My partner and I had the opportunity to stay at Yvie's place for 3 nights in lieu of our yearly 'pilgrimage' drive to the ocean.
Yvie's place is located in an idyllic nature setting in a quiet neighbourhood. Her place is nestled right next to the lake (which is primarily used for boating and fishing) and surrounded by a lush landscaped garden which attracts bird-life.
With a car, it takes a little under 25 minutes to drive to the neighbouring town/shop areas of Warrnambool and Port Fairy. This was perfect for us, as we wanted to stay somewhere that was more quiet and in nature, but was also not too far away from the town/shops and beach. I especially enjoyed visiting the Port Fairy Sunday market (one of Yvie's recommendations), where I got to pick up lots of fresh produce to cook with (it can be a bit difficult to find vegan-friendly eateries that don't just subtract ingredients). My partner and I also loved exploring the Warrnambool marine sanctuary and Tower Hill nature areas and took every opportunity we could to get in our ocean dips!
Yvie was lovely to communicate with, both online and in-person. We were so appreciative of the amount of thought and care she put into the property and our lodging experience. The place was beautifully decorated, and was more bright and airy than I had expected. This gave a great sense of space to relax (I especially loved the high ceilings!). Upon arrival, we were greeted with fresh flowers, fragrances of cinnamon and lavender, beautiful decorative antique furniture/touches and horse motifs, and thoughtful consumable amenities (e.g. breakfast foods, fruit, bathroom soaps, etc). It was also so sweet to see her whippet, Layla, and her horse bringing extra life to the grounds. We only wish we had more time to talk with Yvie about our shared interests during our short stay!
Highly recommend staying at Yvie's place if you have access to a car. We came away from Yvie's place feeling well rested and rejuvenated for the year ahead.