Inside the glorious Bentley overnight drive experience to Australia’s most stylish property
Dreams are made of this: driving a sleek Bentley Continental GT along the winding roads of Australia’s picturesque countryside and arriving at a grand mansion perched on a wooded hilltop.
An intimate number of friends of The CEO Magazine experienced a fleet of British luxury supercars in all its glory.
After enjoying a light lunch and coffee at Bentley Sydney, guests selected one of the eye-catching models, including the Bentayga W12, Bentayga Diesel and Mulsanne Speed, to start their journey to New South Wales’ breathtaking Southern Highlands.
Driving along the scenic roads with sprawling green paddocks, rolling mountains and sightings of native wildlife was all the more relaxing with the Flying Spur W12’s twin-flute massage seats and glass-to-glass panoramic sunroof.
Whether stretching our legs in the handcrafted passenger seats or taking a turn driving the luxurious Bentley Bentayga V8 – which accelerates from 0–100km/h in just 4.4 seconds – along the majestic countryside, it was a truly thrilling ride along the open road.
The extravagant convoy arrived at Milton Park Country House Hotel & Spa after what felt like moments on the road but it had, in fact, been almost three hours since we left the bustling inner-city behind.
A sweeping tree-lined path leading to manicured gardens and a heritage white building adorned with climbing ivy was a bittersweet sight – it may have been the end of the first Bentley drive experience, but it was just the start of an indulgent night ahead.
A crackling fire, gourmet cheese platters and flutes of Veuve Clicquot Champagne awaited guests. While some relaxed by the fireplace or played pool, others took the opportunity to drive a different Bentley.
"From stretching our legs in the handcrafted passenger seats or taking a turn driving the luxurious Bentley Bentayga V8, it was a truly thrilling ride along the open road."
Following a long day on the road, a three-course dinner at the private dining room of Milton Park proved to be the ideal way to end the evening.
The long dining table was decorated in gorgeous black candelabras, fresh white blooms and stylish Montblanc writing instruments encased by crystal cloches. A Montblanc timepiece and bottles of The Dalmore whisky topped the nearby mantel piece as the rustic fire warmed the chandelier-adorned room.
Having worked up an appetite, dishes of pan-fried king fish, dry-aged sous vide Grimaud duck breast, slow-braised ox cheeks, French-style bean ragout, witlof salad and creamy corn with fried shallots went down a treat. Guests sipped on Cloudy Bay Te Wahi pinot noir, Te Koko sauvignon blanc, Veuve Clicquot Champagne and drops of The Dalmore whisky.
Milton Park’s Deluxe Garden Rooms, featuring king-size beds (with the option of twin singles), a writing desk, marble bathrooms (boasting baths and heated towel rails) and stunning garden courtyard views, provided the perfect place for friends of The CEO Magazine to rest their heads and reminisce about their Bentley driving experiences – an escapade that would continue the following morning on the road back to Sydney.