Describe access with details people can use
A useful accommodation access page explains the journey from parking to bedroom without making assumptions about the guest.
Let the guest make the decision
Parks Victoria’s park accessibility information is organised to help visitors assess locations against their own requirements. Accommodation hosts can apply that principle: describe the physical environment precisely enough for someone to decide whether it works for them. A single “accessible” badge cannot explain the route to a bathroom, the space beside a bed or the surface between parking and the entrance.
Start at the arrival point
Walk the route from the usual parking or drop-off position to the front door. Record surface changes, slopes, steps, gates and thresholds. Note whether the route is exposed to weather and whether lighting is available after dark. Photograph the route in order and give each image a descriptive caption. Avoid a flattering angle that hides the very step a visitor needs to know about.
Describe the spaces that matter
For the bedroom and bathroom, provide measurements that you have actually checked, explaining what each measurement refers to. Distinguish a doorway’s clear opening from its overall frame width. State whether furniture can be moved and whether equipment must be requested in advance. If you have not assessed a feature, say so and offer a way to ask. Do not infer suitability for a particular disability from a room’s appearance.
Include sensory and communication information
Noise, lighting and check-in arrangements can affect a stay as much as steps. Explain whether arrival is self-service, whether instructions are available in writing and how a guest can contact someone. Describe unavoidable sounds or shared spaces plainly. A request for practical information should not require a guest to disclose a diagnosis. Ask what information or arrangement would help.
Maintain the page after changes
Review access information whenever paths, furniture, locks or bathrooms change. Keep dated photographs and measurements together so a staff member can answer consistently. Link to park-specific information for nearby outings rather than extending your property’s access description to the surrounding area. This is a communication framework, not an access certification; professional assessment may be appropriate for claims you intend to make.
Sources & further reading
Primary sources used for this guide. Practical arrangements can change; follow the official source for current details.
Researched from the linked sources, with editorial interpretation and practical suggestions. No visit, interview or product test is claimed. Our editorial standards.
Put the ideas to work.
Build a room-by-room shoot brief. Keep the details that will help a guest understand the stay.
Open stay photography planner ↗