Sometimes, a stay in a standard hotel room doesn’t cut it. You want the accommodation itself to play a big role in your holiday, and so you want it to be quirky and original. Fortunately, if your holiday is in Victoria and that’s what you’re after, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
From a stay in an old tobacco kilnhouse on an Angus cattle stud to another in a building that was once part of a parish but now serves as a cosy writer’s retreat, these are our picks for the most unique accommodation in Victoria.
The Church House Gourmet Retreat, Fish Creek
The Church House is a refurbished church with vaulted ceilings and exposed timber beams. It sits atop a hill on eight hectares of property South Gippsland with views of Wilsons Promontory National Park and only a 20-minute drive to the entrance of the park. Choose from four suites: The Venetian, The Chinoiserie, The Turquoise and The Study.
Liptrap Loft, Walkerville
Set on two hectares of bushland a two-hour drive from Melbourne, Liptrap Loft is a cabin made from recycled materials and with Japanese-influenced architecture. The property has a Japanese Bath House, with a traditional bath, an outdoor dining table and chairs and two mountain bikes guests can use. Well-behaved pets are also welcome.
Valente By The Vines, Yackandandah
Valente By The Vines is a rustic stand-alone home between Victorian country towns Beechworth and Yackandandah. Guests sleep on a queen bed on a mezzanine level, overlooking the lounge, kitchen and bathroom below. They’ll be treated to a bottle of wine on arrival, which they can enjoy in the outdoor area, taking in views of the surrounding area.
The Kilnhouses, Prepunkah
The Kilnhouses refers to three separate stays on a working Angus cattle stud in the Ovens Valley: Cavedons kilnhouse, Eurobin kilnhouse and the Sorting Shed. Once used to make tobacco, the kilnhouses now feature soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and polished concrete floors. The Sorting Shed is a two-storey house where the tobacco was then sorted.
Yarra Valley Holiday Park Glamping Pods, Badger Creek
The holiday park at Badger Creek in Yarra Valley has all kinds of camping and glamping, including a Family Belle Tent, big enough to fit four, and Single Belle Tent. Our pick though is the log-shaped Glamping Pods, which sleep two and can be booked with an ensuite. Your booking comes with a personal Pod Buggy that you can use to get around the holiday park.
The Storyteller’s Nook, Panmure
Just a few minutes’ drive from the Great Ocean Road, in the hamlet of Panmure, lies The Storyteller’s Nook. It was once part of a parish, but today, it features a chef’s kitchen, an Alice In Wonderland-themed bedroom and a bright pink front door. Spend your stay here, curled up by the fire, reading one of the many books from the home’s library.
Steam Carriage Forrest, Forrest
Take a step back in time, when train travel was a glamorous affair, with a stay at Steam Carriage Forrest. The train carriage, built in 1926, is made up of three bedrooms and a deck with an outdoor bath, surrounded by greenery, including climbing vines. It can hold up to six guests but is recommended for a couple or family of four.
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