River Drive Motel

We spent a few days leading up to New Year’s Eve at River Drive and had a wonderful time. We took two units, one of which was the two bedroom unit, which suited us perfectly, Dad, three adult children, two spouses and a granddaughter who absolutely loved the swing and the generous garden with some wonderful trees.
The location was great opposite Tarwin River and conveniently in between an excellent IGA and ripper country pub with good bike destinations a nice ride away.
The rooms were excellent, beautifully decorated and presented, stylish, comfortable and well equipped. Having the two bedroom unit made dining at the property for all seven of us very easy.
We had a great stay at River Drive Motel, our hosts were delightful, the accommodation excellent and we happily recommend it to anyone looking for country getaway.

What a little gem! Our family had the best weekend away at River Drive Motel. The rooms are beautifully renovated and everything has been considered. Our favourite thing was the yard ‘of childhood dreams’, with weeping trees, a swing and soft grass to play on.
Thank you for a special experience.

I stayed here in March 24 with family and we had a jam packed fun weekend. We rode the bikes that were supplied, sat out in the beautiful garden ( ran out of time to start up the fire pit), used the games supplied in the shed, cooked a delicious breakfast on the Bbq, enjoyed the local pub and cafe.
The rooms were spotless, they had every thing we needed and the beds were so comfortable.
It truly was a great weekend and we highly recommend it. We are booking again soon.

As a designer, I thoroughly enjoyed my family stay at River Drive Motel. The motel itself has been lovingly refurbished and is very stylish. The rooms are really well appointed and all the items you interface with from furniture, plates to the kitchen bin (!) are of excellent quality. We are already thinking about when we might visit again - I highly recommend a stay!

We had such a lovely weekend. We felt instantly relaxed as soon as we walked into our room. The interiors and setup were gorgeous, and the beds were so comfortable. We had everything we could possibly need and more in the room, and the communal areas were so beautifully maintained.
We loved the location - it is right in the middle of so many towns and beaches to explore in every direction. Close to Wilsons Prom and the incredible beaches of Venus Bay, but still in a quiet enough area to escape the busy summer crowds. There is so much to do and see, and the guide book in the room was full of suggestions which we loved. The pub next door is a massive bonus and had a great atmosphere, but is far enough away that you cannot hear any of the noise from your room.

We had such a lovely, relaxing time here. We experienced amazing hospitality from the owners; I can feel they are truly genuine and kind-hearted people and made us feel at ease. We loved having BBQs in the side yard and lazing around under the beautiful big tree with a book. The nearby IGA (within walking distance) has an excellent selection of meat. Loved the rooms and the artwork and brand of toiletries. And don't get me started on the lovely hamper! We had such a nice selection and heaps of pastries and bread that lasted us for our stay. I want to return and try out a different room (they all have different configurations). Thank you!

We stayed in Room 2 which was amazing with the bath! The room and communal spaces are so well considered and lovely. Everything has been thought of and it shows through the whole experience.
The kitchenette had everything we needed and more which made the stay that much more comfortable.
Tarwin Lower township is great. The pub is lively and has a great atmosphere and is far enough away that you don't hear anything. The local IGA is very well stocked and the sights and destinations in the area are amazing!!
Will definitely come back for many more adventures 😊🌞

Considered design with a focus on sustainability placed an emphasis on the boutique experience that was River Drive Motel. Extremely well thought out and executed perfectly. Both the room and shared facilities were well equipped with the amenities required for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The location is incredibly convenient, with a supermarket and eateries situated within walking distance, as well as plenty of beaches, bakeries, wineries and restaurants nearby. Would definitely return, and highly recommend.

We had a wonderful stay at River Drive Motel. The rooms feel freshly renovated and have a great aesthetic. The kitchenette was well stocked and meant we didn't have to always rely on eating out. The outdoor area is great and provides a good play spot for kids. The neighboring pub and IGA make life easy, and Venus Bay and other nearby attractions are very accessible with a car; in fact, we used the Motel's bikes to ride to Venus Bay one day which was lovely. The only critique was that the BBQs on site were unreliable, but they may have been fixed by now. All in all, would definitely recommend and even stay again!

River Drive Motel is an absolute gem.The motel is a harmonious haven where architecture, design and hospitality converge to create a joyful experience.
Each moment is considered, from the thoughtfully conceived rooms, shared spaces (tranquil/lush garden) to gentle touch of fresh flowers on the dining table.
Tarwin Lower is on the doorstep to Wilsons Prom and a step away from picturesque Walkerville. Thank you for a wonderful stay.

We booked Room 5 (the two bedroom apartment) as a group of 4 (two sets of couples) and it was the perfect size for us! Really cosy living area where we could sit and chat, and everything is beautifully curated and decorated – it was an incredibly comfortable and relaxing space to have a holiday. We loved using the communal bbq for dinner on one of the nights, and the ice maker + extra fridge space in the communal 'Shed' (also filled with lawn games, beach towels etc) was a delightful surprise! The motel is really close to lots of beautiful nature walks and beaches that we got to experience like the Point Smythe Coastal Walk nearby, and Venus Bay Beach No.1, and we got to Waratah Bay on one of the days as well. Also had a great pub meal for dinner at The Riverview Hotel next door, with some fun live music. River Drive Motel the perfect base to explore South Gippsland and I really want to come back for a longer stay to spend more time just relaxing at the motel itself! They really thought of everything, and I can't recommend it enough – especially for a small group of friends like ours.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the River Drive Motel for a 2-night getaway with a group of friends, and it was nothing short of fantastic. The trims and details of the motel were immaculate, showcasing a level of style and attention to detail that exceeded our expectations. The food offerings in the room felt curated just for us, catering to our tastes perfectly. We made great use of the BBQ amenities, which were well-maintained and added to our delightful stay.

What sets this place apart is the thoughtful curation evident in every aspect of the motel. From the room decor to the common amenities, it's clear that every detail has been considered to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for guests. Kate, the host, has also put together a fantastic guide for guests, making our stay even more enjoyable and stress-free.

I highly recommend the River Drive Motel to anyone seeking a stylish, comfortable, and enjoyable stay. It's an experience that's hard to beat, and I can't wait to return for another fantastic getaway.

I’ve stayed at quite a lot of these hip, bourgie motels in the past year all over the east coast of Australia and this is the best one I’ve been to. The rooms are gorgeous and feature bespoke cabinetry and very nice furniture. The bathrooms are high quality too. The rooms are very intelligently conceived, designed an executed, with lots of great details and amenities. The overall vibe is very considerate of family needs and inclusiveness. Even the wine in the fridge is really well-priced and very, very nice.

This place is the goods.

Thank you River Drive Motel! You guys are some smooth motel-operating ninjas, who've though of everything one can hope for in a holiday. Thanks for letting us raid your ice fridge, the kids took your bikes for a spin (don't forget your bike helmets, holiday-goers), sample an array of South Gippsland goodies basket in the room, sleep on your comfy beds, in your beautifully curated rooms.

A very special boutique motel. Our room (The Snug) was cosy and comfortable. A very comfortable bed and pillows, a well stocked kitchen, with all utensils, 3 delicious loose leaf teas and a mini bar and pantry stocked with delicious local produce and essentials.
What was very impressive was the sustainability element; cotton cloths for dish washing, encouragement to make use of the compost bin and the motel uses rain water.
There is a beautiful garden complete with electric BBQ’s, ample seating, a swing and totem tennis.
Add to all this, a shed neatly filled with beach towels, fishing rods, games, puzzles, an ice making machine and a shared fridge.
To top it all off, it’s less than 50 metres to the pub, where one can enjoy good food, cold beer and live music!
Definitely a very special place with a lot of soul!

Our stay at River Drive Motel was so relaxing. The rooms are luxe and have everything you need, the grounds have so much room for kids to play. There is so much to do in the area for kids and adults alike. Highly recommend!

Best little motel experience we’ve had!
The most beautiful attention to detail in the design, incredible touches and local suggestions.
The lawn is so lovely to hang out in and our son enjoyed all the games and the swing so much!
We had a beautiful Christmas Day with family here and even though it rained the room was homely and large enough to accommodate Xmas lunch and lots of missions on the bikes in the rain to see kangaroos just down the road.
Kate and Dic were so helpful and accomodating we can’t wait to come back again and bring friends!
Highly recommend you book this place and enjoy all that south Gippsland and surrounds have to offer!

Five stars! I cannot recommend this place more highly. River Drive Motel has been exceptionally thought out - from a design and functionality perspective it ticks all the boxes! The communal BBQ area with a big open yard is a huge win (especially for kids to have a run around), the attention to detail inside and outside the motel has not gone unnoticed, and it makes your stay feel super luxurious and high end. The complimentary teas and coffee is such a lovely touch to add to an already inviting and relaxing stay. I loved being able to walk to the local IGA and pub, as well as the proximity to Venus Bay and Inverloch. The perfect weekender or mid-week getaway with friends or the whole family. Would stay again in a heartbeat. Thank you River Drive !

Kate and Dic have created something truly special here. Every minute detail is thought out and they have struck the perfect balance between clever design and utter warmth and comfort. Although it is in such a great location to explore, it was hard to leave the room!

We loved our stay at River Drive Motel. The room was comfy and stylish with so many little thoughtful and generous touches throughout. The owners have covered everything. Would love to return in future!