Sanctuary House Resort Motel

My family had a great stay at the Sanctuary House Resort Motel. The room was clean, the bed was comfortable, and the staff was friendly and accommodating. The location was quiet and quite serene, and being so close to bird sanctuary helps as well!! One of the highlights especially for our child was the beautiful bush walk—peaceful, well-maintained, and a great way to enjoy nature. The outdoor pool was also a fantastic bonus—clean, refreshing, and perfect for unwinding after a long day. I see some people have had mixed experiences with the restaurant, but us personally enjoyed the vintage-esque vibe. We ordered parmas and a fish and chips, all of which came at a reasonable time and tasted wonderful. We would definitely stay here again!

We have been coming to Sanctuary House for many years and have always had a wonderful stay. Unfortunately a year is a long time in the hospitality business and our experience this year was nothing short of terrible. Sam & Helen still own Sanctuary House but it is now managed by a family who, quite frankly, have no idea of what they're doing. We requested help in getting to the races and Bobby very generously offered to drive us there & pick us up. He also charged us $120 for the privilege ($40 per couple) and insisted on cash, which I assume went into his pocket. In previous years Sam has taken us in the courtesy bus which used to be there, and we paid at the end of our stay via card - no mention of cash. We had booked at the restaurant for dinner as always. Bobby asked us to put our order in prior to arriving so that we wouldn't have to wait long. Myself and another friend got our meals within a reasonable time, but the other 4 members of our party had to wait 45-50 mins. One friend had ordered calamari only to be told about 40 mins after arriving that they had run out. Then probably 10 minutes after she ordered a substitute, Bobby came out and said they had 'found' some calamari, 'try it and if you don't like it you can have something else'. This doesn't even touch on the comedy of errors that surrounded the rest of the meals. Four of us stayed for a 2nd night & what happened that day was just ridiculous. To be completely honest, Fawlty Towers will have nothing on this once beautiful motel if the current management continues. I hope Sam & Helen read these reviews because what I've mentioned here is just a snippet of what happened during our weekend. We unfortunately will not return unless something drastic changes.

We were attending a wedding and found that most closer accommodation was booked out. The motel has a lengthy driveway and overall is dated, probably having been built in the mid to late 1960s or very early 1970s. The tariff of more than A$200 was expensive given it wasn't two bedrooms. However it was Saturday night, peak period for accommodation. Our standalone unit had a Queen bed in a bedroom (with a step up from ground level) and a camp bed in the general living area. Bedding was OK. The heating was just enough: not 21st century standard, and for instance not wonderful natural gas to which I'm acquainted. The grounds are attractive with many trees. No doubt there's wildlife abounding, such as Crimson or perhaps Eastern Rosellas. The kitchen was well stocked, but like the rest of the place, could do with a major renovation to bring it up to 21st century standards. Like many Australian motels, the fixtures and fittings remain as original. There was no noise during the night, a bonus. The shower was basic but worked fine. The mini bathroom was similarly just with the necessities and nothing more. From memory the amount of shelf space was poor. There was no undercover parking for our vehicle. We had minimal interaction with the lady but she was pleasant. It wasn't clear if the breakfast was free but I assumed not, as that's normal for Oz motels. It was available in the main building on the first floor if I recall, but we did not avail. Overall, adequate but not sufficient, something shared with many other motels because it doesn't seem economic to upgrade them, unlike say city hotels in Australia and many other nations.

Excellent hospitality, wonderful rooms, the food at the restaurant is sublime. So close to everything, it has everything you need and the staff could not he kinder and more willing to help. This has become a regular spot for me, and the memories created here will carry throughout generations, as I bring my family and friends too, who have also fallen in love with Healesville. Sam and Helen are the most wonderful hosts, and we now consider them friends.

We've been coming to Sanctuary House for many years. First, when our children were small and we used to visit the Sanctuary, and later without children to visit wineries, concerts and race meetings. I cannot recommend highly enough! Helen and Sam are very warm and welcoming, the rooms are clean, pool is lovely and we've had many a fun time around the bbq. The onsite restaurant serves delicious food at a reasonable cost and the breakfasts are beautiful. We often take advantage of the courtesy bus which is such a great service when you consider the amount of wineries in the Yarra Valley. We will definitely be back. Looking forward to catching up with Helen & Sam again soon!

What a wonderful relaxing location. We even had a visit from some local wildlife. The meals in the restaurant were delicious and the staff amazing. The property is in a great position if planning a trip to the sanctuary.