NELSON BY THE SEA - Everything you hope for in a beach house
Special Offer:
Book and Pay for a minimum of 2 nights (Fri and Sat) between May 1st and November 30th (excluding public holidays and school holidays) and we can add in a Sunday night for free*.
*to claim your night simply book & pay for your two nights (Fri and Sat) via Stayz and send us a message and ask us to add in the Sunday. We will add in the Sunday, subject to availability. The offer is not available if any of the dates chosen fall into a public holiday or Victorian School Holidays.
we love this because...
As a family when we think if a beach holiday house we hope for white weatherboards, porthole style windows and timber boardwalks so when we arrived at NELSON BY THE SEA before we even entered we knew we had found the perfect escape.
Tucked away in a quiet pocket close to Sorrento and the beach it was an easy 15-minute walk to the Sorrento Sailing Club and a little longer to walk into Sorento townships itself.
We stayed with extended family and teenage kids and there was space for everyone inside this contemporary house with its high cathedral ceilings, wooden floorboards and contrasting beams.
The grandparents sat and read outside, the kids played billiards downstairs and watched movies but everyone came together on the huge deck with hydrotherapy spa. There is a beautiful Peppercorn Tree in the garden and the grassed lawn was perfect for a bit of backyard cricket and safe for our pooch.
Bring your own tennis raquets and balls and walk to the hidden treasure that is the tennis court (communal and free) at Tuckey Track Reserve. Put your name down in the book (but usually there is no wait list), it is even pet friendly and there is a bbq and picnic table if you want to make an afternoon of it.
We walked the dog to the Koonya Dog Beach which only takes about 20 minutes and he loves the shallow waters that go out for miles.
For dinner, The Baths is our favourite restaurant and is only a 30-minute walk away. We watch the Sorrento/Queenscliff ferry dock on the hour and the weather change across the bay. For something special, we love Loquat and its only a 20-minute walk from Nelson by the Sea.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE - Property is suitable for maximum of 6 adults plus additional children.
PAWfect What fun! a new house to visit that lets four-legged friends like me sleep inside. Yay! a garden with tall fences to keep me safe. Love the trees and bushes, there are lots of interesting smells. Are those possums in the trees? And there's a special basket just for me. No way! What's in there? Ooh, ooh! a treat from PAWDINKUM. I LOVE THIS PLACE.
Add dates for prices
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Melbourne
Located near the beach, this holiday home is in Sorrento, a neighbourhood in Melbourne. Sorrento and Flinders Fine Art Galleries and Manyung Gallery at Sorrento are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Quarantine Station and Queenscliff Hotel. Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park and Queenscliff Maritime Museum are also worth visiting. Scuba diving, snorkelling and sailing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking nearby.
Mornington Peninsula National Park - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
Sorrento Front Beach - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Blairgowrie Beach - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
Searoad Ferry Terminal - 3 min drive - 1.9 km
Koonya Ocean Beach - 4 min drive - 1.6 km
Getting around
Drysdale Station - 68 min drive
Melbourne, VIC (AVV-Avalon) - 116 min drive
Restaurants
Hotel Sorrento - 4 min drive
Portsea Hotel - 8 min drive
The Longshore Room - 8 min drive
Peninsula Pantry - 9 min drive
The Vanilla Slice Cafe Sorrento - 3 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is NELSON BY THE SEA - Everything you hope for in a beach house pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at NELSON BY THE SEA - Everything you hope for in a beach house?
As of 3 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at NELSON BY THE SEA - Everything you hope for in a beach house on 17 Apr 2026 start from AU$597, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at NELSON BY THE SEA - Everything you hope for in a beach house?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at NELSON BY THE SEA - Everything you hope for in a beach house?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at NELSON BY THE SEA - Everything you hope for in a beach house?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is NELSON BY THE SEA - Everything you hope for in a beach house located?
Located in Sorrento, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Sorrento Front Beach and Blairgowrie Beach. Sorrento and Flinders Fine Art Galleries and Searoad Ferry Terminal are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Pet-friendly and clean. Was a great 3 days with wasy access to both Portsea, Sorrento and Blairgowrie.
James W.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your review James. We’re really glad you enjoyed your stay and found the place clean, pet-friendly, and well located for exploring Portsea, Sorrento, and Blairgowrie. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we’d love to welcome you back again to one of our Ocean Blue Coastal retreats in the future.
Thanks Catherine. We are so pleased you loved Nelson by The Sea. Its such a beautiful home and the large spa is a great feature for making wonderful holiday memories. We hope we can host you again soon. X
Great location quiet, plenty to do and picturesque.
Barbara A.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Sept 2022
Thanks for the lovely review Barbara! So glad you enjoyed your stay at Nelson by the Sea and we hope to see you again soon at one of our Ocean Blue Coastal retreats x
We loved our stay at Nelson By the Sea. The property was exceptional, perfectly located between Diamond Bay and Sorrento dog beach. Short drive into Sorrento village which was super easy. The gardens are quite overgrown and could do with a good clean up, but overall the property is fabulous. We will be booking again next year :)
Sara B.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Mar 2025
Hi Sara
Thanks for your lovely review of Nelson by the Sea. We are so glad you enjoyed the property and the spa facilities. Its always great to be able to bring the puppies along on holiday.
We have passed on your comments about the garden to the owners and will ensure their schedule is a little more comprehensive going forward especially in the warmer weather.
Look forward to welcoming you back to any one of our Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats properties soon. X
What a beautiful place. Perfectly situation in Sorrento. Walking distance to beach. The spa was amazing. I didn't want to go home! My two little dogs loved the back yard. Kitchen is perfect. Couldn't want for anything more. Highly recommend this property.
Corina L.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Jan 2024
Thank you for your lovely review Corina of your recent stay at Nelson by the Sea! We look forward to hosting you again soon at one of our Ocean Blue Coastal retreats x
Property was a terrific central location - less than a 5 min drive from the Sorrento/Queenscliff Sea ferry - a great way to kick start our break away!
The secure and spacious yard was perfect for our dog who was happy to watch us relax in the deck spa each day. Flowing open plan living area onto the wrap around decking was a great feature and really kept guests connected during the stay - even during yoga on the sun drenched deck!
Would recommend as a comfortable, functional, spacious and central stay.
Elizabeth P.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Mar 2023
So you glad you had a wonderful stay at Nelson by the Sea and we look forward to seeing you soon at one of our Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats x
Property was in a very safe and quiet location. It is well positioned with an excellent restaurant Loquat close by (15 minute walk).
Property had lots of space, entertainment options and was very functional with plenty of facilities. Bedrooms well appointed to get privacy away from the main entertainment areas. We had a dog, who enjoyed the opportunity to stay. Spa was a highlight and very easy to use as pre-set. Had a fantastic time. Would recommend to others.
MICHELLE H.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Dec 2022
Thank you for the lovely review Michelle , we are so glad you enjoyed your recent stay at Nelson by the Sea and we look forward to seeing you again soon at one of our Ocean Blue Coastal retreats x
Verified
6/10 Okay
Ash M.
30 June 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Spa was not heating up
The Spa temperature was never reached hot enough to use the spa.
The T&C for spa sent after check-in and said you should not touch the spa temperature!
We left the property one day sooner as very disappointed with spa functionality.
Had to raise a legal complaint as the property manager denied to accept the spa was faulty although I have provided photos/videos and confirmation of the spa technician.
Moreover, we couldn’t find the tennis court showing in the property images.
Ash M.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2022
Thanks for the review Ash. We are sorry you were disappointed with your visit. You arrived on the Friday and used the spa on that night and all was well. However, in contradiction to the terms and conditions you adjusted the temperature to the maximum amount and left the spa cover off overnight hence the spa could not cope for the 12 hours you left it running at such cold overnight temperatures and shut down as a safety measure. when you reached out to our spa technician for assistance he assisted you in getting the spa up and running again. Unfortunately, with a large body of water it takes time for that to happen.
We checked the spa on your departure to ensure all was well and you had switched the spa off at the wall (again contrary to our terms) and therefore we could not attempt to establish if you statement that the spa had not heated up on Sunday morning was true. When we turned on the spa it was functioning as normal and reached temperature the following day.
Clean, lovely location, clear communication.
Thank you
Kaleigh M.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Dec 2021
Hi Kaleigh, glad you enjoyed your stay at the lovely Nelson by the Sea. Thank you for your kind review, we look forward to seeing you again at one of our Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats x
Ocean Blue Coastal Retreats is business that offers on quality family and pet friendly accommodation on the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland Lakes. We have been in business for 14 years and have experience in the tourism industry for almost 20 years. We are a multi award winning tourism operator that have won both Victorian Tourism and Australian Tourism Awards for Accommodation. Our staff are customer service driven and happy to help our guests with finding the best accommodation for their group.
Why they chose this property
I have a large private hydrotherapy spa. I am your quintessential beach house I am a short walk to the Sorrento Sailing Club I have three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 living areas. I have access to a shared tennis Pavillion
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests