House

Observatory View Cottage - a place of pure escape

Observatory View Cottage - a place of pure escape

Photo gallery for Observatory View Cottage - a place of pure escape

Exterior
Unclassified image, 2 of 24, button
Property grounds
Interior detail
Property grounds

Overview of Observatory View Cottage - a place of pure escape

10 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space
  • Air conditioningAir conditioningAir conditioning

Check out the area

Firefly, NSW
  • Popular LocationThe National Motorcycle Museum21 min drive
  • Popular LocationForster Town Beach38 min drive
  • Popular LocationOne Mile Beach42 min drive
  • AirportNewcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown)89 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Observatory View Cottage - a place of pure escape

Just one of our gorgeous guests reviews ;

Tanya's cottage is the perfect little place for a tranquil getaway! The moment you arrive you feel like you're in another world. The expansive views are just something. The cottage is so cosy, beautifully laid out and have 360 views. It's a quintessential country style cottage with all the modern ammenities. Tanya was very easy to deal with and a very attentive host. We will definitely be back :)

* 3 hours north of Sydney is your 'best of both worlds' getaway
* Unique, clean, cozy and just beautiful, 2 bedroom private cottage with a selection of beautiful beaches from just 30 mins away
* The gorgeous Tallwoods Golf Course only 30 mins away, with Blackhead Beach, Blackhead Markets and recently renovated Hallidays Point Tavern just minutes from the golf course
* Local village - Nabiac is a 10 minute, picturesque drive, offering gorgeous giftware, vintage, craft and op shops, variety of eateries inc The Greenhouse Cafe, a good ole' fashioned take away, the Bakery and the Nabiac Hotel (with courtesy bus available on Tues, Fri and Sat nights). For recreation, Nabiac also offers a tennis court (bookings essential), swimming pool, park and oval. With the convenience of grocery stores, butchers, chemist, newsagency, hair and beauty, Nabiac has everything you need !! The well known National Motorbike Museum also resides in Nabiac - 'Nabiac - be amazed' !!
* The village of Krambach also 10 mins has a traditional pub and cafe. Follow the Krambach Rd to the gorgeous Gloucester Shire/Barrington Tops for a day trip - only 40 mins away!!
* Villa d'Esta Winery 5 mins, Great Lakes Paddocks about 25 mins away
* Bike/walking track behind property
* Sitting pretty atop the hill, with uninterrupted skies, the cottage surrounds are perfect for setting up a telescope and star gazing
* Nabiac Farmers Market is on the last Saturday of each month, excluding December. The market is continually growing, with over 80 stalls at last count !! It's a fantastic morning out, starting at 8am through to 12 noon. Music plays in the background as you wander the market observing the amazing displays of produce and talent in the region.

As the song goes, I found my thrills on (blueberry) - observatory hill. Observatory View Cottage sits atop a hill, boasting the views once enjoyed by the old observatory which stands beside it, taking full advantage of spectacular and uninterrupted views of the starry nights. This fully renovated 2 bedroom light filled cottage takes pride of place on 100 undulating acres in Firefly, just a 10 min drive off the Pacific Highway, in the hinterland of the mid north coast of NSW. Only 3 hours north of Sydney, or 1½ hours from Newcastle or Port Macquarie, this holiday cottage is bursting with its own unique style.

The main bedroom featuring a king sized bed opens upon a view of distant dams, forest, and paddocks, with a large grassed clearing in the foreground. The second bedroom with a queen sized bed overlooks the other side of the hill, which complete with hills hoist empties into the valley beyond. Both beds are fitted with high quality crisp linen, with a large sofa lounge in the sitting room providing another sleeping option for further guests.

The sitting and dining areas front an open plan fully self contained new but rustic kitchen, complete with stone sink and coffee machine. If cooking inside is not for you, a 2 burner gas BBQ is available – that is, if you can motivate yourself to move off the comfort of the timber deck first.

There is a separate toilet and bathroom with large shower, and a laundry with the full complement of whitegoods to cater for any cleaning incurred in a rural lifestyle. Air-conditioning or an electric log heater make the cottage comfortable for all seasons.

Enjoying fresh tank water, and an outdoor garden setting amongst the trees, soak up the tranquil landscape whichever way you choose. This country cottage offers a taste of both modernity and history, where city comforts blend with rustic charm. With views from every window and the village atmosphere of Nabiac, the sandy white beaches of Forster, the glory of the mighty Manning River in Taree and Wingham, or the dramatic escarpment of Gloucester and Barrington only short drives away, this is a getaway that should not be missed.

Property owners Tanya and Troy are available nearby should you need any assistance, but otherwise the privacy of this retreat and all it has to offer can be yours to enjoy.

Please note:- Check-in and Check-out times can be made flexible subject to availability. Please ask if you have a special request.

Review

Review:

We enormously enjoyed four relaxing and indulgent days at this beautiful cottage. A fantastic breath of peace and fresh air, in gorgeous surroundings. 


Thanks very much for rescuing our Easter and for looking after us so well. We had a great break. Our two year old is still talking about it (misses the puppy)! On the way back to Sydney, she kept on asking to go back to the “Holiday House!”. 


The cottage itself was beautiful – stylish, tastefully renovated, offering city comfort with country charm. Super comfortable beds – we all slept better than we had in we had in months - gorgeous bathroom, lovely open plan kitchen. 


We also loved that the cottage has such a soulful history - with the old observatory on the grounds. Lovely to have our own private lawn and gardens - and the view from both lounge and main bedroom over the rolling country hillside was amazing, the deck perfect for relaxing with a nice glass of wine – or two. It was a great launching point for adventures to the surrounding area, and just for relaxing, cooking and reading a book…


Thanks again and we will be back!


Cheers

Breakfast Option

Stay more than one night and receive a complimentry breakfast hamper for the first morning - bacon, eggs, bread and juice, along with homemade Granola muesli and youghurt. Milk is always provided along with tea and coffee. If your break away is purely for rest and relaxation, pop into Nabiac where the Greenhouse Cafe (open 7 days per week with the exception of public holidays and currently Covid 19 restrictions) serves up delicious breakfast, brunch and lunch meals and a selection of amazing cakes and slices, all made in-house by their full-time pastry chef. The Nabiac Hotel is also open 7 days per week for lunch and dinner (of course subject to current Covid 19 restrictions) and offers a courtesy bus on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights. The bus can pick you up from the cottage and bring you 'home'.

Property manager

Tanya
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill
Mountain view

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Children MUST be supervised outdoors AT ALL TIMES.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number PID-STRA-6292-2

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Firefly

Located in Firefly, this vacation home is in a rural area and on a river. Villa d'Esta Vineyard and Honeycomb Valley Farm are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Wallamba Nature Reserve and Bullocky Wharf Reserve. Discover the area's water adventures with motor boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding.

What's nearby

  • Villa d'Esta Vineyard - 8 min drive
  • Honeycomb Valley Farm - 17 min drive
  • The National Motorcycle Museum - 21 min drive
  • Forster Town Beach - 38 min drive
  • One Mile Beach - 42 min drive

Getting around

  • Taree Station - 39 min drive
  • Taree, NSW (TRO) - 42 min drive

Restaurants

  • Krambach Hotel - 14 min drive
  • Brooks Beate Lieselotte - 12 min drive
  • Krambach Cottage - 14 min drive
  • Doranwoods Cafe - 18 min drive
  • Commercial Hotel - 14 min drive

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 29 out of 30 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 30 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 30 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 30 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 30 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

James S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing - highly recommend for a break!
Our second time at this awesome property, this time with our three year old. She loves it and so did we! The property is serene and you can shut off the world. The neighbours with their horses were loved by the little one. The lovely touches they put in to make you welcome really add the cherry on top. Turn your phone off and enjoy Thanks for having us!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sandra B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Charming cottage
Absolutely loved Tanya's cottage. It is the perfect little cottage for a peaceful, restful stay. The view is amazing and the night sky twinkles with the stars. The cottage is well laid out, cozy, and comfortable. Tanya was easy to deal with. We will definitely be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lynda H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We will be back!
Absolutely beautiful location. Felt like home away from home. Comfortable and warm inside the cottage and clean and crisp outside. Tanya’s attention to detail is remarkable and her warmly welcome was felt.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hugo S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful spot!
Beautiful, clean and comfortable little cottage with gorgeous views of the surrounding farmland. Very cozy and really lovely to stay in. Nearby Nabiac was also beautiful and visiting the Krambach markets a real highlight for us. Host (Tanya) also very friendly and easy to communicate with. Overall 5 stars, would certainly love to come back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lindy V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
So much serenity....
"How's the serenity? So much serenity". A favourite line from "the Castle" is a perfect fit for "the Cottage". Such a restful, comfortable space with a beautiful outlook and the bird life is amazing. I actually couldn't drag myself away and stayed an extra night. Host Tanya was so accommodating and easy to communicate with.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

About the host

Hosted by Tanya

Host profile image
We are a family of five, three children at High School in Tuncurry My hubby grew up on a farm, I grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, needless to say, we had very different upbringings !! After living in residential areas of Sydney and moving around a little, we decided a property was a lovely option for our three children to grow up in and for my hubby to get back to his roots, his passion - the land !!

Why they chose this property

We were looking for a rural property that was within a reasonable distance to beaches and the gorgeous bodies of water that spoil this region.

So, like many, we looked and looked for the 'right' property and was a little disheartened when nothing really sat right with us. We saw properties that were move-in ready, some that needed a little touch here and there but just not 'us'. We completely disregarded this property to even inspect due to it's lack of photo's online. It caused us major apprehension when our local real estate agent said "I'm taking you up there" as, on paper, it had everything we were essentially looking for. The property, as suspected, was in total disrepair in every way. Buuuttt, there was 'something' about this property, something truly magical, it had SOUL, it had character and it was really unique. The old owner created an amazing home for their family but we could see when we met him though, he was ready to move on.

We bought the property six years ago and have been working hard on it ever since (I don't think work ever stops on a property of any kind !!). Lets just say it has been a BIG project !! We have been able to create that same soulful feeling and give this property back is life which we are really proud of and even prouder to be in a position to share it with guests. When people come here, the common remark is 'It just feels good, has such a nice feel about it. There really is just something about this place'.


What makes this property unique

Well this property is just one-of-a-kind. It has a homemade Observatory (currently not in working order, hoping to restore one day!!). The old owner built the Observatory and all his telescopes he used in it, quite remarkable, don't you think ??!! So this property has THE ideal position for star gazing. On a clear night, the starry sky here is simply incredible, I still get amazed by it.

When he moved, he left alot of his belongings, we found photo's of him building the structure with his kids helping (or maybe supervising, not sure lol ??!!).

He was such an incredible man with many many interests ie astronomy (hence the observatory of course!!), mathematics, languages, music and photography (he built his own dark room too !!). His interests were evident in the books he left behind. These are displayed and available to you to have a look at in the cottage (please be careful with them if you do take a look).

When I was 'restoring/renovating' the cottage, I tried to stay true to his interests and his passions. I reused/recycled alot of what was left on the property to make this property unique and with it's own style, not like any other.

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

More Vacation Rentals ideas

People also search for