Wensley - Rustic Luxury, Great Ocean Rd Hinterland

Entire villa in Wensleydale, Australia

  1. 10 guests
  2. 3 bedrooms
  3. 5 beds
  4. 2.5 baths
Hosted by Fran
  1. Superhost
  2. 8 years hosting

Listing highlights

Featured in

Architectural Digest, August 2019
House & Garden, March 2022

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the lockbox.

Extra spacious

Guests love this home’s spaciousness for a comfortable stay.
Set high on the rolling hills of 80 acres The Wensley is a bespoke timber, architectural house built from recycled Oregon and Ironbark. The Wensley is a haven of peace and serenity in a secluded but central pocket of the Surf Coast Hinterland called Wensleydale - offering you a chance to chill out and stay put or explore The Great Ocean Road and surrounding countryside with complete privacy.

1.5 hrs from Melb, 20 Mins Birregurra & Brae, 25 Mins Aireys Inlet
, 15 mins from Moriac & Winchelsea

The space
When you stay, you’ll have exclusive access to the entire property, including the main house and shed (laundry). The home sleeps up to 10 guests across two downstairs bedrooms and a spacious loft with three ground-level bunk nooks. A cot is available, and pets are welcome.

Designed to bring the outdoors in, The Wensley’s soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and natural finishes create an airy, uncluttered space to breathe. In summer, open the window-doors to let in the breeze, or switch on the air conditioning. In winter, curl up by the Chimenee Philippe fireplace, the centrepiece of the open-plan living and dining area.

The gourmet kitchen is fully equipped for entertaining, with a Falcon gas stove, electric oven, dishwasher, Nespresso machine, rice-coooker, wok, SodaStream, KitchenAid, and a walk-in pantry stocked with basic essentials. The dining table seats 10, and you can eat outside on the sunrise or sunset decks.

Downstairs, the master bedroom features a king pillow-top bed and walk-in robe, while the second bedroom has a queen bed in calming blue tones and full block-out blinds for long sleep-ins.

Upstairs, the loft includes two queen beds and one king with an ensuite, perfect for families or guests.

The stone bathtub in the main bathroom is made for slow soaks, opening onto a sunset deck with an outdoor shower and galvanised French tub, ideal for bathing under the stars. Alternatively you can fire up the wood-fired hot-tub and bath at sunrise (highly recommend)

There’s no TV in the main living space (by design), but you’ll find one in the loft and another in the shed. Instead, settle in with our books and board games, or stream your favourite music via the Sonos/Bose sound system and Wi-Fi.

Amenities

- Quality linen and bedding
- Central heating, cooling, and ceiling fans
- Fully equipped kitchen with pantry staples (Love Tea, Nespresso pods, oil, salt, pepper, flour, self raising flour, oats, pasta, gluten free muesli, brown sugar, caster sugar, raw sugar, tim tams & marshmallows)
- Leif bath products (hand wash, moisturiser, shampoo, conditioner & body wash), Epsom bath salts, hairdryer, and essentials
- Ample firewood (winter months)
- Weber BBQ and outdoor firepit
- Ember wood-fired hot tub
- Cot, highchair, and kids’ table (on request)
- Laundry (washer, dryer, iron, ironing board) in the shed

The Wensley is also available for photo and film shoots — please contact us for day rates.

Guest access
- Access the whole 80 Acre property
- Both the shed (with the laundry) and the main house
- Sit by the fire and enjoy the view
- Hold a dinner party
- Go for a bushwalk in the bordering Otway Forest Park
- Drive down to Aires Inlet or Fairhaven beach
- Visit the local wineries and berry farms
- Visit the cows or watch the kangaroos at sunrise

Other things to note
There is a TV and breakout area in the shed, however it is not heated or cooled and is not as well decorated as the space inside the main house.

Where you’ll sleep

1 of 2 pages

What this place offers

Beach access
Kitchen
Wifi
Free parking garage on premises
Private hot tub - available all year, open 24 hours

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Rated 4.97 out of 5 from 187 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is a guest favorite based on ratings, reviews, and reliability

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 97% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 3% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 0% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Wensleydale, Victoria, Australia
This listing's location is verified.

Neighborhood highlights

Wensleydale is the Gateway to the Otways & The Great Ocean Road. There is so much to explore and do. Whether it's close to home - or further a field.
WALKS
1) You can walk to the back of the property and climb the fence into state park. And take a look around. There are old dirt bike trails in there you can explore - however given it's so hot this week you will be watching your step without boots.

2) You can walk easily enough down Casboults road and explore around there without worrying too much about snakes. I'll be surprised if you see one but they are around.

3) Further A field are these walks in the Otways Erskin Falls is a good one for a day trip. https://www.visitotways.com/walks-and-waterfalls/

4) One of my favourite walks is down by the clifftop at Aireys Inlet (20 mins drive) - if you go to the lighthouse at Split Point https://goo.gl/maps/Kmnv97NsxcecmeKXAthere's a coastal path that leads off the carpark and down alongside eagle rock parade - you'll have to have keen eyes to see it. You can then find your way down to Sunnymeade beach if you want to go that far
https://goo.gl/maps/emqbgaUMPGiLX2Dz9

BEACHES
1) Fairhaven - the most beautiful beach along there https://goo.gl/maps/5pG2QDDZEjhL2yVq9 . My ultimate day is a beach trip either morning or arvo followed by lunch or dinner at A La Grecque (closed Mon / Tues) or the more casual Aireys Inlet Pub https://goo.gl/maps/LdcU7PFqFxmyoETe9

2) Sunnymeade - https://goo.gl/maps/5pG2QDDZEjhL2yVq9

HORSERIDING
1) Blazing Saddles
Horseriding at Blazing Saddles 25 min drive https://www.blazingsaddlestrailrides.com/ they do great rides on the beach down at Fairhaven.
2) Tess & Leo
Great for private and group lessons and about 15 minutes from us - make sure you book ahead
https://www.tessandleo.com/

If you want to go for a bit of a drive you can always go and see the 12 Apostles - which are stunning. I would go at sunset though. Or an hr beforehand. It is SO stunning at that time of night.


EAT / DRINK

BIRREGURRA (20 mins Drive)
Yield Birregurra
Stunning Paddock to Plate which got a write up in the Good Food Guide. Run by Simon and Kara.
https://goo.gl/maps/Rpq3qAyypdkfMBhm9

Otway Artisan - in Birregurra - has great coffee and is a gluten free bakery in the Main Street, that also has great sandwiches and cakes.

Otway Artisan Gluten Free
77 Main St, Birregurra VIC 3242
0410 800 077
https://goo.gl/maps/cctUy7gCUbQg3Sfn8


WINCHELSEA (10mins Drive)

Best coffee is at
The Black Pearl Takeaway
21 Main St, Winchelsea VIC 3241
(03) 5267 2944
https://goo.gl/maps/9Tsc8euQuE8R4KcE9
Yesterday at 5:47 PM

AIREYS INLET (20 Mins drive on ungraded road)

Mr T & Me (coffee!!)
40 Great Ocean Rd, Aireys Inlet VIC 3231
(03) 5289 6047 https://g.co/kgs/v3PV9t

Aireys Inlet Pub
Great for casual yum meal - great for kids
https://goo.gl/maps/FZcr92rd1Wh2ecWn6

A La Grecque
Incredible Greek Food
https://goo.gl/maps/Sx6zA5SRRyqxHgYX6

Great Ocean Road Gin Tasting Room
New and meant to be fabulous
https://goo.gl/maps/ou5mxMiGdMobug9j8

ANGELSEA (30 Mins drive)

Captain Moonlite (is MELBOURNE style good food & coffee)
100 Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea VIC 3230
(03) 5263 2454
https://goo.gl/maps/kXUCicwqwYFJk7379

4 Kings
Good Coffee and simple yum cafe menu
https://goo.gl/maps/HcnsPc9miosN9a8L6

WINERIES

Mt Duneed Estate
https://www.mtduneedestate.com.au
65 Pettavel Rd, Waurn Ponds VIC 3216
Cafe & Cellar Door Tues-Sun 11-5

Nicols Paddock
https://nicolspaddock.com.au/
35 Waurn Ponds Dr, Waurn Ponds VIC 3216
(these guys have a Shiraz Dinner on the weekend that you're staying - could be fun)

Dinny Goonan Wines
https://dinnygoonan.com.au/#/
880 Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Rd, Bambra VIC 3241
Open 11.00am to 5.00pm on weekends and public holidays from November to mid-June and every day from Boxing Day to Australia Day.

Bellbrae Estate
https://www.bellbraeestate.com.au/
520 Great Ocean Rd, Bellbrae Vic 3228
From 1st April to 31st October
11am-5pm Thurs - Mon
(Closed Tuesday and Wednesday)

Wolesly Wines
https://wolseleywines.com/
1790 Hendy Main Rd, Paraparap VIC 3240
Cellar Door Open Wed - Sun, 11am - 5pm

Brown Magpie Wines
https://www.brownmagpiewines.com
125 Larcombes Road Modewarre Vic 3240
Cellar Door Open:
Sat & Sun from Nov - April
Everyday From 27 Dec - 31 Jan

Meet your host

Superhost
194 reviews
4.97 out of 5 average rating
8 years of hosting
Born in the 80s
Where I went to school: The University of Melbourne
Producer by day, Airbnb hostess by night

Fran is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
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Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 2:00 PM
Checkout before 10:00 AM
10 guests maximum
Safety & property
Nearby lake, river, other body of water
May encounter potentially dangerous animal
Climbing or play structure