Story by Via & Nick
Sweet Joy in Johanna
Adventure in Johanna, Great Ocean Road, VIC, AU
At The Log House, five work friends find refuge in the heart of Johanna. As soon as we drove into the 7-acre property, we were captivated by the Log House and its Fern Gully surrounds. Beautifully furnished and styled, with so many thoughtful touches, we often expressed our love for a piece of art, a mug, a lamp, all the way through our stay. In addition to its beauty, the Log House has also been designed to make it the most comfortable home away from home - warm cozy beds, a fully-equipped kitchen, living spaces for deep conversation and laughter, and many places to eat and drink.
It was a picturesque drive from Melbourne; we listened to one of Corina's playlists, sharing stories of life, love, and friendship; Amy's car crawling up hills with 4 women in it, struggling with its full boot. Pizza and drinks at the Apollo Bay Distillery, and grocery shopping 45 minutes away.
A short, 7-minute drive from The Log House takes us to Castle Cove Lookout. With the wind howling in our ears, we watched the waves crash onto the beach.
The first evening is nothing short of idyllic; we chat and joke over cheese and wine, play games on the lawn - with Nellie enjoying the feel of grass under her bare feet - and watch the sunset before continuing to enjoy our festivities under the stars.
In the morning, we arose at sunrise to enjoy a walk to Beauchamp Falls, a 30-minute drive away. It drizzled lightly as we walked through the forest of majestic mountain ash trees, large myrtle trees, and thick ferns. When we reached the waterfall, the sun peaked through the clouds, warming Jacqueline's face as she marvelled at it - and yes, it made a gorgeous photo!
On our second night, we had a gin tasting full of laughter. When Sal from Otways Distillery walked through the door, she charmed us instantly - and her gin did too. That evening, we ventured to The Perch at Lavers Hill not far away, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and lemon meringue cocktails (the meringue theatrically scorched at the table) while a fire burned beside us and enveloped us with the oh-so-beautiful scent of burning wood.
The Log House offered us peace and serenity in between all of our adventures. The deck was the perfect place to enjoy a book with a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or simply observe the trees and sky that surround the property. One could go to the outdoor bath for a moment of alone time and self-care beneath the stars. In contrast to our city lives, the evenings at the property were quiet and relaxing after days of adventures. I felt so blessed to be surrounded by these wonderful women at this beautiful retreat in nature. It was truly sweet joy, found in Johanna....
It was a picturesque drive from Melbourne; we listened to one of Corina's playlists, sharing stories of life, love, and friendship; Amy's car crawling up hills with 4 women in it, struggling with its full boot. Pizza and drinks at the Apollo Bay Distillery, and grocery shopping 45 minutes away.
A short, 7-minute drive from The Log House takes us to Castle Cove Lookout. With the wind howling in our ears, we watched the waves crash onto the beach.
The first evening is nothing short of idyllic; we chat and joke over cheese and wine, play games on the lawn - with Nellie enjoying the feel of grass under her bare feet - and watch the sunset before continuing to enjoy our festivities under the stars.
In the morning, we arose at sunrise to enjoy a walk to Beauchamp Falls, a 30-minute drive away. It drizzled lightly as we walked through the forest of majestic mountain ash trees, large myrtle trees, and thick ferns. When we reached the waterfall, the sun peaked through the clouds, warming Jacqueline's face as she marvelled at it - and yes, it made a gorgeous photo!
On our second night, we had a gin tasting full of laughter. When Sal from Otways Distillery walked through the door, she charmed us instantly - and her gin did too. That evening, we ventured to The Perch at Lavers Hill not far away, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and lemon meringue cocktails (the meringue theatrically scorched at the table) while a fire burned beside us and enveloped us with the oh-so-beautiful scent of burning wood.
The Log House offered us peace and serenity in between all of our adventures. The deck was the perfect place to enjoy a book with a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or simply observe the trees and sky that surround the property. One could go to the outdoor bath for a moment of alone time and self-care beneath the stars. In contrast to our city lives, the evenings at the property were quiet and relaxing after days of adventures. I felt so blessed to be surrounded by these wonderful women at this beautiful retreat in nature. It was truly sweet joy, found in Johanna....
Things We Did
- Food & Drink
- Lookout
- Walk
- Waterfall
Whether you're stopping by Apollo Bay for a quick stopover or you want to slow down and relax with your road trip buddies, this is the place to be. With their handcrafted gins distilled on-site and using local botanicals, what's not to love? A freshly made wood-fired pizza will pair perfectly with one of their unique gins. You won't be disappointed....
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Where we stayed
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