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Wattle Hill Holiday House - perfect for hikers, bikers, rest and relaxation

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Living area
Living area
Private kitchen
Interior
Room

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6110 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Forrest, VIC
  • Forrest Brewing Company
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Erskine Falls
    ‪52 min drive‬
  • Lorne Beach
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Main bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Wattle Hill Holiday House - perfect for hikers, bikers, rest and relaxation

Welcome to Wattle Hill, a holiday house designed for rest and relaxation surrounded by natural beauty and the wonders of the Australian bush.

Our house is only a 5 minute drive from the Forrest township, but you will feel a million miles from anywhere. You are surrounded by stunning scenery, with views from most rooms.

You are guaranteed to see a variety of colourful native birds, and we regularly see wallabies, kangaroos, koalas and echidnas.

Our 30 acre property sits on the edge of the Otway Ranges National Park and you will have the whole property to yourselves. You can stroll along the Barwon River that forms one boundary of the property. Or go through a gate into the national park where you can walk, ride or drive in the magnificent forest. Or simply chill out on the hammock or day bed on the deck, or cosy up in front of the fire.

The house is warm and comfortable, with decks on three sides of the house. On the western side of the house is a large covered deck with outdoor dining setting, day bed and barbeque.

There are three bedrooms, two with double beds, and one with a set of bunks. We love to cook and the kitchen features modern appliances, quality cookware and a wide range of sauces, herbs and spices.

It's a great place to come all year round. In summer you can swim in the river, walk, mountain bike and generally make the most of the outdoors. In winter, you can cosy up by the fire or explore the local area with its wineries, historical sites and towns.

We are keen walkers and mountain bikers and have explored much of the local area - and will be happy to assist you with information.


Great location

Forrest is a small town nestled in the Otway Ranges that is a two-hour drive from Melbourne, 20 minutes from Colac (the nearest big town) and 45 minutes from Lorne and Apollo Bay.

It has a general store where you can get a good coffee that is well stocked with gourmet supplies, a pub, brewery/cafe. The town has become well known for its range of high quality single track mountain bike trails. There are over 60 km of marked tracks that have been designed for mountain bikers. The trails offer experiences for all rider levels with trail grading from Easiest to Extremely Difficult.

The Otway Ranges National Park is a large wilderness area famous for beautiful walks, drives, lakes and waterfalls. We particularly recommend a visit to Lake Elizabeth, which is a 10 minute drive from the house and features magnificent scenery and lovely walks. You can also do guided kayak platypus tours.

The house is 45 minutes from the world-famous Great Ocean Road (Lorne/Skenes Creek/Apollo Bay), with its pristine beaches and wonderful scenery and great places to visit and eat out.


Features and pricing

Features

Sleeps 6 people in three bedrooms (2 x double bedrooms, 1 x bunk)
Beautiful vintage furniture
Cooks kitchen
House available with linen or without
Gas barbeque
Dishwasher
Microwave
Lounge with Coonara wood heater
TV and NBN wireless internet
CD player and radio
Books and board games
Braun coffee machine
Bathroom with separate toilet
Linen available for hire

Early check in/late check out
You can arrive at the house at 4pm on your day of booking (or possibly earlier by arrangement). Check out is 11am on the day of your departure, however, if no other guests are due, we are happy to make this later.

Gravel access road
Please note that the house is accessed via a 1.5 km gravel road that is generally fine for 2WD vehicles but is not suitable for cars with a low ground clearance. We get the road graded usually annually, however, with the big storms we are having regularly, please expect that there will be some pot holes and bumps.

Prices

The house sleeps a maximum of 6 people.

There is a 2 night minimum booking. Rates are as follows:

$330 per night plus $100 cleaning fee

These costs do not include the supply of linen. Pillows and doonas are supplied.
Linen is available at an additional cost of $40 per room or $100 for the whole house.

Property manager

Nicola
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill
Fireplace

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a first aid kit

About the area

Forrest

Located in Forrest, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Forrest Brewing Company and Gosling Creek Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Great Otway National Park and Barwon Downs Bushland Reserve. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Forrest, VIC

What's nearby

  • Forrest Brewing Company - 9 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Great Otway National Park - 11 min drive - 4.5 km
  • Erskine Falls - 52 min drive - 28.4 km
  • Lorne Beach - 52 min drive - 52.1 km
  • Otway Fly Treetop Adventures - 54 min drive - 47.0 km

Getting around

  • Melbourne, VIC (AVV-Avalon) - 91 min drive

Restaurants

  • Forrest General Store
  • Forrest Brewing Company
  • ‪Platypi Chocolate - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Bespoke Harvest - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Forrest Brewery - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Wattle Hill Holiday House - perfect for hikers, bikers, rest and relaxation pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Wattle Hill Holiday House - perfect for hikers, bikers, rest and relaxation?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Wattle Hill Holiday House - perfect for hikers, bikers, rest and relaxation?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Wattle Hill Holiday House - perfect for hikers, bikers, rest and relaxation located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Great Otway National Park and 2.8 mi (4.5 km) from Forrest Brewing Company. Barwon Downs Bushland Reserve and Murroon Bushland Reserve are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 24 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Bruce S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great base for the Otway Odysey MTB race
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Roslyn R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful retreat
Had a lovely peaceful country retreat - Nicola gave fab advice and was super helpful. The house was v comfortable and well equipped - excellent walks , birds and kangaroos . We loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Damian P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Archie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful escape from the city
We had a wonderful few days at Wattle Hill. Beautiful house with amazing views and lots of gorgeous nature walks on the property or a short drive away! Nicola's directions for getting to the property were so helpful! Would absolutely recommend this place for anyone needing some space away from the hustle and bustle of the city!
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Off grid
Our family had a tech free weekend and enjoyed the many mountain bike tracks and exploring along the river with our young boys. Fantastic weekend and we will be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic property
A travelled to Forrest for the Otway Odyssey, the property and location was great. Very spacious with a great deck area.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bec P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect solitude
Loved this little slice of peaceful heaven! Great spot of our family to be with nature - the kangaroos, deer, koalas, so many birds and even a few snakes made our stay constantly surprising and exciting. We loved the quiet selcusion but loved being central to so many activities and attractions around the area. Nicola was so easy to deal with.
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eduardo S., Melbourne

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
How's the serenity.....
A truly amazing place with spectacular views of the Otway's. Daily visits from Kangaroos, Deer and variety of Birdlife. Even the rain could not take away the beauty of the property. Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kathy R., Geelong

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely immersion in nature
Beautiful quiet spot, clean and comfortable house, gorgeous views, just wonderful
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alvin A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Location
Really nice place with just cows and wild life around.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diana S., Yarraville, Melbourne

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Peaceful
My friends and I needed a quiet, get-away-from-everything type place to relax and breathe the fresh air. This place was perfect! The hammock on the deck, the river at the bottom of the property, the wildlife (gorging themselves on apples), the scenery - so peaceful. The house itself had everything you could want, especially if you didn’t want to go anywhere, like we didn’t. Kitchen has every utensil to make or heat up food. Lovely mid-century furniture. The beds are comfy with stunning views to wake up to in the morning. Blue wrens, Gang-gang cockatoos, black cockies, koalas, kangaroos and deer - all very entertaining. If only we could have stayed longer. We will be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

nat p.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet and comfortable
Thanks for being so accommodating Nicola. I stayed with family for first half of booking and friends for second half. It was suitable for both. I would take note of the kind of vehicle required for the gravel driveway, our Mazda 6 didn't love it but it was advised in property description that low vehicles are not recommended. There were a few spiders that we had to contend with but overall a lovely experience.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Maree D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Get away from it all
This property is amazing - it is so serene, so remote, such beautiful scenery. Stay there!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sarah B.

Peaceful
This place is a little gem. Kitchen is stocked with items that I didn't think to bring. Views are beautiful and a peaceful veranda to sit on. Saw lots of wild life for the kids...koala in the tree right out the front of the house, deers, kangaroos and heard the halarious kookaburras. Woodfire at night. A peaceful getaway, I can see our family going back there in the future.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2019

8/10 Good

Rebecca M., Melbourne, Australia

quiet and tranquil hideaway
We had a thoroughly enjoyable stay at Wattle Hill. The location is wonderfully quiet and tranquil (though beware the unsealed access road is fairly long and bumpy), and the house is very comfortable and thoughtfully stocked. I loved the mid-century furniture and the big covered deck looking out over the valley. My 2 year old daughter loved the bath, the bunks, the toys and the wonderful collection of books. We saw an echidna, kangaroos, lots of birds, and deer during our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Gopi R.

Liked it
This house was a wonderful destination for a weekend stay. Not too far from 12 apostles and Lornes beautiful drive. The house itself is the perfect size and design for family and Friends.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

NIKITA D.

Amazing place, amazing view and just perfect for get togethers
Simply superb!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019

8/10 Good

Josh G.

Lovely house in a beautiful location
Large family size house and spacious deck area overlooking the adjacent farmland but right next to national park. Great for groups.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Job v.

Great place
Great remite place with magnificent views. Loved it
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Narelle M.

Perfect wend escape
This property was a perfect for our family of 5. Clean, warm, homely and ideal for exploring all the Otways have to offer.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018

8/10 Good

Aaron L.

Nice country retreat
Nice family home with enough room to spread out
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018

8/10 Good

Corinne L.

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy
Review comments
The house is really beautiful with an amazing view. We had trouble finding the house since we had saved on maps the address given on the website which takes you on a track in the middle of the forest with no possibility to turn around and no internet connection. We were travelling and I hadn’t checked my emails, thus the latest message from the owner explaining how to get there and giving an accurate address. We don’t mind some dust but we had to give a good clean to the outside furniture, the oven, the pots,... Once the cleaning done we did love the place. Pleasant retro feeling inside and amazing views from inside and the big terrasse.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

KIM B.

quiet location, close to town
Recently stayed here with our young daughter and had a great stay. House is very comfortable and all that we required, but don't go expecting luxury accommodation. House has 3 bedroom and plenty of room with a wood fire for heating. It was quite cool when we went so couldn't make to most of the outside decking but would be a glorious spot to sit in summer/spring and enjoy the wonderful views. It also has a well stocked kitchen and linen if required. Location is great, a 5 minute drive into Forrest but feels like you are in the middle of nowhere with lots of wildlife around. Overall we had a wonderful stay, although be warned that the driveway is really a bush track and wouldn't be suitable to slow to the ground cars.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Rose D.

Gorgeous spot
We had a lovely stay here, we were two families and fit comfortably. It is a gorgeous spot, with great views and a very well stocked kitchen. We had one or two very hot days which was a bit uncomfortable but otherwise just what we wanted.
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca N.

Beautiful property
We loved our stay. The view is fabulous, the house warm and very comfortable. Everything there that we needed. We'll be back!

About the host

Hosted by Nicola

Host profile image
We are a family of 5 and Wattle Hill is our holiday house. We think it is a slice of heaven and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Why they chose this property

You'll have complete seclusion while on the property. You can access the national park with great walking, mountain biking and drives direct from the property. The township of Forrest is only 5 minutes away.

What makes this property unique

You are guaranteed to see a range of wonderful birdlife and we regularly see kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and koalas. It's not unusual to have a koala in the trees next to the house.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests