OUR COMPASSION IN CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT

Ever since the inception of Holmwood in 1994, we have felt a very strong commitment to ensure our running of Holmwood Boutique Accommodation would not impact in a negative way on our environment, both built and natural. We wanted to create a place where guests could enjoy a peaceful stay, with as many comforts and amenities as possible, yet at the same time encourage them to be considerate towards the things so precious to us: our natural environment.

What started out as a barren nature strip abutting Holmwood on two sides has been painstakingly transformed into an oasis of (mainly) native vegetation, which in turn attracts a wide range of fauna. It is not dependant on watering to survive, as are the individual courtyard gardens of the cottages, and we are in the process of adapting the guesthouse garden to the same standard. Extensive composting of all our kitchen scraps and garden clippings ensures we have a continuous supply of nutritious feed for the garden.

Our spa baths are of such a design that they feature the benefits of bigger spas but with a drastic reduction in water usage. Of course, we always appreciate it if guests prefer not to use them at all in order to conserve water, as well as hanging their towels up to dry rather than changing them over daily. The cottages are also equipped with a removable tub in the kitchenette basin, which can be utilised to empty its contents in the garden rather than flush it down the sink!

Our cleaning products are environmentally friendly, and our guest soaps are handmade in Melbourne with natural ingredients. We do all our own laundry in order to ensure linen and towels are sun dried rather than machine dried, and are sanitised by plenty of sun and fresh air. Throughout the whole establishment we engage in an extensive recycling program, which ensures any recyclable products end up in the recycling bin rather than landfill. We were one of the first businesses in Bass Coast to attain certification in Sustainability Victoria's Waste Wise program in 2006.

We also endeavour to support local and Australian businesses. Our coffee and tea are sourced from North Queensland, our free range eggs come from happy chickens, and the majority of our supplies come from Phillip Island suppliers.