The Whale Pod - Serene Family Retreat

Nestled in the serene embrace of Apollo Bay. Whale Pod offers a 4-bedroom, 3 bathroom sanctuary, meticulously styled and presented to offer an unparalleled retreat experience. Boasting an ideal position, this haven is just a leisurely 10-minute walk from both the unspoiled splendor of the beach and the vibrant heart of the town centre. It's the quintessential setting for a family getaway, promising both relaxation and adventure in one of Australia's most picturesque coastal locales. Whale Pod offers the perfect base for an unforgettable vacation.

SLEEPS 10 GUESTS
Bedroom 1: King-size bed + Ensuite
Bedroom 2: Queen bed + Ensuite
Bedroom 3: Queen bed
Bedroom 4: Two triple bunk beds

The spacious living area is the heart of the home, complete with a cozy fireplace, a large TV equipped with streaming services, a DVD player, and a selection of board games and puzzles for indoor entertainment. We've also got you covered with a collection of kids' toys and jigsaw puzzles, ensuring everyone in the family is entertained. For the music enthusiasts, we offer a Bluetooth record player with a selection of records, allowing you to set the perfect mood for your evenings.

The kitchen is fully equipped with all the essentials to whip up delicious meals during your stay, including a dishwasher, coffee maker (Reneka for ground coffee), air fryer, sandwich press, toaster, microwave, and kettle.

As the seasons change, our home ensures your comfort with electric blankets on all beds and heating in all bedrooms for those cooler months. Additionally, there is air conditioning in the living, dining, and kitchen area, along with portable fans in the bedrooms to keep you cool on warmer days.

Step outside to a tranquil outdoor area, perfect for sipping your morning coffee or enjoying a BBQ with friends and family.



LINEN - BEDS MADE
You will arrive to ready-made beds featuring professionally laundered crisp, white linen with nothing to do other than to relax and settle in.
Bath Towels are included however if you are planning a trip to the beach, please BYO Beach Towels. Hand Towels, Bath Mats and Tea Towels are included.
• Please note: Top bunk beds will have linen provided however will not be made due to Occupational Health and Safety regulations.

PETS: Pets are welcome here, however we ask that you bring your own pet bowls and bedding as this is not supplied. Guests are expected to clean up after their pet, and also to ensure that their pet stays off the furniture at all times. Pets are not allowed on couches/beds etc. If you have a pet that sheds hair, please ensure you clean up any dog hair before you depart as well as any droppings in the yards. There is a gate on the decking area to secure your pets outdoors.

BOND/REFUNDABLE DAMAGE DEPOSIT FEE: Please note the bond is held as a pre-authorisation on your credit card, this is taken within 24 hours of your arrival and held until 3 days post stay. We require that the bond is simply an amount we "hold" on your card. If there are issues or damages, we will contact you post stay to discuss with a view to resolving before the hold is released.

The booking price displayed for online bookings includes a processing fee of 3% per booking.
If a refund or cancellation takes place, please note the refunded amount will not include the 3% processing fee as this will be retained by Otway Retreats to cover the original transaction.
H O U S E   R U L E S

1.   Check-in time is 3:00pm on the day of arrival and check out is 10:00am unless specified and agreed otherwise.
2.  A keysafe code will be provided to you to access the property via email at 9am the morning of arrival.
3.   Keys should be returned to the key safe location no later than the agreed checkout time on the day of departure. Failure to depart on time may result in extra charges.
4.   Early Check-ins and Late checkouts are subject to availability and may incur additional costs at the host discretion.
5.    Guests are responsible for their choice of accommodation. Otway Retreats is not responsible if the style of property does not live up to guests expectations, therefore guests should view property listings online carefully before selecting and booking their preferred property.  Please call our office if you require clarification on any aspect of a property prior to booking. Our properties have accurate photos showing the property inclusions and the layout of the properties.
6.   Please respect the privacy of our local community and neighbors. If a guest's behavior or noise level is unreasonable, a warning will be given and ignoring this will result in the cancellation of the booking without refund.
7.  There is a strict non-smoking policy inside the home, failure to comply will result in a minimum $200 fine. Guests may also be liable for the loss of owner's income from any future bookings affected by their actions. Guests can smoke outside, ensuring they dispose of all cigarette butts and leave no trace.
8.  Excess Rubbish Removal fees of a minimum of $90 may apply if the amount of rubbish left at the property is deemed over and above what should be reasonably expected for the length of stay and number of guests. 
9. Should pets be found in accommodation not classified as pet friendly, guests may be requested to vacate their property immediately with no refund and will be liable for additional cleaning fees.
10. Rates apply for any additional guests staying at the property that were not included as part of the original booking. Please advise Otway Retreats and make necessary payment for additional guests. Should additional unpaid guests be found, the booking may be cancelled and you will be asked to vacate. No refund will be given.
11.   Otway Retreats properties are offered on the basis of private, residential usage only. Large events, functions, parties and gatherings are not permitted at any Otway Retreats property under any circumstances. Should this occur you will be requested to vacate the property immediately and your booking will be cancelled without refund.
12.   Guests are expected to leave the property in a neat and tidy manner on departure. This includes washing and putting away dishes, returning all items to their original position, all food items removed from fridges, barbecues cleaned, ovens and microwaves wiped out and rubbish placed in appropriate bins. Additional cleaning fees (minimum $90) may apply if the property is not left in a presentable condition.
13.   Guests are required to turn off lights, appliances and lock doors and windows upon departure.
14.   A minimum key replacement fee of $150 will apply if property keys are not returned on departure. Additional locksmith fees may also apply if locks require replacement due to the loss of keys.

15.    All properties are let with linen, and beds will be made on arrival (excluding bunks).

16.   Otway Retreats will not be held responsible for failure of utilities, essential services or appliances such as electricity and water should they cease to function based on issues with the supplier that are beyond the control of Otway Retreats. 

17. Wifi where available) is provided complimentary for guest use. Guests should note that internet connection speeds vary widely according to local area availability and connection type and in many cases, data may be limited. Whilst every endeavour will be made to ensure Wi-Fi is working as intended, we cannot guarantee an available or consistent connection due to network, data or speed issues beyond our control. Outages do occur and whilst we will always try to have the connection restored, this will not always be possible. Compensation will not be considered in these circumstances as Wi-Fi is provided on a complimentary basis.
18. We recommend all guests arrive prior to 9pm given check in is via a lockbox, whilst we have an after hours service in place, it is generally only periodically checked after 9pm and guests run the risk of not having prompt support if there is an issue with their check in process after 9pm.


PET POLICY
1. Pet Limit: A maximum of 2 dogs are permitted in the home, we ask that guests advise us if they intend to bring dogs and disclose the breed and number of dogs before arrival.

2. Pet Fee: A non refundable pet fee will be applied to your booking for all bookings that include pets.

3. Extra Cleaning: We have a “leave no trace policy”. If your pet has been inside, kindly vacuum and mop the home before departure to ensure no traces of fur or odours remain. This also extends to the yards – please bag and dispose of any droppings. We may need to charge for extra cleaning if this isn’t followed, as it takes additional time to return the property to its original condition.

4. Damages: The guest is responsible for any pet related damage during the stay.

5. Supervision: For everyones safety, please keep a watchful eye on your pet both indoors and outdoors.

6. Furnishings: To maintain our homes condition, pets are not allowed on any furnishings including sofas, beds etc.

7. What to bring: pet owners are required to bring pet beds, bowls, leashes etc as none of this is supplied at the property for hygiene reasons.