Windmill Lodge, large groups, family get togethers

Welcome to our beautiful home on 50 acres. Centrally located, we offer all the comforts & conveniences for a great stay. Under 30 mins drive will have you relaxing on pristine Newcastle beaches, dining on the foreshore or wine tasting at famous Hunter Valley Vineyards. 10 mins & you're swinging through Treetops Adventure Park or cruising Hunter Wetlands on a segway. Or, like many, just stay put & unwind. Everyone loves our place! Windmill Lodge can easily comfortably accommodate larger groups. Windmill Lodge is a hidden gem. 50 acres so close to the city makes our place extremely unique. Our home is beautiful and the property something very special. The house is for living! It is robust yet welcoming with a strong rustic and eclectic flavour. We have plenty of big entertaining areas for groups as well as several more intimate spaces...secret nooks and crannies should you feel you need your own space. The downstairs entertaining area is huge and the hub for many outdoor group activities. From playing giant chess, darts or good old fashioned space invaders and pac-man challenges or to moving everyone out onto the large lawn area for a game of boule, volley ball, cricket or touch footie. There’s also a modern swing set and trampoline for the little ones to enjoy. All this right next to the large salt water pool where one can simply cool off, relax and unwind. In winter, kick back and toast a few marshmallows over one of the fire pits. For those who want to keep the cooking simple, there's the huge BBQ and separate full sized hot coal spit in the downstairs entertaining area. We recently acquired the 'Global Warmer'. A huge wood fired smoker oven (its capacity can fit an entire lamb or pig) as well as an up top separate pizza oven (fits several pizzas at once) along side this is an extra large paella set which caters for 25 servings). Moving upstairs, the gourmet kitchen is a delight to cook in and will ignite any budding chef into creative cuisine ...especially with the pantry well stocked with all the basics. The beautiful inside dining table will seat everyone in your group very comfortably with an array of coordinating table wear. All open plan, the kitchen and dinning hosts a large indoor living area, huge comfy lounges (all of which open up to the outdoor deck) and even more space for relaxing. All surrounded by a beautiful rural outlook. The landmark of which is of course the giant windmill. When it’s time to think about sleep we have a vast array of bed types and room configurations. Our permanent beds are very comfortable and mostly positioned in bedrooms that are large allowing flexibility for even the most tricky configurations. Four of our king beds now split to make 2 long singles. B1 master bedroom with ensuite (this room is huge) King bed plus small double daybed and can comfortably have up to 3 blow up single mattresses or fold outs for small children B2 King bed or can split to 2 singles and can fit 1 fold out for a child B3 King bed or can split to 2 singles, can also fit 2 extra blow up single mattresses or foldouts for children. B4 King bed or can split to 2 singles, can also fit 2 extra blow up single mattresses or foldouts for children. B5 King bed with permanent cot (cot linen not provided) and can fit a fold out for a small child B6 king bed or can split to 2 singles, can fit one blow up single mattress or one fold out for a child. B7 Queen bed and can fit one blow up single mattress or fold out for a child. Common areas We try to accommodate our guests in bedrooms rather than overflowing into common areas whenever possible. However, in accommodating some configurations, our common areas are spacious and can do the following; Upstairs living Queen fold out sofa bed (linen not provided) Outside deck has a small double daybed (linen not provided) Downstairs living Single bunk set Space for 2 single or 1 queen blow up mattress or 2 child fold out beds. Linen is constantly being upgraded and added to. All is professionally laundered and all beds are fitted with 100% luxury cotton or bamboo sheets with quality bath towels and washers. Please note a linen charge may be added for those using additional areas. Organic shampoos and body washes, hair driers and many other conveniences are provided for your pleasure. There is plenty to explore outside. The land surrounding us is part grazing and part wetlands. The bird life is wonderful. We have walking /biking trails on the property and for the really adventurous we have creek access with a very rustic boat ramp for canoeing. If it's a wet day we have a huge array of games suitable for every age as well as Xbox and Netflix with three huge HD TV’s. There's the well loved piano, bongo drums and a couple of guitars to be used and enjoyed by all. A vast supply of good books, a spiritual corner, yoga deck and a well equipped gym for those that want to keep up with their workouts (special conditions apply with gym access so if required please enquire when booking). We are mid way between the beach and the vineyards and we are on a large and totally unique acreage yet still in suburbia. There isn’t another like it! You will be very pleasantly surprised as you enter the driveway. After 4 years of hosting (over 3000 guests) our reviews and guest book say it all. Windmill Lodge has become a home for dozens of extended family groups. Guests coming together for whatever occasion from all over Australia and beyond. Bringing children, grand children and great grand children....they fill the house with love and laughter and take home the delights of wonderful happy memories. Windmill Lodge is truely magic for this. We love getting to know our growing family of repeat guests who are now rebooking every year. We will always keep improving and adding additional features over time. There is still much to be done so consider Windmill Lodge a work in progress and a place you will want to visit again and again. As enthusiastic passionate hosts, we aim for you to really enjoy your stay with us. We like to say..."Welcome home...Our home is Your Home" We hope to meet you soon! Warmest regards, Tanya and Paul Please note...we really do love to accommodate most groups. However, we will no longer accept group bookings from young persons under the age of 30, bucks groups or those who intend to hold a rowdy party. Please be up front and honest from the start when making a booking request. Everything in our home and surrounding it is special to us and our family. Noise must never be at a level which will upset the neighbours and must be kept to a minimum after 11pm. Please also note the flip side of living in suburbia is that occasionally someone else in the neighbourhood may have a celebration. Although it is rarely noisy after 11pm as our neighbours are respectful, we are not a wilderness retreat where you would expect absolute quiet or to be able to party on to the wee hours. All areas of our home except the main office are available to guests. There is also a well equiped gym set up in the garage. The gym is restricted so please enquire when booking. Access to the gym can only be arranged upon request and is not always available. Children under 16 are not permitted in the gym at all. Teenagers 16-18 must be accompanied by an adult. If using the gym equipment you must agree to doing so at your own risk. If you do not arrange this when booking there is no access to the gym. A selection of toys, many games and some miscellaneous sporting goods are available for guest use. Common pantry items and most household basics including organic shampoos etc are also available for guests...please use in moderation only what you need. There is ample parking through the side gates adjacent the pool fence. We ask that you please keep the driveway clear at all times. Your host family often stay on site and use the shed and studio on the property for work as well as for tending to animals etc. Their impact on your stay should be minimal. Walks through the wetlands and to Ironbark Creek, use of canoes, access to mountain bike trails and supervised horse or studio experiences will be open to guests once checked in if we are available to do so. Please check with your host before accessing outer paddocks and creek trails. Be mindful of muddy clothing and footwear when returning from an adventure during wet times. Clean up using the outdoor wash area downstairs. Our horses are very friendly and generally well mannered however they can be unpredictable creatures and should be observed for their beauty from a safe distance. They will be in a separate paddock during your stay unless your hosts are working with them. If you find a gate closed please do not enter the area before checking with your host. The stable area, sculpture studio and shed are by invitation only. Please do not enter these areas unless invited with your host. Paul and Tanya have their own businesses and often work from home or close by. If available, they can be involved as much or as little as requested. In some instances, they will be happy to be interactive hosts/tour guides for your entire stay or, they can lay low and let you go about your own business/holiday. A friendly family orientated neighbourhood. Please be mindful that although on a large acreage, we are still in suburbia. Noise must be kept to a minimum after 11pm. Please also be considerate and avoid playing loud party music continuously all day long. Please also note that because we are in suburbia sometimes someone else in the neighbourhood may have a celebration. Although this is rarely noisy after curfew as our neighbours are respectful, we are NOT a wilderness retreat where you would expect absolute quiet or to be able to party on after 11pm. Close to the University, John Hunter Hospital and all conveniences. Closest bus stop within 5 minutes walk. Closest train stations 10 and 15 mins drive. Cycle paths to the city, bush trails and parks and to the expressway for the serious in training. For keen aviators, we have an occasional use (very, very quiet) private air strip near by...you may spot an ultralight, a couple of gyrocopters or maybe an occasional small plane venturing off into the sky during your stay. Williamtown airport is approximately 25 mins drive. We welcome families with young children. Children love our place. We will do our best to accommodate your and their needs. Please supervise young children and put away or out of reach anything we have not thought of that could potentially be a problem. Our pool has a council approved safety fence around it to make it secure until all the landscaping is complete and new permanent fence built. We have extra floats, vests, goggles, rash shirts etc available in the laundry long cupboard. The property also has longer walking tracks which lead to Ironbark Creek. This is a tidal creek so please accompany and supervise young children closely on walks. A note about pets. We love and welcome well behaved horses, dogs and some other pets by negotiation when making your booking. However, no pets are permitted on the property without prior approval from your hosts. Pets are expected to be kept outside most of the time. Small house dogs may be permitted in certain areas of the house after approval. Pets should not be left to roam freely outside (or inside) unless obedient and accompanied by their owner. We have free range chickens, horses and cats that live on the property and we have neighbours with sheep and goats so please be mindful of this. There are secure, protected and comfortable areas with kennels and beds for your pets to be kept close by overnight and/or during the day if you are out. Please use the outside wash down area if your pets get a little carried away with the great outdoors....especially if exploring Iron Bark Creek or during wet weather.