Located near the Shoalhaven River, this charming cottage is surrounded by lush greenery and offers a tranquil retreat. Enjoy the views from the private terrace with BBQ or explore nearby Seven Mile Beach and Berry. The self-contained cottage features a full-equipped kitchen, queen-sized bed in one bedroom, double and single beds in another bedroom plus an extra single bed in the loft.
Reviews
9.29.2 out of 10
Wonderful
Entire home
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 680 sq m
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Outdoor Space
Parking available
Barbecue grill
Add dates for prices
About this property
Back Forest Retreat Sunrise Cottage
One of two beautiful mudbrick cottages close to the Shoalhaven River, Seven Mile Beach and Berry ... just two hours south of Sydney ... five acres, overlooking river flats and Coolangatta Mountain ... walk to a winery!
The self-contained Cottage has a nice open living area with a full equipped kitchen and a terrace with a BBQ. There is a queen-sized bed in one bedroom, a double and a single in the other bedroom and a single in the loft which is up top of the living room. The bathroom has a hot shower. The cottages were built along passive solar principles. Most of the windows face north to let in the winter sun and there are wide eaves to block out the summer sun. Mudbricks give the cottages a high thermal mass to store heat and smooth out the day-night temperature variation. There is a gas heater in the living room for the extra chilly or cloudy days and fans help to cool down on hot summer days.
In between the cottages is a large games room where your children and you can play foozball or table-tennis, have a barbecue or just relax with a book. Enjoy the view from the terrace of each cottage and spott a beautiful bird. Or say hi to our two friendly sheep Coco and Mama and our chooks.
Across the street from the end of our driveway is a delightfully quiet place to dangle a line into Broughton Creek, or walk a few hundred metres to its confluence with the Shoalhaven River. Just down the road is a boat ramp.
Put your canoe into Broughton Creek, paddle out into the middle of the Shoalhaven River and over to Numbaa Island. Canoe around it and be astounded by the variety and number of waterbirds. Or take part in the annual Bridge to Bridge regatta from the bridge on Coolangatta Road near Berry.
Walk along the creek, over the hill, up Coolangatta mountain, and far far away. Or just around the property looking for the endangered, green and golden bell frog. Bring your binoculars to look for Black Shouldered Kites, Wedge Tailed or Sea eagles and pelicans. One of our favourite walks is to Drawing Room Rocks, near Berry. Only a 15 minutes walk from here is Two Figs Winery - the view of the Shoalhaven River flowing from the mountains to the sea is spectacular.
One of the many delightful local drives is a circuit past Cambewarra Lookout, through Kangaroo Valley to the historic Hampden Bridge, over the mountains again to Berry, along Beach Road to Seven-Mile Beach, past Coolangatta winery and then back home again. The drive can be done in an hour, but why not take a picnic lunch and make a day of it?
Only 40 minutes away is Huskisson where you can take Dolphin cruises any time of year. And a few kilometres from there is Hyams Beach, recognised by the Guinness Book of Records for the world's whitest sands. In between are a number of beautiful calm beaches which are suitable for swimming and snorkelling.
Seven Mile Beach, Jervis Bay and Morton National Parks are all within half an hour's drive, so whether you like to explore nature near the surf, still water or the mountains, you will not be disappointed.
Now open every Sunday, Bundanon was Arthur Boyd's home. His studio is set up the way he left it and it doesn't take much imagination to visualise him there, painting the beautiful vistas of his beloved Shoalhaven. Book first at the Information Centre on (02) 4421 0778
Property amenities
Beach
Beach loungers
Internet
Available in the cottage: WiFi
Parking and transportation
Car required
Onsite parking options include a garage
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Electric kettle
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
2 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Hair dryer
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Music library
Stereo
TV
Video library
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Firepit
Garden
Outdoor furniture
Patio
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Iron/ironing board
Location highlights
In a village
Near the bay
Near the sea
Next to a golf course
On the waterfront
Things to do
Arcade/game room
Billiards/pool table
Foosball table
Table tennis
Birdwatching nearby
Cycling nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Sailing nearby
Snorkeling nearby
Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
Swimming nearby
Whale watching nearby
Windsurfing nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number PID-STRA-7494-2
We should mention
A car is required for transportation to and from this property
Frequently asked questions
Is Back Forest Retreat Sunrise Cottage pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Back Forest Retreat Sunrise Cottage?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Back Forest Retreat Sunrise Cottage?
Check-out is at 12:00 PM.
Where is Back Forest Retreat Sunrise Cottage located?
This family-friendly Back Forest cottage is located on the waterfront, 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Two Figs Winery, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Nowra Aquatic Park and Seven Mile Beach. Bomaderry Creek Regional Park and Nowra Golf Course are also within 6 mi (10 km).
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Reviews
Reviews
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Alan and Naomi were such friendly and generous hosts. And their mudbrick cottage was comfortable with loads of character. We loved our stay at Back Forest.
The hosts were very friendly and helpful with suggestions to visit local attractions around the area. The location was fantastic. It’s a great location to launch from to see all the surrounding areas from Geringong, Seven Mile Beach, Currarong, Hyams Beach, Berry and Kangaroo Valley. The house itself was great located on a small farm, with lots of country charm.
Beautiful property! Cabin may be basic, but very comfortable, spacious, kitchen is well kitted out for cooking for 5. Could walk down to the river to take out our kayak, walk to nearby winery. A relaxing and peaceful stay!
Sarah O.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Paul
Jan 12, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
The place was in fairly good condition and nice little place to stay. We had 4 adults and 2 kids and the size was sufficient for our group. The only negative is that I thought the price was a bit high. We really liked the garden though and the surrounding area is very nice
We were in town to visit family at the local hospital. The cottage was a welcome respite. It was clean, beds were comfy and the kitchen had all we needed.
A quirky older style mud brick apartment with glorious views to watch birds, butterflies and flowers. Close to all the other joys like Berry and beaches.
cozy mud brick cottage with beautiful garden in a peaceful location. Check in was easy and good communication with the owner. A great base to explore the surrounding area. Really appreciated fresh eggs from the chickens!
We had a lovely stay at Sunrise Cottage. Very quiet and relaxing location. Alan was a fantastic host and always there to help with any enquiries we had. Just a very small point, as we were staying for 6 nights we could have done with an extra towel each :) but other than that we were very impressed with the property and our stay
A lovely, cozy, homely place to stay, felt like we were miles away from anywhere. Comfy bed and great facilities.
The serenity was pure, and the games room provided a much needed platform for fun and connection playing pool, table tennis and chatting. If i had one suggestion it would be a more substantial welcome pack with milk, bread, eggs, oil and butter but otherwise an excellent stay. Alan was very welcoming, warm and accommodating. Highly recommend
Amenities in all sections excellent, and owner v. attentive.
Ross H.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Verified
4/10 Poor
Meirav B.
Jan 10, 2026
Liked: Check-in, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
The place is very unkept It looks like nothing inside (or outside) has been updated in yearsOld towels/linenLots of spider webs on the windowsCooktop showen in photos doesn’t exist.The fact that there is no aircon matters greatly if the weather conditions are extreme- it’s hot!!! In saying that Alan the owner is a lovely man.
The property was exactly what we needed - clean, cosy, great location. Alan was exceptionally helpful with our questions and their recommendations for things to do in the area were awesome. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Thank you Alan!
Close enough to Nowra and all the surrounding beaches. Most important for us however, was the peaceful view of cattle and hills. Everything we needed for a short stay.
A lovely mix of mini-farm-stay but in accommodation with all of the modern conveniences. Loved the quiet location, feeding the very friendly chickens, birdlife, and lovely hosts. Yes, the property (more so the surrounds) aren't immaculately curated, but that was absolutely fine with us. The only real negative was the advertised gas heating had been removed, and the replacement oil heaters were a tad inadequate. Would definitely like to return in the non-winter period.
Our time at BFR hosted by Alan met all our hopes. The cleanliness of the property was first class. Alan could not have been more helpful in meeting all our requests and we shall certainly consider returning for another visit. The wines that we purchased from Two Figs Winery next door are also of excellent quality.
Such a beautiful location. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere but we were close to so many lovely places.
Our hosts knew how to balance everything perfectly. They were welcoming, friendly and attentive but not intrusive at all.
The cottage is very comfy with everything you need and the fire pit is great to sit around at night
When we arrived the owner (Allan) came over and gave us figs from his orchard. Flowers are beautiful. Birdlife, native blue bees, lizards, chickens, cattle and sheep - so lovely, and you can contribute to feeding some of them. Very eco friendly, good air flow in house, pretty stained glass windows. Lovely stay, peaceful, and friendly owner. Thanks again Allan!
Hannah C.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022
Verified
6/10 Okay
Min H.
Jan 27, 2025
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed for 4 nights
House had too many overgrown plants outside resulting in alot of bugs and mozzies. Also lots of cobwebs inside the house. Definitely more effort could be put in to clean the house. Also despite having kitchen there was no basic cooking things like oil and salt. Decent stay but notbing special, housekeeping seems a bit lazy.
Min H.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025
Verified
6/10 Okay
Cody S.
Nov 3, 2024
Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
Great potential
While the cabin and the surrounding area were both lovely, the cleaniness and maintenance was a major issue, the kitchen and lounge absolutely reeked of grease and fat from an uncleaned stovetop, the first 45 minutes of our stay was spent airing out and cleaning the kitchen. The garden outside was completely overgrown and would have been beautiful if properly maintained. They is also no internet reception and no wifi. Once we had settled in though it became a much more enjoyable experience, exploring nearby berry and Shoalhaven heads Being the best parts. At least the room was cheap
Cody S.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Verified traveler
Jan 8, 2023
Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Not as good as the photos
The property is very dated and does not match the pictures very well. The grass was very overgrown as was the front garden. There were warnings about snakes which we did not see but were concerned about due to the height of the grass. There were a few wasps around close to the doorways which was a concern. We were given the impression that you could throw the kayak in the water across the road but this is not the case. You must go down the road about a kilometre away to drop the kayak in the water. Overall a bit disappointing.