The 10 Most Adorable Cottage Stays In Australia

From creative retreats to farmyard chic: discover the best cottages for holiday rentals around Australia.

As our modern lives get busier, bigger and more connected, there’s a growing urge to run away to the countryside and forget it all. Cottagecore became a trend for a reason, after all. While in reality we may not be willing to leave it all behind, these adorable cottage stays around Australia invite us to disconnect and relax at one with nature, at least for a little while.

1. Poet’s Lodge, Daylesford, Victoria

If the phrase ‘roof to floor bookshelves’ doesn’t have you packing your bags, maybe the rolling ladder across it will. Nothing screams writer’s retreat like the three cottages of Poet’s Lodge . Only a few minutes walk to Daylesford and everything it has to offer, still get an off-grid, rustic feel with a warm fireplace or hot bath. Sit down as a group in large dining rooms, cosy up with a book, gaze and original paintings hung about the cottages or relax in your private courtyard.

lounge room and fireplace at Poet's Lodge, Daylesford VIC — Settle in by a roaring fire.

2. Liptrap Loft, WalkerVille, Victoria

The draping vines, wooden walls and quaint farmland setting make Liptrap Loft a thing of Cottagecore dreams. Designed in a modern, Japanese-influenced architectural style, the shape alone is alluring. But then the recycled materials used give a unique, magical pull. This is a stay all about secluded comfort in a rural and coastal setting. Wake up to the sun peaking through your windows as the birds create a chorus outside them.

exterior shot of liptrap loft holiday rental cottage in WalkerVille VIC — Enjoy unique and modern, Japanese-influenced architecture.

3. Grampians Pioneer Cottages, Halls Gap, Victoria

There’s a lot about the old world we’re happy to leave behind, but adorable and cosy wood log cottages aren’t one of them. Grampians Pioneer Cottages are built from Australian and New Zealand reclaimed timbers, stone, mudbrick, corrugated iron and 100-year-old redbricks, giving their outside a unique look. Inside is just as eye-catching. All self-contained, find wood finishings, thatched rooves, stone fireplaces and more. What’s more, they’re all wheelchair friendly with vistas of the Grampians.

loungeroom of Grampians Pioneer Cottages, Halls Gap, Victoria — Step into an adorable and cosy wood log cottage.

4. Captain’s Cottage, Hobart, Tasmania

There’s a lot to fall in love with around the sloped, residential streets of historic Hobart, and this Airbnb stay is the perfect place to start. Aptly named, the Captain’s Cottage was originally built in the mid-1800s for a ship’s captain, and has since become such an iconic stay that its textured furnishings (think velvet chairs and linen sheets), striking claw-footed tub and whimsical courtyard garden have featured in design and style magazines around the country.

fireplace and desk in Captains Cottage, Hobart TAS — Stay in a vintage Hobart home, originally built for a sea captain.

5. My Sister & The Sea, Marion Bay, South Australia

This rustic 1950s weatherboard cottage may have been brought in from Sweden, but nothing could look more at home in this coastal town. Light and bright interiors keep the cottage seaside-chic, including all three bedrooms. Its relatively large size for a cottage makes it perfect for small group getaways, not to mention the spacious farmhouse table, large kitchen and cosy fireplace with plenty of seating.

hallway inside My Sister & The Sea, Marion Bay SA — Stay in a rustic 1950s weatherboard cottage from Sweden. (Image: Frankie The Creative)

6. Cowboy’s Cabin on Wollombi Brook, Hunter Valley, NSW

Everything about Cowboy’s Cabin feels like an instant classic, from the slab-timber walls to the vintage rocking horse decoration. The name of the furnishing game is timber cosy and country florals, with an open plan kitchen and living space inviting guests to settle in for the evening. Set on a working farm, the only creatures you may wake up to are the grazing cattle as they wander by.

kitchen table inside Cowboy’s Cabin on Wollombi Brook, Hunter Valley NSW — Relax in country comfort on a working farm.

7. Bay & Bush Cottages, Jervis Bay, NSW

This boutique property near Huskisson is set up for all your coastal cabin dreams; whether that be staying cosy in winter or diving into summer. Find just eight self-contained cottages hidden amongst coastal and marine National Parks. Be welcomed to Bay & Bush by kangaroos and kookaburras, star gaze by the outdoor fire pit at night (ideally with marshmallows roasting), whale watching between late April and mid-November, head into town for museums and galleries or stay put with locally sourced food and wine.

8. Riverdale 1898, Kalgan, Western Australia

This cottage has the type of casual, whimsical charm that seems impossible to achieve in your own home. Take a step back in time – while keeping modern comforts firmly in place – to this farm. Wander the working cattle farm, small vineyard and flower-growing business onsite by day, then return home to a fully equipped kitchen at night to start the fireplace glowing. Cosy up with the well-stocked bookshelves boasting local and natural history, floral design and local authors.

loungeroom inside Riverdale 1898, Kalgan WA — Enjoy the casual charm of Riverdale 1898. (Image: Jemma Keech)

9. The Postman’s Cottage, Montville, Queensland

The rustic romance of The Postman’s Cottage is begging for a couple’s getaway. Set on Montville Estate, this cottage is believed to have started life as a railway house in a neighbouring town, then brought to the estate around 1895 for the lady of the house to birth six children in. Today, it’s been built to celebrate slow living. Find a king-sized bed, kitchen, classic clawfoot tub and a range of books and board games with a fireplace to enjoy them by. You’ll even find a Bluetooth speaker, but no TV or wi-fi. So get ready to disconnect.

ensuite inside The Postman’s Cottage, Montville QLD — Book a romantic getaway to The Postman’s Cottage. (Image: Yani Rae)

10. Whispering Valley Cottage Retreat, Maleny, Queensland

The Sunshine Coast might be known for its stunning beaches, but its Hinterlands hold their own, very underrated, pristine beauty. Imagine being nestled in lush green rainforest – uninterrupted for 18.6 hectares – fireplace burning and a tasting plate of local, fresh produce from the gorgeous breakfast hamper and welcome cheese platter and not another soul in sight. That’s the vibe at Whispering Valley Cottage Retreat . Each cabin has a fireplace, spa bath and fully equipped kitchen.

Whispering Valley Cottage Retreat, Maleny QLD — Step into the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for the perfect cottage retreat.

The Great Ocean Road has captured the hearts of Australians with its astounding scenery since 1932, but going off-course can enrich your experience with untouched nature, foodie delights and charming towns.

It’s a chilly 16 degrees. My husband pulls on a steamer and jogs – as all seasoned surfers do – into the water. We’re at Bells Beach , the legendary break on Victoria’s Surf Coast that’s home to the Rip Curl Pro, the world’s longest-running event in competitive surfing. Each year, over the Easter long weekend, up to 40,000 people descend on the region for the event. Today, though, we have the beach almost to ourselves, and the less-than-favourable temperature doesn’t deter my husband from surfing this famous break.

Torquay to Anglesea and Aireys Inlet

The red dome of Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The nearby surf town of Torquay marks the starting point for the Great Ocean Road . Unfolding our map, which we have marked out with a highlighted route for our children to follow, we set off for lesser-known Anglesea, a chilled-out town 20 minutes south of here. Its wide, sandy beach is a gentler swimming option for our young family. Groms can learn to surf here with Go Ride a Wave, which also runs stand-up paddle boarding on the Anglesea River.

Split point lookout — The lighthouse overlooks the Shipwreck Coast. (Image: Tourism Australia)

After a couple of nights in Anglesea, we hit the road again, first stopping at Aireys Inlet. Here we stretch our legs at Split Point Lighthouse, which was made famous by the 1990s television series Round the Twist, before driving under the Memorial Arch that welcomes us, officially, to the Great Ocean Road.

This 243-kilometre coastal road was built by returned First World War servicemen and serves as a permanent memorial to those who fought and died during the war. Carved into rock using hand tools and horse-drawn carts, it was a huge engineering feat and provided much-needed access to isolated coastal communities.

Lorne to Birregurra

Lorne is a delightful beachside stop for lunch and browsing boutique stores. It’s also the gateway to Great Otway National Park , which comprises a varied landscape of old-growth forests, cool-temperate rainforests, heathy woodlands and rugged coast. With the highest rainfall in Victoria, the region is home to many waterfalls – 10 of which are within 10 kilometres of Lorne.

Turning slightly off the main drag, we wind along a gum-shaded road to Erskine Falls. Here, our son leads the way through the hyper-green rainforest and down 200-plus stairs to the cascade that drops 30 metres into a lush fern gully. We hop over large boulders to get closer to the falls, enjoying the entire place to ourselves; it’s worth the return climb.

From Sheoak Falls Picnic Area, there are walking trails to Henderson Falls, Phantom Falls, Won Wondah Falls and Kalimna Falls, some of which follow an old timber tramway from forest-logging days, which only came to an end in 2008.

You can follow your appetite north to the town of Birregurra, which is part of the Otway Harvest Trail that connects farm gates, markets, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It’s home to three-hatted modern Australian restaurant Brae , helmed by celebrated chef Dan Hunter, set among native gardens and an organic farm, and Otways Distillery, which produces small-batch spirits using local produce and botanicals.

Brae restaurant — Brae is a three-hatted restaurant in Birregurra. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Apollo Bay to The Otways

Back on track, the cliff-hugging stretch between Lorne and Apollo Bay is breathtaking. At Teddys Lookout, we overlook the winding road ahead and St George River spilling into the ocean. We spend languid days in Apollo Bay, a buzzy seaside town that boasts a three-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped beach with a backdrop of rolling green hills. One evening, as the sun sets, we take the steep 10-minute walk to Marriners Lookout, which affords panoramic views of the ocean, hinterland and town.

A 15-minute drive along the road, Maits Rest is a lush rainforest gully that has been protected since the early 20th century. Wandering along the 800-metre boardwalk, we inspect the delicate moss-covered forest floor and the gnarled roots of 300-year-old myrtle beech trees, then crane our necks to see their canopies, some 50 metres above us. It’s therapy in nature.

Cape Otway to the Twelve Apostles

The southernmost tip of Cape Otway is a delightful detour, home to the 1848-built Cape Otway Lightstation, the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. We climb the narrow winding staircase to the gallery deck, explore the keepers’ quarters and telegraph station, and enjoy a coffee and some ‘famous’ scones at the charming onsite cafe.

It’s a pinch-me moment to finally see the Twelve Apostles in person. This unmistakable cluster of limestone stacks rising abruptly from the sea were never 12, however. When coined this in the 1890s as a marketing ploy, there were only nine; today, only seven remain after two collapsed in 2005 and 2009. We admire these Aussie icons from the viewing platform, in awe of Mother Nature’s ever-evolving artwork.

The Grotto is another natural attraction within Port Campbell National Park. (Image: Carmen Zammit)

Edging the wild Southern Ocean, this part of the coast – dubbed Shipwreck Coast – is made up of many sea-carved natural wonders including London Bridge, The Grotto and Gibson Steps. After exploring the lookout trails of Loch Ard Gorge/Poombeeyt Kontapool – its English name taken from the site of the 1878 shipwreck – we nestle into the sandy beach encircled by towering sandstone cliffs, as our children splash about on the water’s edge, and soak it all in.

Port Campbell to Timboon

Timboon Fine Ice Cream is part of a regional foodie trail. (Image: C McConville)

Just north of Port Campbell National Park, the region of Timboon is part of the 12 Apostles Food Artisans Trail, filled with purveyors of delicious foodstuffs such as Timboon Fine Ice Cream , Timboon Railway Shed Distillery and Apostle Whey Cheese. As an antidote to the indulgence, the 20-kilometre Poorpa Yanyeen Meerreeng Trail is a self-guided ride or walk between Port Campbell and Timboon through tall forests, over historic bridges and past sparkling lakes and farmland with grazing cattle.

Warrnambool to Port Fairy

Warrnambool building — A 19th-century building in Warrnambool. (Image: Peter Foster)

In Warrnambool, a town rich in maritime history, we take the four-kilometre Thunder Point Walk that traces the coast. The kids squeal when an echidna shuffles out from beneath the wooden boardwalk, and we stop to admire a seal lazing on a rock at the port.

Further along, the streets of quaint fishing village Port Fairy are lined with 19th-century cottages, old stone churches and Norfolk pines. Follow the historic walking trail to see some of the 60-plus National Trust buildings. Port Fairy is also home to Port Fairy Folk Festival (6-9 March), one of the country’s longest-running music and cultural festivals. You could time your road trip with the event for a fittingly celebratory end to any journey.

The Great Ocean Road can easily be done in three days, but we’ve spent a week on the road. The highlighted line on our now creased and well-worn map doesn’t follow the famous route precisely. It has sprouted branches in many directions, leading us to untouched rainforest and charming rural towns filled with culinary delights, and where we experienced some of our most memorable moments on the Great Ocean Road.

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

The Monty is a highly anticipated, newly refurbished motel with a chic Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic set across the road from the Anglesea River. Basalt Winery in Port Fairy grows cool-climate wines such as pinot noir and Riesling in rich volcanic soil. Stay among the vines in its tiny home, complete with a kitchen, lounge area and outdoor firepit.

The Oak & Anchor Hotel has been a Port Fairy institution since 1857. Cosy up by the bar in winter or bask in the sunshine of the Lawn Bar in summer. The rooms are beautifully boutique with considered details, such as luxe baths for sinking into post-road trip.

Eating there

The Coast in Anglesea is a modern Australian restaurant focused on local ingredients. Grand Pacific Hotel has been a local landmark in Lorne since 1879 and recently underwent a restoration. It serves a mix of traditional pub and Italian fare alongside ocean views.

Graze is a cosy 40-seat dining room in Apollo Bay with a modern Australian menu complemented by regional wines. Apollo Bay Distillery offers tasting flights, a gin blending masterclass and serves woodfired pizzas.

The 10 most adorable cottage stays around Australia