Cape Nelson Lighthouse sits right on the ocean, offering a quiet getaway with Isabellas Cafe serving delicious regional dishes. Guests can relax in the garden after a day of exploring, with convenient laundry facilities and helpful staff who assist with booking tours.
View all photos for Caretakers Cottage - 1 Bedroom
Caretakers Cottage - 1 Bedroom
10.010.0 out of 10
Exceptional
4 reviews
(4 reviews)
Highlights
Patio
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchen
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Dishwasher
Plasma TV
Washer/dryer
Partial sea view
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
View all photos for Caretakers Cottage - 2 Bedrooms
Caretakers Cottage - 2 Bedrooms
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchen
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Dishwasher
Plasma TV
Washer/dryer
Separate bedroom
Partial sea view
2 bedrooms
Sleeps 4
2 Queen Beds
View all photos for Head Keepers Cottage -2 Bedrooms
Head Keepers Cottage -2 Bedrooms
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchen
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Dishwasher
Plasma TV
Washer/dryer
Separate bedroom
2 bedrooms
Sleeps 4
2 Queen Beds
View all photos for Head Keepers Cottage - 1 Bedroom
Head Keepers Cottage - 1 Bedroom
Highlights
Furnished balcony or patio
Yard
Fireplace
Private outdoor hot tub
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchen
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
View all photos for Annex Cottage - 1 Bedroom
Annex Cottage - 1 Bedroom
8.08.0 out of 10
Very good
1 review
(1 review)
Highlights
Air conditioning
Heating
Kitchen
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Dishwasher
Plasma TV
Washer/dryer
Separate bedroom
1 bedroom
Sleeps 2
1 Queen Bed
About the neighborhood
Located in Portland West, Cape Nelson Lighthouse is in a rural area and by the ocean. Portland Cable Tram Depot Museum and Powerhouse Motor & Car Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Cape Nelson Lighthouse and Cape Nelson State Park. Portland Arts Centre and Discovery Bay Marine National Park are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with surfing/body boarding nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails. Visit our Portland West travel guide
119 Cape Nelson Lighthouse Road, Portland West, VIC, 3305
What's nearby
Cape Nelson State Park
2 min walk - 0.2 km
Cape Nelson Lighthouse
5 min walk - 0.5 km
Portland H46 Bushland Reserve
12 min drive - 13.1 km
Point Danger Gannet Colony
18 min drive - 20.2 km
Budj Bim National Park
50 min drive - 61.6 km
Restaurants
Domino's Pizza
14 min drive
Portland Fish N Chips
11 min drive
gordon hotel
13 min drive
Isabella's Cafe
9 min walk
hotel royal
13 min drive
About this property
Cape Nelson Lighthouse
Upscale inn by the ocean
Consider a stay at Cape Nelson Lighthouse and take advantage of a terrace, a garden, and laundry facilities. The on-site Regional cuisine café, Isabellas Cafe, offers breakfast and lunch. Guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks at this inn include:
Free self parking
Cooked-to-order breakfast (surcharge), RV/bus/truck parking, and tour/ticket assistance
A 24-hour front desk, barbecue grills, and smoke-free premises
Room features
All guestrooms at Cape Nelson Lighthouse feature perks such as air conditioning, as well as amenities like free WiFi and espresso makers.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
Free toiletries and hair dryers
Plasma TVs with cable channels and DVD players
Kitchens, full-sized refrigerators/freezers, and dishwashers
Weekend cooked-to-order breakfast available for a fee: AUD 5 to 18 per person
A restaurant
Restaurants on site
Isabellas Cafe
Family friendly
DVD player
In-room full-sized refrigerator/freezer
In-room kitchen
In-room microwave
In-room washer/dryer
Laundry facilities
Living room
Separate bedroom
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Laundry facilities
Guest services
No housekeeping service
Tour and ticket assistance
Outdoors
Barbecue grill
Garden
In a state park
Terrace
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
No elevator (single-level property)
Stair-free path to entrance
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
More
1 floor
2 buildings
Built in 1884
Smoking not allowed
Traditional architecture
Room amenities
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Towels provided
Entertainment
DVD player
Plasma TV with cable channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Espresso maker
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Kitchen
Microwave
Oven
Stovetop
More
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Heating
Iron/ironing board
Living room
Washer/dryer
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11 AM
Special check-in instructions
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions and an access code; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 10 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Check-in for this property is based at the Quality Hotel Bentinck (Macs Hotel), located on the corner of Gawler St and Bentinck St in Portland in a 3-story bluestone building. Guests should enter via Gawler St and proceed to reception. Phone reception at the lighthouse is limited.
Access methods
Access code, staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: approximately AUD 5 to 18 per person
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
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
This property accepts credit cards
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Property is also known as
Cape Nelson Lighthouse
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Inn
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Inn Portland West
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Portland West
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Inn
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Portland West
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Inn Portland West
Frequently asked questions
Is Cape Nelson Lighthouse pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Cape Nelson Lighthouse?
As of 6 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Cape Nelson Lighthouse on 9 March 2026 start from AED 595, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking?
Self parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at Cape Nelson Lighthouse?
Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM.
What time is check-out at Cape Nelson Lighthouse?
Check-out is at 11 AM.
Where is Cape Nelson Lighthouse located?
Situated by the ocean, this inn is steps from Cape Nelson State Park and Cape Nelson Lighthouse. Portland H46 Bushland Reserve and Portland H47 Bushland Reserve are also within 6 mi (10 km).
Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?
Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.
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Reviews
Cape Nelson Lighthouse Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
This cottage was so lovely! A lot of the original charm with just the right amount of updates for comfort. Immaculately clean, and ingredients for a full breakfast. We checked in early and were impressed enough that we went back into town for groceries so that we could make and enjoy dinner there. Wish we could have stayed a week.
Fantastic place! We stayed in the Sunset Cottage for one night. The cottage is spacious, with two bedrooms, a lounge room featuring a fireplace (wood and matches provided), and very large kitchen equipped with modern cooking facilities. It was a truly unique experience.
A full cook-it-yourself breakfast was provided, including fresh eggs, bacon, milk, and a selection of cereals. The staff were extremely accommodating and helped us recover an item we accidentally left behind.
This was a beautiful location, isolated, quiet and with nature all around. Yje sunset and sunrise were amazing. All facilities were excellent and we hope to stay again.
Agree with the positive comments by many previous guests; a comfortable stay in a quiet and different environment.
A few small things to note: we did not receive notification of the key and property access until we were already there, and had to ring the manager. Also the front door lock did not close on exiting so we had to use the back door. Also the heating was not working well in the main lounge room.
But otherwise a pleasant stay. Recommended.
This is an awesome property, beautiful views and close enough to Portland for eating options and shops. The head lighthouse keepers cottage has a spa which we didn't realise so that was a nice suprise!
Everything about this place is beautiful! Stunning scenery, amazing accommodation, clean spacious, well serviced with comfortable beds. The included breakfast was a lovely bonus.
Our stay at the Cape Nelson Lighthouse Cottage was excellent! The facilities were top-notch, and the location was absolutely beautiful, with easy access to stunning walking tracks. We loved watching kangaroos and wallabies right outside the cottage — such a unique experience. Breakfast was delicious and a perfect start to each day. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a peaceful and memorable getaway.
Beautiful serene setting in historic cottage. Great sunrises and sunsets and walks. Well provisioned for breakfast and self cooking. Luxurious bathroom!
Beautiful property in a fabulous location. We loved the Head Keeper’s cottage; the older style, high ceilings, tasteful decor and comprehensive amenities. It was wonderful that breakfast items were provided - the eggs were delicious! The property was very comfortable and homely, we only wish we were staying more than one night!
The idea of staying in the lighthouse cottages appealed. The Caretakers cottage was not as old as the others but suited us as a couple with just the one bedroom in use. Everything was there that you needed with the heater keeping the place cosy. Cereal, eggs, bacon etc were provided for breakfast. The TV reception was poor, maybe due to the wind and maybe this was keeping the animals away as we only saw one kangaroo and no wombats despite the copious poo ! Would have loved to stay another night.
Eve
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Lindsay
18 April 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Lovely location with wonderful views. Handy also to Portland and Cape Bridgewater. It was very special staying in a former Assistant Lighthouse Keeper's house.
The standard of accommodation was fine but not five star. Breakfast goodies were welcome.
Our host did his absolute best to sort a television reception problem at the start of our stay, even smoothing the way with a bottle of bubbly!
We loved our 2 night stay in the Head Keeper’s cottage. Number 4. We felt very comfortable as soon as we walked through the door, and the breakfast provisions left were very welcome. It was very clean and we felt that all our needs were met. Walks at your doorstep, kangaroos visiting and lovely photo opportunities. We would not hesitate to recommend this property. The open fire was very cosy. We could have used a little more wood but we easily grabbed a bag from IGA to get through the second night. Overall, a lovely two days. Thankyou.
We stayed at this property just for one night, but we so wished we had longer here. Unfortunatley we arrived in the middle of a storm, but when we got in it was almost like a country cottage. There was a big open log fire in the living room and was very spacious throughout. The kitchen was full of accessories so you didn't have to go out and buy the odd salt or pepper or kitchen roll. There was a great selection of cerials and fresh eggs and bacon in the fridge for breakfast. This was like staying in a B&B without the host. We had a power cut while we were there, due to the storm which was quickly reset, but it didn't effect the experience. We did speak with the host on the phone who was very pleasent and accommodating. The next morning the sun was up and we walked around the outside of the light house which was about a two minute walk from the cottage. Parking to the property was right outside. This was the best experiance for a cottage we ever stayed in and the most equiped property. Thank you.
This is a very unique property as it is an older caretaker cottage for the lighthouse at Cape Nelson. That being said, the hiking trails around are amazing and the views are spectacular, you are quite literally steps from an ocean overlook.
It is a bit far from town and services but if you plan ahead there is a BBQ and complete cooking facilities to do on your own. The property is older but overall very well kept and at night it is SO quiet.
The TV is older and did not have an antenna hooked up, something was wrong with the connection but hopefully easily fixed. There is a DVD player with a library of choices.
Overall - very fun place to stay !