Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 5
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air-conditioning
Gym
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 5)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 3
1 Single Bed
1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom
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Toilet
Bathroom 1
Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Luxe Historic River Port Stay - Pay 2, Stay 3*
AS FEATURED IN: SMH Traveller, Country Style, House&Garden, HunterHunter, Coast Magazine & WineState Magazine.
*Pay 2, Stay 3 for March & May (new bookings only, outside peak travel periods). Message to book and we add on complimentary night manually. **Pets on application. ***Now sleeps five (charges apply).
Curated with old and new treasures, this pretty three bedroom cottage is set behind a white picket fence a stone's throw from the mighty Hunter River and overlooking the historic St James Anglican Church.
Stroll to Morpeth's heritage-listed main street, picnic on the river bank and dine at the lauded Boydell's Cellar Door and Restaurant (50m from the back gate). A luxe sojourn in the lower Hunter awaits.
This charming three bedroom cottage (sleeping five) is the creation of travel writer Sheriden Rhodes and husband (self taught builder, painter, tiler and jack of all trades) Tom Szecsodi.
Take a soak in the freestanding bath, gather round the wood fire in cooler weather with a glass of wine in hand or enjoy a G&T on the front verandah at sunset. We're a short five minute drive from the new Maitland Hospital in nearby Metford.
There are two (identical) guest rooms offering classic queen size iron beds, AH Beard plush mattresses and fine linen. A third bedroom offers a single nickel cast iron bed with crisp cotton sheets, a desk and office chair. The wifi is fast if you need to work from home. A cute laundry with separate toilet and washing machine is available for those on the road and longer stays.
In the stylish bathroom with herringbone tile floors enjoy Grown Alchemist amenities.
The River Haus features gorgeous old treasures including ship's rope, vintage kitchen scales, Bentwood chair, steamship trunk coffee table and weather beaten boat oars. New treasures include Smart TV, JBL sound bar, wifi, ducted heating and cooling, blackout blinds (including a nifty automatic blind for the back doors), Nectre woodfire, Bosch dishwasher and Bosch gas oven.
Basic pantry items include salt and pepper, olive oil and sugar. Each booking receives a complimentary bottle of Boydell's Wine, milk of choice and local treats.
We are more than happy to accommodate an earlier or later check-in *subject to availability (*no other guest check-in or check out on departure or arrival day). Please ask us about this.
*We accept trained, well behaved pets on request. Please message us to discuss.
We offer a fully fenced yard which is great for kids and pets (on request). Please message before booking. There is an additional charge for bringing pets ($100 for one dog and $150 for two dogs).
**If you require the use of only one queen size bedroom midweek (Sun-Thurs nights) please message us for a more affordable rate. We also offer a third bedroom with a single bed charged at an additional $50 per night midweek. If you are staying with five people midweek please add a fifth person to your overall booking.
***Weekend nights are charged at a flat rate whether you require one or two queen size rooms (sleeping four in total). An extra $50 per night, as per above, is charged for use of the third bedroom with the single bed. Please put in five guests if you require the additional single bedroom at time of booking.
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 25 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
Pet stays on application noting breed and size.
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
- If you would like to bring your pet/s please enquire first with the size and breed and we will assess on a case by case basis.
- Events, photos, location shoots are by appointment and will require prior approval and incur additional costs.
Please don't apply self-tanning products or DIY hair dying during your stay (or just prior to your stay).
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number 2321, PID-STRA-27762
Property # 9654859
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
About the area
Maitland
Located in Morpeth, a neighbourhood in Maitland, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Wallalong House - Hunter Valley Wedding Venue and Mindaribba Weddings are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Maitland Regional Art Gallery and Maitland Showground. Travelling with kids? Consider The Rail Motor Society, or check out an event or a game at Aerohunter. Kayaking and power boating offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and horse riding nearby.
Wallalong House - Hunter Valley Wedding Venue - 6 min drive - 6.9 km
Maitland Hospital - 6 min drive - 5.4 km
Maitland Showground - 7 min drive - 7.7 km
Maitland Regional Art Gallery - 7 min drive - 8.1 km
Getting around
East Maitland Station - 5 min drive
Metford Station - 8 min drive
Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown) - 32 min drive
Restaurants
Easts Golf & Leisure - 6 min drive
Henny Penny - 6 min drive
The Old George & Dragon Guesthouse - 5 min drive
East Maitland Bowling Club - 6 min drive
Bushrangers Bar & Brasserie - 7 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Luxe Historic River Port Stay - Pay 2, Stay 3* pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 25 kg per pet.
How much does it cost to stay at Luxe Historic River Port Stay - Pay 2, Stay 3*?
As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Luxe Historic River Port Stay - Pay 2, Stay 3* on 31 May 2026 start from AU$633, 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 Luxe Historic River Port Stay - Pay 2, Stay 3*?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Luxe Historic River Port Stay - Pay 2, Stay 3*?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Luxe Historic River Port Stay - Pay 2, Stay 3*?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Luxe Historic River Port Stay - Pay 2, Stay 3* located?
This family-friendly Maitland holiday home is located on a river, within 3 mi (5 km) of Maitland Hospital and Maitland Gaol. Maitland Regional Art Gallery and Maitland Showground are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Really loved the place very clean and tidy close to the town just walking distance air con worked really well as it was very hot when there the town Morpeth was really lovely will have to come back sometime
Kim S.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Mar 2026
Thank you Kim for staying with us. Our guests appreciate the ducted air conditioning.
Glad you loved Morpeth - such a charming historic town. Hope to have you back sometime xx
Sheridan was a wonderful host, so accommodating to us all and our dog Bear! The day we arrived was very hot and she had the air con on for us with a welcome bottle of wine and chocolates.
Mark N.
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Dec 2025
It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and your family (and Bear!) Mark. Thank you so much for booking with us and hope you had a great Christmas too. xx
Perfect place to sit back unwind and just enjoy the fire and a good book. Quiet location but only steps to the main strip where we found a plethora of food and wine options.
Cleo B.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 July 2023
Thanks for the lovely review. Thanks so much for choosing us x
This is an outstanding home and the Hosts are extremely easy to communicate with.
We would recommend this home to any family for a wonderful stay in the beautiful little town of Morpeth.
Jenny F.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Dec 2022
It was such a pleasure hosting Jenny's family at the River Haus. They were respectful, great communicators and very appreciative. We'd love to see them back again anytime.
Really enjoyed our stay at the river haus,just a beautiful property that is a credit to Sheriden & Tom.
Nothing left wanting & checking with us personally & giving us some great local knowledge of things to do in the area was fantastic.
Christopher S.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Aug 2024
Thanks so much for staying with us Chris. You guys were the perfect guests. Thanks for your encouraging words - means a lot to us. Sheriden and Tom
Enjoyed a comfortable and relaxing stay in this beautifully decorated cottage with a luxury feel. There was a pretty fenced garden for our dog, and it was only a short stroll to shopping and restaurants. The hosts' thoughtful touches were appreciated, and we particularly loved the booklets on Morpeth's history.
Susan M.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Oct 2024
Thanks so much for your kind words Susan and for booking with us. You guys were a pleasure to host. And Morpeth's history is definitely interesting. Glad you enjoyed your stay. Sheriden and Tom
We had a relaxing time. Sheridan is an amazing host. The property is immaculate, comfy and had everything we needed for this happy weekend away. Morpeth is a lovely place to stay. The Deli was amazing.
Margot B.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Oct 2024
It was such a pleasure hosting you Margaret. Love to have you back anytime. xx
We loved our stay at the River Haus - a beautifully crafted new property moments away from the heart of Morpeth. It was clean, modern, quiet and spacious, and the dogs loved the wrap-around garden. The owners have put genuine care and attention into ensuring you have everything you could possibly need and that you feel special. Thanks guys!!
Tom F.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Dec 2022
We absolutely loved hosting Tom, his partner and their two whippet dogs over Christmas. They were respectful, great communicators and left the River Haus clean and tidy. We'd love to have them back anytime!
This is a great stay, very clean, beautiful home, we couldn’t ask for anything else. Our dog loved the fenced yard and the family only had a short stroll to the Morpeth shops. Thanks Tom and Sheridan.
Zac f.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Nov 2022
We absolutely loved having you, your family and your gorgeous dog stay. Hope to welcome you back another time. Thanks Zac!
From the minute you walk through the front door you are greeted with sheer luxury! High and appliances, beautiful furniture, amazing house, perfect location. hosts Sheridan and Tom have thought of absolutely everything! And the personal touches made it even better! We were greeted with wine and chocolates and had an absolutely amazing stay! This would be my absolute choice if you are staying in the Morpeth, Maitland, and surrounding areas so close to all amenities and not far from the vineyards either. Perfect host, perfect property, perfectly enjoyable stay.
Natalie C.
Stayed 22 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review and for staying with us. I'm so glad everyone had a good time - including the dogs! x
We had the most amazing stay at River Haus. Sheriden and Tom have created the perfect cottage. Every detail has been thought of and cared for. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for that relaxing weekend getaway.
We’ll be back ..
James S.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Mar 2022
Thanks so much for your encouraging words for our new holiday listing the River Haus. It was a pleasure having yourself and Lucy stay. We’d love to have you back anytime. Sheriden and Tom
Brilliant house right in the middle of Morpeth. Loved the fireplace and the comfy bed. Great restaurants and we enjoyed the complimentary Boydells wine and chocolates. Highly recommended for a great weekend in a charming home and country town. Even the rain didnt dampen our enthusiasm. Well done Sheridan and Tom
Mike S.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Oct 2024
Thanks so much Mike. Absolutely loved having you guys stay - glad you loved the wine, chocolate, fireplace and the comfy beds. We love them too xx
What a beautiful well kept cottage with everything we needed and more.
The location is fabulous, only metres from the shops and galleries. The cottage itself has everything we could possibly need and is decorated and furnished beautifully. Sheridan was so helpful during the booking period. Highly Recommend!
I'm a travel writer from Newcastle NSW. I love vintage finds, clean cotton sheets, long ambles and good coffee.
Why they chose this property
The River Haus is the quintessential country cottage complete with white picket fence, front verandah, freestanding tub, fireplace and all the luxuries today's traveller requires.
What makes this property unique
Guests love being able to stroll down to Morpeth's historic main street, pop in for a glass of wine or dinner at Boydell's Cellar Door and Restaurant 50m from the back gate and soaking in our freestanding bathtub. It's the type of house you'll never want to leave.