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Cottage by the lake

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A compact kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, and oven. There is a window with a curtain, a sink, and a hanging light fixture.
A cozy room with two wooden chairs, a sofa, and a dining table. There are hanging plants and a large window providing natural light.
A neatly made bed with floral bedding, a wooden headboard, a green throw blanket, a teddy bear, and a table lamp on a nightstand.
A bathroom with a white sink, a mirror, and a window.
A bedroom with a bed, a wooden headboard, a shelf with books, and a framed picture on the wall.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the sand and sea.
  • Unmatched views, unforgettable moments
    Guests like the location for the scenic views.
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Onsite parking available
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View map
Raymond Island, VIC
  • Place, Raymond Island Gippsland Lakes Reserve
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Lake King
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Lake Victoria
    ‪16 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

A Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

A Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

A Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Garden

About this property

Cottage by the lake

Wide open spaces, fresh air and no crowds. Transport yourself to a Hansel and Gretel style cottage in a forest on an island where you can see wildlife up close in their natural environment. Only 4 hours from Melbourne. Two storey self contained, both bedrooms upstairs and bathroom, kitchen, lounge downstairs. Bikes and kayaks available. Outside gas BBQ and Garden Gazebo.Imagine yourself relaxing in the hammock looking out to the lake and beach as time stands still and you breathe in the fresh sea air.

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 9194345
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Raymond Island

Located in Raymond Island, this cottage is on the beach. Paynesville Maritime Museum and Nicholson St. Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Bairnsdale Golf Course and Metung Hot Springs. Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre and Griffith's Sea Shell Museum and Marine Display are also worth visiting.
View more Cottages in Raymond IslandOpens in a new window
Map
Raymond Island, VIC

What's nearby

  • Raymond Island Gippsland Lakes Reserve - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • Lake King - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Lake Victoria - 16 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Koala Trail - 13 min drive - 6.1 km
  • Paynesville Maritime Museum - 13 min drive - 6.5 km

Getting around

  • Bairnsdale Station - 41 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Fishermans Wharf Pavillion - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Old Pub Payensville - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Paynesville Fish and Chips - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Boathouse Pizza Bar & Grill - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Three Double8 Zero Pizza Bar & Grill - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Cottage by the lake pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Cottage by the lake?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Cottage by the lake?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Cottage by the lake?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Cottage by the lake located?

Nestled on the beach, this Raymond Island cottage is just steps away from Raymond Island Gippsland Lakes Reserve and Lake King. Lake Victoria is 2.2 mi (3.5 km) away.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Min

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Staff so nice. Amazing landscape . Feel happiness when I stayed there
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Esther V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful surroundings with nature in abundance.

Our little family had a wonderful time at the Garden cottage, Swan cove. We all enjoyed feeding the Rosella's and the beautiful lake just behind the property. Kirsten and Tony were very welcoming and we loved the breakfast package on arrival with beautiful homemade sourdough, sooo good :)
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 13 January 2022
We are so glad you enjoyed your holiday especially the friendly wildlife we have here on Raymond Island, such a variety of birds and animals in a small area.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Keiran M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A sweet little cottage on a beautiful property. Cosy but with everything you need. Kirsten was wonderful and responsive. The location is amazing and we saw all sort of wildlife - kangaroos, koalas, black swans, echidnas. Took bikes out for a ride and had a great time. The fresh bread, granola and black peaches were such a lovely touch as well.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 12 March 2026
Thank you for your lovely review. I’m so glad you enjoyed your stay and made the most of the cottage and the property. The wildlife really does like to put on a show here, so it’s wonderful you were able to spot kangaroos, koalas, black swans and even an echidna – that’s a good wildlife list! And you got out on the bikes and explored a little as well. I’m also delighted you enjoyed the home made sourdough and granola and black peaches – I love leaving a few homemade and local treats for guests to start their stay. You were a pleasure to host and you’re most welcome back anytime. 🌿
Archival

8/10 Good

Beautiful cottage house

We enjoyed our stay at the Swan Cove, it was peaceful, and relaxing. With the lake just metres away, the walks along the lake was nice. Riding around the island with the push bikes provided was great, lots of wildlife to see especially koalas and kangaroos. Will come back for sure! Perhaps in summer for Kayaking and fishing.
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
Thank you for taking the time to review us, we really appreciate it to help our future guests.
Verified

8/10 Good

Susan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

beautiful surroundings

It is a very small accomodation just suitable for two adults and maybe at a pinch 2 small children. The host are very helpful and communicative. The gardens and wildlife are wonderful and the access to the lakes and availabilty of kyacks and bikes enriches the experience
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 15 February 2022
Thank you Susan and Mark. We really appreciate your feedback and love to hear how we can improve our accommodations. Unfortunately we can’t make the building bigger due to the architectural style. Our next project is expanding the bbq area to a covered outdoor kitchen with outdoor wok and Weber bbq oven. Cheers Kirsten and Tony.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marea H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful getaway

This is an amazing place to go for a holiday whether it's a weekend or a week. The whole experience was wonderful, from sitting outside with the wildlife to the serenity of kayaking on the lakes. The accommodation was perfect with everything we needed. Kirsten and Tony were great hosts; there if we needed them. Thanks for such a memorable weekend!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
Thank you Maree and glad you had such an adventurous and memorable time here on Raymond island, Kirsten and Tony.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Megan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely weekend away

Gorgeous location . We had fantastic restful weekend away. A week would have been better!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ness P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location brimming with wildlife

Absolutely brilliant location
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Asa s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Swan cove

Perfect location near the water, great for kayaking and walking.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Virginia K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Restful in beautiful nature

Getting o Swan Cove on Raymond Isalnd was an adventure - an easy one for us over 70 and driving small cars. Arriving after dark so lovely to have fresh warm sour dough waiting for us. Delightful retro furnished cottage. Birds, trees water, the ever changing light. I had a painful back while I was there and was house bound for 2 days. What a beautiful place to stop still for a while. With extra support from yogi Kirsten. We loved hearing the history and environmental information about the area from Tony. So glad to be there for a whole week.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 11 May 2021
Thank you Virginia and Alison, you were both a delight to have stay. Since your visit I am putting heat packs into the cottages. The new doors are being installed today too, very exciting! Cheers Kirsten
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robyn P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

beautiful

I can't remember the exact wording, something about a perfect place away from it all that the first owners of Swan Cove found on Raymond Island -sums it up really.
Response from VrboOwner on 17 February 2021
Thank you Robyn, we really appreciate the time taken to review our property, Cheers Kirsten
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jo S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Road trip on motorbikes and one car

A most serene experience with wonderful homely touches everywhere. Our hosts Tony and Kirsten were so very welcoming and hospitable. This is a perfect escape for those wanting a relaxing escape submerged in nature.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 21 October 2020
Thank you Jo, so glad you enjoyed your stay. Hope to see you again in February.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Vinay M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good

Excellent location. Just mosquitoes to be aware of. The good thing is that Kirsten had already kept body sprays to keep them away. Well done.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sue D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Brilliant

We loved our little over night stay, and would love to come back for a longer stay next time. Thanks Tony for the yummy biscuits and Kirsten for giving us all the info we needed to enjoy our stay.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

paul d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Island paradise

Absolutely beautiful home on the quiet secluded side of Raymond Island. Property was full of beautiful birds and curious creatures. Beach was just a few steps away from the house. Home was nice, very clean. A very enjoyable stay. Highly recommended.
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unique experience

A step back in time, unique comfortable cottage. Don't expect heaps of room. But the location was superb. The weather was against us for our stay and there's nothing you can do about that. The visit to Raymond Island was worth it. Thanks Kirsten and Tony.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew Davies

The perfect break

We were in desperate need for a relaxed, stress-free summer holiday, and Swan Cove fitted the bill perfectly. Owners Kirsten and Tony were very accommodating, and made us feel very welcome. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The characteristic property with private beach, together with the abundant natural wildlife around really made for the perfect holiday. We will gladly stay again.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
Thank you Andrew, really appreciate you taking the time to review our property
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan S.

Perfect peace - cosy quaint cottage amongst the trees

We had a very short break on Raymond Island - this was the perfect place to stay if you want perfect peace and quiet amongst the trees, with the sounds of birds, animals and the sea and NO traffic. The quaint rustic cottage was comfortable and cosy. Hosts Kirsten and Tony are very friendly and welcoming. We plan to return
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
Thank you for taking the time to review our cottages. So helpful to other guests. Kind regards Kirsten.
Archival

8/10 Good

Tranquil and full of wildlife.

Swan Cove is a lovely place to stay. The owners are particularly delightful and very helpful. This is our second stay. Raymond Island is a great place to enjoy seeing wildlife especially koalas. The cottages whilst not modern are warm and comfortable.

About the host

Hosted by Swan Cove on Raymond Island

Host profile image
Yoga teacher, nutritionist and mother of three amazing human beings. I live here at Swan Cove where I grow vegetables, fruit and flowers in an Octagon where you can view the wildlife up close. I am very grateful to have loads of energy and an insatiable appetite for learning.
Our world is a magical place full of abundance and wonderful people.

Why they chose this property

I came across this property while kayaking around the island one Easter. I have always dreamed of a Tudor house with a seaside garden. Now I have the entire Gippsland Lakes as my backyard! Every day is an adventure; whether it's foraging for mushrooms in the autumn, paddling with the dolphins or rescuing someone whose boat has capsized in the lake. I love both the opposites of wildness when the wind whips up on the water in contrast to the perfect stillness and sunshine. Connecting with nature in all its glory we discover true liberation.

What makes this property unique

The house was uniquely built and handcrafted by a German couple, the original owners. The leadlight windows in the main house bear Carl's signature. Look out for the many examples of his wrought iron work in lamps and doors. Ingrid made the cushions, curtains and established the gardens. Everything you see was made by their own hands. Carl even had the foresight to have the power lines put underground so there are no lines or fences detracting from the natural vistas.

Languages:

English

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