Hill Top Forest Retreat - Southern Highlands

Small, old house with forest backdrop on 2 hectares. Ideal for bushwalking, mountain biking, star gazing, solitude, writing a bad novel, cooking, drinking wine, playing scrabble…A southern highlands base for exploring; a back to basics weekend getaway for friends and family. Cosy but very basic old style house and separate writer's studio/3rd bedroom. The house is old. Not 5 star. Limited sheets and towels provided strictly ON REQUEST at EXTRA COST. Read this listing carefully before booking! The space Most of our guests, like us, love the house for its back to basics "rough around the edges" slightly dusty, quirky, country feel and the beauty of the land and surrounding forest. However, you’ll find some less enthusiastic reviews too, usually from folks that have not read the listing description and were under the illusion that our comfortable but basic weekender house is run like a hotel, or is a sprawling, new McMansion. So, please read the descriptions and all details thoroughly and make sure you're getting what you're after...we want you to love the place. The photos are included to give a spatial idea only and the rooms (and especially bedding) may not present that way on arrival. Access is via dirt road and see details about the dodgy driveway, lack of garbage disposal, tank water, LACK of WI-FI (but excellent mobile reception) room/bedding configurations before you book. The house is on 5 acres and is divided by gates into two sort of quasi paddocks. While you have free range and we generally won't disturb you at all, we reserve the right to enter the lower paddock and its storage shed (a good distance from the house) during your stay. In other words, you don't have 'exclusive use' rights on the lower paddock during your stay. Another curious issue - the house feels isolated - it is pitch black at night and there is lots of nature around, including the occasional shrieking possums etc. We have had at least two groups of city folks terrified out of their wits and convinced they were caught up in a Wolf Creek sequel. A couple of other caveats - this house is not a party house. It is for small groups only. Any guests in breach on the party front will be immediately evicted. Also, we sometimes have folks staying when they’re off to weddings in the area - this is of course totally fine and great but note that the basic shower/one bathroom and limited water etc are not ideal for a group landing at the house urgently readying themselves for a wedding that afternoon. We do our best to describe our place honestly and accurately. It is not for everyone - and we totally get that - but we are not so receptive to feedback that comes (or should have come) with the introduction ‘I didn’t bother to read the airbnb site details but…’! Guest access You'll have the run of the house and the land. Pets are welcome....(not on furniture or in beds please!). The road is quiet and your pet should not be in any danger - but fencing is not reliable if your pet is a wanderer. We now pass on a cleaning fee and - if you want made up beds and towels supplied, you’ll need to give lots of notice and it’ll cost about $100 per bed. The dirt, rutted, bumpy driveway has been impacted by recent rain. It is navigable by a competent driver in anything from an average car and up (eg my front wheel drive VW Polo) - but please don’t roll up in a Lamborghini or Porsche GT3 and then complain. You can always park at the bottom of the driveway! Please make sure washing up is done and the house is tidy on departure. We want you to love the house and come back again. We rely on people to do the right thing. Finally, this is an old house and is not well suited to folks with mobility issues. Other things to note Bring your own milk, food and bottled drinking water (there's tank water only). There are doonahs, pillows and blankets. We can provide limited clean sheets and towels at extra cost with lots of notice on request. It costs us a bomb to provide linen cleaning services and we have no choice but to pass the cost on. It saves you a lot of money if you simply bring your own sheets, pillow slips and towels. You must tidy up at the end of your stay and take all rubbish with you, we're not on garbage collection grid. The house has only tank/rain water - good for everything but we recommend bringing drinking water - and only take quick showers please...! Note that the hot water has been checked but still appears to heat up to higher temperatures than maybe it should - take care especially with kids! The house will usually have all basic items - sugar, salt, cooking oil, tea, soap, detergent and coffee pods etc. Sorry, we just aren't set up to leave firewood at the house, so bring a bag or two, depending ion the length and season of your stay. Of course pots/pans, plates, glasses and cutlery are all there. We also leave non organic food in the fridge and tinned food etc - like the usual weekender. If someone has inadvertantly left some food in the fridge that you think might be past its used by date, we suggest throwing it away, although having a panic attack and leaving a scathing review is always an option too. There's a great general store in Hill Top (5 minutes drive) with food and alcohol and an old school but excellent Chinese restaurant. Mittagong is 15 minutes drive and has everything. If the check in/ check out times are a problem, let us know and we may be able to work something out. Registration details PID-STRA-20245