creams are a delicious taste of the east.
And of course there is the spa, which specializes in the rejuvenating treatments of the Orient including hot stone therapy and lomi lomi massage.
Rooms at the Japanese Mountain Retreat start from $395, although if you plan to indulge in spa treatments and the banquet it may be worthwhile buying one of the many accommodation packages. While these are pricy, they're more affordable than using the services separately.
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The art deco 
If that hasn't calmed you, consider a soak in the Jacuzzi or a treatment at the city's first Anantara spa. The spa's treatments are a real experience as they use ancient techniques from China, Thailand, and India. Emphasis is placed on the beneficial powers of natural products including moisturizing avocado, purifying ginger, and healing volcanic stone.
Personally I can't imagine wanting to work up a sweat with all this pampering around, but if you do you can work out at the state of the art fitness center. There's high tech gym equipment, a sauna and steam room, and lap pool.
A night at the PuLi Hotel and Spa doesn't come cheaply, with rates starting from $500 US a night. However, if you want to come away from your 
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Likuliku recently added the title of Best Overseas Resort from Australia's Luxury Travel Magazine to its list of accolades. It was also named the best deluxe/unique accommodation in this year's AON Fiji Tourism awards. The warm and friendly staff members are a key reason for this success. They offer personalized service which helps guests feel like part of the Likuliku family.
The resort's restaurant is also particularly noteworthy. Australian chef Brett Kryskow sources as many local ingredients as possible to ensure his dishes are fresh and connected to indigenous culture. The restaurant is located in the Central Facility, which also houses the guest lounge, boutique, and main bar.
While the Central Facility is always a hive of activity, guests can also enjoy relaxing near the horizon-edge pool, the spa, or the beautiful Masima Island Bar.
Likuliki Lagoon Resort is located 16 miles from Nadi International Airport. Guests can arrive via helicopter, seaplane, catamaran, or private speedboat. Rooms are not cheap, with prices starting at FJD$722, but this price buys real luxury. It also includes all meals and use of the resort's non-motorized activities.