The Bushranger Hideaway

We expected a simple cabin for the price, and that’s what we got: clean, comfortable, and tucked away in a pretty, private spot. It was nice to switch off our phones. The slow ceiling fan and limited lighting were small drawbacks, but the quiet sense of privacy mattered more to us. We only booked one night at the last minute while travelling elsewhere, and I was surprised by the negative reviews after our stay. We’d have happily stayed another night and hope to come back.

The view from the cabin was amazing, but we had to look at it from indoors because bugs made it hard to leave the room. Spiders and mud wasps kept us off the deck, and we ended up buying bug spray. The water was yellow, something we only learned from a note when we arrived. The little bridge to the cabin was flooded after rain and felt dangerous to cross, which may be worth knowing, even if the weather is hard to control. We’d driven nine hours to get there, then got a message on the day saying there was no wifi in the cabin. When I raised that it had been advertised otherwise, the owner rudely replied, “didnt say there was wifi everywhere!” We rang the reception bell as the instructions said to do with concerns. We asked for a room change, not a refund, but were offered a downgrade and made to feel like a nuisance for knocking. He was chasing a toddler around the property, gave one word answers, and showed no interest in our questions. We left more than a day early. The view was the only good thing, and I wouldn’t stay here if I were you.

The bed was uncomfortable, and there were no curtains where the kids slept. There was no TV or aircon, though I’ll grant the website didn’t promise those, and we’ve never stayed somewhere without them. There also weren’t any laundry facilities or a hairdryer. The pool looked dirty, so we didn’t swim. Outside our room, spiders and webs made the chairs unusable. The fan only had one setting, flat out, and its noise kept us awake, but it was too hot to turn off. The kettle seemed dangerous: it only stopped using the wall switch, and the handle was red hot when my husband picked it up. The bathroom cupboard looked like it had white ants. All in all, we wouldn’t recommend this place.

The owner is abusive and harassing. There are screenshots on various forums, along with the special text messages I received on my private phone. See the common denominator? I’ve reported it to Fair Trading and will report it to Police if the harassment continues.