Reimagining Coastal Living on the Great Ocean Road

Designing with the Land, the Light, and the Rules That Shape It

There’s a certain kind of magic that comes with owning a property along the Great Ocean Road.

The light shifts differently.
The wind tells you what season you’re in.
The land doesn’t sit flat—it rises, falls, folds, and opens to views you don’t want to lose.
But with that magic comes complexity.
Steep slopes.
Bushfire overlays.
Environmental and vegetation controls.
Access challenges.
Salt, wind, water, and fire—all part of daily life.

The question isn’t “How do we build here?”

It’s “How do we belong here?”

The Wye River Reality

Wye River properties sit in one of Victoria’s most beautiful—and most demanding—landscapes.
Homes perch on ridgelines and knolls.
Blocks drop away fast.
Views are precious.

And every design decision must respect Bushfire Management Overlays, green overlays, and the natural systems already in place.

Good design here isn’t about imposing something bold.

It’s about editing, framing, and revealing.

A New Way to Think About Outdoor Space

Rather than treating outdoor areas as add-ons, the most successful Great Ocean Road projects treat them as:

• Outdoor rooms, not decks
• Sheltered moments, not exposed platforms
• Spaces that reveal themselves slowly, rather than all at once

The goal is not more structure—but better placement.

A terrace cut into the slope instead of perched above it.
A screen that filters wind and light, rather than blocks views.

Materials that feel calm and coastal, but also meet non-combustible requirements.

Designing Within the Rules — Without Losing Soul

Bushfire codes and environmental overlays don’t need to kill creativity.

In fact, they often sharpen it.

Working within these constraints encourages:

• Cleaner forms
• Smarter material choices
• Reduced clutter
• Clear edges between built and natural zones

Concrete, porcelain, steel, and fire-safe composites become tools—not compromises—when they’re used thoughtfully.
The result?

Spaces that feel quiet, confident, and intentional.

Letting the Landscape Lead

On the Great Ocean Road, the land already has a strong voice. The best projects listen first.
That might mean:

• Aligning paving with the site’s natural orientation
• Using stepped or zig-zag retaining walls for both strength and softness
• Creating shelter without enclosure
• Framing views rather than chasing them

The aim isn’t to dominate the scenery—it’s to live comfortably inside it.

What’s Possible When Design Is Site-First

When outdoor spaces are designed this way, something special happens.
They feel:

• Calm, even in wild weather
• Private, without being closed
• Functional year-round
• Grounded in their environment

They don’t shout for attention.

They invite you to stay.

This is the kind of design that ages well.
The kind that feels more right each year.
The kind that belongs to the Great Ocean Road—not just sits on it.

A Different Kind of Coastal Luxury

True luxury out here isn’t about size or spectacle.

It’s about clarity.

Knowing where to sit at sunset.
Being sheltered when the wind turns.
Using materials that will still look good after a decade of salt air and sun.
Feeling safe, without feeling fenced in.
That’s the new coastal language.
And it’s one worth speaking fluently.

If you’re thinking about reimagining a Great Ocean Road property—whether in Wye River, Lorne, Kennett River, or beyond—the most powerful designs don’t fight the landscape.

They collaborate with it.
And that’s where the real beauty begins.

Coastal outdoor living - Built with care, designed with heart.

📍 Wye River, VIC

📞 Contact Bryce Minett Landscaping to explore how we can design your ideal outdoor space—on flat land or sloped, coastal or inland.