The Retreat Port Stephens

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2026

Guy

Weekend away with the partner I don’t think we could have booked a better place. Room was amazing and the location was nice, quiet and peaceful. This was just what we both needed.

Highly recommend and will be returning in the future

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Feb 2026

Andy

Our cabin was nicely presented, tastefully decorated, cosy cottage. The balcony area was large, and we were surrounded by large, peaceful gardens. Host Anthony was very considerate and welcoming. The kids spent ages in the pool and had heaps of fun. Thanks for a great holiday.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2026

Orion

Amazing place, definetly recommend it. Amazing cabin experience

Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2026

Michael

A beautiful environment to relax and a close walk to the beach. Nice and cool on a hot day due to the cabins being nestled in the forest.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2025

Juliette

Views of paperbark forest, nestled amongst the trees. Hot tub a luxurious treat & lovely deck to chill on. Great recommendations for eateries.

10/10

Exceptional

16 Nov 2025

Stephen

We had a big group so we had rented the Beach House which was more than enough for our group of 8. It came with two parking slots perfect for us and due to the location(at the end of Koala place), there is ample street parking available.

The retreat is superb, with ample greenery and space between cabins in stark contrast to other resorts in the area and just under a leisurely 10 mins walk from the beach.

On the EV charging front, there are 4 Type 2 charging ports with rating up to 22kWh.
I suggest setting up the Everty account before hand*. We had a Sea Lion 7 which charges at max 11kWh and worked fine.

They also provide equipment for sand boarding and other water activities, so honestly you save a lot of cash on that front.

*- We had a slight issue charging our EV on the first night, but it worked the next morning. At this point I can only guess our account which was created minutes before attempting to charge at the time was the issue. More importantly the hosts were always available to help diagnose the issue, he even got a neighbour to test the charger.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Oct 2025

Lothar

It’s a beautiful place..cabins are great and good location

10/10

Exceptional

27 Sep 2025

John

Great stay

Business

10/10

Exceptional

18 Aug 2025

Belinda

The stay was amazing. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. Will be back for sure

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Aug 2025

Amanda

Cosy

Cost place hidden in the trees. Fantastic deep spa.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jul 2025

Jessica

I loved being hidden away in the trees with nature. Everything about this place was amazing. I would highly recommend staying here

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2025

Hammad

Just the overall vibes and location

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

21 Jun 2025

Diane

TV didn’t work, shower head was loose and you had to hold it to shower, requested and confirmed at booking a specific room but not available on check in. Owner was friendly but 4th time staying and not the same as previous times and probably won’t stay again.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2025

Po

Overall, it is a good place to stay for Port Stephens holidays. The only

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Apr 2025

Ian

Great place to stay

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2025

Maria

We really enjoy our stay here. A very quiet area surrounded by wonderful nature. Perfect to relax. The spa bath was exceptional, just gutted we couldn’t use it on the last day because of a storm. We didn’t have a car so moving around seemed challenging, however, the local bus services run every hour, so with careful planning you can explore the area even without your own vehicle. The host was super nice and always happy to help and his senior dog for me was probably the best thing about the entire experience. This lovely pup came to chill with us and nap on the porch, and she gave us so much love! Wish I could have stayed longer, this place absolutely deserves a visit. When in the area don’t forget to visit One Mile Beach, Shoal Bay, Fingal Bay, and Nelson Bay.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2025

suzanne

I loved the serenityWe were met by the . was really informative and polite.Facilities are great. Ifyou take some groceries you can cook on the deck and not leave at all.The spa was beautiful at night where you can sit in there and watch the possums come down to eat.Highly recommend to stay here.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Feb 2025

Edmund

The Wanderer’s Retreat is an eco-friendly and perfect retreat accommodation suitable for families, couples and groups. The property is nestled in a serene rainforest environment and a short walk to One Mile Beach. We stayed in a self-contained tree house cottage with a spa bath that could fit at least two adults. We had a well-appointed, clean and spacious unit with a private parking space underneath for one vehicle. More remarkably than ever, we had a comfortable and relaxing one-night stay. We needed peace and quiet, and we got what we wished for. The queen bed was large for a couple and conducive to a good night sleep. Room amenities had a balance of luxury and environment sustainability. Foremost, our host Antony presented as a warm and friendly person who reflected the laidback Australian hospitality that we love and revere so much. This property is the place to be for a straightforward rest-and-relax staycation without breaking the bank!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Feb 2025

Yan

This is a great place for an escape into the rainforest. The cabin we had is with two bedrooms and a private hot tub. The kids had so much fun with the hot tub.
We had lots of rain during our stay. Overnight we can hear the sound of the rain in the quiet woods. It just felt so nice.
This place is also within walking discount to one mile beach. We went to the beach each afternoon during our stay. Kids enjoyed looking for crabs and playing with sands and water.
Within a very short few minutes drive we could go to sand boarding places,dauphin watch cruise and koala sanctuary. No effort at all for driving.
Before I booked i saw some reviews saying the place is not clean or the toilet smelt bad. But it didn’t happen to our cabin at all. Our cabin is well cleaned before we went in. Toilet also had no bad smell at all. The cabin is a bit old but that is within our expectations.
The only thing we would want for an upgrade is the dinning table. It is a small table for 4 people and we have 5 of us so we can not have dinner together.
But apart from that everything else is perfect and we highly recommend it for everyone who wants a quite escape into the rain forest.

The property manager is very nice and polite.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jan 2025

Justine

Relaxing getaway

We really enjoyed our stay in the 4 bedroom beach cottage.The rainforest setting and the spa was so relaxing. We had everything we needed to be comfortable and it's in a great location away from the crowds but just a short walk to the beach. I would definitely stay again.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

12 Jan 2025

Lisa

Beautiful nature, quiet, convenient to One Mile Beach. Antony was helpful. Facilities were comfortable.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2025

Shiri

Great stay

Wonderful place, boathouse was so spacious and comfortable. very very clean. Manger really nice with lots of useful tips. Kids loved the pool, beach was near by. Highly rerecorded!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Nov 2024

Hardin

Such a beautiful spot

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2024

karen

I would highly recommend this property it is in a serene peaceful and tranquil place to stay
Cabins are beautiful and very comfortable

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Oct 2024

Liane

Private. Loved the wildlife. Relaxing atmosphere

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Oct 2024

Wayne

Very quiet & relaxing

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Sep 2024

Kiran

Amazing stay inside forest area. Comfortable and clean

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jul 2024

Jagdeep

Very nice, clean and quite place to stay. We loved our stay and will definitely go again:)

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2024

Kevin

Wanderers retreat tree house accommodation was clean and amazing. Better than what the pictures are displayed on expedia.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Apr 2024

Amelia

The wanderers retreat is a lovely spot. We will definitely be back. It was only a short drive to the town centre but felt like you were out in your own private rainforest. There was so much wildlife. A magpie family that visit several times a day, kookaburras and even a couple of cheeky possums.

Business_and_leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

28 Mar 2024

Patrica

sereness
lush trees nice cottage

10/10

Exceptional

03 Mar 2024

Gerard

Peace and quiet and within a drive to so many great attractions.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Feb 2024

Renee

Prefect place to sit back and relax. Close by to everything you'd need and an easy walk to the beach. Will be staying again that is for sure.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

26 Feb 2024

Holly

Gorgeous accomodation and very polite service

6/10

Pleasant

10 Dec 2023

Christos

3/5 because we had to kill 3 cockroaches in our first hour there. They were coming out of the dishwasher and we had to stuff a towel to keep them from coming. Definitely something the owner should address. I understand it's a nature reserve and you will get some bugs but to have the cockroaches coming like that is not normal. Also, it would be good if there was a fan in the bedrooms.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

02 Dec 2023

Amanda

The environment was beautiful and quiet with no road noise which allowed you to hear the lovely sound of local bird life. We feel this property was once upon a time a little slice of luxury. While it seems to be still priced for luxury, it’s a little tired and very dated. Blinds and bathroom grout were mouldy, the furniture lacquer was sticky, the kitchen cupboards had a funky smell, the mattress was not the most comfortable and the kitchen utilities are in need of an update. The owner advised on arrival that the previous owners had removed a main window blind which meant the morning sun shined directly onto your face in bed when it rose. We wouldn’t have booked had we known this. We simply think it was overpriced for what it offers.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Sep 2023

Joshua

Spa was amazing at night time, looking up at the stars. Possums were very friendly followed us around everywhere & eat out of your hands.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 Feb 2023

Greg

Very peaceful location.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

29 Jan 2023

Karen

We stayed with our three children for four nights. We were surprised by what we found - a very basic cabin with a drop toilet (not the luxury accommodation and composting toilet that was advertised). Initially, the owners were very nice but things started to go downhill. Beds are very uncomfortable. Since the units aren't cleaned regularly, the toilet started to have bugs, and the smell became much more noticeable. I did two loads of washing...despite the fact that they advertise a communal laundry, the female owner was extremely passive aggressive and locked the laundry door behind me when I left. It remained locked for the entirety of the next day and the next morning. There were a number of families staying at the property and some of the children had broken a fabric thing hanging over the pool and the male owner marched up to my husband and said \"I'm pretty sure your children are the ones who destroyed this\". It was definitely a group effort among all the children, and the blame doesn't rest solely on us. But, if you have accommodation that children are staying at, you can't blame them for making a game out of something flashy you have hanging over the pool. We felt so uncomfortable that we actually discussed leaving a night early. The beach nearby was wonderful and the setting was lovely. Shame about the owners and the false advertisement of the accommodation.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jan 2023

Laura

Perfect, quiet bush land setting with an easy walk to the beach plus access to on site pool and private spa. Would absolutely stay again.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2022

Graham

Rainforest setting close to surf beach

A set of well spaced private feeling accommodations in original rainforest. Wildlife including possums and a large sizers on our path came free.
Very comfortable beds. Good Weber bbq. We made good use of the hot tub. The owners were very friendly and gave lots of helpful travel advice.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 May 2022

Corey

Beautiful location, great amenities

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2021

Verified traveler

Beautiful location - lovely unique accomodation. Reasonably priced too.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jul 2020

MIKE

Same as the photos, good bush setting. Very nice manager. Towels, sheets and everything very good condition.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

25 Jan 2020

Suzanne

Nice hideaway

Great bush cabin, self contained, secluded enough and private, nice pool, lovely hosts, good water pressure and easy walk to One Mile Beach or quick drive if you have a tent or chairs. So close to shopping, eateries, attractions and other beaches. We were pleasantly surprised to discover camel rides on nearby Birubi Beach and it was amazing costing AUD $30 adults and 25 for children for around 20 minutes, no booking, just show up starts from 10am. Birdsong and welcome visits by the friendly magpies and night visits by the possums, only thing is the bed was quite hard and only a 2 seater couch which we found uncomfortable. Of course there's those pesky mosquitoes, but you are in a bush setting so that's expected but nothing that a spray of Mortein can't fix.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Private cabin surrounded by trees and soothing garden spaces. Short walk to One Mile Beach and regular visits from friendly magpies

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Aug 2019

Verified traveler

The most relaxing down to earth properties I have the experience of visiting. Staff extremely friendly & would go over & above to help any issue. I certainly will be visiting again.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

Very peaceful place and very relaxing stay,The tree house was perfect for couples it had everything we needed with added wildlife making a visit at night.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Apr 2018

Verified traveler

Beautiful Retreat - home away from home

Absolutely amazing trip away - Wanderers Retreat was the most delightful surprise. Our cabin was snuggled into bushy surrounds - close enough to other cabins to not feel isolated, but far enough away that we barely saw or heard another person whilst there. The surrounding nature has grown up and been cleared just enough to make way for safe walking tracks, wide manicured lawns perfect for kids to play, all while enjoying a wall of flowers, bushes and trees. My kids enjoyed the treasure hunt of finding bird baths, possum boxes, and assorted flowers in the little world around them, & we were all thrilled to find a sparkling in ground pool in the middle of all that.
Our cabin was the perfect setup for a family of 5 - clean with just what you need to enjoy a trip away (although having only 4 plates left us perplexed for a few minutes!). I was able to cook meals every night for my family, but still feel on holiday with a dishwasher, spa bath, and nightly possum visitors who excited everyone by being content to nibble at grapes while the kids had a pat.
The owners were friendly and made us feel right at home with detailed and personal directions to local items of interest, an Easter visit, and personally hand walking us to our cabin in the dark upon arrival.
There was NO Optus mobile reception where we were (yay?!) and very little Telstra. Wanderers Retreat gave ungrudging and unlimited WIFI coverage - no phone calls but plenty of recreation time

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 Mar 2018

k

Lovely place

Had a lovely stay here. 6 nights in s spa cottage. Our family thoroughly out time there. The owners were great, so nice to chat to. Loved thebush setting and the gorgeous possums that visited our deck and back door each night. Our daughter squealed with delight each time she saw them.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Mar 2018

Sebbie

Wonderful break

We stayed for the weekend in a tree house, a truly unique experience. Clean and comfortable. The extra personal touches (champagne, chocolates, port and bath robes) was really nice. Best of both worlds, The bush and the beach just across the road. Perfect weekend !!

8/10

Excellent

06 Mar 2018

Verified traveler

New owners very attentive & accommodating, they are very enthusiastic to add their own special touch & improve on an already lovely place to stay.
We had a relaxing few days. Nice & quiet, close to beach.

8/10

Excellent

18 Feb 2018

Caitlin

Loved it!

We just spent the weekend here and loved it. The cabin was gorgeous- spacious and comfortable (with a spa bath!) and in such a relaxing environment. It was really nice to sit on the deck with some wine and cheese, listening to the sounds of the bush.
Close to the beach and the town. The owners are lovely and very helpful; Vivian spent some time telling us the best places to go around the area.
Overall we had a fantastic, relaxing weekend here and can't wait to come back!

8/10

Excellent

13 Feb 2018

Verified traveler

We stayed in the Treehouse. Fantastic, quiet, close to nearby shops and beaches. Had a compost toilet which was actually quite clean, no troubles. Room was a bit dusty and had some cobwebs but was still great. Only downside was the downstairs smelled a bit and had lots of dead leaves contributing to that. But honestly wasn’t bad! Would stay again :)

10/10

Exceptional

26 Nov 2017

Michelle

Great accommodation- close to beach and facilities

Enjoyed a great stay at Wanderers Retreat - being so close to beach was a bonus with two young children and cabin was extremely comfortable with the added bonus of a spa bath that was enjoyed by all - nice quiet location and not a far drive to other beaches and attractions in the Nelson Bay area - would highly recommend this accommodation and will definitely be staying there in the future when we visit the area

10/10

Exceptional

10 Nov 2017

Verified traveler

love the animals!

Really nice location, close to everything - the lovely animals and peace and quiet was amazing!

10/10

Exceptional

29 Sep 2017

Swiss Family

Nice place in the nature

A warm welcome, nice chat with owners giving good tips and showing us the wild life around us. So cooooool
Room was good and comfortable.
We were sad to leave this place but we will be back soon for sure.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Aug 2017

Meena

Beautiful Cozy Getaway

Steph welcomed us and helped us in check in, the room was clean, neat and tidy. The owners are very helpful. Very near to the beach and you are with nature, fresh air and hear the birds. I would definitely go back and I have already recommended to my Friend.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2017

Verified traveler

Lovely escape getaway!

A wonderful place to go for a couples getaway. The owners are beautiful and the treehouse room was adorable. Would go back in a heartbeat.
Wonderful tip from the owners is the local recommendations, especially boat harbour headland just round the corner, where you can watch the humpback whales migrate past (very close to the shore!).

Partner

2/10

Poor

09 Jul 2017

Jaimi

Not worth the price

I paid $430 for the Eco Cottage (with hot tub) for 2 nights. The cottage is very small, with my partner and 2 kids it felt very squishy. The linen was extremely outdated, it was clean (but very old fashioned). The Pit toilets weren't what I expected with the price I paid. They should advertise that they use these as not everyone would be comfortable with them, as a matter of fact my 2 young children were scared to use it.
Not a place for kids. I have a 3 & 5 year old, and expected to be able to take them for a bike ride, park etc. none of that. Its beautiful location surrounded by trees, but I wouldn't suggest it for young children. The parking was a pain. We thought you could park at your cabin, but it was across in a bay, with 2 other cars. So we had to carry our push bikes in from the car every night, and it was very tight space to get in/out. It felt very dirty and the TV signal kept dropping in and out. We had no mobile reception. They do offer free wifi, however this drops in & out also. The staff were extremely helpful & nice, can't fault them. Overall, for the price I am disappointed and wouldn't go back. It made me feel dirty & like I said, it's very old/outdated, overpriced and very small... I was looking forward to leaving to go home have a hot shower.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jun 2017

amy

Fantastic location, service and an amazing beach house. Highly recommend!

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2017

Verified traveler

Great hotel

The property exceeded our expectations. The staff where so helpful and welcoming. It's close to everything and so peaceful. Would highly recommend this place to anyone who was looking for a getaway that's close to home.

8/10

Excellent

24 May 2017

claire

A nice little getaway from the city

Wanderer's retreat was a nice little place where you could wind down from your busy city life.
It was within walking distance of some restaurants, and the staff were plesant to deal with.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 May 2017

Leila

Eco luxury

Wonderful comfortable hotel, perfect to for a romantic getaway to escape the city and get back to nature. All the luxury trimmings surrounded by beautiful bush and close to the beach. 10minutes away from the bay and all it's tourist offerings. Definitely will stay again.

10/10

Exceptional

30 Mar 2017

Verified traveler

Great location, close to beach. Nice and quiet. Good, comfortable room

8/10

Excellent

15 Mar 2017

James

Wanderers Retreat

Great for relaxation. Secluded location which is a good to get away from the hustle and bustle of busy towns.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Feb 2017

Ann

Very peaceful.

I really enjoyed the wanderers Retreat. The place is very quiet of human sounds which is exactly what I like as I cannot bear loud noisy people and music and radios, TVs etc or banging, cars revving etc.
It is noisy at night here but it is the sounds of the bush.. nature at its best.
The only drawback with wanderers retreat is that it too far to walk to anywhere but one mile beach. You definitely need a car if you stay here.

8/10

Excellent

31 Jan 2017

Hanspreet

Great place to explore nature

Great place, and location, has some issues with the AC, but it was a combination of lights not working on the AC and my understanding of it .

Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

Very relaxing get away from normality and just chill

2/10

Poor

15 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

-

Our stay was great until we received an email after we had checked out. One of the members of our group was not feeling well the night before, and we had asked for a later check-out so that we could spend a bit more time cleaning up the place after a long night taking care of the. We were advised that this was not possible, and of course we understood. We were rushing to clean up the room and return it to its original state, but as we had just washed the dishes we couldn't put them away since there were not dry, and we didn't get around to cleaning a drainer and a pair of tongs. We were charged a cleaning fee without any sort of warning and even after explaining our situation no leniency was afforded despite the rest of the room being returned to its original state. We were treated with insensitivity, inflexibility and this incident ruined what had otherwise been an enjoyable trip.

Family

8/10

Excellent

11 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

lovely spot in one mile

Really lovely spot to stay away from hustle and bustle of busy holiday people. Staff v friendly and helpful.
The cabin was clean, had everything we needed and the closeness of pool and beach was excellent.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

Fantastic retreat, amazing hosts, highly recommend

Booked on short notice for a getaway, and that's exactly what we got - an amazing relaxing getaway. Port Stephens is a beautiful area and the Wanderers Retreat was a great escape. So much better than the generic hotels & motels. This place has great canbins, very comfortable and the hosts go out of their way to help you maximise your experience.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Dec 2016

Jane

Romantic Little Getaway

I stayed at Wanderers Retreat for a quick 2 night get away with my boyfriend. We chose this place because of the unique cabins and close proximity to One Mile Beach in Port Stephens. Our host Jane was lovely and respected our privacy. She was also kind enough to introduce us to a local koala who had taken up residency in the property.

We stayed in a Spa Cottage which was cosy and had everything we needed. The beach is approximately 7 minutes walk and Anna Bay shops are a quick drive down the road. I would absolutely recommend booking this property if you visit Port Stephens and want to get away from all the tourist hot spots.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Nov 2016

dory

Best romantic break

Fantastic place to stay , owners Ian and Jane could not do enough for us during our stay . The koalas and possums we saw just topped the trip off .

10/10

Exceptional

17 Sep 2016

Pam & Trev

Serenity in the treetops

This location is uniquely positioned in the tree canopy of a koala habitat.The wildlife is plentiful in such a tranquil setting. Close to the beach and all sorts of water sports as well as all the sightseeing and activities there are to see in Port Stephens.
Certainly one of the most peaceful and restful holiday locations ever.

Partner