A very reasonably priced, spotlessly clean & comfortable private bungalow. We really enjoyed our stay at Magpie Lodge, as it ticked all the boxes for a long overdue escape from Melbourne (3 hr drive via country back roads & did Great Ocean Road cruisy drive back home).
Run by friendly hosts Bill & Sheila, who were very accommodating & always up for a chat. Set in their charming picket fenced weatherboard house’s quiet backyard, with access to a big balcony for breakfast. Nice relaxing way to start the day, taking in vast rural views & cheeky carolling magpies close up!
Location was perfect for 5 min drive into nearby city centre. Enjoyed drinks in Hotel Warrnambool’s quirky tiled front bar (old school big country pub feel with exposed floorboards & ceiling beams), marinara pasta at The Cally Hotel (recommended by Melb mates for good value for money & friendly Lucas barman was full of local site seeing/craft brewery tips) & seafood dinner at Pippies by the Bay Restaurant (balcony views, loved their scallop starter & chocolate delice desert, popular with locals as busy on a Monday night).
Port Fairy was 25 min drive & did the lighthouse (good surf coast views) & Moyne River walks (for that postcard photo, pity only sit & eat/drink option there was The Wharf bar - pricey & average service!). Really enjoyed closer Tower Hill Reserve for scenic walks (elevated view of coastline, tracks around volcanic lakes, through dense bush & boardwalk across swamps) & local wildlife (saw lots of active koalas with baby joeys, emus, wallabies & blue tongue lizard).