In 2018, Katie and Rom Lamaro purchased a run-down, five-acre property on Phillip Island. The idea was to lead a more self-sustaining lifestyle and teach their kids where food comes from. Now the couple has added three designer cabins, sharing their micro-farm with those who want to wind down in luxury on Victoria’s southeast coast.

There are three cabins on the property that sleep two adults. Named Barley, Clover and Rye, the layouts are identical but with different colour palettes. They look as though they’re straight from the pages of an architecture magazine, but the Lamaros designed every last detail themselves, from the fireplaces to the full-length shower skylights. Whether you’re in bed, relaxing in the sunken lounge or soaking in the outdoor tub, there’s always a view of Western Port Bay across the rolling farmland.

Let’s talk tubs. Each has been custom-made by Concrete Nation in different tones: cocoa, black and slate green. Deep and generously sized, they’re designed to comfortably fit two people. They’re outside but undercover on timber decking, and in winter the sun sets right in front of you. To top it off, there are 100 per cent natural, ayurvedic bath products from Rasasara Skinfood.

Aussie makers shine in the Five Acres cabins. Belle Hemming from Belle Bright Projects helped with interior decorating, curating crockery, linen and more. You might recognise ceramics from Cisco & the Sun and Country Road, but there are also pieces sourced from opportunity shops and the Lamaros home collection. SLABS by Design coffee tables sit atop sustainably designed Armadillo rugs, while light fittings come courtesy of Marz Designs in Byron.

You’d be excused for booking a stay at Five Acres just to meet Rory and Ivy, the two Scottish Highland cows with lush coats that keep the grass in order. They have help from four goats and three sheep, which the Lamaros took on as orphaned lambs. A dozen or so chooks also contribute to the compost and feed on organic food waste.

Katie also owns The Pantry, a small business specialising in grazing platters and picnic boxes. That means you can opt in for a platter on arrival that’s brimming with cured meats, cheese, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, Noisette sourdough and crackers. Breakfast is included and consists of freshly ground coffee, tea, sourdough, Gippsland Jersey milk, butter and homemade yoghurt, toasted muesli and jam. There’s a 250ml bottle of Loch Distillery gin upon arrival, but you can also add a bottle of local wine upon booking.

Sustainability is a huge focus here, with the Lamaro family working towards a closed-loop, self-sustaining system. When they first moved in, they planted a 90-tree orchard, nine massive vegetable beds and more than 500 native plants. There’s also a composting system, worm farm, solar and water tanks.

A fully functional micro-farm, Five Acres (no prizes for guessing how big it is), will eventually sell produce. Currently operating on a smaller scale to feed the family and support the business, you might spot heads of garlic, pumpkins and brassicas in winter, or stone fruit and berries in summer. The property is an eight-minute drive from the township of Cowes and only a few kilometres from Phillip Island’s famed penguin pride.

Just when you thought a stay at Five Acres couldn’t get any lusher, here’s an idea: on the way in, stop by Bass Strait Direct and pick up some ready-to-eat seafood. Pending what’s available, you might find hot smoked salmon, sashimi-grade fish, oysters or cooked prawns and lobster.

Visit Phillip Island Winery for lunch. The menu here changes regularly and is guided by local and seasonal produce, and you can taste the wine made from Gippsland grapes at the cellar door.

If you’re in the market for Seven Seeds coffee and a toastie, G’Day Tiger is on the corner of Cowes’ main street. Order the pastrami, or visit between 11am and 2pm for a bulkier chicken schnitzel sandwich.

46 Mchaffies Lane, Ventnor, VIC www.fiveacres.com.au