Story by Kal & Beth
Charming Woodshed by the Dunes
Adventure in Peterborough, Great Ocean Road, VIC, AU
We fell in love with The Misty Dunes Woodshed, which is nestled on a quiet property just off the Great Ocean Road.
Having left the city in the middle of the morning, along our inland route towards the coast, we decided to make the most of our lunchtime arrival with a pitstop at the nearby town of Port Campbell. We headed to the local takeaway shop and revisited one of our favourite past times – fish and chips on the beach! The beach is located by Port Campbell Bay, where we were able to enjoy our meal alongside some other travellers and the tribe of local seagulls. Well-fed with the leftovers packed away, we continued our journey down the Great Ocean Road to our escape!
The Woodshed is just a 10-minute drive from Port Campbell and you'll instantly feel its charm when you enter the driveway. Surrounded by gum trees, and with an outdoor fireplace and rope swing swaying in the breeze, the house had us in awe before we’d even entered it. When we did open the door, we were greeted with a complimentary bottle of wine and a thoughtful note to welcome us for our stay. The place itself was so cosy and homely and we didn't want to leave. The amenities were basically brand new, so we were able to cook ourselves a meal, enjoy a relaxing shower and drift off to sleep with the sound of rain on the tin roof, ready for a big day of exploring ahead.
After a good night's rest, we awoke to a house illuminated by natural light. The rain had thankfully passed and we were ready to see the sights. Our first stop, and starting point for the day, was the Bay of Islands. It's about six minutes west of The Woodshed; a 32-kilometre-long coastal reserve that protects cliffs, beaches and natural rock formations. From here we were able to make our way back east and down the Great Ocean Road to the London Bridge, another rock formation formed by erosion, which famously collapsed in 1990 and left two tourists stranded on the remaining rock (they were eventually rescued).
Moving along back through Port Campbell, we decided to stop for a coffee and some food at the Grassroots Deli Cafe, then made the short drive to Loch Ard Gorge. Named after a ship that wrecked there in 1878, the gorge is a must-see stop with a short staircase allowing you to drop beneath the cliffs and dip your toes in the water (though we don’t recommend swimming in those waves). After Loch Ard Gorge, our next destination was The Twelve Apostles, which is the most famous sight in the area. Rather than experience the lookout from above, we drove a little further down the coast to Gibson Steps, where you can view the two bigger Apostles and get up close on the sand for a much more personal experience.
Having seen the sun set behind the Apostles, our journey was done and we returned to The Woodshed for a bottle of wine and a movie. This property provided not only a sought-after location for the local sights, but also an element of comfort and charm that comes from feeling at home. We couldn’t recommend a better Great Ocean Road escape than The Misty Dunes Woodshed.
Having left the city in the middle of the morning, along our inland route towards the coast, we decided to make the most of our lunchtime arrival with a pitstop at the nearby town of Port Campbell. We headed to the local takeaway shop and revisited one of our favourite past times – fish and chips on the beach! The beach is located by Port Campbell Bay, where we were able to enjoy our meal alongside some other travellers and the tribe of local seagulls. Well-fed with the leftovers packed away, we continued our journey down the Great Ocean Road to our escape!
The Woodshed is just a 10-minute drive from Port Campbell and you'll instantly feel its charm when you enter the driveway. Surrounded by gum trees, and with an outdoor fireplace and rope swing swaying in the breeze, the house had us in awe before we’d even entered it. When we did open the door, we were greeted with a complimentary bottle of wine and a thoughtful note to welcome us for our stay. The place itself was so cosy and homely and we didn't want to leave. The amenities were basically brand new, so we were able to cook ourselves a meal, enjoy a relaxing shower and drift off to sleep with the sound of rain on the tin roof, ready for a big day of exploring ahead.
After a good night's rest, we awoke to a house illuminated by natural light. The rain had thankfully passed and we were ready to see the sights. Our first stop, and starting point for the day, was the Bay of Islands. It's about six minutes west of The Woodshed; a 32-kilometre-long coastal reserve that protects cliffs, beaches and natural rock formations. From here we were able to make our way back east and down the Great Ocean Road to the London Bridge, another rock formation formed by erosion, which famously collapsed in 1990 and left two tourists stranded on the remaining rock (they were eventually rescued).
Moving along back through Port Campbell, we decided to stop for a coffee and some food at the Grassroots Deli Cafe, then made the short drive to Loch Ard Gorge. Named after a ship that wrecked there in 1878, the gorge is a must-see stop with a short staircase allowing you to drop beneath the cliffs and dip your toes in the water (though we don’t recommend swimming in those waves). After Loch Ard Gorge, our next destination was The Twelve Apostles, which is the most famous sight in the area. Rather than experience the lookout from above, we drove a little further down the coast to Gibson Steps, where you can view the two bigger Apostles and get up close on the sand for a much more personal experience.
Having seen the sun set behind the Apostles, our journey was done and we returned to The Woodshed for a bottle of wine and a movie. This property provided not only a sought-after location for the local sights, but also an element of comfort and charm that comes from feeling at home. We couldn’t recommend a better Great Ocean Road escape than The Misty Dunes Woodshed.
Things We Did
- Beach
- Lookout
- Café
A perfect spot for an Aussie lunch break down the coast, Port Campbell Takeaway is just across the street from the local beach. There's a great selection of picnic tables and seating along the sea wall to sit and enjoy the view while you eat.
A great way to experience the Apostles up close, Gibson Steps is a short drive down the Great Ocean Road, just past the main Apostles lookout. These steps give you unbridled access to the beach below with a view of two of the largest remaining Apostles at ground level.
When you're busy visiting the sites in the area, the Grassroots Deli Cafe is the perfect stop to refuel. Located on the main strip of Port Campbell, this quaint cafe has friendly staff and will give you the energy you need for the journey ahead.
This section of the Great Ocean Road houses a 32-kilometre-long coastal reserve that's home to an array of cliffs, beaches and natural rock formations. They're all easily accessible from a number of lookouts along the drive.
Loch Ard Gorge is located between Port Campbell and The Twelve Apostles. It's named after a ship that sunk here in 1878 and is a must-see stop on your journey. There's a short staircase that will take you beneath the cliffs and you can even dip your toes in the water – we don’t recommend swimming in those waves!
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Where we stayed
Things we did
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