Mary and Derek's cottage was lovely and well-appointed. They were very communicative and even stayed up to make sure we found the place okay after getting delayed driving there. The cottage is very private and has a lovely outdoor area - I'd highly recommend it.

Elcia ~ Oct 2024 ~ Amazing place! Tucked away in a peaceful spot behind the main house, this retreat is perfect for a weekend getaway. The decor is beautiful and tasteful, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The place is well-equipped with everything you could need, making it easy to relax and enjoy your time. The surrounding scenery and wildlife is stunning, adding to the tranquil charm. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a peaceful escape!

Lovely relaxing few days and cottage very well presented. Also, beautiful surroundings. Scones and breakfast excellent.

Just loved the quiet serenity of the property and the cottage was perfect, will definitely go back again.

A terrific stay - Mary made us feel very welcome and the cottage itself is a gem. Extremely comfortable bed, a beautiful clawfoot bath and thoughtful touches (including extensive breakfast provisions) - not to mention the kangaroos literally outside the door! A wonderful place for a rural getaway - highly recommend.

We had such a lovely, relaxing stay at Mary and Derek’s cottage. The location was peaceful and picturesque, and the cottage was beautifully laid out with everything we needed. Despite the wintery mornings, we were very toasty inside, and Mary and Derek were kind enough to turn the heating on so that it was warm on our arrival in the evening. A generous breakfast was provided, and we were grateful for a local recommendation for dinner. It was definitely hard to come back to the city after such a refreshing weekend

My partner and I had a lovely weekend at The Retreat. Despite the cold winter weather, the cottage was cosy and warm, and with a generous hamper of provisions provided we were able to spend our mornings relaxing. Would recommend to others and hope to stay again in future!

A light breakfast muesli. Yoghurt, fresh fruit, toast, variety of jams etc. fruit juice, large bottle of water. The hosts offered scones with jam and cream at extra costs which was excellent. Very hot weekend air con was on when we arrived.  Lots of books on hand, board games. Tennis court, beautiful location away from the main house. Host very friendly and left us to ourselves in a perfect location.  A most beautiful retreat and the cottages was of a very high standard. 

The Retreat is a perfect getaway on a lovely property.  Mary and Derek have provided everything that you could possibly need for an enjoyable and comfortable stay and were incredibly accommodating. Would highly recommend The Retreat! 

Just a note to thank you for your hospitality. We absolutely loved staying at The Retreat. It is so beautifully appointed, and your thoughtful touches are very much appreciated.

Have stayed here twice now. Very nice accommodation with a great garden. We used the outdoor fire which was nice. Also great amount of food, tea and coffee provided. Will be back.

Just a quick note to say thanks so very much for hosting me this past week. The Retreat is comfy, cosy, and well provisioned, and the grounds are truly a place of rest and beauty. Every time I opened the curtains in the mornings, I found myself exclaiming with delight, whether at the mob of kangaroos reclining on the lawn, the evolving colours of the tree on the croquet lawn, or the general sense of serenity. Thank you for a restful and productive couple of days. Kind regards, Nicki

Heavenly stay✨ Everything about this little cottage is superb. Beautiful, relaxing, immaculate with a lot of love and care gone in to making guests feel special. Absolutely loved our stay here.

We had a lovely few days away at the property, which was peaceful, clean and cosy. A short drive from Woodend and tucked away on a well-cared for parcel of land that would've kept us further entertained if not for some average weather! Mary was kind enough to reach out to me directly upon discovering we had left an item behind and kindly offered to send via post given we had returned home. If you are looking for a quiet spot to leave the buzz of the city behind for a few days without having to travel too far, we highly recommend The Retreat - it was wonderful.

So beautifully presented and terrific location - loved the peace and quiet, bathtub and tennis court - Great short break, we will be back again.

Thank you so much for your preparation and attention to detail. The Retreat is a credit to you both and will be remembered fondly.

Beautiful location, kangaroos and everything thought of for our stay.

Exceptional!

Thank you for a great retreat in the Wombat Forest. You cater to peoples every need and of the highest quality. Everything is so compact and well-organised. We have enjoyed every moment from the kookaburra’s first welcome (for my husband who is in his 86th Year and the kookaburra seems to be his totem) to the magic and mystery of the surrounding sites. We enjoyed our walks in the forest and the different vegetation and bird-calls to the Bendigo Box/Ironbark Forests. It’s a lovely cottage in a unique setting. Thanks for the work you’ve put in over the years.

Relaxing, tranquil well-appointed cottage, great base for Macedon Ranges ~ We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend stay at the Retreat. The cabin locale was quiet and tranquil within easy drive from Woodend and surrounds. Communication with Mary prior to our stay was excellent and directions for check-in easy. The cottage was immaculate with lovely decor and sophisticated styling. There are many places about the cottage to sit and take in the country air, glorious gum trees and the local kangaroos. Breakfast ingredients were ample for two days, we also used for morning teas whilst sightseeing in the Macedon Ranges. Would definitely stay again.