Drift House

Style

Coastal couture

Setting

Pretty Port Fairy

Cast anchor at Drift House hotel in Port Fairy, whose masterclass on beach-boutique features pops of colour, salvaged timber and bathrooms decorated with Japanese tiles. You'll dine at the hotel's stylish salon, where breakfast is also served.

Facilities

Rooms

Six suites: two in the original bluestone building, two in the modern extension and two in the Edwardian Villa.

Checkout

11am. Earliest check-in, 3pm.

More Details

À la carte breakfast, served in the Salon, is included.

Also

Don't leave without nibbling on the in-room yo-yos, which have nabbed first prize in Port Fairy's regional baking competition several years in a row. Internet addicts: expect to be pleasantly surprised by the high-speed WiFi, something of a feat for regional Victoria.

Free Internet Access

At the Hotel

Free WiFi throughout. In rooms: smart TV, radio, maxibar, bathrobes, Aspar bath products. Each room also has a tea- and coffee-making kit. Some suites have deep baths, fire places, courtyards or a balcony.

Our Favourite Rooms

Forget cookie-cutter rooms: each of Drift House's six suites is completely different. We’re particularly fond of Five, which takes up half of the Edwardian villa. The interiors are flooded with light and furnished with eye-catching contemporary pieces, creating a striking contrast with the building's historic façade. Decorated in muted tones, Six was designed to be particularly serene, with a daybed in the living area.

Packing Tips

Your smart phone for Instagramming the interiors and a bottle of champagne to sink in one of the tubs. If you’re bedding down in Three, bring thick socks to pad across the polished concrete floor in.

Children

This hotel is for over 16s only – leave the little Smiths at home.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

The Salon has only six tables to choose from, so you really can't go wrong. For an even more intimate affair, there’s always your own: suites one, three and four have a kitchenette and cosy dining area.

Dress Code

Match your suite: pops of emerald for One; monochrome prints for Two; wooden jewellery and white linen for Three; colourful knits and aqua hits for Four.

Hotel Restaurant

From 6pm, local wines are paired with an à la carte modern Australian dinner menu inspired by Spanish rustic dishes such as chargrilled octopus with Otway Gold potato and sweet paprika. À la carte breakfast is served in the Salon each morning, which is included in the room rate. The produce is all locally-sourced or homemade, including sourdough bread and granola from Irrewarra Estate, cold cuts from Salt Kitchen and cheese from Heidi Farm. Fresh and poached fruit, yoghurt and bircher muesli are always on offer too, as is artisanal tea and coffee.

Last Orders

Breakfast is served daily in the Salon from 8.30am to 10am; an à la carte dinner is available on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 6.30pm (days are subject to change), booking opens four weeks in advance and is a must.

Room Service

Rooms are serviced on request. Touch base with staff at breakfast.

Planes

Melbourne airport is closest, a four-hour drive away (http://melbourneairport.com.au/).

Trains

Warrnambool station is 30km from the hotel. You can catch the train straight to Warrnambool from Melbourne (using the V-Line service) and then hop on the bus to Port Fairy (a half-hour journey).

Automobiles

It takes around three-and-a-half hours to drive here from Melbourne (stop off at the delightful Sonny café in Inverleigh to break up the trip); allow six-to-eight hours if you take the Great Ocean Road. From Adelaide, the drive is around six-and-a-half hours. Each suite has its own driveway.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Be sure to head down to the beach (a short walk from the hotel) to admire the surfers or to hop on your own board. If you want some guidance on the waves, give Go Surf a call. Explore Griffiths Island, strolling down the walking track from the carpark at the end of Gipps Street and following the loop anti-clockwise around to the lighthouse via white sand coves and rocky outcrops (allow an hour and a quarter for the walk). Borrow bikes from the hotel and pootle along the rail trail to historic Koroit. In need of pampering? Book a treatment at Port Fairy Day Spa. Potter around Port Fairy, buying lollies from the traditional sweetshop, collectibles from the antique shops, homewares (we picked up some colourful Danish candles) from the little design shops and clothing and gifts from the boutiques. Hop in your car and drive to Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve (10 minutes away) for a scenic walk; alternatively, drive for 40 minutes to reach Budj Bim National Park (take picnic provisions with you). Nautical types will enjoy a boat charter trip to Deen Maar (Lady Julia Percy Island). If you’re here between May and September, go whale watching.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .