Located in Cornwallis, a neighbourhood in Sydney, this farm stay is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The Australiana Pioneer Village and Rouse Hill House & Farm are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre and Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope. Travelling with kids? Consider Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Cultural and Education Centre and Nurragingy Reserve. Waterskiing and rafting offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ecotours and mountain climbing nearby.
Our beautiful property, is located on the outskirts of Sydney minutes from the historic towns of Windsor and Richmond in the Hawkesbury area.
You’ll love our place because it is a spacious house on the river front with amazing views, designed for entertaining. This home away from home is for small or big groups who want to relax in comfort, style and privacy with friends and family. It's only a 1 hour drive from just about anywhere in Sydney.
Situated on a quiet country road, and hidden among citrus orchards on the banks of the tranquil Hawkesbury River you will find our place, a luxurious holiday home, ideal for those looking to find the perfect escape from the city.
We can set up a long table to seat 25+ people.
EVENTS: Please let us know if you want to hold an event at our property. We can host all types of events from 30 to 500 with associated charges available on request. There is a fee for any additional guests who come to the property but are not staying. There is also event fees for 30+ people. Please let us know what you are planning and we can discuss costs directly.
If you are wanting to have a wedding please let us know and we can provide you with an information pack that outlines all we can provide for you and the associated costs involved.
THE SPACE Enjoy a swim in the large in-ground pool, ride your bikes around the property, kick a ball or fly a kite on the front lawn (350m x 160m long), take a kayak for a paddle down the gentle Hakesbury River, feed the ducks, collect fresh eggs from the chooks, pick your own veggies from the kitchen garden or host a BBQ and party at our riverside entertaining area. Wander through the walk-in bird aviary with over 50 native and exotic birds to feed.
NEW** Play with and feed the baby rabbits, lamb, baby chicks, guinea pigs, quails in our Petting Zoo - your kids will love it!!!
OUTDOOR LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT: Wander through the front orchard of over 100 trees picking oranges to juice for your breakfast (in season), or you might like to have a picnic in the back orchard of 60 mixed fruit trees... (see pics)
Soak up the tranquillity on the pontoon by the river which has the best views in the whole of the Hawkesbury and is the perfect place to be at sunset.
Enjoy a long lazy meal, a few drinks and a chat with your friends and family in one of the many outdoor settings on the veranda or downstairs on the lawn or amongst the trees of the back orchard.
Go for a gentle pedal on the push-bikes and explore the flat country lanes of the “lowlands” area or ride into town to the cafes, shops and pubs etc.
Go fishing or explore the Hawkesbury river from the pontoon.
There’s loads of outdoor recreational games for adults and older children to keep you amused including a full size table tennis table, pool table, volleyball, cricket, soccer, badminton, bocce, baseball, & kites.
You might like to toast some marshmallows or chill out by the Outdoor Fire in our new courtyard.
Feed the horses in the paddocks.
INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT Large 55” Full HD LCD TV
Portable JBL Boombox system with ipod/ipad/iphone capability
A wide variety of games for adults and children , many new board games for adults and children, card games, backgammon, and a poker set.
Toys/beds/chairs for babies/toddlers (on request)
Shelves full of recently released books (novels) and stacks of magazines. Phones & Broadband:
Full mobile phone reception
GUEST ACCESS The whole property is your to access. Let us know if you want to plan an event as we can do weddings and luncheons, family reunions, girls weekends, etc. We are happy to discuss large scale parties for up to 200 by arrangement.
GUEST INTERACTION We occasionally have a live in property manager/gardener, Gaetan who has a room away from the house. You may see him during the daytime. He can normally help with anything you need.
NEIGHBORHOOD OVERVIEW You will be surrounded by orange orchards, market gardens, turf farms and private polo facilities. Quiet, flat country roads and lanes to walk and ride around in the "Lowlands" area of the Hawkesbury where our property is located. Beautiful views of pink skies and sunsets over the Blue Mountains and down the Hawkesbury River in the afternoon. Watch hot air balloons fly over head during the early mornings.
GETTING AROUND We are a 5 minute taxi ride from Windsor Train Station or less than 1 hour drive from Sydney CBD up the M2 Motorway.
LATE CHECK-OUT We can often allow a late checkout at 5pm, however there is a fee of $500. Please nominate if you would like a late check-out.
GUEST NUMBERS Please confirm final numbers of guests staying or visiting for your event prior to the commencement of your booking. Base price is for 6 guests. Additional guest rate is an additional $100pp, per night.
Amenities
Pool
Hot tub
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Gym
Parking available
House Rules
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Children
Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Happy to host bucks and hens parties
Weddings 500+
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Pets
Pets allowed: limit 4 total
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Smoking
Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Not inside, only outside
No Glass in the pool area
No confetti or water balloons to be left around the property, otherwise additional cleaning fees will be charged.
There is an additional $300 cleaning fee if you have more than 14 guests staying.
Additional cleaning fees may apply if the property is not properly cleaned by you and your guests upon departure.
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 99
Note from host: Happy to host bucks and hens parties
Weddings 500+
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector
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 2756, PID-STRA-4811
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawkesbury Country Retreat have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Hawkesbury Country Retreat?
As of 10 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Hawkesbury Country Retreat on 16 May 2026 start from AU$1,425, 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 Hawkesbury Country Retreat pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows pets (limit 4 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
How much is parking at Hawkesbury Country Retreat?
On-site parking is available at the property.
Where is Hawkesbury Country Retreat located?
This family-friendly Sydney farm stay is located on the waterfront, steps from Hawkesbury River and within 6 mi (10 km) of Windsor Downs Nature Reserve and The Australiana Pioneer Village. Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Campus and Hawkesbury Race Club are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Hawkesbury Country Retreat Reviews
Reviews
8.4
Very good
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had a fantastic stay! The shed provided a huge range of areas to host and entertain (and dance) throughout the night and regardless of the rainy weather. We would book again, and another friend will be booking here for his birthday as well. Thanks Andrew and Anna xx
A family friends birthday celebration. A number of lunches and dinners well accommodated. Great tips from Anna on setting up for the lunches and dinners
we had team building in hawkesbury country retreat in the last weekend in November. Andrew and Anna are so nice and introduce the beautiful place to me. I love the animals, trees there, the canarys even sing a song for us.
It is an ideal place to hold large activities.
Recommend to everyone if you like country life.
LU R.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified
2/10 Terrible
Danielle M.
17 Apr 2019
Beautiful property unfortunately experience did not meet expectations
Had a number of problems with electricity, running water, heat, manure and flys
Danielle M.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019
Verified
6/10 Okay
Sue M.
3 Oct 2024
Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
Birthday celebration
Disappointed with the house we stayed in. We didn’t know that it was a “lived in” property. No room for our groceries (pantry already full). No room for clothes and was not cleaned properly. It wasn’t what we expected considering the amount of money we paid.
However The Shed was a great place to celebrate my birthday with family and the courtyard was fabulous. Pool was not clean. Beautiful surroundings and we loved the bird Avery. So a mixture of a fun weekend but also disappointment.
Sue M.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified
2/10 Terrible
KIERA A.
14 Dec 2018
Dishonest and unprofessional
Our wedding day was barely scraped together by our friends and the catering staff we had booked, not the owners. I would not recommend this venue if you expect any communication or honesty in dealing with them. Extremely unprofessional.
Great location for a special birthday weekend away
We booked this place for a special birthday and we’re not disappointed. Only can recommend. If you require a late check out, let the owners know at the beginning of your booking. Don’t wait for them to contact you closer to the date as that might be too late like in our case. Wonderful location to hang out with friends, kids and pets. We will be back.
This is an amazing property. Anna and Andrew went above and beyond to host our group of 20 after floods came through Windsor. They managed to put the property back into shape in no time at all so that we could enjoy a really special weekend away. I can’t recommend Cornwallis enough. It’s huge, has top notch facilities for a large group and a really welcoming and inclusive atmosphere created by Anna and Andrew. We can’t wait to come back!
Eryk B.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Hyelin & Karl S.
25 Apr 2019
Wedding reception venue: Gorgeous and intimate setting; knowledgeable and generous hosts
The Hawkesbury Country Retreat run by Anna and Andrew was more than we could ever have dreamed of - it really played a part in making our wedding / reception special and unforgettable. The venue itself is stunning, with many unique spaces that have been expertly crafted and curated by the hosts. Anna and Andrew were receptive, knowledgeable and extremely helpful - Anna played such a role in getting us organised with our wedding! She has such a great understanding of what needs to be done, how to get those things done, and she provided access to an almost endless inventory of decorations to beautiful the venue before the big day. I would trust them to handle any future events in a heartbeat and will not hesitate to recommend them and their venue to anyone on the market for something unique and personal.
Hyelin & Karl S.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Eamon J.
4 Apr 2019
The perfect country getaway!!
This place is amazing! Anna and Andrew were extremely accommodating from the first day I was in contact with them... We had the most amazing weekend at Hawkesbury Country Estate, celebrating my 30th birthday... This property is truly beautiful and it really made my birthday a memorable one! If you are looking for a beautiful and magical venue with the most peaceful surroundings then I would highly recommend you choose the Hawkesbury Country Estate!
Eamon J.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019
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