Bandusia Country Retreat
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1055 Upper MacDonald Road, St. Albans, New South Wales 2775 Australia
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About
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Free parking
Wifi
Pool
Bar / lounge
Spa
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
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1055 Upper MacDonald Road, St. Albans, New South Wales 2775 Australia
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21Reviews2Q+A9Room tips
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Just got back from a great 3 night getaway for 2 couples and 5 children aged 9 - 16. Good communication from the outset of booking, neither family had any difficulties finding the place and we had a very relaxing time enjoying the Hawkesbury and facilities at Bandusia. Geoff and Penny are very welcoming, rooms are spacious and very clean, all had en-suites. Our friends found sleep elusive the first night due to the cockerel crowing and the guinea-fowl, but luckily had ear plugs for subsequent nights. We slept perfectly every night, the mattress was so comfortable! Just what we needed to get away from hustle and bustle of life. (Apart from the cockerel!) Bandusia is very peaceful, we spent the days bushwalking down the local tracks recommended by Penny and bouldering behind the property, swimming in the saltwater pool and grazing on the food we brought in - there are excellent self-catering kitchen facilities with everything you need, huge fridge, freezers, microwave, kettles etc. If there's anything missing, Geoff is only too happy to provide. Across the road they own more land and it was interesting to see their permaculture beds etc. Had a meal at the quirky Settlers Arms in St Albans (10 mins drive) who opened specially for us - wholesome, home made, a bit pricey but we were on holiday. If you need some peace and to get into nature, yet stay with all the comforts of home in comfy beds, this is a great place. Children will also enjoy the chooks, goat, horses, turkeys, ducks, cats, rabbits.... Very grateful to our hosts and would definitely recommend/stay again.…
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Date of stay: October 2020
Rooms
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Service
Room Tip: Room 1 on the end was spacious and had beautiful view onto the bush
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From the booking until the time to come back to reality, the experience was amazing. The hosts cannot be more welcoming. We have literally disconnect from the world for a weekend. Looking forward to head back.
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Date of stay: September 2018Trip type: Travelled
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Room Tip: The honey moon suite is stunning and peaceful.
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I went here on a writing retreat with a university group and it could not have been better. The quietness is amazing. My room was just perfect with a very comfortable bed. Fresh grown food for the tasty meals were fantastic. Hospitable owners were also a great help.
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Date of stay: April 2018Trip type: Travelled
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Room Tip: I stayed in the barn upstairs room, which must be the quietest room in Australia.
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My partner and I stayed here for a weekend. It was the quieter time of year, and so we had the whole place to ourselves. The hosts are absolutely fantastic and very welcoming. They made us feel right at home and we all had a good ol' chat during a breakfast of delicious farm-fresh eggs. The location is brilliant and not hard to navigate to, tucked away just off the road. The lodging itself is rustic and very homely. We stayed in the Honeymoon Suite which included a private balcony facing the woods, a large bathroom and in-ground spa bath. I cannot thank the hosts enough for a great, and relaxing weekend that we very much needed. Will be staying here again and recommend it for everyone who wants a peaceful and tranquil holiday.
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Date of stay: October 2017Trip type: Travelled
Value
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Room Tip: Honeyroom suite is excellent; large, open, in-ground spa, his/her basins, private entrance and...
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Rarely do you come across a property that over delivers on comfort , ambience and experience. After a quick journey refresh at Settlers Arms , our early evening sense of arrival of Bandusia was a welcome surprise . The retreat reminds me of the lodges you find in New Zealand . With private en-suits for most rooms, a magnificent fire side lounge and dining room the retreat played perfect host to our private gathering of 20 . The nearby Jacks trial was a terrific short walk with amazing views on top of the ridge.
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Date of stay: October 2016Trip type: Travelled
Rooms
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Room Tip: The honey moon suite is the one to book
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Staff were very friendly. Honeymoon room is great. Truly in the "middle of nowhere". Shared a dinner table with staff & other guests, loved it. Had lunch at Settlers Arms at St Albans which is about 11km away.
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Date of stay: October 2016Trip type: Travelled
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+1
We have stayed at Bandusia a number of times, and have even done a Permaculture beekeeping course, which was professional, hands-on, informative and great fun. Not to mention the honey to take home! Penny and Geoffrey always do a fabulous breakfast, with fresh eggs from the chickens who live in a straw-bale construction hen house! There's a food forest, and many other creatures: ducks, quails, a Turkey called Chunto who follows Penny around like a dog; and the wildlife is stunning - the little forest birds come in droves to a birdbath which can be seen from the dining area; on our last visit, a French family were delighted to see a family of Kangaroos hopping past the window as they breakfasted. The Permaculture weekends are varied and reasonably priced - dry stone walling; straw bale construction; vertical wall gardening; home preserving; making vinegar and home made cheese. All hands-on workshops. Or you can just do what we do: chill out. Most of the rooms have a spa bath, there's a larger outdoor spa, and best of all, a large swimming pool. The kids love it, especially on hot summer days. Recreation is what you make it: chilling out, reading, playing billiards on a full-size table; a sing-along around the player piano! There are cards, books, and people to talk to; walks down to the river for bird-spotting, and bring your bike for a country cycle. There are various local events during the year; our favourite is the St Albans Folk Festival, always on Anzac weekend, centred on the Settlers Arms Pub at St Albans village, 10 mins drive away. I love that old pub - it has a rare old atmosphere from long ago. It is just a short drive from Wiseman's Ferry, and the ferry trip across the river is where the adventure begins... One of our favourite places in the world.…
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip type: Travelled
Value
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Room Tip: Loads of rooms, most have a spa bath, a lounge (pulls out to make an extra bed), TV, fridge, tea...
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When my friends and I left it til the last minute to book accomodation for the annual Convict mountain bike race which is hosted in the small country town of St Albans we fast realised how few options there were for accomodation in this small town let alone anywhere that would be half decent until I stumbled across Bandusia, from the initial email correspondence with the host Geoffrey I found him most helpful in trying to help choose the most appropriate room for our stay. Upon arrival to the lodge we were greeted by Chunto the Turkey who roams around the property freely and made me laugh on every occasion, we were told we could park our car on the lawn right across from our room less than 10 metres so conveinent. The room was quite large and very comfortable and exceeded my expectations. the bathroom was also good size although the shower head is positioned quite low, people above 6ft would have to duck but it's a very minor complaint, my only negative remarks about the lodge is simply the remoteness of it being a 13 minute drive north of the township of St Albans on a gravel road which at night is treacherous with no lighting on the roads, if only they'd fix that road! That said i think Bandusia more than makes up for the extra drive and i consider it excellent value for money with the awesome breakfast included which was delicious and cooked fresh every morning includes fresh tea & coffee, porridge, eggs, toast, bacon, sausage and just about anything else you can think of, if you give them notice the night before they'll even prepare a wholesome homemade dinner for you for a very reasonable fee. The fireplace is the star of the show in winter and it felt like every time we entered the common area Geoffrey was there to stoke the fire for us, awesome! I didn't realise until near the end of the stay they also had an outdoor jaccuzi, spa, pool, sauna and BBQ which i'll be taking full advantage of next year! upon check out we were told not to rush and to sleep in if we wished.. All in all the stay was amazing and i couldn't have asked for a better host our trip highlights were... 1 Breakfast 2 The fire place 3 the huge king bed in room 1 4 hit the brief of cosy, traditional lodge 5 the amazing host…
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Date of stay: August 2015Trip type: Travelled
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Deborah G wrote a review Nov 2014
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia109 contributions46 helpful votes
Three families with small children made the trek for a weekend away. We could have stayed longer - the kids had a fabulous time at the pool, the rooms were comfortable and everything seemed easy. More specifically: this property has a large communal area with conference rooms, cosy lounges and a pool table as well as a swimming pool with fully equipped outdoor kitchen. The hosts are lovely people, generous with their time. They also sell pecan nuts grown in their orchard and home made preserves. It's quite a drive there and check in is at 2 so we went to an animal farm in Dural on the way as. On our last day, with check out at 11, we spent the say at the pool and cooked our own lunch. I'd do this again but stay longer. An again with friends. Would also be sure to spend an evening playing pool.…
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Travelled
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: There are about 10 rooms of varying sizes. Room 1 is large with huge bed and sofa bed and spa...
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Wanting to get away from the bright lights of Sydney I came across Bandusia. As it was only 1 night I opted for the Honeymoon suite if only for the sunken bath. As I had booked this as a surprise my first reaction on arrival was hesitant as it does not have the wow factor of a luxury resort.. as it is now an eco resort and the offer of chicken and veg for dinner was not going to cut the mustard for a wife expectant of a nice weekend break. However, this was quickly rectified with a trip back to Wisemans Ferry for an early dinner and to stock up on supplies for the evening. As for getting away from it all, there is no telephone or 3G reception in the valley, no TV and no Wifi. For us this was a blessing as without the constant updates from around the world you can focus on the moment. Needless to say, the bath overlooking the forest provided the highlight of the trip and was the prelude to an evening of ultimate relaxation. The breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast was home cooked and adequate. It's also nice to be greeted first thing by the chickens rushing to meet you in the hope of some food. This is a resort in transition as the previous owners had grander intentions and as it now moves towards a self sustainable eco lodge there are a few aspects that im sure will be ironed out. So go prepared, it is a B&B after all, be ready to be unconnected and bring a good book and let the tranquillity of the forgotten valley in!…
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Date of stay: September 2014Trip type: Travelled
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Pay the extra for the Honeymoon Suite if Available, the sunken bath is completly worth it!
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LOCATION
AustraliaNew South WalesBlue MountainsHawkesbury ValleySt. Albans
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Bandusia Country Retreat
What are some of the property amenities at Bandusia Country Retreat?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, a lounge, and a spa.
What food & drink options are available at Bandusia Country Retreat?
Guests can enjoy a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Bandusia Country Retreat?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Bandusia Country Retreat?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.