Glen Isla House Hotel, Philip Island

If you’re looking for an escape from Melbourne or a recommended stop before heading to the Great Ocean Road, there’s simply nowhere more welcoming than this intimate country-house retreat set in the grounds of the historic Glen Isla Homestead (c 1870) on PhillipIsland’s north coast, just 100 metres from a pristine sandy beach. Owned and managed by husband and wife team Ian and Madeleine Baker, Glen Isla’s relaxed unobtrusive ambience is undoubtedly the result of the couple’s many years spent living and travelling overseas, staying in small hotels and guest houses. The accommodation comprises six classic guest rooms, the separate two bedroomed self-contained Gate Cottage – and the jewel in Glen Isla’s crown – the Anderson Suite Cottage, complete with four poster bed.

Ian’s passion for fine food ensures that breakfast (included in your stay) is a gourmet feast, with the menu varying to incorporate local produce, much of it organic. For dinner, your hosts will happily recommend several excellent local restaurants.

You simply won’t have ‘done’ PhillipIsland until you’ve witnessed the ‘Ultimate Penguin Experience’. Every day as dusk approaches, the suspense is tangible as a group of no more than 10 people assemble on a private secluded beach, accompanied by a knowledgeable ranger, awaiting the sunset return of the world’s smallest penguins as they appear almost miraculously from the sea to march up the beach to their sand dune burrows – a heart-warming experience you won’t easily forget.