Aire Valley Guesthouse owner Susie McDonald. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Aire Valley Guesthouse owner Susie McDonald. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Peter de Graaf checks into the Aire Valley Guesthouse, in Victoria, Australia.
Location: On the Great Ocean Highway west of Apollo Bay, a 230km drive from Melbourne. Check-in experience: Informal and welcoming. It feels like dropping in to stay with friends. Room: With just four to choose from, I opt forthe Lake Room overlooking the broad Aire Valley and, no surprises here, a lake. It has a comfy double bed, a ceiling fan, french doors opening on to a deck, and an en suite bathroom. Though the room is in a newish extension to a century-old farmhouse, it has been finished with vintage fittings, giving it a historic feel. What's in the neighbourhood: The Great Ocean Highway (for road tourers) and the Great Ocean Walk (for hikers), Castle Cove surf beach, and Aire Valley Wildlife Reserve. If you go a little further you'll get to Great Otway National Park, Cape Otway lighthouse and a zipline called the Otway Fly. A striking series of coastal rock formations called the 12 Apostles are about 70km to the west. Food and drink: Host Susie McDonald is an outstanding cook so you won't go to bed hungry. One night I had freshly caught snapper with roast veges; the next was a jungle curry with most ingredients from her own garden. She's also a former winemaker who'll match your dinner with a bottle from her extensive cellar. The bed: Supremely comfortable, especially after a long day's walk. Wi-fi: Free but downloads limited. Noise: None, unless you count the magpies and kookaburras. Australian birds are a raucous lot. Exercise facilities: The Great Ocean Walk is a short drive away. What's so good about this place: The setting, food, a communal room with books, art and curiosities, the vege garden and free-range chooks, and an open fire on chilly nights. However, the biggest drawcard is probably Susie, an ebullient wine-maker, cook, art-lover, Francophile and Chinese medicine practitioner. Perfect for: Bushwalkers on the Great Ocean Walk who don't like camping but do like a fine meal and a comfy bed at the end of the day. Price: $250 per couple per night or $275 Friday-Sunday. Includes breakfast; dinner is $75 extra. Website: airevalleyguesthouse.com.au
