Read our writer's views on this property below
Great Ocean Road, VIC
355 Great Ocean Road, Marengo
Phone: 0407 555 017
The Location Marengo is just a few minutes' drive from the small coastal town of Apollo Bay. Nestled between hills and the sea, in the summer months, or during the annual music festival every autumn, it can be frantically busy, but for those who visit in the off-season, it is reminiscent of the sleepy village it once was.
The Place Stone Cottage (one of five self-contained dwellings on the 42-hectare Seatrees Farm) features spectacular views and beach access. The large lounge-room area, with stone fireplace for cold days, makes the most of the vista that takes in lush, green fields before it abruptly switches to a swathe of ocean. Exposed beams and the unfussy, yet tasteful décor makes unwinding easy. The queen-size bed located in the upstairs mezzanine also offers sea views and there's nothing quite like falling to sleep listening to the thunder of breaking waves. Each cottage is tucked away (and varies in size), so if you feel like being antisocial, it's easy to believe you're miles from anywhere.
The Experience Books went unread and DVDs unwatched; it was the spectacular view of the sea that demanded all of our attention, regardless of the weather. We were lucky enough to spot a whale - from the kitchen window, but even passing tankers looked majestic from this perspective. When the dogs weren't tearing along the beach, they happily lolled about indoors. Stone Cottage is all about comfort and relaxation, but if you're in the mood, the experience can be transformed effortlessly into a weekend of energetic hiking. For dinner options, there are the local pubs, but it's hard to beat fish and chips and a trip down to the pier.
Don't Miss There are several walking tracks just a short distance from the back door. A car trip into the Apollo Bay township takes about five minutes, or you can wander along the 3km walking trail for a more leisurely option. If you're feeling like a longer drive, the Twelve Apostles are about 100km down the road.
Need to know
Cost: $495 for the weekend for two.
Where: 190km (3 hours' drive) south-west of Melbourne.
Wheelchair access: No.