Blue Cliffs Retreat

The villa was lovely and secluded, and we really enjoyed the peaceful setting and incredible bath. We’d happily recommend a stay to friends. For the price, and with Blue Cliffs Retreat presented as “luxury,” I expected more thoughtful touches. The texts and emails focused heavily on rules and what guests couldn’t do, and there wasn’t even a welcome note in the villa, just more rules. A small arrival treat and better stocked kitchen provisions would have made it feel more special.

We arrived at 9:30pm, and the place was in such bad shape that raising issues within the host’s two-hour window would have meant leaving. The Hideaway Villa was dusty and full of cobwebs, the dishes were dirty, and it plainly hadn’t been cleaned. The cleaning supplies were filthy too, despite guests being asked to wash their own dishes. The jacuzzi tub, one of the property’s main selling points, was coated in dust and dirty. We cleaned it, but the water came out yellow, and turning on the jets sent chunky brown bits into it. It was so unpleasant that we didn’t shower during our stay. The grounds were overgrown, the gazebo corroded, and the pond dirty. The website photos show a lovely lake with a paddle boat, but they don’t reflect what we found. We looked around the property, and the other places seemed just as gross. The pictures suggest it once looked great, but now they give a false impression. At $250 a night, we expected a romantic getaway. Instead, this was by far the dirtiest place we stayed during our travels around Australia and New Zealand. Holiday parks and hostels were cleaner. I can’t describe how disappointing it was. Wouldn’t recommend it.

The Hideaway Villa felt wonderfully private, with lovely views from the balcony and the bath/Jacuzzi. The website photos don’t really capture how nice it is. There are only three or four properties across the complex, so there’s plenty of space. The owners were very helpful before our trip, sharing suggestions for places to eat and things to do. We had a fantastic time at Blue Cliffs Retreat in Hepburn and are already planning to return. 10/10!

We paid almost $365 a night for Hideaway Villa, and it was terrible value. The spa bath is about the only thing that feels luxurious. The bed seemed very old and left us sore each morning. The front door lock is fiddly and needs replacing, a small fix that could help. A $20 French press would be an easy improvement too, since the instant coffee sachets were expired. Also, the only shower is outdoors, which may not suit anyone who isn’t a naturalist. There are plenty of little buddhas and pagodas around the property, but they’re rusted and the grounds aren’t being maintained. The lake, with its boat, sits several feet below the old waterline and looks like a mosquito infested swamp. The website pictures need updating, and the owners’ idea for the place has fallen flat because the details haven’t been cared for. It could be amazing, but it doesn’t look as good as the photos. We found multiple dishes that hadn’t been washed properly, dust on the TV stand, and cleaning that was generally subpar. I have pictures of the mattress and dishes. Guests shouldn’t have to report problems within two hours of arriving for a property advertised as luxury, or complain to get basic things done. That requirement feels like a way to discredit bad reviews. We also asked why there weren’t two chaise lounges on the deck, as shown in the picture, so we could watch the stars. The owner said he’d remove the photo because there was now only one lounge. He seemed to look for ways to justify bad reviews, and he was also blaming COVID for the cleaners. At these prices, guests should be able to expect the details are handled. I wouldn’t recommend this property to anyone at the current rate, and we’d never come back. There are much better places to stay in the area. Read the recent reviews, take them seriously, and make changes. The owners are living in an alternate reality if they think everyone loved the property.