Apollo Bay accommodation on the Great Ocean Road, Australia
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
All our paper and bottles are recycled. Our water is all rain-water and our spring water is used to water the vegetable garden. Electricity is from renewable green energy and the light bulbs we use are all energy efficient. To conserve water, all showerheads are 9L per minute and toilets are dual flush. We use Earth Choice Enviro care liquids for the washing machine, washing up and floor cleaning.
All our vegetables come from our garden only steps away and all organically produced. Goat, cow and sheep manure is used in the garden bed for fertiliser. No sprays are used. Our hens, goats, guinea pigs, rabbit and horses provide manure for the vegetable garden. Our eggs are produced by our hens and all food scraps go to the hens. Our goats, horses and sheep from the farmer next door help reduce the need for mowing grass.
Community
We use local staff - our gardener lives locally in Apollo Bay and our cleaning staff live in Johanna and Yuulong. We have been involved over the past 2 years in employing 2 long term unemployed staff. One staff member now holds a good position with Otway Health and the other staff member, who had no cooking experience before working with us, now is doing an apprenticeship with a local restaurant and training at TAFE in Geelong. Guides used for the Great Ocean Walk all have lived in the Otways for many years.
We source produce locally and also grow our own - our jams for breakfast are made in Johanna just 10kms away. Fish is sourced from Apollo Bay, 26kms away and red meat sourced locally. Our vegetables and herbs are grown organically in our garden. The majority of wine list is from vineyards within a 100kms radius and the remainder of the wine list is from Victoria. Our kitchen is used one day a week by a lady who bottles her own jams and fruits from her garden and is now starting her own preserve business.
We donate accommodation or dinner or both to local sporting groups for raffles, to volunteers of the Tourism Offices and Christmas Raffles for the local community. We encourage guests to go to the Cape Otway Lightstation, Otway Fly, Ridge Cafe, Otway Store and Museum. Often tickets are included in a package or a Great Ocean Walk Package. We have Great Ocean Walk packages that include transport from Great Ocean Walk Shuttle and entry into the Cape Otway Lightstation. We are involved in the Otways Opera at the Cape Otway Lightstation. This is an event organised by the local tourism co-operative. Otways Scenic Circle Association. Martin is the treasurer involved in the marketing and organisation.
We are constantly working with other businesses to provide great deals and packages. Annabel, who is a author of children’s books does book readings for Otway Health and in the local book store. She has also performed at Opera in the Otways and for International Woman’s Day.Martin has coached basketball at Lavers Hill School and been on the school committee in previous years.
1of4
