Dacha Kincora - small cottage, short walk to beach

Dacha Kincora is a basic, timber, beach shack with everything you need for a comfortable Venus Bay escape. Guests do need to bring their own linen and firewood and leave the house as they found it. This helps us to keep prices low. Checkout is midday to ensure you still get the most out of your holiday - early check in is often available, please ask if this is something you’d appreciate.

Enjoy a long weekend, summer beach holiday, artists retreat, family reunion or any other excuse to get away and enjoy everything Venus Bay has to offer.

About the House

This 2 bedroom family and pet friendly home is a simple timber beach house on a private dead end road facing directly onto the Cape Liptrap Coastal reserve.

Outdoor verandah facing the nature reserve is fully covered and wraps around most of the house, boasts small dining table, lounge swing, sitting area and a relaxed feel to enjoy late summer evenings.

The comfortable open plan living area has air-conditioning , ceiling fans, a wood fire heater and plenty of room for everyone to relax and find their own space to escape.
Relax with a book, let the environment spark your creative interest or walk 1 km through the nature reserve to the no 5 beach.

The house is set up for up to 4 adults/2 couples but a travel cot lives in the blue bedroom wardrobe and the green bedroom can be converted to two beds; one single and one small double. You will be asked in advance your preferred set up.

We are a pet friendly house and our two dogs visit regularly.

We have provided a dyson hand held vacuum to help you keep control of animal hair but if you’re thinking of booking please be aware that dogs are allowed inside so hair is inevitable. If you’re thinking about bringing your dog we have tried to create a well fenced section of the back yard and patrol it regularly for wombat burrows but wombats are stubborn creatures so please keep an eye on pooches in case they find their own escape route. If your dog is a jumper they may be able to leap off the verandah too.

Bed configuration;

Blue Bedroom: Queen bed with electric blanket and a ceiling fan - the portacot is stored in the wardrobe in this bedroom.

Green Bedroom: Queen fold down bed (murphy bed) with a ceiling fan. Because the bed folds down this room can also be turned into a kids room with the cot, a single fold out bed and a small double bed.

Kitchen: The kitchen is small with limited facilities, the benchtop Breville Combi Oven/Microwave and benchtop induction hob are both VERY quick and efficient to use.
You will find a few pantry basics and plenty of condiments on the shelves and in the fridge. Indoor and outdoor dining tables and there is a highchair and a toddler chair to the side for use when needed.

Off street parking for at least 2 vehicles. Please never block access to the reserve at the end of the street as emergency services and park rangers need 24/7 access. If you're in their way we can't guarantee the state of your car!

“History of Dacha Kincora”

Building started on the house in 1988, I know this because when I was ripping up the old lino in the kitchen I found a little message letting me know that fact, I added my own message before I covered it up.
I am the house’s third owner, the first owners built the basic structure with plenty of quirky elements, lots of recycled materials and what feels to me like a lot of love. One of my favourite features is the home made glue laminated beam that stretches the length of the house. There are other fun features, I recommend you check out the thickness of the back door, it’s very impressive. The first owners also hand built all the original kitchen and bathroom cabinets

The second owners did most of the internal walls, breaking the house into separate bedrooms, they also did some small upgrades in the bathroom.

I’ve owned the house since 2015, I fell in love with it the first moment I walked in. I love the huge windows and all the wood. Since buying it I’ve done plenty of small and large renovations, I finished the laundry which was previously just bare studwork, I still need to do a couple of bits and pieces but it’s essentially a working laundry with washer and dryer available for guests. In July 2016 the old galvanised watertank exploded and I spent a wet weekend working with my uncle and friend to remove and replace the tank in time for some guests arrival. It was incredibly fun and hard work. In 2017 I pulled up some very old lino and laid a unique, recycled pine parquet floor, it’s far from perfect and it’s still acclimatising but I love the natural feel of the timber and it’s uniqueness, no one else has my floor. I also replaced the slightly crummy old kitchen cabinets with second hand kitchen cabinets off eBay. They’re solid oak and I love all the extra space they provide. Plus I added a dishwasher which is brilliant!

I’m also slowly replacing all the single glazing with double glazing and the old wood heater has been removed and replaced with a super efficient European heater. I lived here full time from April 2020 to December 2022 and built a new brick sunken patio with firepit and extended the verandah around the western side of the house. This is particularly nice in summer when you don't want to sit in the full sun on the verandah but still want to be outside. The teatree provides good shade for enjoying the outdoors without the sun in your eyes.

My family and I stay in Venus Bay as much as possible, so you will find lots of personal items in the house. Photos, paintings, books and games. Staying in a place that feels like someone’s personal holiday house isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and I totally understand that. If you love wildlife, peace and quiet, quirky design and simple living, you’ll probably love Dacha Kincora but please don’t arrive expecting a clinical, five star resort, that’s just not me or my house.

I look forward to sharing Dacha Kincora with you, I have lots of loyal returning guests who I like to treat with discounts and last minute opportunities. I hope you become one of them

The Area:

Venus Bay is a small coastal town located 165km from Melbourne. It is one of Victoria's worst kept holiday secrets, guaranteed if you mention you're visiting Venus Bay you'll know someone who loves it.

The town is nestled into the sand dunes on a narrow peninsula of land bordered on one side by the ocean beaches of Bass Strait and on the other by the calm waters of Anderson Inlet.

The golden sandy beaches stretch for 22km and include 5 magnificent surf beaches. Beach number 1 is patrolled by surf lifesavers during the summer months. The huge beaches are great for surfing, ocean fishing, swimming, walking, windsurfing, body surfing and beachcombing.

Explore the rugged natural beauty of Venus Bay with a bushwalk in Cape Liptrap Coastal Park to spot the wildlife and admire the striking scenery. Visit Cape Liptrap Lighthouse or try some of the boating experiences.

The Tarwin River flows into Venus Bay providing a tidal river which is perfect for river and estuary fishing. Fishing platforms along the bank provide excellent access to the river for anglers. Alternatively, cycle the bike path from Venus Bay to Tarwin Lower or just stroll along the boardwalk which follows Tarwin River.

Anderson's Inlet is the state's longest sand spit. Stroll along the 2km walking path, discover the rich bird life in the wetlands and mangroves or try fishing in the Inlet's sheltered waters.

Venus Bay is also central to many natural attractions in the South Gippsland area, situated midway between Wilsons Promontory National Park and Philip Island.

Venus Bay has a general store, several cafes/takeaway's, surf and fishing shop and a number of speciality shops. Tarwin Lower, another 5kms out of town has a great IGA with traditional butcher, post office and a great pub that has just been bought by two families and is undergoing some great renovations.

Make sure you check out which farmers markets are operating when you come for your stay. Koonwarra and Inverloch are particularly worth a look.