Orange Blossom Retreat

The greenery and trees around the place were lovely, and it's a short walk to the shops. The rooms are a good size and the beds are comfortable, though it was noisy even with the windows shut. The owner lives right next door, so you can hear the noises there. The place is well priced, so overall it wasn't bad. We stayed for a weekend, but the power was out when we arrived and took 24 hours to come back. Mobile service was also down in town. Our kind host brought candles and a headlight so we could get around. The main drawback is the kitchen. It's a tiny space, and the only stove is a BBQ outside, so it's okay for a night or two but not ideal for a longer stay. Some basic kitchen items were missing too.

We stayed just last weekend in this brilliant, secluded cottage, a great place to get away from everything. Nerolie, the owner, was lovely to deal with and left us to ourselves for the whole stay. She'd made fresh raisin bread that was still warm when we arrived, with chilled champagne and chocolates waiting too. The decor is very well done. It feels like a high end hotel at a fraction of the cost.

The pool and spa are private, and the location is quiet and relaxing while still close to the main shops. The beds were clean and very comfortable, with plenty of extra bedding and towels. Upstairs, the bedrooms are beautiful and cozy, with a nice shower and toilet. They had basic supplies like shampoo, soap, hand cream, and hand wash. Breakfast cereals, milk, a good range of tea and coffee, complimentary wine, and a few chocolates were provided. The website mentioned fruit, but we didn't get any. There was enough cutlery, crockery, glasses, and cooking gear for simple meals, and the BBQ was really good. Plenty of parking and room for kids to run around, plus a lovely garden with lemon trees. The living room is a bit small and could use some new furniture. Having the dining table and kitchenette in there doesn't help. The kitchenette is VERY small, making dishes and light cooking awkward. A separate kitchenette or small kitchen with a dining table would work better. It also needs a small stove or hotplate and a frying pan to go with the electric pan. The sourdough loaf was so hard to chew, a normal loaf for toast would be better. The owner is a lovely, polite lady and tried to give us full privacy, but we would have preferred nobody staying next door. We were there for 2-3 days and found it comfortable and quiet, although a bit overpriced. The experience was good, but the facilities and amenities didn't feel worth the price. We later found a cheaper booking for the same place on another website, though we'd already booked directly and paid a bit more.

After hiking around the area, relaxing in the spa was a treat. The accommodation is comfortable, with good beds and linen provided, plus wine, chocolate, and local sourdough waiting when you arrive. The local cafe, Indian place, and pizza spot all serve great food. The kids loved the lolly shop and ice cream. It's close to Nowra, and Bens walk is worth the trip, as are Fitzroy Falls and Boweral. We'll definitely be back.