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The hideaway of your dreams nestled high up on the edge of an ancient rainforest. With only two cottages this secluded retreat offers peace and privacy, helping you to escape the stresses of everyday life whilst admiring the beauty of a rainforest teaming with wildlife. Whether its a romantic getaway or a relaxing break with friends and family, Red Dog Retreat is the place for you. We also welcome your dogs.Only a 15 minute drive to both Kangaroo Valley and Berry, where you will find great shops, cafes and restaurants. Another 10 minutes will take you to Seven Mile Beach.You can snuggle up in front of the wood burning stove or have a barbeque on the verandah while keeping an eye out for the local wombats, wallabies and birdlife. After that take time out to soak up the atmosphere in our spa...The hideaway of your dreams nestled high up on the edge of an ancient rainforest. With only two cottages this secluded retreat offers peace and privacy, helping you to escape the stresses of everyday life whilst admiring the beauty of a rainforest teaming with wildlife. Whether its a romantic getaway or a relaxing break with friends and family, Red Dog Retreat is the place for you. We also welcome your dogs.Only a 15 minute drive to both Kangaroo Valley and Berry, where you will find great shops, cafes and restaurants. Another 10 minutes will take you to Seven Mile Beach.You can snuggle up in front of the wood burning stove or have a barbeque on the verandah while keeping an eye out for the local wombats, wallabies and birdlife. After that take time out to soak up the atmosphere in our spa baths or have a massage from a therapist that will visit the cottage, before hitting the sack to recharge the batteries and awaken to the sound of native birdsong, welcoming in the next day. Both cottages have two bedrooms and are designed with a rustic feel to blend in with the tranquil rainforest setting. To compliment this each is furnished with an array of eclectic furniture providing all the creature comforts of home. The main bedrooms have ceiling fans and French doors opening up onto the verandah to catch the cool summer breezes. Whilst during the winter months you can enjoy the warmth of the wood burning stove in the cozy living room. With mountains and beaches virtually at your front door there is an endless list of activities to entertain you during your stay. All this can be yours in just over 2 hours drive from both Sydney or Canberra so why not book your next escape today! Please indicate if you want linen to be supplied for $50 when making a booking and also indicate if you are bringing a dog.
House Rules
Pet-friendlyKid friendlyNo smoking
No more that 4 guests can stay at any one time. No parties are permitted. Pets are not allowed on the furniture or in the bedrooms. No outside fires at any time. Absolutely no smoking indoors.
Fabulous weekend getaway for the family. The cottage is lovely and has everything you need, including good quality amenities and all the bits and pieces you need for a bbq like salt, pepper, sauces, oil, etc. Plenty of blankets, heater and fireplace for the cooler months.
The surrounding bush is gorgeous and constantly singing with bird songs. On a little walk through the bush we spotted a kangaroo and wombat which the kids loved. The outlook from the verandah is lovely, and very peaceful for just reading a book and enjoying the bush sounds.
The beds are very comfortable, kitchen well equipped and great shower and bath in the bathroom. Love the corrugated iron adorning the walls in the bathroom and toilet room. Completely pitch black at night with no street lights or buildings nearby to light up the sky. Mobile reception was never an issue (Telstra).
Host is friendly and available if needed, but also non-intrusive and respecting of your privacy. Property was easy to find following the directions provided, and the drive up the mountain is very pretty with some great views over the valley.
Definitely recommend a stay at Red Dog Retreat, I have no doubt we will make a return visit.
Visited January 2024
Written January 20, 2024. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rika W
1 contribution
Picture perfect
Red Dog Retreat has been our favourite holiday house since we moved to Canberra 5 years ago. It’s easy to get to with no traffic all the way. The moment we head down the steep but well paved driveway towards the property, all the stress of our city/work life starts fading away. It’s a peaceful forest getaway with their picture perfect cabins even with some of the typical country property imperfections some people here pointed out. The steps going up to the cabins may be slightly uneven because they are made from natural timber or stones! The cabins do have everything we need and much more including the stunning surrounding scenery. It sits on 18 acres of pristine rainforest so if you put your walking boots on and step in it’s perfectly accessible and you will find yourself amongst the beautiful forest alive with wildlife and ancient looking flora. It even comes with a guide on which nearby area you may be able to spot some wombats. So we highly recommend that you don’t worry about trivial things but come relax and enjoy the beauty this place offers.
Visited November 2023
Written November 11, 2023. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
lizincan
Canberra, Australia13 contributions
Peaceful, private, charming....but disappointing
When booking a holiday accommodation, I rely on reviews. Judging from most of the reviews, Red Dog Retreat is a lovely place to stay. However, I feel that a few issues need to be pointed out, so that others may make a more informed decision regarding their choice of holiday rentals, as it’s disappointing when expectations are not met.
• No hand towel or fabric bath mat. (We paid extra for linen to be supplied.)
• Wooden mat for bathroom floor was dangerous - I nearly tripped backwards on it as I stepped away from the basin.
• Front door was a struggle to lock/unlock.
• Toilet door could not be closed, let alone locked.
• Knob on the bathroom door came off.
• Double beds are very small.
• Cobwebs above dining table. There was a chipped mug.
• Secluded and private, but most of the property is not accessible for walking.
• The shower is in the spa bath, which is a high step-over to get into.
• The property is somewhat run-down and maintenance issues need to be addressed.
• The steps into the cottages are uneven in height. Uneven flooring inside the cottages are trip hazards.
However, there was good communication - when we informed the owner that we had left something behind, she went out of her way to post it back to us.
Visited June 2023
Written July 9, 2023. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Reddogretreat
I'm sorry that I missed you posting this review. It's always very sad when we don't meet peoples expectations. However, we do market Red Dog as being a rustic experience. I am a little concerned that you didn't see the rustic nature of the building regarding steps, shower over bath etc. The beds are photographed realistically for you to see the size - we would replace with larger beds if the room size would allow. The forest we live in is as nature intended and it is possible to walk in it. However, we can't advise people to do so for the sake of safety reasons. It's impossible to ensure there are no fallen/falling trees, there are hidden dams, endangered wildlife and no easy to walk tracks. The nature of the forest ensures a haven for much of our wild animals.
I apologise for the front door sticking. Unfortunately wood expands and contracts with the weather. The chipped mug was an oversight and most unfortunate, as was the lack of hand towel. However, both could have been remedied had you let me know on arrival. It is unusual, as you probably saw, for us to get less than good reviews and I'm sorry we didn't meet your expectations.
Written November 15, 2023. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ryan C
Sydney, Australia1 contribution
A new family favourite
My family of 4 spent a very comfortable long weekend here. The cottage was clean and rustic with personality hidden in every corner. Amazing rainforest location with wildlife scurrying by and only a 15 minute drive to Berry or Kangaroo Valley. Sally, the owner, was very responsive and welcoming.
Do yourself a favour and experience this hidden gem. We will be back.
Visited July 2022
Written July 10, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Megs H
Te Anau, New Zealand10 contributions
Ms
We had four adults and 3 small dogs for a lovely weekend away. Everything was lovely and clean. Easy to get around and the fire at night was lovely.
Visited March 2020
Written March 10, 2020. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Traveler35506790923
1 contribution
Beautiful Cottages in Stunning Surroundings
A group of friends and I had the best weekend stay here. The cottages had everything we needed and had lovely little personal touches by the owner. Extremely comfortable stay and our favourite part was sitting out on the deck watching the sun set to a magnificent back-drop. Our host was excellent and responded to our questions promptly. I would highly recommend this spot for a relaxing break away.
Visited November 2018
Written December 6, 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Connector811643
1 contribution
Beautiful forest setting overlooking valley
This was the perfect setting for resting after stressful year, a pet friendly small cottage with everything required for comfort. The birdlife was amazing and although I was only there for three nights, I saw wombats, lyrebirds and an echidna. It really is important to drive slowly on the mountain, both of the occasions I saw the lyrebirds and echidna, they were foraging right at the side of the road.
Visited October 2018
Written October 27, 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Danielle S
2 contributions
Perfect weekend away
What a magic spot! I took my partner here for his birthday and we had the best weekend at this beautiful, cosy cabin in the forest. Amazing view over the valley, comfy beds, fireplace, barbecue on the verandah, the cabin had absolutley everything we needed - and even better that we got to take our own red dog with us, who loved exploring the property. Sally went above and beyond to make our stay wonderful, and we can't wait to come back here again and again!
Visited August 2018
Written August 26, 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jblaikie
6 contributions
Lovely place to unwind
Spent four glorious nights here, so quiet and peaceful. Just what my husband and I needed, and coming from QLD in Feb, it was oh so cool!! Even though the cottage is quite small, there is everything and more that you need.
Communication with Sally was exceptional, very prompt when booking.
My biggest thrill was to see my first wombats in their own habitat.
We explored Berry and Kangaroo Valley which are short drives away.
Would imagine that the fire would get a work out in winter as the cottage receives very little sun due to the surrounding rain forest. Overall all a much needed break in a little piece of paradise.
Visited February 2018
Written February 15, 2018. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bethelz
Adelaide, Australia2 contributions
Loved the peace and silence.
A wonderful place to stay when you're looking for a rest and a place you can go with your doggies. I loved that it was so dark and quiet at night - had the best sleep. Also loved sitting in front of the combustion fire with my knitting (and sitting on the verandah in the sun).
Visited June 2017
Written June 28, 2017. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Both Berry and Kangaroo Valley are very popular places to stay because of their great shops, cafes and restaurants. Red Dog Retreat is situated in the ancient rainforest above Kangaroo Valley and is teeming with birds and other wildlife. It's a great place to visit if you want to get out of the city and experience some beautiful countryside. Beaches are only 20 minutes drive away with dog friendly areas. There are great opportunities for kayaking, walking and cycling nearby.
Getting around
You will need a car to get around this area as there is no public transport that comes to our suburb. Cycling is also a very popular way to get around. If you want to go out to the local restaurants during your stay and don't want to drive, you can get a taxi to come up and get you.
Access
Car required
How to get there
Just a 2.25 hour drive south of Sydney, you can drive through the Southern Highlands via Bowral where you can stop off and enjoy the many interesting shops and cafes. Or you can take the coast road via Woollongong and Kiama and take in the glorious coast road and stunning scenery. Both ways take around the same time.
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