A Stay at Mornington Peninsula's Camillo House

The classic Aussie beach shack has been given an elegant upgrade.

It could happen when you’re spreading French butter over sourdough at the pink quartzite kitchen bench. A soak in the vast tub, custom-built from slabs of spotted gum, will almost certainly inspire it. And there’s no chance you can look out at the grey-green swirl of coastal heath and the bay beyond without it hitting you. No matter where you station yourself while staying at Camillo House, just 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne in Blairgowrie, a simple thought will surely surface: “I could get used to this.”

A fantasy of an Australian beach house, this classic ’80s red-brick, slatefloored space now boasts all the vision and taste of its owners, Clare Hillier and Sean Morris. The care and attention runs from the gorgeous expanse of natural stone that forms the heart of the kitchen to the 22 original pieces of art that adorn the walls, the choice of snacks (Yarra Valley Proper Crisps, Hunted+Gathered dark chocolate) and even the reading material (Behrouz Boochani, Tank magazine). There’s ample space across three bedrooms, five balconies, a pool room, firepit and outdoor shower to perch and lounge, hide and mingle, and revel in all those details. And it’s not just aesthetics: the knives are sharp, the wine glasses huge, the towels fluffy.

There’s no need to leave, other than to replenish supplies, but that’s not to say there’s nothing to do nearby. Ten minutes away, Alba Thermal Springs & Spa is possibly the most impressive spa in the country and most certainly the only one with a restaurant by celebrity chef Karen Martini. (Eating Martini’s luxe take on prawn toast while swaddled in a robe is a singular experience.) If more rugged pursuits are your thing, wild beaches, clifftop walks or getting out onto – or into – the water are all within a short drive.

Whatever your pleasure, Camillo House is an ideal base of operations, especially when you find yourself on the deck, pre-batched Negroni in hand. You certainly could get used to this.