The Aire Down There

As soon as we arrived and made our way through the front gate and along the riverside driveway towards the cabin, we were immediately engulfed by nature. The cabin is perched on a big sweeping bend of the Aire River surrounded by the Otway Ranges. There’s an outdoor spa and a sauna on the deck. I’ll say that one more time in case you missed it – there’s an outdoor spa and sauna on the deck! A fireplace inside and pre-chopped firewood out back. Two kayaks are also provided along with all the safety gear you need for a solid adventure down the river. At the end of each day, we loved rolling into the super plush bed, it honestly was like sleeping on a fluffy cloud! We left the curtains open to wake with the sunrise and take in the beautiful landscape at first light.

Our stay at Aire River Escape was truly unforgettable. Winding our way through the stunning Otway Ranges with sunbeams slicing through the gigantic gum trees. Be sure to bring all the food and treats you need for your stay because once you arrive, trust me you will not want to leave. We had originally only planned to stay for Friday and Saturday nights but extended our stay to 3 nights even though it meant a very early morning run for work in the city.

This paid off in spades (by spades I mean an early morning sauna followed by a bath on the deck before hightailing it back to the city.) Our morning ritual started with a coffee in the spa taking in the vistas that wrap around the property. The river meanders right out the front of the house which has a backdrop of rolling green hills and surrounding mountains. We really loved hearing the sounds of the wildlife that blended into the breeze. We spent our days kayaking the river while the platypus swam around us and wandering sheep filled paddocks amongst big, beautiful gums looking for koalas. We found 8 within minutes. We spent our afternoons either in the sauna, in the spa or by the fire. Sometimes all three.
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Things We Did

  • Hike
  • Kayak
  • Beach
  • Food & Drink
  • Walk
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    Exploring the sheep paddocks, along the river and also up the hill behind the cabin are all a must....
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      We explored both directions of the river until our arms were tired and could paddle no further....
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        By car turn right out of the gate and take a short drive up the Great Ocean Road. There is a lookout on your left which is positioned perfectly for sunset. If you’re up for an adventure you could also take the kayaks down to where the Aire River flows into the ocean....
        Nailed our food and coffee when we went into town...
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          On our way to Apollo Bay we pulled into a rainforest walk by Cape Otway. It’s a super easy and enjoyable 30 minute boardwalk through dense temperate rainforest that requires no gear. The Manna Gums and ferns in there are giants!...

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