We had driven out to Mark’s property on Friday night, after a week of work and a drive in the dark. Imagine then our happiness when we pulled up to the property, turned the key and found the lights on, soft jazz playing, and the most welcoming little country house. It was a wonderful beginning to a restorative weekend in a magical part of the world.
The property is 6km from Apollo Bay, but feels like it’s much further away than that (in a very good way). Tucked into the dramatic hills and steep valleys of the Otways, and backing right onto native bushland, the mornings here are full of birdsong, the earthy smell of the forest and dappled sunlight. We cooked breakfast in the well- equipped, generous kitchen and took mid- morning strolls around the beautiful gardens and grounds (while admiring the view, the flowers and the many birds); in the evenings we used the bbq to cook up a feast and then sank into the comfy couches around the log fire. The cottage had everything we needed: consistent hot water, comfortable beds, clean linen, and air conditioning (we used it briefly on arrival to quickly warm up the place as we had arrived very late at night- it worked well!). The art pieces on the walls and in the gardens definitely added character and colour to the place!
The location was the perfect base to explore both the Otways and the surf coast/ great ocean road, but with a property like this, you’d be hard pressed to leave. The house and grounds were a tranquil retreat and a balm for the soul, and we feel very privileged to have shared the space, even if it was just for a while.
We can’t wait to be back.