Cockle Bay House

Last minute deal: Stay before 19 Feb 2012 for 10% off

Description

Cockle Bay House is a spacious romantic retreat situated on the NSW Central Coast with 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.

Two king bedrooms, three queen bedrooms and one double all with bathrooms and TV's. Two bathrooms have spas.
The honeymoon suite has a mahogany 4-poster king bed with luxury drapes. Five bedrooms have private verandahs.

For extra accommodation, there is a double sofa bed and double futon in the family room and 3-4 single mattresses in one of the king rooms.

The large blackwood kitchen with dishwasher and large fridge freezer, is great for entertaining and opens out into the airy conservatory. Ideal for al fresco dining.

For more formal meals there is a large lounge/dining set up for 10, and in the family room an extra round teak table for an additional 6.

Hidden in 10 acres of bushland backing on to Cockle Bay, a tidal inlet on the beautiful Brisbane Water. Enjoy the wildlife and peaceful surroundings. Only five minutes to Macmasters and Avoca beaches and 8 minutes to Terrigal.

Rated AAA 4.5 star and winner of many awards over the years including the outright winner of the NSW Tourism Award for Excellence in hosted accommodation.

Facilities

Our calendar is up to date to enable you to secure the dates you prefer for those birthday or anniversary get togethers. We are sorry if your particular weekend is already taken, but hopefully you are sufficiently flexible with your dates as it is a great place to stay and chill out. Thank you - David and Alison.
PS - feel free to bring some food for the resident ducks or lorrikeets !!



Cockle Bay House features a beautiful solar-heated saltwater swimming pool and enclosed sun-deck for lazy days with a book from the extensive library.

For the more energetic there is an all weather floodlit tennis court.

All guest rooms have ensuites, TVs, four have bar fridges and they open on to a private balcony/verandah. The generous guest living areas include a lounge with wood fire, library and charming conservatory.

Can be rented as a self-contained 6-bedroom 6-bathroom holiday house. Includes two spas.

MONTHLY UPDATE
(January 2012)
Happy New Year everyone for 2012. We have had some wonderful groups stay at the property over the festive season and thoroughly enjoy themselves. If we can help in any way with your booking enquiry please do not hesitate to ask.

(December 2011)
Merry Xmas -and we hope you all have an enjoyable and safe festive season)

(November 2011)
With the weather starting to warm up our focus is external rather than internal - and some general gardening work is occuring. The swimming pool was on 29 degrees the other day but even without the sun we would anticipate it will now hover between 25-30 degrees over the next few months. Also, just arrived - our third double kayak for guests to enjoy!!

(October 2011)
Rugby World Cup Champions - New Zealand
.....nothing further needs to be said this month - or for the next four years!! - life is good.

(September 2011)
With the Rugby World Cup now underway I think I could be excused from all work on the guesthouse until the All Blacks lift the winners cup next month.....but sadly that is not to be (the no work comment - not the comment regarding who will win!).
A bit of gardening is underway coinciding with the new spring season - leaves and flowers are appearing all over the place sending the birds a bit wild.
Internally there has been a bit of change - we have purchased a big table and have moved everything out of the dining room to house it (seats 12 comfortably with a couple of spare chairs). The objective is to make the loungeroom exactly that - and the old tables in the dining and loungerooms have been removed. I will update with some images as soon as we can.

(August 2011)
So much rain - reminds me of home in Auckland!
We've managed to get another supply of ironbark firewood and this should keep guests nice and warm while they toast their marshmellows.
We are looking at various landscaping options at the moment and also have a DA into the local council for some 'additions' - when appropriate we will share this with everyone. Rugby World Cup starts next month - I wonder who will win this time?

(July 2011)
We did our mid year disappearing act so not a lot happened this month during our absence.

(June 2011)
The new flooring downstairs is finished and looks great and feels warm. We also extended it into the downstairs bedroom for completeness. A new Meile dishwasher was installed in the kitchen. Winter firewood has arrived and is all stacked for use by guests. And the tennis umpire chair is in place and it is a monster!!

(May 2011)
The big decision on the flooring has been made after many, many months of researching for an appropriate product. Installation has commenced beginning of this month with kitchen, dining and loungeroom areas receiving the new bamboo flooring. Kitchen cabinets and drawers have also been enhanced with new knobs and running drawers and self closing hinges. Later in the month we are expecting delivery of a Wimbledon type umpire chair - so in the event you cannot play the tennis game, one of your group can at least look like a professional umpire!

(April 2011)
We have installed new air-conditioning system in the dining/kitchen area, and also in the downstairs king bedroom. A pair of nice bedside cabinets was acquired and these have been placed in one of the queen bedrooms. Another comfy chair has also been put in the lounge - ready for the winter sports viewing. We will be placing our order soon for firewood for the logfire (if I write it down I wonder if mother nature will probably try and make this winter the warmest on record).

(March 2011)
Crikey - I thought it rained a lot in Auckland!! We even had a group use the fireplace. Due to the poor weather not a lot has got done. We are however in the process of reviewing and updating the airconditioning in the guesthouse and this should all be completed by early April.

(February 2011)
New water saving showerheads placed in each of the bathrooms. Carpet throughout the house has been professionally cleaned. All windows cleaned (some 165 panels!) And we have another double kayak for guests to use.

(January 2011)
Happy New Year everyone. The new entrance kerbing has been laid. About three extra fans have been placed in the house for the summer months. Will the All Blacks win the Rugby World Cup this year? After all, 24 years waiting patiently is a long time!!

(December 2010)
Happy Xmas to past and future guests. Not too much to report this month as we have been away. New kerbing starts early December.
Pool is at 29 degrees and looking great.

(November 2010)
Hard to believe but early November guests were still using the fireplace but I think we have now finally turned the corner with temperatures heading north. Another couple of kayaks have been purchased - I just need to arrange pickup of them and so that will take total kayaks to five. We will also be having new kerbside borders installed from the entrance gates to the guest house and we hope that can be completed prior to month end.

(October 2010)
The inlaws from the UK were downunder this month and so it has turned out to be gardening month which is probably just as well given the continuation of all the rainy weather. Some additional kitchen utensils have been put in the drawers following guest feedback.

(September 2010)
Crikey the wet and windy weather put a dampner on our spring cleaning but its back underway again - the pool area is nearly finished and tennis court is underway (areas remain fully usable when guests are on site). A previous guest has suggested the purchase of a specific light for the BBQ and also hairdryers for the bathrooms - the light has been acquired and I am on the search for the latter - and yes it was a lady guest that suggested the items. We've got in a further load of firewood as the fire is still being used but now that spring is here we can sense things are just getting a little warmer each day.

(August 2010)
Other than the start of our spring cleaning not a lot to add this month. The trampoline we have deferred putting up as we are now researching a springless one as this ultimately will be a lot safer for the kiddies (both small and big) - so bear with us on that item. We have purchased another sit on kayak - this one is a nice big double one. The men folk now have no excuse not to serenade to their lady as you paddle up the creek (its called being romantic guys!).

(July 2010)
Another new sealy posturepedic queen bed ensemble has been put into the guest house - enjoy!!. We have also acquired trampoline for the kids and will attempt to put that together over on the island.

(June 2010)
We have purchased a couple of sit on kayaks that will be made available complimentary to guests (one is adult size and the other for a child). We will look to get more over the coming months - we still have a couple of sea going sit in kayaks available (albeit at an additional cost).

(May 2010)
One of the bedrooms has received a bed makeover - Sheraton quality and (sorry to the men folk) its now a pinky room. A truckload of firewood arrived and is now stacked under cover for use by guests enjoying the house over the next couple of months.

(April 2010)
Other than new lighting in the kitchen and various prints being put up in the living and bedroom walls no 'new' things have been added. This month is really about autumn cleaning - so painting has started on the external part of the house and the conservatory has had a good seeing to. There are a number of big ticket items that we are currently working through and we hope to make some decisions over the next 2-3 months.
We are having a number of groups book the property for mid year Xmas celebrations and some weekends are still available. At the moment we are still in 'summer' mode as the pool is sitting on a comfortable 25 degrees.

(March 2010)
All the bedrooms have now got the new digital TVs installed so if you need to sneak away from the rest of the group to watch Neighbours you can do so without anyone knowing what you are doing!
But the main thing ticked off the agenda this month is the fountain. When we purchased the property it was painted black and did not function. With the assistance of handyman Colin it has been transformed into a welcoming feature that guests will see on arrival. It has been repainted white, and water cascades down the dishes at various times of the day, and is illuminated at night. Our only problem now is the ducks have taken a liking to the bottom level!!

(February 2010)
Another brand new bed has been purchased - this time a Queen sealy pillow top. We have removed the bunk bed and so the bedrooms are 2 king beds, 3 queen beds and one double. We also have single mattresses, a futon and a sofa bed to cater for the larger group.
We have also put up a chandalier in the lounge which seems to add a lot of character to the room already, with more improvements being planned.

(January 2010)
We have put in a brand new Weber Genesis BBQ as we did not want the men folk blaming their tools if they burnt the sausages - not that there was anything wrong with the previous BBQ. Ladies will now be able to choose their meal of choice from the Weber recipe book which is inside the guest house and have this prepared by their chef. The picture of the barbecued snapper with roasted pepper vinaigrette looks great for starters!!

But wait there's more.....we will be putting into all the bedrooms individual clock radios, each with an ipod player.

And finally - all the rooms will also be getting brand new digital LCD TVs - all with built in DVD players. So feel free to bring childrens DVDs to keep the kids entertained and different DVDs to keep the adults happy. If you'd like to donate to our DVD library be our guest - we have none at the moment!

(December 2009)
Merry Xmas everyone and Happy 2010.

(November 2009)
Four new teak loungers have arrived in time for the warmer months - they are on wheels and can be easily moved around for best position. They also have that all important pull out drink tray so that the men folk will know when the ladies drink is nearing empty.
A lovely wedding was held this month with an acoustic guitarist playing during the celebrations. Our eight resident ducks even followed the bride and groom up the aisle.

(October 2009)
The first wedding for the season took place in the middle of this month - some photos can be seen in the photo gallery. The weather was very kind and a special day was had by all who attended.

An ATMS accredited massage therapist (male)is now available to visit guests of Cockle Bay House. Different massage types are available including relaxing swedish style, specific massage targeted on specific muscles with remedial techniques, myofascia release, deep tissues. There is also La Stone Therapy using hot basalt and cold marble stones.
Bookings are essential and contact details provided on request.

We have put on the 'island' a large rustic table and bench set now that the warmer months are coming (fingers crossed!). This is an inviting area and shaded by the trees, with the idea that guests can have a true outdoor campfire BBQ area with plenty of seating.

More teak furniture has also arrived with a new day bed in the conservatory, and additional benches for an outdoor seating area near to the pool area.

The feeding of the bigger ducks has proved to be a success - we now have nine little ducklings ruling the creek. Bring your bread - these guys are hungry!!

(September 2009)
Well the red dust storms didn't help much this month but we suspect everyone else is in the same boat with a lot of time spent on cleaning and repairing of storm damage.
We have put an extra fridge/freezer into the laundry area for additional cooling space for food/drinks that cannot be accommodated in the kitchen fridge.
Some of the bed covers and duvet inners have been updated and we are getting favorable feedback from the wool underlay that we have put into the poster bedroom. A new tennis net winder will assist in keeping the net at regulation height as guests are starting to use the court a lot more.
We are doing a bit of work on the gardens in anticipation of the first wedding of the season on site in a couple of weeks time.

(August 2009)
Other than a new DVD player for the lounge no acquisitions of note have been made. We are in the process of obtaining a number of quotations to make some material improvements to the guest house over the next few months.
Good luck to both New Zealand and Australia for the rugby Bledisloe Cup - may the best team win!!

(July 2009)
We have just had a month away ourselves, and with a lot of rainfall in the area recently not a lot has happened - HOWEVER, we are pleased to have now put in a big new plasma screen in the formal lounge so that our lady guests can watch the cricket or the rugby while the men folk attend to the getting the wood fire going and keeping the ladies drinks topped up.

(June 2009)
We have purchased two new teak tables that we have put into the conservatory as this area seems to be the place where guests tend to relax and chill out. The great thing about these tables is that they are identical and extendable - to a total of nearly 6 metres. We decided to also get some lovely teak chairs with cushions so the area can now seat 20 people comfortably - great for big family get togethers or weddings. There are further plans underway for the conservatory so watch this space.

We've had recent guest feedback that Cockle Bay House is great for playing murder mysteries so think about that when you visit with friends and family.

(May 2009)
With chillier nights now upon us we have placed a wood box near to the front door and guests are thoroughly enjoying the large wood fire in the lounge in the evenings. There is all sorts of wood that can be collected around the property. The solar heated pool is still getting used and we have recently acquired a couple of additional sunloungers for use during the day. Some moran furniture has also been acquired (including a moran sofabed/couch) as well as other furniture that has been placed in the guest house. Cockle Bay House can now accommodate 18 people (assuming two people sharing beds of double size or larger).

(March 2009) -
1. For tennis lovers, or for people keen to have a hit against a machine, the tennis ball machine that has all the bells and whistles is now available for hire at a very reasonable hourly rate. It comes with remote control and a bucket full of balls - one player will be very tired after one hours usage!
2. The music system in the lounge has been updated and you are welcome to bring your own I-Pod and/or CDs.
3. One of the queen beds has been replaced with a new Sealy pillowtop mattress. It is very comfortable and we believe the only thing that will wake you is the birds!
4. The property now has the capacity to sleep 16 people.

(February 2009) - The availability of top quality kayaks has proved to be a hit and so for tennis lovers, a tennis ball machine will be available for optional use by mid February. One of the king bedrooms has been newly carpeted. The sleeping capacity of the guest house will shortly be increased by one to 16. A new pillow top queen bed will be in place by mid February. The kayaks are available at very reasonable rates.

(January 2009)
Cockle Bay House is now under new ownership and management. We will be introducing many new improvements and options available to guests. High on the 'to do' list is to make available high quality kayaks so guests may enjoy the beautiful Brisbane Waters.

Local Attractions

On the property enjoy bushwalks, swimming or tennis. Nearby is horse riding, golf, sailing and kayaking. Local attractions are the 8 different beaches within 10 minutes drive, the Ettalong Weekend Markets, The Fragrant Garden, and a choice of more than 40 restaurants.

Terrigal is a short 8 minute drive away with a cosmopolitan range of beachside cafes and fine dining restaurants.

Three local restaurants offer a pick-up and drop home service so that you can enjoy a drink or two with your meal.

Feature List

• Barbeque
• Bedding (Linen)
• Pay TV
• Cooking Facilities
• Air Conditioning
• CD Player
• DVD Player
• Inhouse Movies
• Linen Supplied
• Local Telephone
• Microwave
• Open Fireplace
• Playground
• Refrigerator
• Rumpus Room
• Spa Bath
• Swimming Pool
• Tennis Court
• TV Reception
• Wheelchair Access
• Video Player
• Non-smoking
• Conference Facilities
• Clothes Dryer
• Iron
• Stereo
• Washing Machine
• solar heated pool
• fishing
• TV's in all rooms
• floodlit tennis court
• 10 acres of bush tracks
• AAA 4.5 stars
• water access
• all rooms have ensuite
• a king 4-poster bed

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