Retreat in Nature at Koala Cottage

Koala Cottage is the perfect place for a quiet retreat in a stunningly beautiful natural setting. Set high on a 30 acre hobby farm with 180 degree sea views over the southern ocean with abundant wildlife - koalas, kangaroos, whales, seals, cockatoos and parrots. You can access many walks from the property or take a two minute drive to the pristine Narrawong beach and mouth of the River Surrey. Find out about the traditional Gunditjmara people, or simply relax on the deck. 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQI friendly. Koala Cottage, formerly the Heywood Police Station, is a quaint and cosy three room cottage with porch toilet and deck, decorated simply but with your comfort in mind. Designed to offer guests an opportunity to rest and revitalise, the cottage is situated on top of Mount Clay, about 40 minutes west of Port Fairy and 15 minutes east of Portland near the township of Narrawong. Guests are welcome to walk around the property, which is a mixture of undulating grassland and virgin bush in a gully with spectacular sea views from all vantage points. A dam with yabbies and a range of water birds is an easy walk and guests are invited to use the row boat. Mountain bikes are also available on request. We will be respectful of your privacy and leave you to your solitude, but we are always available should you require any assistance or information about local services or activities. Our home is about 30 metres away from the cottage; we share the driveway with guests. Situated just fifteen minutes from both the World Heritage listed Budj Bim National Park rich in cultural history of the local Gunditjmara people, and from Portland's famous fishing grounds and the Great South West Walk with spectacular ocean and forest landscapes to explore, there is a wide variety of experiences available to you. Good coffee can be found at the Bay of Whales Art Gallery a two minute drive away or for a larger range of eateries and services, Portland is just a short drive away along the ocean road. There are many beautiful walks through a variety of habitats from the cottage. Mountain bikes are available to get further afield to the state forest and the beach. The closest services (fuel, food, laundry) are approx 15 minutes away by car. Please be aware that this is a rural property. Guests are encouraged to wear closed in shoes in case of snakes in the summertime and leeches live in the gully area. We have taken every precaution to ensure that our property is well protected in the unlikely event of a bushfire and you will be notified and evacuated well in advance of any potential risk.