The Hotel: Cottages for Two

Nestled just a 10-minute walk from Cowes Beach, Cottages for Two, as the name suggests, are designed mainly for duos. Those looking for a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the city may find the resort an ideal base for a holiday break. Guests can enjoy easy strolls to the beach and take a short drive to Koala Conservation Centre and Phillip Island Nature Park to indulge in some wild nature and see the world-famous penguin parade at sunset. Golf lovers can also head to Cowes Golf Club and practice their swing.

The resort offers a self-contained cottage-style accommodation with all the comforts of a home away from home. The cottages and apartments come fitted out with comfy beds, a heating and cooling system, as well as a hot water supply. Most of the units feature back and front yards with lush gardens and private patios with seating areas and BBQ facilities. Guests can take advantage of a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and microwave, and enjoy a living area with a flat-screen TV, DVD player and a stereo. Premium and Superior accommodation types also boast a double spa bath.   * TripAdvisor: 4 / 5

Room Details

Standard Cottage

• Bed size/type: one large double bed 
• Standard/maximum occupancy: two people
• Patio, private bathroom, BBQ area, garden views

Premium Cottage

• Bed size/type: one large double bed 
• Standard/maximum occupancy: two people
• Patio, spa bath, private bathroom, BBQ area, garden views 

Superior One-Bedroom Apartment

• Bed size/type: one large double bed and sofa bed
• Standard occupancy: two people
• Maximum occupancy: three people
• Living room, patio, spa bath, private bathroom, BBQ area, garden views

The Area: Phillip Island

A mere 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, Phillip Island has long been a popular tourist destination for Melbournians keen to escape the city to be at one with nature. Treasured for its varied collection of Australian wildlife, the island is home to kangaroos and wallabies, fur seals and Pacific gulls. In spite of its diminutive stature, the little penguin stands out as the highlight of the region’s animal inhabitants, with a large population of the slate-blue seabirds making their nests in dune burrows along the sandy beach.

The best way to see the small birds is via the Penguin Parade at Summerland beach, where scores of penguins journey across the sand to their nests each and every day at sunset. Next head over to the Maru Koala and Animal Park to get in touch with the Australian wildlife.

There’s no better vantage to view the coastal scenery than during a walk, and plenty are available nearby for travellers to choose their level of difficulty. Head to Cape Woolamai to catch a glimpse of shearwater and mutton bird colonies then cap it off with a stroll along the pristine beach.