Great Ocean Road eco-resort development site set to fill niche gap

It will offer world-class tourist accommodation, including an eco-lodge, an eco-activity centre, plus three food and beverage outlets, seating more than 300 patrons.

Just six kilometres from the famed natural landmark, the property is at 79 Old Coach Road, Princetown.

It is being marketed by CBRE on behalf of private investors, Montarosa, based in Victoria, who have held it for the past decade and are understood to have worked to get planning approval in place over several years.

CBRE Hotels Scott Callow said both domestic and international visitors would enjoy staying longer in the area, one of Victoria’s most popular tourist destinations. 

Callow described it as a “part of the world that desperately needs some sort of quality eco-resort development”.

“It’s a pretty special part of the world, and there’s not a lot of significant accommodation options down there, aside from smaller boutique developments, Airbnb and some, you know, motels in the wider region,” he said.

“This development would be the first of its kind in the area, offering world-class tourist accommodation so visitors can extend their stay in the area.”

Visit Victoria has recognised the lack of suitable accommodation for larger groups and its negative impact on tourists.

“Feedback from these markets is that the lack of available commercial accommodation and food and beverage offerings reduces the length of visitors’ stay. Visitors are instead travelling back to Melbourne or on to Warrnambool to find suitable accommodation,” the listing reads.

The campaign is going well with strong local, interstate and overseas inquiries, Callow added.

He said the eco-tourism development had been designed to minimise environmental impact and appeal to the eco-conscious traveller. 

“The site is well-sheltered from the prevailing ocean winds allowing visitors to enjoy a range of activities including the Gellibrand River, wetlands, walking tracks and natural flora and fauna in any weather conditions,” he said.

“It’s also an easy walking distance to the nearby beach and the Twelve Apostles via the Great Ocean Walk.”

The development will benefit not only from Visit Victoria support but also from state and federal government backing.

There is also significant investment, both publicly and privately over the next few years, in the $126 million Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment Plan.

Victoria’s Otways has become a popular tourism precinct for domestic and international tourism. Existing attractions include treetop walks, zip lining and mountain bike riding.