There is ample free parking around each of the cottages.

We prefer to give you privacy and make a habit of staying away from your cottage during your stay. Guests staying 7 nights or more receive a free weekly service. If you need linen changes for whatever reason, feel free to come up and see us at Reception.

Check in is at 3pm, check out is at 10am.
Early check in and a later check out can be organised by prior arrangement.

Our location is 1205 Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Road in Bambra.  Be careful to include the full street name on your GPS or you may be taken too far towards Lorne.  Your GPS may require you to search “Winchelsea South” rather than Bambra to find us.  We are in a rural/bush setting, 25 minutes drive north from Lorne, and 10 minutes drive south from Winchelsea.

When you enter the property, you will see our house with Reception attached at the end of the drive. We will be there to greet you!

When traveling in the country during fire season, you should always be aware of the fire conditions in your surroundings.  You should download the Vic Emergency App and set a minimum of a 30k radius around Countrywide Cottages, or where ever you plan to be during the day.  This will keep you informed of incidents in the area, provided you have mobile coverage.  (Vodaphone customers receive no service in our region.  Telstra and Optus are better but not always perfect).  It is also a great back up to keep an ear out on 774 which reports incidents when they are known.

While we make every endeavour to be prepared, the staff of Countrywide Cottages DO NOT HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE PREDICTION OR DEFENCE AGAINST BUSH FIRE.

If a fire broke out in the area, IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO, we will make our way to each cottage to give our guests clear instructions as to the best action at the given time. If the fire is close and the roads are potentially dangerous, we stick to our plan of having guests come to the house and shelter there with us. There is a comprehensive fire and evacuation policy in each cottage which you should familiarise yourself with upon arrival.  To read it prior to your arrival, click here.

If you smell or see smoke while visiting the Otways, carefully consider your options.  It is best to head in the opposite direction to the fire activity.  DO NOT head towards the coast unless it is the only possible option available to you.

If you are here at Countrywide Cottages when you see or smell smoke, pack your family, dogs, phones, chargers and medications ONLY and come up to the house.  Please don’t waste time by packing your non-essential food and personal items.  We are most likely to be heading to the cottages to let everyone know the best action, as well as getting our house ready for refuge if it is safest to do so.  The safest action MAY be to leave.  If so, unless the fire is coming from the north, we would tell you to head that way – ie turn right out of our driveway, and head to the highway in Winchelsea and then to Geelong or Colac, depending where the fire is situated.

In the case of a SEVERE fire rating day:

This means that conditions will be hot and windy.  If a fire starts and takes hold, it may easily become uncontrollable. We strongly recommend that you do not head south to Lorne – the roads in and out are minimal and will already be very busy during summer.  If you wish to spend the hot day at the beach, we recommend Whites beach in Torquay and between Rocky Point and Jan Juc.  To see these on a map, and for more information on Dog Regulations in the Surfcoast click here.   We would avoid going further west along the Great Ocean Road, as there are a lot of folks that far down the coast who will on that road with you if an emergency comes up.

There’s also Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsular….click here for some great options for you and your dogs to hang out in.

You could also head towards Colac where dogs are permitted on leash in the Colac Botanical Gardens, along the Lake Colac Walk and even out to the West Barwon Reservoir which offers many easy and shaded walks.  Click here for pet friendly guide in the Otways.

In the case of an EXTREME fire rating day:

This is just one level down from that on Black Saturday in 2009 and means that conditions will be extremely hot, dry and windy.  If a fire starts and takes hold, it will be uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast moving.

Please take this very seriously, as we do.  It’s a great day to plan to be out of the danger zone.  For your safety, part of our fire plan is that our guests GO OUT FOR THE DAY.  Take your dogs with you, as well as phone chargers, medications etc.  If a fire is in the area, we can not protect you or the cottages, as well as ourselves and our home.  While you are out, keep an ear out on 774 radio for alerts to fire in the area.  If you haven’t already, please download the Vic Emergency App and set a zone of 30k’s around Winchelsea South.  This will notify you if any fires are in the area (provided that you have mobile coverage – see note above).

See above for recommendations as to where to spend the hot day with your family and dog/s.

Provided conditions ease and there is no fire in the area, it would be safe to return later in the day – however, please DO NOT return to Countrywide Cottages without contacting us first.

In the case of a CODE RED day:

WE WILL EVACUATE THE PROPERTY THE NIGHT BEFORE.  WE EXPECT OUR GUESTS TO DO THE SAME

If this means an end to your holiday with us, we are very sorry – we would prefer you to be safe than put in a highly dangerous position.   We will negotiate with you for a holiday to be taken at another time.

As with many country areas, we have limited mobile and internet reception. Telstra provides some coverage within the cottages, but unfortunately all other providers are not reliable and it is unlikely you will be able to obtain mobile reception. There is very little internet reception on the property. For urgent internet access, we can provide you with assistance in the office.

Yes…please bring along your dogs food. We set up one dog bed per cottage but provide enough dog bowls and treats for each canine guest. We also supply furniture cover sheets for the couch potatoes so that everyone can fully enjoy our amazing Victoria dog friendly accommodation.