About

Overview & Vibe

196 acres of private bushland overlooking the Pennyroyal Valley in the Otway Ranges, on Gadubanud Country — 25 minutes from Lorne, an hour from Geelong. Run by Nicole and Ryan Dodson as a DIY wedding venue where everyone stays: five self-contained cottages, a Lodge and a rainforest campground sleeping up to 60.

Setting & Style

Ceremonies go on the Lodge lawn above the valley, in the Enchanted Garden — an intimate forest setting among tree ferns and towering eucalypts — or inside the Hall in bad weather. The Lodge and Hall are the heart of the weekend, with a commercial kitchen, a deck over the valley and outdoor areas to spread into. There are horses, donkeys and alpacas on the property, and dogs are welcome.

Ideal For

Couples who want a whole weekend rather than an afternoon, who are happy to bring their own suppliers, and who like the idea of guests waking up on the property and having breakfast together the next morning.

The Need-to-Knows

Amplified music is permitted inside the Hall only — not outdoors at all — and all music must finish by 11pm. This is an approved noise management condition, not a preference.
Full weddings require exclusive use for a minimum of two nights.
The Hall seats 80; a marquee beside it takes the celebration to 120.
It is a DIY venue — you choose the suppliers, food, flowers and timetable. Every external supplier must carry public liability insurance.
A midweek micro-wedding package is $5,190 for up to 14 guests, including two nights, a celebrant, the legal paperwork and two hours of photography.
It is a bushfire-prone rural property, and the terms say so: fire danger ratings are force majeure and guests must comply with evacuation directions.
The venue holds a Certificate of Compliance for approved wedding and function use.

Standout Feature

A forest ceremony clearing under tree ferns, then everyone walks back to their own cottage.

Amenities

196 Acres Of Private Bushland
Pennyroyal Valley Views
The Lodge And Hall
Commercial Kitchen
Deck Overlooking The Valley
Enchanted Garden Forest Ceremony Site
Forest Arbour And Swing
Rainforest Campground
Marquee Site Beside The Hall
Exclusive Use Of The Property
Five Self Contained Cottages
Accessible Cottage
Dogs Welcome
Farm Animals Including Horses Donkeys And Alpacas
Bush Walking Tracks
Infrared Sauna
Backup Generator
Certificate Of Compliance For Wedding Use
Access And Inclusion Statement
Award Winning Diy Wedding Venue
Chauffeur Driven Property Transport

Ceremony Setting

lawn
forest
rainforest
garden
outdoor
indoor
arbour
bushland
hall

Dietary Options Supported

No details available.

Nearby Landmarks

Pennyroyal Valley – The valley the property overlooks
Otway Ranges – The range the property sits in
Deans Marsh – Ten minutes away, per the venue's own directions
Lorne – Twenty-five minutes, per the venue
Winchelsea – Twenty-five minutes
Colac – Twenty-five minutes
Geelong – One hour
Melbourne – An hour and a half from the CBD
Gentle Annie Berry Farm – A landmark on the venue's own driving directions

On Site Accommodation

Five self-contained cottages plus the Lodge and a rainforest campground
Accommodation for up to 60 guests depending on bedding and campground conditions
Mannagum Cottage, described by the venue as its accessible cottage
Bluegum Cottage
Aquila Cottage
Windmill Cottage
Blackwood Cottage
The Lodge, with commercial kitchen, deck and Hall adjoining
Rainforest campground
Minimum two nights' exclusive use for a full wedding
Dogs welcome

Price Notes

THE ONLY PRICE PUBLISHED IS THE MICRO-WEDDING PACKAGE, AND IT IS A WHOLE-PACKAGE FIGURE RATHER THAN A PER-HEAD RATE (§68): 'Package price. Total package price: $5,190.' It covers 'Available Monday to Thursday for weddings of up to 14 guests. Packages for slightly larger groups are also available by arrangement.'
THE MICRO PACKAGE IS ITEMISED IN FULL, which is unusual at this price point. ACCOMMODATION AND VENUE: 'Two nights' accommodation and venue hire in the Lodge and Hall. Tables and chairs for up to 14 guests. Access to the Lodge's commercial kitchen. Crockery, cutlery and glassware. Commercial glasswasher. Rubbish removal and cleaning. Backup generator in the event of a power outage.' CEREMONY: 'Consultation about ceremony locations, ideas and trusted local suppliers. Experienced local celebrant. A simple registry-style ceremony. Preparation and lodgement of all required legal paperwork with Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria. Assistance with including personal vows, if desired. Forest arbour and swing. Six wooden pews for ceremony seating. Signing table and chairs. Indoor wet-weather ceremony option.' PHOTOGRAPHY AND TRANSPORT: 'Up to two hours of professional photography. Up to 100 edited digital images. Access to beautiful valley, forest and rainforest photography locations. Chauffeur-driven CF Moto transport for the wedding couple and photographer. CF Moto transport for the wedding party. Assistance transporting elderly or less mobile guests to and from the ceremony location.'
A LEGAL LEAD TIME IS STATED: 'Bookings must be made at least five weeks before the ceremony to allow the required Notice of Intended Marriage to be completed in accordance with the Marriage Act 1961.'
FULL WEDDINGS ARE NOT PRICED - no hire fee, minimum spend or package rate appears anywhere for a full wedding. The weddings page ends 'Contact Us for a Wedding Kit' and 'For full booking details, deposits and policies, please read our Wedding Terms & Conditions.'
THE NOISE CONDITION IS THE HARDEST CONSTRAINT AND IS NOT NEGOTIABLE: 'Under King Parrot's approved noise management requirements, amplified music is permitted inside the Hall only. Amplified music is not permitted outdoors, and all music must finish by 11 p.m. These conditions help us protect the peace and natural environment of the Pennyroyal Valley.' The terms reinforce it: 'All events must comply with the Venue's Noise Policy and applicable EPA regulations.' A couple planning an outdoor band or a late reception needs to read this first.
EXCLUSIVE USE IS MANDATORY AND MULTI-NIGHT: 'Full weddings require exclusive use of King Parrot for a minimum of two nights.'
IT IS EXPLICITLY DIY, AND CATERING IS THE COUPLE'S: 'As a flexible DIY wedding venue in the Otways, you can choose your own suppliers, styling and approach, while we provide practical guidance and share our knowledge of the property'; 'King Parrot allows you to choose the suppliers, food, flowers, styling and timetable that best suit you. We can also share trusted local supplier recommendations.' NO CATERER IS NAMED, no menu exists and no dietary information is published, so dietary_options_supported is NULL as not-published (§73). Cocktail receptions commonly use food trucks, per the venue.
SUPPLIER AND STYLING TERMS ARE SPECIFIC: 'All external suppliers must: hold current public liability insurance, comply with Venue requirements. The Venue accepts no responsibility for supplier performance or conduct.' And: 'No fixtures, fittings or structures may be installed without prior approval. The hirer is responsible for all styling, decorations and their removal.'
PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION TERMS, WITH NO FIGURES: 'A non-refundable deposit is required to secure the booking... A security bond is payable prior to the event. The Venue may apply the bond toward any damage, loss, excessive cleaning, or breach of these Terms.' On cancellation: 'the deposit is non-refundable; further payments may be forfeited. Any refund is at the sole discretion of the Venue.' Neither the deposit nor the bond is quantified.
BUSHFIRE RISK IS DISCLOSED IN THE TERMS, WHICH IS RARE AND RESPONSIBLE: 'The hirer acknowledges that the Venue is located in a bushfire-prone area. The Venue shall not be liable for any failure or delay due to events beyond its control, including but not limited to fire danger ratings, extreme weather or government restrictions. All guests must comply with evacuation directions.' And: 'The Venue is a rural bush property. Guests acknowledge inherent risks including uneven terrain, wildlife and natural hazards.'
THE VENUE PUBLISHES ITS PLANNING APPROVAL: 'King Parrot holds a Certificate of Compliance confirming the approved use of the property for weddings and functions, giving couples confidence that they are booking an established and approved wedding venue.' Very few venues in this campaign state this.
AWARDS ARE NAMED AND DATED: winner in the 'DIY Wedding Venue and Boutique Wedding Accommodation categories' at the Surf Coast Wedding Industry Awards, and 'a 2026 Easy Weddings Five-Star Award winner.'
RULE 8 CHECKED: owner-operated by Nicole and Ryan Dodson on a single property, footer 'Copyright 2022 King Parrot Cottages & Event Centre'. No group. NO STRUCTURED PRICING DATA.