The Retreat Port Stephens
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The Retreat Port Stephens

4302 Nelson Bay Rd, Anna Bay, Port Stephens, New South Wales 2316 Australia
Traveller (56)
The Ranch - Bedrom 2 of 3
Room & Suite (42)
Cabins surrounded by bushalnd
Dining (4)

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About

#1 of 1 ranch in Anna Bay
4.4 of 5 bubbles
Location
4.1 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
4.4 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.4 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.3 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
The Retreat Port Stephens is set on 4 acres surrounded by natural bush land Offering a very private and peaceful accommodation property for couples, families and groups. The Retreat is a very unique venue as we back directly onto the largest living sand dunes in the southern hemisphere! We are the only property with direct walking accessing straight onto the dunes. Offering accommodation for Couples,families, small & large groups. Our Cabins and Bungalows are suitable for everybody & for larger groups & Schools, The Lodge,Duplexes & Ranch are perfect!!! All accommodation options are self contained with full cooking facilities, bathrooms, lounge/dining areas, outdoor settings. All guests have use of all facilities for the duration of their stay. .Onsite we have a multipurpose games/function room with pool table, table tennis & table soccer. The salt water swimming pool, covered outdoor kitchen/BBQ areas, camp fires, kids playground, parking areas! Our office operates as a booking agent for the local tours & activities. We can arrange everything for you before you even arrive! There's plenty of space for kids to run around, ride their bikes & play ball games.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Breakfast available
Game room
Billiards
Books, DVDs, music for children
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Parking
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Fence around pool
Vending machine
Table tennis
Board games / puzzles
Kids' outdoor play equipment
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Express check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Air conditioning
Seating area
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Kitchenware
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Green
Languages Spoken
English

Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
eos-y-garth wrote a review Dec 2023
Cardiff
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Comfortable cottage with lovely staff. Cottage wasn't as clean as expected. Pool area was basic with a few sun loungers with no cushion/mattress which made lying by the pool quite uncomfortable.
Beds and pillows were very comfortable though and cottage was spacious.
Would have appreciated some cleaning products such as sponge and washing up liquid.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louisa T wrote a review Jan 2022
Sydney, Australia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
We were fortunate to get a last minute cancellation in a pet friendly bungalow and stayed for 4 nights. Our bungalow did just the job, comfy beds, hot showers, plenty of space for 3, a nice deck for evening meals, parking right outside our door, a fenced area for our pup, AC and fans (needed during our hot stay!).

Our 11 year loved hanging out with the other kids in the pool and the games room (the grown ups also enjoyed a few hotly contested table tennis tournaments!). The BBQ areas were really clean and all the guests were super friendly and respectful. It all had a lovely, safe community feeling.

We really had a terrific family holiday and packed a lot into our stay including a long walk and swim at Fingal Beach, a tropical snorkel and shark and ray feeding at Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters, Splash Water Park, Soccer Golf and putt putt at David Graham’s Golf Complex and a 4WD / sandboarding trip with Port Stephens 4WD Tours. All highly recommended.

Contactless service meant we didn’t meet any of the staff but I had very helpful conversations on the phone and by email. We were also guided to the sand dunes just behind the park by one of the groundskeepers and it really was utterly spectacular- we took our pup up there early morning and he had the time of his life tearing around the dunes with not another soul to be seen. Magical.

This is not a 5 star establishment but nor does it pretend to be. It is however a terrific family getaway, offering decent value for money, which gave us the perfect base to explore an amazing area. I’d definitely go back.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Michelle Carter, General Manager at The Retreat Port Stephens
Responded 8 June 2022
Thanks for your review and so pleased we were able to accommodate you. Look forward to hosting you all again in the future.
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KurtB wrote a review Sept 2020
5.0 of 5 bubbles
When I called the retreat to book for the following day I was greeted very politely by reception staff who were helpful with information. I ultimately booked and we were not disappointed.
A relaxing gem hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Port Stephens in quiet Anna Bay. The sand dunes are a short stroll away and if you're up for it you can climb/walk/run all the way to the beach. Note that there is a great cafe next to the Surf Life Saving club which has a great menu.
I felt very comfortable that all necessary precautions had been taken during Covid and we found our cabin had everything we needed, it was clean and had an enclosed outdoor area for our dog.
Whenever we had a question or request, all staff went out of their way to assist us.
We had a wonderful stay and are already planning our next stay!
Thank you to all staff!
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Date of stay: September 2020
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Room Tip: Discuss your needs with the friendly staff and they will ensure you get the most suited...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Michelle Carter, General Manager at The Retreat Port Stephens
Responded 3 Oct 2020
Customer service will never get old here we just love to ensure that everyone is happy, comfortable and get the most out of their time in our region. Being Covid-safe is important to our business as well as all the businesses in the bay. We have supplied cleaning covid-safe kits in all of our accommodation and facilities for guests to use as they require. We also have a very rigid cleaning routine for the whole park. So no matter what's happening you will feel safe. We look forward to meeting you again and hosting another beautiful stay with us.
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Anna W wrote a review Feb 2023
2.0 of 5 bubbles
I don't normally leave reviews but I just had to. The standard of cleanliness when we arrived in our cabin was very poor. We found hair (not just one or two, kept finding more) and sand on the beds and blankets. One of the pillows had a cluster of (live) bugs on it. The air conditioner was filthy too.

Oh, and there was a long list of things you needed to do so as to not incur a cleaning fee, including taking out the trash yourself and folding the blankets and putting them in a box. Makes you wonder whether they're cleaned in between uses.

The only reason I'm giving 2 stars rather than 1 is that it wasn't too expensive and the actual cabin wasn't too bad. Although, it's about average priced if you go as a couple so the price doesn't justify the state of the place. The service we received at reception also was below average.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kirralie S wrote a review Jan 2022
2.0 of 5 bubbles
We travel. A lot. If we don't like a place we usually don't comment. We originally booked two nights for a large group for last August. I had to pay $810 up front. When the covid lockdowns hit they the retreat refused to refund us and only offered a credit (unlike everywhere else we had booked). We eventually decided to spend the credit just on our family of 5 - it only bought us 2 nights in a VERY old bungalow. The windows were pained shut. There was a Neverfail water canister there when we arrived -partially full. When we finished it and asked for a replacement they wanted us to pay for it even though we were leaving the next morning and would only use a small fraction. Doors wouldn't shut properly and no lock on the bathroom/toilet door. No where to hang your clothes in there either. There was a $42 credit so they said they would provide a hamper. What a joke - it was one bottle of wine, a box of $2 crackers and one slice of cheese for 5 people! It looked ridiculous. There were heaps of sugar sachets in the fridge, some coffee sachets but only ONE tea bag (5 people) and no milk. This place is way overpriced for the old, tired and worn bungalow and poor service with zero inclusions. It may have been ok for the big group of 15 in the duplex but not worth it at all for our family of 5 at that price. No care or attention to detail but they price it as if they do. Make it cheaper or give it a miss, not worth it at all.
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Date of stay: December 2021
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
2.0 of 5 bubblesService
Room Tip: Check trip advisor or your booking site for a cleaner, newer, better value option than this!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Michelle Carter, General Manager at The Retreat Port Stephens
Responded 15 Jan 2022
Thanks for your feedback and it all sounds like a massive miscommunication on our behalf. I will be in contact to discuss your mentioned issues. It would have been ideal to mention this at time of staying or send us an email directly to advise as we are only wanting our guests to have the best holiday experience ever. Our covid policy when lockdowns are in effect is that we hold a credit for the full anount and that is available to use as they guest wishes at a later date with no time limit. As a small business this is the best option we can offer and 100% of our guests have accepted this and have been advised on booking of this policy. You should have been given the bottle of water when you asked and the cheese and crackers are not the hamper that you have been charged for. The tea and coffee supply has clearly not be replenished by the housekeeping team but we would have gladly supplied more if you had requested. Our buildings are of an older nature but they are well kept, windows are not painted shut and that particular room was painted during the last lockdown by myself and is in perfect condition. Our park is beautifully kept, peaceful and safe location to enjoy a relaxing getaway.
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ChristineSammut wrote a review July 2022
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Check in, email and msg communication were great.
Location is great, the sand dunes at walking distance was great fun.

The cabins are in need of a renovation. Very old and a bit over priced for what you get.
There was cockroach poo in with the cutlery and dishes were poorly washed, felt we had to prewash everything before we used it.
The extra blankets in the room with the bunks smelt like they haven't been washed in a very long time. They smelt like body odour and dirty feet. Which resulted us to use the other bunk doona's as they seemed clean. It was winter when we stayed. Heater was great and warm, it heated up the very cold cabin quite quickly. The shower wasn't cleaned with soap scum everywhere.

Overall it was ok for a weekend stay. Although if we were booked for longer I would of definitely went and bought some disinfectant and bleach to give everywhere a good clean, as we felt we had to wash our hands after touching anything, it was that grubby.

We used our NSW Stay Vouchers so we paid a lesser price, but if we paid full price per night for what they were asking I would of been greatly disappointed.
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Date of stay: July 2022
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
3.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Room Tip: Great Location
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nicole d wrote a review Jan 2023
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A great location for our first big family holiday in years. The Duplex accommodated all 15 of us comfortably and the grandkids absolutely loved the pool and the games room. Staff were very friendly and the whole place was clean and relaxed. Close to everything you need. We will be back!
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Date of stay: December 2022
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liz D wrote a review July 2020
4.0 of 5 bubbles
I was able to book at short notice and even extend a night even with my furbaby who was well accommodated for a well.
The staff I spoke with on the phone and at reception were really helpful and obliging.

There is quite a bit to see in close proximity to the accommodation. Headland with beautiful views, beaches, cafes, grocery store for provisions when the weather turned and needed to stay in. Not far from other Port Stephens areas like Nelson Bay and Lemon Tree Passage.

If you're looking for a lovely quiet place to stay in Port Stephens, the Retreat near Anna Bay is definitely worth a visit. It's now my go-to accommodation.

I stayed in a pet friendly cabin which has a fully fenced private grassed area for the fur baby; undercover personal carport right outside the front door; self contained with full size fridge, gas stove and microwave; lovely a/c; comfy bed; hot shower and soft towels. It felt like a home away from home.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Michelle Carter, General Manager at The Retreat Port Stephens
Responded 3 Oct 2020
Thanks so much for your well detailed review it really captures our property and location perfectly. Our pet friendly rooms are so very popular and we love to meet the fur babies. We look forward to having you stay with us again in the future.
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Lisa O wrote a review Mar 2022
5.0 of 5 bubbles
My husband and I stayed at The Retreat Port Stephens for 2 nights with the adventure package which included the Sand Dunes Adventure Tour - 1 hour quad bike adventure.
The staff were extremely polite and helpful, and gave us a complimentary hamper on our arrival. The location is also really good and central to attractions/restaurants/beaches.
A very enjoyable break with clean and comfortable accommodation.
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Date of stay: March 2022
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Michelle Carter, General Manager at The Retreat Port Stephens
Responded 8 June 2022
Yay you would have had a great time and you had a brilliant package to enjoy. I hope you visit to Murrays was enjoyable as well. Hope to see you both again some time :)
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Trish R wrote a review Jan 2023
Hervey Bay, Australia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Our extended family gathered at the retreat for ten days over the Christmas/New Year period. The accommodation suited us perfectly and our hosts were gracious and forbearing of our sometimes noisy celebrations. The bush land setting is beautiful and close to lots of great activities for all ages, shopping centres and beaches. The kids enjoyed the games room and the pool.
The house and cottages are well appointed, with all we needed for our stay.
We did consider that at least one cleaning service and change of linen might have helped over the period, considering that there is a charge to use the washing machines,
Overall we loved our stay at the Retreat. Thanks for having us!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Irene Rose wrote a tip Dec 2022
Sydney, Australia31 contributions4 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Plan other activities outside of The Retreat."
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ChristineSammut wrote a tip July 2022
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"Great Location"
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Kirralie S wrote a tip Jan 2022
24 contributions15 helpful votes
2.0 of 5 bubbles
"Check trip advisor or your booking site for a cleaner, newer, better value option than this!"
Read full review
Dhammika H wrote a tip Dec 2021
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Cabins and Bungalows are best for families."
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Kylie W wrote a tip Dec 2021
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Bring mossie repellent "
Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
AU$142 - AU$269 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesGreater NewcastlePort StephensAnna Bay
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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THE RETREAT PORT STEPHENS (AU$142) - 2025 Prices & Reviews (Anna Bay) - Photos of Ranch - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Retreat Port Stephens
Which popular attractions are close to The Retreat Port Stephens?
Nearby attractions include Gan Gan Lookout (7.5 km), Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters (0.3 km), and Oakfield Ranch (1.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Retreat Port Stephens?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, free parking, and kids activities.
Which room amenities are available at The Retreat Port Stephens?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
What food & drink options are available at The Retreat Port Stephens?
Guests can enjoy breakfast and barbeque facilities during their stay.
Is parking available at The Retreat Port Stephens?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Retreat Port Stephens?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Poyer's, The Deck Café Restaurant & Bar, and Rick Stein at Bannisters Port Stephens.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Retreat Port Stephens?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Retreat Port Stephens?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at The Retreat Port Stephens?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Are there any historical sites close to The Retreat Port Stephens?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Johnny's Well (6.8 km).
Is The Retreat Port Stephens accessible?
Yes, it offers reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
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