Doolkoora: McCrae Ecogarden Beach House

Description

HOLIDAY IN THE ADVENTURE GARDEN
TRANQUIL YET FASCINATING FOR ALL AGES.

CHILD-FRIENDLY!
"We all had a wonderful rest and enjoyed the beaches and the walks in the garden. The paper and pencils provided for young children were a great hit & we had to draw many lighthouses and ships. Thank you for making us so welcome - we have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves."

SENIOR-FRIENDLY!
"Our holiday was a great success, very comfortable and warm. The house proved a terrific venue for the family to stay and/or visit with ample room for the kids and adults alike. The gardens were magnificent. My dad found the handrails and single-level access very suitable."

TIME WITH THE FAMILY (AND PET DOG)!
"We've had a great week holidaying at Doolkoora. The weather was just beautiful, we spent lovely evenings on the balcony. Our grandson and our bassett hound dogs spent hours and hours exploring the lovely bush garden and enjoying seeing all the trees and ferns, walking along the paths, watching the parrots and all the other birds. We went walking on the beach everyday. Its been a restful and beautiful holiday."

A MUCH-LOVED PLACE TO RETURN TO AGAIN AND AGAIN!
"We have had some beautiful times at Doolkoora and can’t wait to visit again. It’s very special to us and we value our time when we visit. It’s a very serene, peaceful, beautiful place. We love it."

"We love Doolkoora and McCrae. It holds many special memories from over the last 6 years as well as from our own childhood vacations in McCrae. We love the gardens and the fact that we can share with two families and bring our well-behaved dogs."

IT'S LIKE LIVING IN A HIDDEN GARDEN!

* Gentle and serene open spaces
* Maze of garden paths and bridges
* Large tree-ferns alongside stream
* Mature tea-tree grove on high ridge
* Gully basin screened by melaleucas
* Bayview overlooking acres of trees
* Garden trail and boardwalk to beach

* Holiday in the large ecosystem and convert it to "ecolodge and spa" by visiting the nearby natural hot springs at Rye. You have the whole house to your family with convenient facilities in a secluded garden setting near the beach and many attractions - work out with us the nature of the holiday break that you seek and your requirements.

ROOMS AND FACILITIES

HOUSE:
Spacious 3-bedroom beach house with view of bay, lighthouse and passing ships from covered balcony, dining room, living room and bedrooms. Fully furnished, sleeps 8 or more guests. Handicap access with safety handrails in showers. Pillows, doonas and blankets provided. 2nd bathroom (3 toilets). Warm central heating. New baby cot.

GARDEN AND BEACH:
Natural garden with paths and boardwalk leading to near the beach. Large play areas for children and for garden walks. A tranquil stretch of sandy bay beach with cafes and amenities. McCrae bay beach has only a corridor of land and has a full view of Arthurs Seat, rather than surrounded by housing development as found in bayside townships.

DINING AND MUSIC
Bone china dining set for 12, wine and champagne glasses, and full cooking facility including microwave and toaster ovens and kitchenware. 2 television sets, Video VCR player, 2 DVD players, 2 CD players, electric BBQ on balcony. Dishwasher.

SLEEPING CONFIGURATION
The 3 bedrooms have: 1 KB; 3SB; and 2SB plus a foldaway SB. There are 3 sofabed in the lounge and a portacot.

Unless otherwise arranged, guests bring their own bedsheets, pillow cases and bath towels. Pillows, woolen blankets, doonas are provided, as are other linen such as bathmats, teatowels, table cloths and supplies such as soap, paper tissue & napkins, alfoil, clingwrap and detergents.

UNIQUE HOLIDAY FEATURES:

1. No neighbours side-by-side!
Mostly impossible these days, but Doolkoora is one such holiday house.

2. Not feeling like suburbia, yet close to town facilities!
McCrae is a tranquil seaside village nestled in the narrow coastal land between Rosebud and Dromana.

3. Central beach location on the Mornington Peninsula!
From McCrae, it is a 15 minutes drive across Arthurs Seat to Shoreham or down the esplanade to Sorrento.

4. A pristine beach!
McCrae beach is great for swimming, picnics or walking. Clean, sandy, with amenities and cafes nearby.

5. A natural bush setting yet right at the beach!
Doolkoora is a taste of both seachange and treechange. This is a relaxing, secluded, serene spot with great beauty.

6. Affordable & accessible for all family members!
Many guests keep returning, treating Doolkoora as their seaside home and retreat from the city.


CENTRAL TO HILL AND COAST

McCrae is sited between Dromana and Rosebud and benefits from their town facilities while remaining a tranquil destination with beachside amenities and cafes. At McCrae, Arthurs Seat slopes closest to the sea leaving only a corridor of bayside land.

Doolkoora is situated 15 - 30 min drive to Sorrento and Point Nepean, fine wineries and restaurants, other gardens such as the heritage Heronswood and the mature hedge mazes at Arthurs Seat and Shoreham, nature trails at the Arthurs Seat State Park, the vast Mornington Peninsula National Park, surf and swim beaches, regional art galleries, and other holiday attractions.

The attraction of Doolkoora is the extensive natural garden with paths leading to within 200 m of the water. The house is very peaceful, being buffered by 1000s of native plants and shielded from the neighbours within the 3-acre enclave.

Vacation at this beautiful 50 y.o. ecological garden has been much appreciated by all ages from children to grandparents, with many guests returning. One family has seen their children grow into their teens over a series of annual holidays at Doolkoora and gives this feedback: "Our children remember their holidays at Doolkoora as the Adventure House because of the beautiful grounds".

Together with its other large neighbouring properties, Doolkoora is surrounded by a total of 7 acres of greenery, just a 5 minute walk to the bay.

Within 200m of the lapping waters of Port Philip Bay, Doolkoora is one of the few residences retaining over 2 - 3 acres.

Whilst on a beach holiday by the bay, one can just as easily feel in the midst of the Wilderness.

STAY TO VISIT MORNINGTON PENINSULA ATTRACTIONS

SUGGESTIONS ON ACTIVITIES FOR DOOLKOORA,
75 MIN FROM MELBOURNE, 15-30 MIN TO ATTRACTIONS

Daily – hours & hours in the garden and on the beach
1. Explore the gullies and ridges in the ecological garden
2. Walk or swim at the pristine McCrae bay beach
3. Cafes and clean toilet facilities at beach, also nursery, mini-golf and local shops

Day 1 - History within walking distance
1. McCrae Homestead. 11 Beverley Road, McCrae
Built in 1844. Open Daily noon-4.30pm (Ph. )
2. The Eastern Lighthouse, up close on McCrae bay beach.
Vintage 1883, a 34 m tall structure on the Mornington Peninsula.
Parking at this Foreshore Reserve.
Striking view of Lighthouse and Arthurs Seat looking back from the shore.

Day 2 - Up Arthurs Seat and across
1. Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm. Cnr Flinders and Shands Road, Main Ridge
Pick your own between November and April.
Produce showroom and sampling at other times.
Weekends May-Jun and Sep-Oct (closed Jul-Aug)
Open Daily 9am-5pm Nov-Apr (Ph. )
2. Bush walk up to Arthurs Seat from road behind Doolkoora (via Freeway Underpass)
3. Ashcombe Maze & Watergardens. Shoreham-Red Hill Road, Shoreham
Large hedge maze. Also features a forest of trees from around the world.
Open Daily from 10am (Ph. )
OR
4. Arthurs Seat Maze. 55 Purves Road, Arthurs Seat
Mazes and 20 theme gardens, with garden sculptures.
() Open Daily 10am - 6pm.

Day 3 - Going underground at Point Nepean
1. The Park at Point Nepean. Mornington Peninsula National Park, Portsea
Point Nepean was a secret military defence outposts until 1988.
A fascinating network of tunnels, lookouts, turrets and forts.
Tickets and mini-bus from Visitors Centre. Open Daily (Ph. )
ALSO
2. Historic (and now touristy) Sorrento for lunch and gifts on way there or back.
Selection of restaurants for dinners (The Smokehouse is our favourite for family dining).

Day 4 - Over rolling hills to Cape Schanck
1. Cape Schanck Lighthouse & Museum. Cape Schanck Road, Cape Schanck
Operational since 1857. Explore the light tower and historic buildings on a guided tour.
Open Daily from 10am (Ph. )
2. Bushrangers Bay Walk
A moderate walk (2 hours, 6kms) on a bush track with high views.
Start at Cape Schanck and end on Boneo Road, Cape Schanck.
See Elephant Rock on the point of Bushrangers Bay. Open Daily

Day 5 - Nearby places
1. Heronswood. Latrobe Parade, Dromana
Heritage bluestone homestead built in 1871.
Cottage gardens, in 8 separate sections. Café with thatched roof.
1.9 km by internal roads (Coburn Avenue to LaTrobe Parade).
Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-4.30pm (Ph. )
2. Rosebud jetty for evening walks or fishing. 1.9 km along shared
cycle / walking/ jogging path from McCrae beach. Jetty Café (pizza & pasta,
ice cream) at corner Jetty Road and Point Nepean Road; eat-in, takeaway or delivery.
3. Top Fun Family Fun Centre. 123 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud
Ten pin bowling, 36 holes of mini-golf, games room.
Open Daily (Ph. )

Day 6 - Around the Mornington Peninsula National Park
1. Gunnamatta Equestrian Centre & Trail Rides. Cnr Truemans & Sandy Roads, Rye
Beach and bush trail rides, riding lessons.
Open Daily 8am-7pm (Ph. )
2. Various entry points at the National Park for a variety of coastal landscapes.
Look at rip beaches and coastal landscapes, bush walking.
One daily ticket allows access to all entry points in vast park for the day.

Day 7 - Birdlife on way back
1. Coolart Wetlands & Homestead. Lord Somers Road, Somers
Century old red-brick mansion and English gardens.
15 hectares of wetlands and bird sanctuary.
Open Daily 10am - 5pm (Ph. )

OTHER PLACES:
* New hot spa at Rye is operational and popular with Doolkoora guests.
* Rock pool with spectacular cliff faces at the back beach at Blairgowrie (St John Wood’s Road).
* Historic site of first British settlement in Victoria at The Two Sisters near Blairgowrie. Dolphin tours at Sorrento, etc.

The weekly rate varies from $800 (winter) - to $1200 (summer) and $1950 peak summer school holidays. Weekends or mid-week stays are from $115 - $350/N depending on season, with 15% last-minute discount.

Rates depend on:
* number of nights
* composition of your group
* your flexibility with dates
* pensioners & health-carers

Rates are for rental of the whole house with access to the 3-acre garden and are subject to review and change from time to time. Part-week bookings are subject to availability.

15% deposit for whole week bookings. Balance due one month before stay. Full payment on booking for weekends and mid-week stays and last minute.

As Doolkoora is a family-focused nature enclave, we ask that you list all tenants in the guest register and in so doing to please undertake to protect the ecology of the property.

To allow time for the cleaning service, check-in time is usually 3pm and check-out 11am. The times may be varied depending on guests' requirements. If you will be bringing your pet dog with you, please describe the type, size and number of your dogs.

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