Victoria | Edition: Two.
Five more Victorian stays on our list.
Some places make you want to slow down before you’ve even arrived.
For the second SO ELSEWHERE List, we’re staying in Victoria with five more places that have caught our attention for very different reasons. A loft in the Otways, a quiet stay in Milawa, a vineyard retreat in Merricks North, a design-led stay in Port Fairy and a long-loved escape in Daylesford.
These are places we’d go, places we’re planning to experience, and places we think are worth knowing about.
01 | Otways Loft
DuffleBird | Otways, Victoria
Tucked into the trees, Otways Loft is the kind of stay that makes switching off feel easy.
There’s a warmth to it that feels immediate. Timber, texture and greenery soften the edges, while the setting does most of the work. It feels private, relaxed and just far enough removed from everything else.
It’s a place for slow mornings, time on the deck and a weekend that doesn’t need much of an itinerary to feel memorable.
Why it made the list: A quiet tree-lined escape with character, warmth and a real sense of place.
Otways Loft is part of the DuffleBird collection.
IMAGINE. PLAN. GO. KEEP
Instagram: @dufflebird_getaways
Website: DuffleBird Getaways
02 | Churchlane
Milawa, Victoria
In the middle of one of Victoria’s best food and wine regions, Church Lane Accommodation offers a simple, well-considered place to stay.
It feels clean, calm and easy, with everything you need and nothing that asks too much of you. Its Milawa location also puts you close to Brown Brothers, making it an easy base for a weekend built around regional food, wine and slow country days.
For anyone wanting to make more of the visit, their Milawa Escape package is another lovely way to experience the region as part of the stay.
Why it made the list: A relaxed country base with easy access to Milawa’s food and wine experiences, including nearby Brown Brothers.
IMAGINE. PLAN. GO. KEEP
Instagram: @churchlaneaccomm
Website: Churchlane
03 | Tussie Mussie Vineyard Retreat
Merricks North, Victoria
There’s something about Tussie Mussie Vineyard Retreat that feels instantly settled.
Stone walls, warm timber and a softer pace give it a sense of comfort that suits the Peninsula perfectly. It’s textured, quiet and full of the kind of charm that makes you want to stay in rather than rush back out.
This is a place for slower afternoons, a good bottle of wine and a weekend that unfolds gently.
Why it made the list: A stay with warmth, texture and a beautifully unhurried vineyard feel.
IMAGINE. PLAN. GO. KEEP
Instagram: @tussie_mussie_vineyard_retreat
Website: Tussie Mussie Vineyard Retreat
04 | Drift House
Port Fairy, Victoria
Drift House is one of those stays that feels distinctive from the first glance.
Set within a heritage building in Port Fairy, it brings together old character and thoughtful contemporary design in a way that feels both striking and easy to settle into. It has personality without trying too hard, which is part of its appeal.
It suits a coastal escape where wandering the town matters just as much as staying somewhere beautiful.
Why it made the list: A stay with identity, charm and a beautiful balance of heritage and design.
IMAGINE. PLAN. GO. KEEP
Instagram: @drifthouseportfairy
Website: Drift House
05 | Lake House Daylesford
Daylesford, Victoria
Some stays become part of the destination, and Lake House Daylesford is one of them.
It’s the kind of place that invites you to settle in. Lakeside views, gardens, long lunches and fireside moments make the whole experience feel considered from beginning to end.
There’s a sense of calm to it, but also occasion. A stay for when you want the weekend away to feel like something a little more memorable.
Why it made the list: A Daylesford stay that brings together atmosphere, food, landscape and time to properly slow down.
IMAGINE. PLAN. GO. KEEP
Instagram: @lakehousedaylesford
Website: Lake House Daylesford
Keep this list
Five more places to keep in mind for the next time you want to escape somewhere in Victoria.
Some are quiet and tree-lined, others shaped by food, wine, coast or country, but each has that little something that makes a place worth remembering.
And this is still only the beginning. The next SO ELSEWHERE List is already taking shape.
Until then, save Edition Two: Victoria for the next time you’re wondering where to go next.
Imagine. Plan. Go. Keep.