Five Acres, accommodation review: Game-changing luxury accommodation arrives at Phillip Island

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Five Acres, accommodation review: Game-changing luxury accommodation arrives at Phillip Island

By Kylie McLaughlin
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The Place

Five Acres is new luxury accommodation on Phillip Island, consisting of three modern cabins (named Barley, Clover and Rye). Owners Rom and Katie Lamaro settled on the five acres of land near Ventnor in 2018 and set to work creating sophisticated accommodation which is unmatched in terms of style, location, offerings and privacy elsewhere on the island. Away from the humdrum of traffic and people, these innovative cabins allow guests to revel in the quiet solitude of the peaceful working farm setting in total comfort.

The Location

Five Acres luxury cabins on Phillip Island, Victoria.

Five Acres luxury cabins on Phillip Island, Victoria.Credit: Marnie Hawson

Away from Phillip Island's more populous places, Five Acres is located in the far western corner of the island, close to the once-coveted Summerland Peninsula. Nested among farms that surround the property, the three spacious cabins overlook a paddock that houses two comical highland cows, Rory and Ivy. Wild ducks wander across the paddock; cows from adjoining paddocks moo in the distance. The glittering sea in front beckons and the towns of Shoreham and Pt Leo on Mornington Peninsula - visible across Western Port Bay - feel like a million miles away.

The Space

Natural hues throughout these open-plan, timber cabins are subtle and stylish. Central to the cabins is a sunken 'lounge' featuring a wood fire and an L-shaped couch facing floor-to-ceiling windows, from which you can view all manner of changing weather patterns across the land. There's a small table-and-chair setting to dine at during breakfast, plus an unobtrusive kitchenette offering everything you might need for your stay. There's also seating on the verandah and the staggered positioning of the cabins keep you out of the line of sight from next door - privacy you need if you intend on using the outdoor bath, although the shower is also impressive with views to the skies via an enormous skylight; and there's heated bathroom tiles to combat winter temperatures.

The Room

Step 'upstairs' to the bedroom, with a king-sized bed adorned with luxury linen surrounded in plenty of carpeted space. There's a pile of magazines to peruse from a woven basket, plenty of USB ports and a large walk-in wardrobe to stash your belongings.

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The Food

The Lamaros run a working microfarm on the property and if you arrive at the right time of year you might have fresh berries or stonefruit included with your breakfast. This also includes fresh artisanal sourdough bread from Noisette, homemade granola, jam and yoghurt; freshly ground coffee and plenty of tea. It's enough to keep two people stocked with breakfast for several days, while enjoying the island's bountiful produce elsewhere. Platters are available to order if you feel like staying in and also enjoying the small bottle of Gippsland's Loch gin provided (with ice and fresh lemon).

Stepping Out

While you're set away from it all, the location is hardly remote - it's just a five-minute drive to Phillp Island's Penguin Parade Visitors Centre. The township of Cowes is 10 minutes, where you can dine on pizza and gelato at Isola di Capri, overlooking the pier. Closer still is Phillip Island Winery, which has a slightly different concept to a working winery - here the the owners have sought out their favourite Gippsland producers to create their own branded wines, which is useful to visitors who don't have time to visit the wineries themselves. It's also an excellent setting for lunch (I recommend the arancini). You can walk off lunch at the nearby Berrys Beach-to-Pyramid Rock coastal walking trail. For a true upscale dining experience, The Cape Kitchen serves food almost as eye-catching as its seafront views.

The Verdict

Bringing independent, upscale accommodation to Phillip Island, Five Acres is a game-changer to its accommodation scene.

Essentials

46 Mchaffies Lane, Ventnor; fiveacres.com.au. Rooms start from $620 per night, with a two-night mid-week stay at $990 and weekends $1080 with a two-night minimum stay.

Highlight

Ahhh, the serenity.

Lowlight

The front door lock was broken, so I had to use the second entrance to the cabin's rear.

Kylie McLaughlin stayed as a guest of Visit Victoria.

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