Mt Cotton Retreat

Sue was lovely, but we won’t return. We spent two nights here and found the resort badly in need of renovation, cleaning, and serious gardening. The lakefront room had a microwave that sparked, though Sue replaced it. There wasn’t a lake during our stay, just bush and lots of fallen, broken trees and debris. The place felt dusty and mouldy, with sticky floors and windows. It seemed clear Sue was trying to keep it going on her own, and I respect her for that, but there are other places in better condition for the same or less money.

Sue was lovely and gave us a free upgrade to a bigger room. It was very quiet, and there are some beautiful artworks and furnishings that made me think the place must have been amazing in its day. But the room was really dated and far from clean. We ended up making a list of problems, which says a lot. Dust was everywhere. My wife needed her inhaler and I needed Telfast just to breathe, and we used antibacterial wipes on the windows and sideboards. The kitchen was dusty too, and the dining area had thick cobwebs. I had to twist around to reach a power point for our phones and got a face full of dust. The air-con blades were mouldy enough to trigger my wife’s asthma, the shower was mouldy and leaked badly, and the sheets were badly pilled. Chairs were splitting, the gutters were packed with leaves, and the grounds were overgrown, so we couldn’t find anywhere to explore. There were also ladders in the gardens and the water tank was badly overgrown. Some basics were missing or in poor shape: just one tiny bin, no tissues, and an empty toilet roll in the bathroom, though replacement rolls were available. The curtains wouldn’t close fully and the screen door was badly broken. We hoped to have a massage for our honeymoon, but that kind of service wasn’t available. Breakfast was cereal and granola in jars without scoops, so we couldn’t be sure nobody had put their hands in them. The fridge juice was half empty and four months out of date. I feel bad writing this because Sue was so nice and clearly doing it all herself. A proper clean and a few simple upgrades would make a big difference. Having to pay extra upfront to check in on a Sunday afternoon didn’t help either.

We stayed in cabin 7 with our two kids while attending a nearby wedding. There was plenty of room, and the balcony overlooking the trees was beautiful. A fabulous location for our family.

The forest view is beautifully secluded and gives the cabin a really tranquil feel. It’s far enough from roads and shops to relax, while still being a convenient distance from them. Our cabin was very clean, with a bigger bathroom than we expected, and the private cabins are just the right size. Thanks for making our stay exactly what we needed.