St Kilda | Cottage in Saint Kilda South, Australia

Five star review from Laura who booked through another platform: Prue's cottage is an absolute gem! It's right in St Kilda's heart but still in its own private peace and quiet. I was contemplating wether to stay in the CBD or one of the suburbs, and thankfully I decided to split my stay in two, and came to St Kilda and this cottage for three nights. The cottage is very cosy and I truly felt like I was at home, the place is very beautiful and comfy indeed. There was also a welcome treat waiting for me in the kitchen, which was a very nice surprise and made me feel welcomed. It also tells about Prue’s commitment to make both the place and every guest’s stay wonderful. Sleeping quality is excellent in the cottage. It is easy to reach from both the airport (Skybus is just around the corner) and CBD (many trams and buses very close). Lots of places to eat, have a cup of coffee (obviously as it is Melbourne) and a very good supermarket just opposite the road. Prue is an excellent host and she really wants your stay to be as comfortable and great as possible. I just loved the place and wished I could’ve stayed a lot longer! Highly recommendable!!
Garden Cottage St Kilda is Located at the rear of a heritage building in the heart of iconic St Kilda, this free standing secluded cottage in a lovely garden setting, is open plan, wonderfully spacious and light. And just a few minutes walk to some of Melbourne's best cafes, restaurants, landmark locations and St Kilda beach. Great for couples, business and solo travellers. Distinct living zones for sleeping, cooking, dining and lounging, also an outdoor dining area with barbecue and rear garden.
I'm thrilled to have Superhost status on another booking platform. The St Kilda Cottage really is a hidden gem amidst all that St Kilda has to offer. Open plan, spacious yet cosy; contemporary with a lovely rustic feel with its wooden floorboards and timber blinds. The cottage enjoys an abundance of natural light with the morning sunshine streaming through the French doors which lead to a private garden at the rear of the cottage. The front deck enjoys lovely afternoon sunshine (more so in summer months), perfect for al fresco dining or just basking. There is a very comfortable queen bed and three-seater sofa that can be used as single bed. The bathroom is compact with a shower, basin and loo. The neat kitchen has electric cook top and oven, microwave, sandwich maker, kettle, sink, fridge, pots, pans and all the basics like teas, coffee (plunger), sugar, milk, olive oil, vinegar, herbs, salt and pepper - hopefully all you require if you choose to cook in your temporary home away from home. And of course there's the gas BBQ on the deck with outdoor table, chairs and umbrella. There is also a smart TV and WIFI.
Guest access
Check in is from 2pm, check out by 11am. If there are no guests checking out on the first day of your stay, I can usually be flexible with check in times. If you arrive before 2pm and I'm unable to check you in earlier, I'm happy to store your bags at the cottage till check in and you can familiarise yourself with all St Kilda has to offer. Local amenities next door and across the road from the cottage include two supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, cake shops, bars, a pub, bottle shops, hairdressers, beauty salons and Thai and Chinese massage clinics, two laundromats and numerous public transport options. The cottage is all yours, all you need is available, though if you think something is lacking don't hesitate to tell me so I can get it sorted. Basics for cooking are provided, as is information showing the many local cafes, restaurants, shops, as well as essential information like public transport. You are very welcome to contact me for further advice about your stay in Melbourne. Wi-fi is also available during your stay. All day free on street parking is a five minute walk from the cottage.
Guest interaction
I will meet you on arrival and can be easily contacted by phone during your stay to assist in any way. If I am unable to meet you on arrival, I will organise for a friend to let you in or leave the key close by for self check in.
Neighbourhood overview
This apartment is tucked away in its own garden oasis and only minutes away from all St Kilda has to offer. The beautiful St Kilda Botanic Gardens are just around the corner and the less gentrified Balaclava shopping centre is a 10-minute walk. We are are also a short stroll to Port Phillip Bay and St Kilda beach for swimming, beachside cafes and beautiful bayside walks and bike riding. Melbourne is very bike friendly and there are bike paths that weave throughout this area and along the bay. Some of Melbourne's best restaurants are in St Kilda.
Getting around
Public transport is in abundance in St Kilda. A bus and a tram network is literally across the road. There are 4 tram routes within a few minutes walk that can take you to various parts of inner Melbourne - Fitzroy, Carlton, Brunswick, Prahran and South Yarra to name a few - and of course the Melbourne CBD. There is also a train station nearby. If you want to rent bicycles for your stay, Melbourne Bike Share is also in our neighbourhood. Pending your flight arrival, Skybus has just introduced a direct service from Melbourne Airport to St Kilda from Terminal 4, which takes about 40 minutes depending on traffic and drops you off around the corner (Stop # 2), with a very short 3 - 5 minute walk to the cottage; or you can catch the No. 96 tram which starts and ends its route across the road and will take you to/from Southern Cross station in 20 minutes, where you can catch the airport bus or local, interstate and regional trains. I can send you links. There are also taxi's and Uber. For those of you coming to Melbourne with a car there is no off street parking, but there is all day on street parking around the corner, about five minutes from the cottage.
Other things to note:
As this is a very leafy setting small furry native marsupials (possums) live in the trees. They are very cute and this is an up close opportunity to see Australian fauna. Occasionally they can be a little noisy in the night. They don't come inside, have no diseases and run away if approached. The following information is from the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals) website: "Brushtail and Ringtail possums are native marsupial species that have adapted well to urbanisation and are commonly found dwelling in Australian gardens. Ringtail possums are a social species that live in nests, called dreys, several metres above the ground. They build them out of bark and leaves and usually dwell in them as a family. Brushtail possums are larger, more territorial possums that usually reside in tree hollows. The trees and gardens around our houses provide a modified woodland environment similar to their natural habitat and both species feed on native plants found in abundance in suburban gardens. Many households are fortunate to share their property with one or more possums. It can be fun, especially for children, to learn about them and look out for them at dusk moving around your property and along cables in the street."