Countrywide Cottages, Surf Coast ( Gunditjmara Country), Victoria - Accessibility Review
Native birds feeding from each balcony at Countrywide Cottages
SUMMARY
Fabulous pet-friendly and accessible holiday accommodation. 4 beautifully furnished and maintained cabins with 1 extensively designed for inclusive living.
Di, the friendly and lovely owner, and Accessible Accommodation understand the challenges that booking accessible accommodation brings, and provide extensive and detailed doorway measurements and specs together with the all-important and hi-tech images. This peace of mind in knowing just how comfortable you will be is, as most of us realise, an absolute joy. Di is amazingly hospitable and ready and willing to assist with any queries from tourist information to hiring of disability aids.
Set amid tall pine trees and bracken fern the area feels much more than the 1 ½ hours away from Melbourne than it is. Its isolated retreat type feel continues with each of the four large cottages spaced very far apart – one cottage, ‘Igloo’, being wheelchair accessible.
Gaz, Banjo and I stayed with another couple and their pup on the first visit in March 2017, and our three adult children and two partners in June 2020. Upon entry into the Igloo we found not only made up beds and towels but beautiful home-cooked biscuits – both canine and human varieties as well as a food and drink bowl per dog and a comfy bed and 2 sheets in case they liked to sleep on the couch – such lucky comfort hounds.
WEBSITE | BOOKING:
https://countrywidecottages.com.au/contact-us/
WHAT WORKED:
Simply - everything.
Di has all the information you need for online booking and she is very responsive by email or phone with any extra queries.
WHAT’S OUTSIDE:
Staying onsite is a very charming option for those wishing to just unwind and relax and for those wishing to take in all that Victoria’s Surf Coast and its surrounds have to offer. The Countrywide cottages have large fenced rear yards, outdoor benches and tables with a games/pool room a short walk away. With bird seed also complimentary upon arrival we enjoyed the colourful afternoon arrival of local Parrots on the verandah.
The bush trails were well cleared but typically a little bumpy and steep-ish at times but for most scooter and wheelchair users, the bush walks are very doable and accessible.
ACCESS TO VENUE | PARKING:
Brilliant open space in front of each fully fenced cabin.
WHAT’S INSIDE:
WHAT WORKED:
-Our cottage, the Igloo, is so spacious and clean with every facility available to us to ensure our stay was comfortable and fun.
· Meals are prepared easily in the huge kitchen set out with a roll under sink and stovetop. The working area is open and super easy to move around in for a few adults with one being a wheelchair user.
·The beautifully renovated and roomy accessible bathroom is very easy to use as it fits my mobility devices; wheelchair ( either power and manual ) and transfer stand hoist and that extra human help. I have included our photos here and regret that I didn’t take any pics of the bathroom in particular but you will find bathroom images and even more professional pictures on the Countrywide Cottages website.
IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE:
I look at the ways in which businesses present an overall inclusive experience for their patrons. While I focus on mobility access, I hope to get ideas from you and others to add observations relating to other disabilities. I take a comprehensive look at everything from initial website experience to staff attitudes. I do not comment on food (except sometimes if it’s super fab I might not be able to help myself) as you can have the joy of making up your own mind on that. Finally and importantly, I advise you to research to suit your individual needs but I hope this is a good start.
Happy accessible living and playing !
