Originally an old miner's cottage, Schatzi's on Shalimah is a fully renovated two bedroom cottage. It is set up as a quiet couple's weekender however the second bedroom can be made available at a small extra cost for a small group seeking a Hunter getaway.
**Please note that booking for 2 people implies that only 1 bedroom will be required, you need to book for 3 people and therefore pay a small additional nightly charge for access to the 2nd bedroom.
The large yard is fully enclosed with lovely lawns and shading trees for both pets and owners to while away their time when not busy sampling the wares of the many nearby wineries, and a large deck offers additional living space and a lovely spot to relax with a beverage of choice. The backyard has fencing ranging from 150-180cm high. We have made it as dog-proof as possible but if your dog is a determined digger or jumper this may not necessarily hold them.
Inside The cottage has all the mod cons including luxuriously appointed bathroom with heating and spa bath and includes a European laundry. The kitchen is well fitted out and includes fridge, microwave, electric oven, gas cooktop and even an espresso machine! Coffee plunger, other electrical items and a variety of quality pots, pans and utensils sets you up for a stay of any length.
In the evening the lounge is a cosy space with reverse cycle air con, large LCD TV, DVD player and CD player. Open the blinds and the 4m sliding doors open up a whole new space and vista with a large deck barbeque and dining setting complete with swing seats for a quirky taste of the Caribbean.
Both rentable bedrooms (there's a 3rd bedroom which is not accessible to guests) have queen beds, wardrobes/storage space and reverse-cycle air con as well as pedestal fans for simple air-flow.
Pets Well behaved pets are most welcome both in the large yard and also in the house. There is no limit on size or number however all pet parents are expected to pick up all faeces from the yard and to ensure that pets don't toilet in the house. Pets must be supervised at all times (even if you bring Dogga's own bed, being left in a strange house is very stressful) or they can be left in the yard or within the Doggy Space. This space is the bathroom plus the small hall space outside of the bathroom. When at home with your pets, please ensure that the throws provided are used to protect the furniture. All dogs will want to 'plump up the couch' by scratching at it and it's your job to ensure that they don't. Having Dogga Parents who are thoughtful and respectful enables us to continue to have pets in the cottage with their family.
Location A lovely park is just a minute's walk away with Vincent Street (the hub of the town) within 5 minutes walk. Here you can enjoy breakfast or just a coffee at one of the many dog friendly cafes. A range of pubs and restaurants, also in walking distance, and have a fabulous array of food with some venues also offering music on weekends. East Cessnock Bowling Club is literally at the end of the street but with surprisingly little impact on guests at Schatzi's. Walks around the area are peaceful and pretty, and even though in town, we have fields very close by where Kangaroos can often be seen, especially in the warmer months at dawn and dusk.
The neighbourhood Our neighbours have been there long before we bought our lovely cottage and they are lovely, friendly and helpful but will be respectful of your space and privacy, as we're sure you will be of theirs.
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Take bins out to the front kerb.
Place keys back in lockbox and scramble code.
Check out Instructions are outlined in Cottage Manual.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number 2325, PID-STRA-50887
Property # 9063978
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Cessnock
Cessnock is home to this cottage. Oaks Golf Course and The Valley Brewhouse are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Hunter Valley Wildlife Park and Binnorie Dairy. Ready for a night out? Consider Roche Estate and Bimbadgen Palmers Lane. Take some time off to enjoy the winery tours in the area, or get some fresh air with adventures like hiking/biking trails, cycling and horse riding nearby.
Werakata State Conservation Area - 2 min drive - 2.0 km
Hunter Valley Gardens - 11 min drive - 13.8 km
Roche Estate - 11 min drive - 13.8 km
Lake Macquarie - 30 min drive - 39.8 km
Newcastle Beach - 51 min drive - 60.1 km
Getting around
Greta Station - 20 min drive
Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown) - 48 min drive
Restaurants
West End Take Away - 3 min drive
Oporto - 12 min walk
KFC - 12 min walk
The Italian Cottage - 3 min drive
Burgerfiend - 16 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Pet Friendly Holiday Accommodation! pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 4 total).
How much does it cost to stay at Pet Friendly Holiday Accommodation!?
As of 13 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Pet Friendly Holiday Accommodation! on 17 May 2026 start from AU$228, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Pet Friendly Holiday Accommodation!?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Pet Friendly Holiday Accommodation!?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Pet Friendly Holiday Accommodation!?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Pet Friendly Holiday Accommodation! located?
Situated in Cessnock, this cottage is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Werakata State Conservation Area and within 3 miles (5 km) of Oaks Golf Course and The Valley Brewhouse. Werakata National Park and Saddlers Creek Wines are also within 3 miles (5 km).
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
A second visit as we enjoyed it so much the first time. Ideally situated for the Hunter Valley wineries. Genuinely pet friendly even providing throws so your fur baby can sleep on the bed. Thoroughly recommended.
The house was clean and free of clutter. We arrived late and the lifhts were on a timer which assisted in our arrival as it was dark. Great yard for the dogs. Thanks for allowing us to stay.
An amazing accommodation, lovely facilities such as television, heating, cutleries and plates. Comfortable bedrooms, our dog also enjoyed the place. No complaints
Great for pet dog Harry the backyard is great!!! I didn’t use the provided blankets I took my own and a dog bed. Maia was excellent with communication and easy hose access. The last of the back blinds didn’t seem to work properly it fell down when using it so we didn’t touch it again. Everything else was great the cottage house had everything you need for a weekend away.
Jo P.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Oct 2025
Thanks for the feedback, Jo. Yes, we've just had the call that the replacement part for that blind has arrived :-)
We stayed for 2 nights and it was a great location, close to the Club for dinner and the bus stop to see a winery show. Great little cottage for 4 people. Would definitely stay again.
Great location, easy walk/drive to shopping precinct, big back yard for our beautiful kelpie to run around, loved the swing seats around the table on the back patio, we were very happy with our stay, and communication upon booking was so easy, and very informative, would highly recommend staying in this property.
Overall lovely experience! Great back yard for our little dog (we barely saw him) far enough away from everything so it’s quiet but still close to all the necessities.
Visit to Cessnock/Pokolbin for the Cold Chisel Concert
I was very impressed with the cottage. It was impeccably tidy and had everything that I required. Even though I was only there for two nights I felt as though I had a lovely little holiday there.
It was very nice and the big back yard was great for our dog but the house itself is not insulated and even with all the air conditioners on I had to wear more clothes inside rather than outside.
Justine H.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified
4/10 Poor
Phil and Barb E.
20 July 2025
Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication
Not go
Cold and messy
Phil and Barb E.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Oct 2025
Cold and messy?! I'm sorry to hear you found it so uncomfortable. I hope you'll take the time to email me about that - were the aircons not working? Or the electric blankets? And if you could explain the messy bit, that would also be helpful as there isn't much in the house to get messy. I've recently had to let go of my house manager so with some clarification from you, I aim to make it a much neater and more welcoming space. Maria
Wonderful and convenient location for us and our dog and property well appointed. Disappointed with the state of the back yard as somewhat overgrown. As was the front.
Perfect property to relax with family and our dog. Property is close to shops and a great place to explore the Hunter Valley. Extremely quiet area. Very functional house and great garden
The property was exactly as described, well appointed and most importantly was truly dog friendly. A lot of places say they are dog friendly, but they usually have loads of rules and restrictions! However I’d like to thank the owners for making not only us but our dog feel at home. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and it was a perfect base to explore the Hunter Valley region.
Our first trip to the Hunter, we enjoyed our stay. The cottage was nice with everything we needed. Close to wineries, cafes and restaurants. Our fur baby loved the backyard, did many zoomies in the open space.
All in all a nice place to stay and enjoy the Hunter.
Amiel A.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Apr 2021
Hello Amiel. We'd love to know where we dropped the ball to not get 5 stars. Looking forward to hearing how we can do better next time,
Maria
This is the second time in 2 years that we have stayed here, it is so central to the vineyards whilst also being off the main roads of Cessnock, the hosts accommodate people travelling with their dog, the house is well set up, there is a lovely outdoor area, safe yard for dog with a safe indoor area for a dog to stay in also, we enjoy it here and will return again next year!
Victoria W.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2024
About the host
Hosted by Maria Cunningham
As parents of fur-kids and wanting them to travel with us, we quickly saw the limitations of properties on the market. Few properties that we had access to allowed pets inside and many of them were carpeted and had fabric furnishings - this meant that smelly spaces and fleas were our most common memories and we were determined to not have our cottage be like this. Other than the hall runner (which is too dense for fleas and is cleaned regularly) and easily washable couches/covers we keep everything as fresh and clean as possible. We hope that your care and respect for our cottage means that you'll make sure that your fur-kids don't cause this to change.
Why they chose this property
Schatzi's on Shalimah is my home away from home and I hope you think of it as yours. It's close to the vineyards but you don't then need to jump in the car to go to the shops, pubs or restaurants as there is such a variety to choose from in town varying in walking distance from 10 -30 minutes (2-5mins by car if you choose). Convenient for tour pick ups, there is a vast array of possibilities for tasting wine, food, vodka and chocolate and so much more!!
What makes this property unique
Schatzi was our German Shepherd who loved to explore and run which the big land size allows. Named in her honour it's a very rare property in that your beloved pets are most welcome inside when you're there to supervise with throws provided should you choose to have them on the furniture with you. When you're not at home and if you choose not to take them with you, the large fenced yard gives them room to play and, if you feel that they might be determined diggers or fence climbers (the fences are 150-180cm high all around) they can always be left in the 'doggy space' within the house, safe and sound until you return. We trust that if your lovely fur-kid suffers separation anxiety, a day stay at a local boarding kennel might give them the companionship and supervision that they need.