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Exceptional country holiday, wedding, event venue on magical riverfront acreage

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Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
5 bedrooms, desk, iron/ironing board, travel crib
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

5 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8250 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Hot Tub
    Hot Tub
  • Pet friendly
    Pet friendly
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Pool
    Pool

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Exceptional country holiday, wedding, event venue on magical riverfront acreage

Orchard House.
1. Perfect for a romantic getaway or a country holiday with a group of friends.
2. Gorgeous riverfront pavilion for weddings and events.
3. Outdoor kitchen with woodfired pizza oven and grill.
4. Pet friendly accommodation for 2 to 15 adults and kids.
5. Disabled access.
Orchard House is a luxury settlement style enticing homestead nestled within a citrus orchard, part of private beautifully landscaped 25 acres.
Enjoy a relaxing spa on a shady wrap-around veranda or dive into the 15 metre lap pool in the middle of the orchard.
The orchard boasts 200 fruit trees fruiting mandarins, finger limes, oranges and lemonades for your enjoyment during May to October.
In winter indulge in a hot spa and then cosy up to the wood fire.
Each morning collect newly laid eggs from our chickens.
Tea, coffee, olive oil, soaps, and washing powder provided.
The homestead is furnished with antiques, original artwork and Persian rugs.
There are 5 comfortable bedrooms including two Queen rooms, one with ensuite, 1 double and a single plus two singles adjoining the double room making it suitable for families with young children.
Quality feather quilts, bath towels, gowns, slippers, pool towels and crisp linen is supplied.
The eat-in gourmet kitchen is fully equipped with an 8 seater antique table, wood stove, 90 centimetre cooktop and oven, dishwasher, microwave, espresso machine and much more. The lounge room has the finest wood heater, a sumptuous 6 seater sofa, huge flatscreen TV with Netflix, books, board games, toys, DVD'S, CD'S and formal dining table.
An adorable bathroom has a claw foot bath, vintage marble-top dresser and shower.
There is a separate laundry with washing machine and dryer.
The veranda has a 6 burner stainless steel barbecue, perfect for the Sunday roast seasoned with fragrant rosemary from our rosemary hedge.
The alfresco dining area overlooks the river and orchard with floodlights to light the garden. Relax by the pool, take a moment for some peaceful fishing off our private jetty, wander the grounds to enjoy river views, the parklike grounds with many picturesque secluded spots, native trees, flowing creek, exceptional bird and wildlife and dams.
Keen birdwatchers are likely to see ever present kookaburras, blue wrens, finches, swallows, rosellas, king parrots, wedge tail eagles, cranes and ducks and occasionally at dawn and sunset wallabies and kangaroos venture into the garden.

Billabong Writer's Cottage
1. Only available for guests of Orchard House who need extra accommodation.
2. Three queen rooms one with ensuite, 1 single and 2 bathrooms.

On the opposite side of the orchard sits Billabong Writer's Cottage which consists of a spacious veranda with river views, eclectic furniture, pristine interior, fully equipped kitchen comfy beds and claw foot bath.

Property manager

Judyth

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels

Pool/Spa

  • Private pool
  • Spa tub

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car required
  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 5 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Stereo
  • TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washer/dryer

Work spaces

  • Desk
  • Desk chair

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Area rugs in public areas
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Designated smoking areas

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • Near a hospital
  • On a river
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing 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)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 2,691 square feet

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Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

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
Parties and events are allowed on site
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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
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-4366

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

House
160913

About the neighborhood

Map
NSW, Seaham

What's nearby

  • Wallalong House - Hunter Valley Wedding Venue - 11 min drive
  • Maitland Showground - 22 min drive
  • Tocal Homestead - 23 min drive
  • Stockton Sand Dunes - 31 min drive
  • Newcastle Beach - 47 min drive

Getting around

  • Mindaribba Station - 18 min drive
  • Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Ducks in the Field - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Clarence Town Sport and Rec Club - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Leo's - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Clarence Town Bowling Club - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪Adams R&P - ‬3 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Exceptional country holiday, wedding, event venue on magical riverfront acreage pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Exceptional country holiday, wedding, event venue on magical riverfront acreage ?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Exceptional country holiday, wedding, event venue on magical riverfront acreage ?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Exceptional country holiday, wedding, event venue on magical riverfront acreage located?

This family-friendly Seaham vacation home is located on the waterfront, steps from Seaham Swamp Nature Reserve, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Wallaroo National Park and Columbey National Park. Wallalong House - Hunter Valley Wedding Venue and Columbey State Conservation Area are also within 9 mi (15 km).

Exceptional country holiday, wedding, event venue on magical riverfront acreage Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 78 out of 92 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 92 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 92 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 92 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 92 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Leanne H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ladies getaway
Fabulous place to wind down and relax - fire place, home cooking, and freshly squeezed juice from the orchard - perfection.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Becky S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous weekend away
We were three families that stayed three nights over Easter with children aged 3-6 and it was everything we could have asked for. The kids were outdoors the whole time and and there was no need to leave once you arrived. Such a great experience and relaxing time away.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely stay
Beautiful house and grounds
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Emma Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wedded bliss
Perfect in every way. Beautiful property, clean with everything we could possibly need. Judyth was fantastic to deal with
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

DIANNE C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Wedding close by
The property was excellent for a large family gathering. The pool was larger than we expected. Families with children from city loved the property. Feeding chickens etc.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kirsten T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family Christmas
This was a fabulous place for getting together with the extended family. One group was in Orchard House for three days, while others rented the writers cottage for a single night. We were all able to cook, eat and hang out together. There is plenty of room and lots of places to escape as well. The pool is fantastic and a big hit with the kids, as were the chickens, ducks, veggie garden and fruit trees. Airconditioning and fans as well as deep, shaded verandahs meant comfort even in the summer heat. Peaceful and private, plus beautiful river frontage. Not far from Raymond Terrace if supplies needed. Close to Newcastle Airport for those from out of state. Highly recommended for a large group.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lauren W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent Event Venue!!
Stunning location!! Plenty of room for a big family or group of friends. Lots of parking. Very quiet and tranquil, yet only 10 mins from the nearest shops. Many areas you can set up for any get together or weekend away. Beautiful photo spots, everything you need is catered for. Fully set up kitchen. Beautiful sunset by the river!! Clean amenities and fresh linen on all the beds, we were all very comfortable. Spa was on when we arrived also which was lovely. Only thing that would make it better would be more PowerPoints in the kids bunk room and a toilet down by the pavilion. Would love to stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tithi M.

Liked: Cleanliness
It was perfect!
We booked the property to have a relaxing weekend and to celebrate a friend's birthday and the entire holiday was just perfect. We loved the house, the kitchen was well stocked and it was very cosy. The pool, the hot tub and the fireplace was the perfect trifecta and we enjoyed lounging on the deck. All in all, we had the best weekend and are definitely looking for more opportunities to book the property again. Highly recommend!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Fiona R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Birthday Weekend
I celebrated my 60th Birthday at Orchard house over the weekend! Had a wonderful time in an absolutely beautiful property!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jessica T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect wedding venue and perfect getaway for our family
I rented out this property for four days with my 10 month old and my fiancé for our small wedding ceremony with four guests. The venue is very easy to find and you do not need a four-wheel-drive to access the property up a dirt road. The wrap around veranda and crystal clear steaming hot spa was breathtaking! It all felt very luxurious and refreshing. All of the grounds were freshly mowed and all gardens well cared for. Access into the property was very simple and easy and all communication with the host was also easy. The super high ceilings and exposed beams throughout the house create a lovely atmosphere. Everything in this house is all antique and collectibles. It would of taken years to collect so many beautiful pieces. You won’t find a single thing in this house from target or Kmart. Everything feels very high end and country- luxury. Our beds were very comfortable and the house was very warm once the inside fire was lit. There was plenty of firewood available for our four nights and the inside fireplace was ready to go with kindling and fire starters in place. Our dog loved roaming the property and we really loved having him at our wedding. It’s hard to fault anything about this property only giving four stars for cleanliness as we did find a dead mouse in the lounge room which was starting to smell a little bit however - we are on a farm property so this really isn’t any surprise when there are livestock and chickens around. My partner was able to take him outside and bury him. No big deal. Our wedding guests were all very surprised at how beautiful our venue was all wanting to know how we heard and found out about it. Everything that you need to make a meal and cook in the kitchen was available I didn’t end up using the oven but I did notice that it doesn’t close all the way. I think the rubber seal might be on its way out. Not sure if this affects it or not. There is a coffee pod machine which was great however some instant coffee would have been great also as it would’ve been a little bit easier for our guests to use. Our favourite thing about this property was sitting outside underneath the deck with the fairy lights lit and a fire to sit by. A glass of wine in hand. A very romantic and relaxed vibe. We did have a housekeeper arrive on day three which was a little bit of a shock as we didn’t know we were to expect anyone. One downside was that the main bedroom doorknob is a little sticky and we did get locked in for about 5 minutes.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

ANN M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property on the river
Gorgeous homestead with deck overlooking grounds and river.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tanya K.

Liked: Cleanliness
An amazing place with beautiful features everywhere yo turn.
Phenomenal
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Thomas A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property
Beautiful property, very clean, communication was easy with owner. Check in and check out process was also very easy! Highly recommend this property!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Emad E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous stay at Orchard House and Writer's Cottage
We had an amazing week at this most beautiful property. First, our host Judyth was the most gracious and caring landlady who went out of her way to make our stay most enjoyable. Ours was a family holiday with my wife and I and our six children aged 15-31. We stayed in Orchard House and the delightful Writer's Cottage, with tons of room. Both were exquisitely maintained with beautiful touches everywhere. We loved the rustic ambience, the beautiful memorabilia, the meticulous care in every corner of the property, and of course, the location. The grounds were, of course, stunning. 25 acres of sheer country beauty with a lovely river, beautiful peaceful sunsets, and ample space for entertainment. The weather during our stay was glorious (thanks Judyth!). We got to enjoy the wildlife, the veggie garden, fresh eggs from the delightful chicken and duck, and the beauty of the citrus grove. The internet was excellent (NBN). We also enjoyed most of the attractions that the region offers. Overall, this was one of the best holidays we have ever had, and it brought us all together after all the lockdowns and restrictions of the past 2 years. Thank you so much Judyth and Wes for being such wonderful hosts.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa T.

Liked: Cleanliness
River Retreat
A beautiful property offering an idyllic setting by the river. Lots of space to relax and recharge. Comfortable, unique and restorative!
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2022

2/10 Terrible

Mario C.

Disliked: Cleanliness
Not very good
It was dusty, bed where very poor, oven was not working at it’s best door don’t close all the way. I will stop there.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2022

8/10 Good

Kinley C., Sydney, Australia

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful place
The place was beautiful even more than the photos and the host was communicative before hand. However we had problems getting in. The key the host provided via email didn’t work. Not sure if it was stayz app that didn’t work. We didn’t get any other instructions to get in. We called the host but their phone was off. We were stranded outside the property for 1.5 hours before we finally found the key. That part was stressful. The spa wasn’t clean and so we had to clean it ourselves however it was lovely to have a spa. Apart from that, everything was great and the place had everything we needed like pots and pans, plates etc. we cleaned up all the things we used(plates, cups, cutleries, knives,pots and pans) and chucked out our rubbish too :)
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

William K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property
The house and grounds were lovely!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Travis V.

Liked: Cleanliness
Exceeded our expectations
This property is magnificent and far exceeds the photographs of the property. Judyth was a Pleasure to deal with, every contact was Responded to quickly and nothing was ever an issue. We loved this property so much we will look at rebooking annually for our family. Do yourself a favour and book yourself some R & R and enjoy the view.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kelly D.

Liked: Cleanliness
5++ stars
Our extended family (and our pets) stayed for a week at Seaham. The property was beautifully presented and everything we needed was available. Judyth was an excellent host with fast and thorough communication. We would love to come back and recommend you book it for your stay today!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Michelle C.

Liked: Cleanliness
I think we have found our new getaway!
We couldn’t fault a thing, this place was gorgeous and the only downfall was we didn’t book a longer stay! The homestead and cottage both bright and airy and more than enough room to be all together or spread out and have your own space. The furnishings and antiques Judyth has all over the house are quirky and eclectic with something different to find in every nook and cranny with all of us were finding something different every time we turned. We were lucky enough to stay when the orchard was offering some delicious fruit and the chooks also offered up some eggs for breakfast! The property is just awesome and we couldn’t thank Judyth enough for being able to stay at such short notice. Thanking you again! Michelle Ps. Definitely get some more photos up there as previous reviews are right…the photos do not do the property justice.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Breanna S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Tranquil getaway from the city
We had a lovely long weekend away at Judyth’s property for my husbands birthday. Very peaceful and well kept property. Our dog enjoyed all the space to play and run around. Highlight was relaxing outside looking out over the view as the sun set with some wine. Thanks for a terrific getaway!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Melinda M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolutely Beautiful
The house and property was amazing! Everything we couldn’t have wanted was supplied. We are already planning to return. Thanks you for a wonderful stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

8/10 Good

Sophie T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great escape
We spent a lovely long weekend amongst the orchard, soaking up the winters sun on the gorgeous balcony and enjoying the fire pit at night. Lots of space for kids to play and our dog loved it too. Kitchen is full of equipment, couch is comfortable and heating works well. Showers also really good. And beds comfy. Would definitely return!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

8/10 Good

Suzanne F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Gorgeous Property
The property is much nicer than depicted in the photos.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021