luxury Private Bush Retreat - 1 Hr from Sydney CBD

Escape to a secluded Sydney luxury bush retreat in the heart of the Hills District, just 25 minutes from Castle Hill and under an hour from Sydney CBD. Nestled in Kenthurst, this private hideaway offers total privacy, native bushland views, and modern comfort — perfect for a romantic weekend, quiet getaway, or nature holiday for your family and friends. Due to the quiet nature of the area, this property is not suitable for parties. Please see our house rules. The space This secluded Sydney bush retreat in Kenthurst, right in the Hills District -only 25 mins from Castle Hill and 1 hour from Sydney CBD - is an expansive, homely, and totally private single-story luxury residence on 10 acres surrounded by native Australian bush, with views over bush to the Blue Mountains. Wide sandstone verandas are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the prolific bird life, maybe while having a BBQ and watching the kids play in the saltwater pool. There are two double bedrooms with queen-size beds, each with ensuite bathrooms, large wardrobes, and expansive valley and mountain views. The two double bedrooms (only) are airconditioned. The main bedroom is remote from the other three and features sandstone block walls and an open log fireplace for warming up those cold winter nights. There are also two single bedrooms, one with a king single bed and a standard single bed, and the other with a standard single bed. If you like to 'cook up a storm' an expansive fully equipped kitchen has a gas stove/electric oven and a large 4-door refrigerator. The central living area is open plan together with kitchen and dining areas. Large bi-fold doors open onto an expansive covered sandstone veranda area, and down to the pool. A slow-combustion wood heater keeps things cosy in winter. There is also a fully equipped laundry with a washing machine and dryer, and an office area with a recently tuned upright piano. Take a short 7-minute drive to the local shops where you will find a supermarket, bottle shop, chemist, doctors surgery and two great cafes. A little further on are the larger centres of Dural and Castle Hill. And, if you need accommodation for a horse and horse float, we can do that too. Please contact us. Our family home since 1983, built with original sand stock bricks from an old pub at Bathurst, African slate and parquetry floors, and beautiful leadlight windows from a local leadlight artist. The sandstone parents retreat was added about ten years later, and the entire property has recently been renovated and is now listed for the first time on Airbnb. This property is a nature-lovers paradise, a wildlife refuge on the urban fringe of Sydney. You might be mistaken for thinking you are listening to raindrops outside. Most of the time, it is the resident flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos cracking open the Old Man Banksia pods right outside your window. If you are an early riser, be sure to listen to the bird chorus which usually features the sweet melodic calls of the Rufous and Golden Whistler and White-throated Gerygone. In springtime, the bush smells like honey from the prolific flowering Kunzeas. Over Christmas, the Dwarf Apple Box trees will be dripping with nectar, attracting all sorts of insects and nectar-feeding forest birds, such as the New Holland Honeyeaters and the Eastern Spinebills. There are over 120 species of birds that have been recorded on the property – and that’s just the birds! There are also Echidnas, Sugar Gliders, Feather-tailed Gliders, Swamp Wallabies, and various microbats (if you are a child or adult with good hearing, you can often hear the White-striped Freetail bats ‘pinging’ their way through the night sky). The property is also home to an array of reptiles including the namesake, the beautiful Painted Gecko! If you sit quietly on the veranda during the day with a cup of tea or coffee or wander up and down the driveway at night with a torch and good listening ears, you will undoubtedly come across several of these beautiful and unique native animals. Feel free to explore the property and surrounds and see what you can find. For those wanting to do some longer local bushwalks, the fire trails at the end of Porters Road in Kenthurst leads down to O’hara Creek and eventually back up the ridge to Glenorie. Alternatively, Scheyville National Park is an 8-minute drive down the road where horses and mountain bikes can be ridden. Cattai National Park is also a short distance away (within a 15-minute drive). We are sure you and your friends will love it. One word though: The property is not fenced and there are drop-offs and dangerous rocky areas fairly close to the rear of the residence. We do not allow domestic animals without prior approval due to the abundance of native wildlife on the property. Access is via a 350-metre-long exclusive-use sealed driveway. Due to the quiet nature of the area, this property is not suitable for loud parties. Please see our house rules. The host resides in a separate building on the property. Guest access Guests have access to all parts of the property except for two sheds, a locked room with a pool table, and a separate building used by the host. Other things to note One of the great attractions of the ‘Painted Gecko’ is its beautiful location in the rugged native Australian bush, so close to the city. However, like all similar bush properties, there are potential hazards that cannot be controlled. This property has cliffs, drop-offs, watercourses, and slippery ground, that can all present a danger. Some cliffs and drop-offs are close to the house. There are native animals, reptiles and insects as you would expect in a bush property, and other things that might go 'thump' in the bush. We want you to love the experience, so if these things bother you, another type of property may be more suitable. Wallabies and deer love roses, so the elevated rose gardens (about 50 metres away from the residence) are protected by an electric fence that can easily be switched off. Due to the quiet nature of the area and the fact that noise carries a long way in the bush, this property is unsuitable for parties. Please see our house rules. The host resides in a detached building on the property. The property should be left as it is found. Registration Details PID-STRA-71899