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Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape

Photo gallery for Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape

Living area
Back porch with views of the lake.
Lake house fire pit with lake views (private space)
Dining area with seating for 8, set for dinner party.
Backyard pool/spa area to the Lake house.

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available
AU$995
avg per night

Explore the area

View map
High Range, NSW
  • Place, Bendooley Estate Book Barn
  • Place, Centennial Vineyards
  • Place, Blue Mountains National Park
  • Airport, Shellharbour, NSW (WOL)

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
The current price is AU$995
avg per night

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About the area

Mandemar

Located in Mandemar, this farm stay is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Harper's Mansion and Berrima Courthouse are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Jellore Flora Reserve and Nattai National Park. Travelling with kids? Consider Harpers Mansion Maze and Bendooley Estate Book Barn. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Agritourism in MandemarOpens in a new window

Getting around

  • Mittagong Station - 18 min drive
  • Shellharbour, NSW (WOL) - 69 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Bendooley Estate - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Centennial Vineyards Restaurant - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Joadja Distillery - ‬43 min drive
  • ‪PepperGreen Estate - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Artemis - ‬14 min drive

About this property

Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape

Located near Bowral, in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales Australia – The Highlands Lakehouse is a large, well-appointed rural accommodation that has been designed to offer you the charms of a private sanctuary in farm like settings while offering you all comforts of modern day living.

Set on a stunning 30 acre estate, surrounded by an abundant bird life and manicured gardens, Highlands Lakehouse is the ultimate resort style country estate, unsurpassed for its quality furnishing, sprawling green lawns, tennis court, swimming pool, lake and facilities to cater for everyone.

It is complete with Large Modern Kitchen, A Relaxing Hot Tub and a Stunning Log-Burning Fire Place which will keep you warm on a winter’s night!

Many local Southern Highlands shops are only a short drive away. Cafes, Local Stores and Exceptional Southern Highland Wineries of Bowral and Mittagong are only a short 10min drive away.

Relax Indoors…

The Lakehouse is a well-appointed large rural accommodation that can sleep 10 people (8 adults and 2 kids) in the main house. 4 bedrooms with Queen beds and 1 adjoining bedroom with a king single daybed and king single trundle bed.

There's a separate one bedroom cottage ($300pn plus $150 clean) with a pull out sofa bed (sleeps 2-4) or a fabulous barn ($400pn plus $200 clean) that sleeps up to 8 ppl (2 double mattress bunks (double on bottom & single on top) a sofa and a full sized Queen bed) for additional accommodation (at an additional cost) if you have more friends or family to accommodate. The entire estate combined can sleep up to 22 people at its max capacity.

Enjoy the outdoors…

If you’re feeling energetic you can explore the 30 acre property, stroll around the lush gardens, play a game of Tennis on the full sized court, take a dip in the Swimming Pool, watch the active birdlife and visit farm animals that include sheep, chickens and ducks.

You may even get a visit from one of the local Kangaroos!

The Highlands Lakehouse property also features its very own sprawling Tranquil Lake for you to explore. Take a casual walk or ride one of our bikes around the lake at your leisure.

AVAILABLE FOR WEDDINGS.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE THIS IS A NON SMOKING PROPERTY - AND PARTIES/EVENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT HIGHLANDS LAKE HOUSE WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT.

Close to Local Shops, Cafes and Southern Highland Wineries

Many local Southern Highlands shops are only a short drive away.

Cafes, Local Stores and Exceptional Southern Highland Wineries of Bowral and Mittagong are only a short 10min drive away.

It’s the perfect place for a genuine rural retreat for the family getaway or a romantic weekend away for two. The Highlands Lakehouse even caters for weddings or large group functions.

What some previous guests have had to say...

The Grounds Are Amazing!
“Beautiful home and amazing grounds. The home is just beautiful and in winter with the fireplace and heated flooring made for a special evening of catching up with old friends. There really wasn't anything we wanted that wasn't available. The grounds are amazing and we're looking forward to booking another weekend in summer to enjoy the outdoors and the other activities the property offers. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home.”

The Kitchen is a Dream…
“Stunning property to get away from it all We booked for a Christmas in July for 8 friends and it was perfect. The kitchen is a dream to cook in. The house was wonderfully warm, as was the spa and all rooms. Beautiful. Thankyou.”

A Perfect Place For Relaxing.
“We had an excellent stay at the Lakehouse. The property is extremely picturesque with its own lake and huge yard. The house itself is very comfortable with a fireplace, large bedrooms, and a massive spa. The hosts were also very thoughtful--they had the fireplace going when we got in. A perfect place for a relaxing weekend. Beware, you will not want to return to the city though!”

We Will Definitely be Returning
“We received a very friendly welcome and the accommodation was lovely, just as described. Everything was clean and the burning fire very much appreciated! We all felt very comfortable in our surroundings and we will definitely be returning”

Would Recommend To Everyone!
“The Lakehouse and grounds are absolutely stunning and well looked after. We really made the most of the log fire, it made us feel like we were back in England! Thank you so much for having us, we would recommend to everyone!!”

*** Monitored security cameras are placed in the main areas around the property near the circle drive, the managers cottage, the entrance to the guest cottage and the back drive. No security cameras are place inside any of the buildings.

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Parking available

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

Events allowed
With approval from owner.
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Pets

Pets allowed
With approval from owner.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Cashless transactions are available
Parties and events are allowed on site
Note from host: With approval from owner.
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and a first aid kit
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
Property Registration Number 2575, PID-STRA-4812-1

Frequently asked questions

Does Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

How much does it cost to stay at Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape?

As of 21 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape on 22 Mar 2026 start from AU$995, 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.

Is Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape located?

This family-friendly Mandemar farm stay is located on the waterfront, 2.2 mi (3.6 km) from Joadja Vineyard, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Jellore Flora Reserve and Bou-saada Vineyard and Wines. Harpers Mansion Maze and Bendooley Estate Book Barn are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Highlands Lakehouse - Rural Farm Escape Reviews

Reviews

8.0

Very good

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. 23 out of 44 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 44 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 44 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 44 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 44 reviews

6.6/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Check-in

7.8/10

Communication

8.8/10

Location

6.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

4/10 Poor

Salochna L.

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Had to get the host
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Megan T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful

Great property for 2 families to stay. Lots is space for the kids to run and play games. The hosts were so welcoming and helpful
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anne P.

Beautiful property perfect family escape

The main house, bunk house and cabin were all clean and beautifully furnished. Perfect for autumn visit with fireplaces and heating inside and stunning colour in the garden. Tricky to find but worth the journey.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Jessica E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rustic farmhouse with lots of activities

My husband and I stayed here for a long weekend with two other families. We’d seen some negative reviews, and while the house is rough around the edge, we had a great stay and the kids loved the sheep, chickens, pool, basketball and tennis courts. The house isn’t in pristine condition, but it’s neat and tidy, comfortable and is in a beautiful location. The properlty manager was also very responsive and flexible with check-in’s
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

4/10 Poor

Roze F.

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We booked this place because of the pool. It had not been cleaned. It had leaves, dead frogs and more. We couldn't use it. The trampoline was unusable with tears in safety net and the whole thing covered in moss. The cleaner arrived at three and left at 5pm. We were there at check in time. The oven was filthy and so were any baking dishes. The spa outside didn’t heat up. The spa bath inside had no motor and aluminium alfoil screwed up as a plug. The dryer worked with the door open. Very dangerous for kids and dog. A storm at 530 pm caused flooding at the front door as drainage was very poor. We ruined shoes getting inside and unpacking car. And on the Sunday there was an electricity outage so no water and couldnt use toilet, washing machine, dishwasher, have a shower. We told the host who sarcastically said on SMS that it’s a farm! No generator. We left as it was unsatisfactory with kids. No information on who to contact for emergencies. The gardens are overgrown. In general this place needs a deep clean and lots of maintenance of everything outside and inside. We would like our last day refunded and more compensation for the pool. After we found the hosts phone number on the internet, not VRBO, he was unhelpful and away somewhere anyway. He only answered if we texted him. All up incredibly disappointing for family birthday celebration. Nowhere to contact to ensure we are compensated.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Melissa N.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Great Potential

The location was perfect. Bedrooms, kitchen and living areas are tidy and well presented. The photos are not an accurate representation of the current property. Understanding it is a rural property, however it lacks in general cleaninless and maintenance both indoors and outdoors. The family still had a fantastic time!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Michael K.

Liked: Check-in
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Promise didn’t match reality

Owners appear to be selling the property and have essentially abandoned it. Place was dirty and moldy, leaves everywhere. Animals onsite looked uncared for. Images not updated since its original listing. Hard to heat even with all fires blazing. Pool and spa unusable. Tennis courts out of action
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

judy q.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Time

If you want to feed the chooks. Watch the ducks. See the sheep sit around the fire pit. It is great. Watch the collie dogs that took me back to my childhood of sheep & wheat. Home is a bit outdated though if you want some quiet time, great.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Shari F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Great family trip

We had an enjoyable week at the lake house. The inside was neat, tidy & pretty well maintained considering the age of the property. The grassed area leading to the lake was a great area for cricket & soccer, and the family enjoyed fishing in the lake. We had 5 adults + 4 kids in the house and it was more than big enough. The pool was a good size & despite being a bit cold (it is not heated) the kids had a lot of fun. The spa took a while to heat but once it got going it was used constantly. The only down side was that some parts of the outside areas are in need of some maintenance & clean-up but apart from the BBQs & ping pong table it was all still useable. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michelle L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful family time

Our family loved our weekend at Highlands Lake House. Sam was amazing to communicate with. Location stunning. House had great atmosphere. We loved the log fire and fire pit. Highly recommend. Only comment would be to Stayz that it would improve information for people with additional needs if you listed each accessibility feature rather than just a generic ‘wheelchair accessible’ comment. (Eg step free access to different areas including showers etc.) if you provided hosts with different features to tick this would enable more accuracy and more ease with finding the right property for people with additional needs like electric wheelchair.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Kelly C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Enjoyable stay, however could do with a clean.

Overall we had an enjoyable stay at Highlands Lakehouse. The kids enjoyed the pool the most. It was very refreshing in the hot weather we had during our stay. We had looked forward to using the spa too, however we were disappointed to find it was out of order. The property could do with a more thorough clean - while commonly used areas and items were clean, there were items that needed some attention - some of the leisure equipment, and most notably the BBQ which we decided not to use due to caked on grime. The house and kitchen were spacious and had beautiful decor. The grounds and lake were also very pretty, and it was nice to take a stroll around and also see the sheep and chickens. We had a very relaxing stay here.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

2/10 Terrible

JUDITH R.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Photos of current Stayz ad are inaccurate

The property wasn't clean; the basketball and tennis court were out of service and run down; the spa was not on at arrival and took over 24hrs for the spa to heat; no floor heating; bedding was not as stated; long-term rusted leaking roof in bathrooms required buckets to catch water; the fireplace was not cleaned; nothing to start a fire with; property not as described, photos of beautiful horse stables and horses are false. The manager offered a deposit credit to be used at a later date if no negative review is posted.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Rebecca C.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Unfortunately our stay posed a safety concern as there are no installed smoke detectors in the house at all. The first night the fireplace was letting out a lot of smoke as the wood provided was left in the wet, not stored well. luckily I woke up to the smoke and opened all the windows! There were brackets to hold them but none installed. Having stayed at this property 4 times over the last 5 years we always enjoyed it but the lack of upkeep or maintenance to the property has declined as many here have mentioned and the kitchen utensils are in a sad state. The aircon is in need of repair as the heating wasn’t really getting up to a warm heat at all. Location is great though and kids had fun but it hasn’t been up kept and photos do not match the current worn state as others have mentioned in their reviews. One bathroom contains extensive black mould on the ceiling as others have mentioned in their reviews. The internal spa bath no longer works or has the button pad installed. The cute but cheeky animals come right up to the house which is great but they do poo everywhere at the doorway. Still a lovely location and stay for families and kids with a great layout.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

4/10 Poor

Sandy B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Host was responsive but the reviews were accurate. House wasn’t clean. Pool was not cleaned before hand (bugs and leaves everywhere), hot tub didn’t look like the water had been changed for a while. Cobwebs around house. Stains on couchesOther than that, the actual location is lovely, the animals and the land overall. My mum is a professional cleaner and helped clean at the end.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mark E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Overall a nice property

Overall our group was pleased with the stay. There are always small issues that arise, but the owners were quite responsive, and appears that they are committed to continuously improving the property. We would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Audrey K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Easter stay

Overall we had a nice time there (despite the cold, rainy weather) and the kids loved feeding the sheep and chicken and playing with the dogs on the property. There were a couple of things that brought our rating down (the pool was really dirty and it looked like it had been a while since it was cleaned, and one of the bathroom doors kept coming off the hinge and falling on whoever was opening/closing the door) but overall, the property is great for families/friends to get together.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mechelle S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing property

We booked this amazing property to host our daughters bridal shower/bachelorette party. The house is amazing and the barn was perfect for our daughters Sydney friends to come and stay with us. Everyone loved the farm and the animals. Millie and her beautiful dogs made us feel very welcome. Would recommend the property to anyone!!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Tony D.

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lockdown - minimal refund

We lost over $1000 in money not refunded. Less than 25% refund. Government lockdown cost two pensioners more than they have ever lost in any situation in their whole lives. This was unfair and morally unacceptable. My advice is book another property.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

Julie A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ladies weekend

Weekend away for 6 ladies, so much room. The house had everything we needed. The views of the lake are breathtaking. Beautiful property. Lovely secluded feel. Out of town, but only 20 minutes to all we wanted to see. Perfect for adults and for a family getaway.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thi Anh Tu D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful view! House clean, nice and warm. Friendly manager.

Our kids love to spent time at the front yard (beautiful garden) with 2 lovely pet dogs from the manager. We recommend this property for those who love quiet and fresh air. We will back soon one day! (The only things should be improved is the laundry. It was a bit messy with bed sheet cover in and out of the machine so we couldn't use it.) Thank you for sharing a lovely house!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
Verified

6/10 Okay

April E.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Loved our stay, just a few unfortunate cons!

Overall, we loved our stay and made good use of the property, but the property needs maintenance and felt a bit tired and dated. The pool area is under construction, but we made use of the spa anyway and the outlook from the back of the house is beautiful. The kids loved the animals, including the dogs! Unfortunately, there was also a rat resident in the kitchen during our stay, which was a bit of a shock! Overall though, we really enjoyed ourselves.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sue and Michael B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous Easter break

Just returned from our fantastic stay at the Lakehouse. Milly and Rob made us very welcome and were always obliging and keen to make our visit memorable. The house was lovely! Enjoyed many fun times together cooking and wine tasting. The outside facilities were a great hit for kids and adults alike. The farm animals, pool, tennis court , fire pit and walks around the lake kept us all busy. Wonderful weather and many unforgettable memories of our time together. We will be back with bells on ! Thanks for sharing your beautiful property , Sue and Michael
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2021
Verified

8/10 Good

richard k.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication

Great weekend!

Overall the house was great and so many amenities were available to us to keep us busy all weekend! Would highly recommend staying here for anyone who love to be outdoors.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Debbie P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Nothing like we expected. Very disappointed.

The pool was not under maintenance, it was a big hole where the pool was. BTW the pool is sitting on top of the ground in the front yard. No AC No fly screens. Poorly maintained not to forget all the things left behind in the fridge (which was broken), the bathroom and the bedrooms. Very expensive for the property condition.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Wendy E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property & lovely host

Spacious and clean property... Heated floors and fire place kept us warm in the middle of winter... Amazing surrounding
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020