Hideaway Retreat

I stayed here with a friend for 6 nights and were really looking forward to some great accommodation. We were completely disappointed by this “retreat” and it is not at all like the pictures. There was cockroaches everywhere, no Wi-Fi, the entire property (which is quite large) and grounds were very poorly maintained and were not pleasant to visit. The parking was very average and accompanied with the poor ground’s maintenance caused for a very expensive trip. A palm frond fell on our hire car overnight and smashed the windscreen. The owner was quick to call it an “act of god” rather than a lack of action in maintaining their ground and took no responsibility, leaving us an extra $1500 out of pocket to replace the windscreen. Owners were unhelpful and rude. Rooms were musty and had very basic amenities. Would not recommend staying here at all.

It was a nice quiet area but quite run down & mouldy. New owners learning the ropes & had a lot on their plate. We were greeted wonderfully at the airport & escorted to our stay. No input during the week personally. We went to were there house was being renovated to ask questions. Very friendly & nice when approached. Lots to learn …

Cockroaches everywhere. They offer wifi but you have to drive up the hill to get it. Basic amenities for the price. Awful stay. Roads not maintained and potholes everywhere. Expensive accommodation and you have to pay for washing machine. Place up for sale. Charge for everything.

The online pix and description do not reflect the reality. Not welcomed by (new) owner, she had no record of the reservation and told us we would need to pay again. I had receipts. The apartment was musty, dingy, poorly lit, shabby and needing a deep clean. Cockroach on the face during the night isn't good. smoke alarm was detached from the wall, clock not working, light fitting and skylight full of dead bugs, flyscreen need cleaning. These things on their own are no big deal, but with one after the other, it's a no from me.

Our second stay here in 8 months. On this occasion we booked the chalet which is completely separate to the other guest accommodation. Is is one bedroom with a king size bed that converts to twin beds if required. The Retreat is quiet and peaceful, even with a full compliment of guests staying. Karen is a superb host and is a great credit to the property. We thought this might be our last visit to Norfolk Island given the world has re-opened but it is just such a relaxing place, so beautiful and the history is extraordinary. We’ll be back and I don’t think we would consider staying anywhere else.

The fact that your mesage i got from hideaway through you after booking could not be replied to without going to the hideaway website resulted in a last minute panic to hire a car.Please make it clear.All praise for Karen for a nice stay.

Close to town but secluded in natural country surroundings. You do need a car there as it is too far to walk more than once a day. The hotel manager will organise a car for you. Fully self contained apartments so you can do your own cooking and catering.

Location

We really enjoyed our time here. The apartments are clean, comfortable and have mesmerising views of the hillside. There are some basics - tea/coffee etc - to get you started but as we don’t often stay in self contained apartments, remember to bring your own shampoo. We loved the location, far enough away from the town centre but close enough to walk to although we were dreadfully lazy in that regard. We were met at the airport by the lovely Wendy and followed her back to the retreat in our hire car. The manager, Karen, was in constant contact with us prior to arrival due to the lockdown restrictions but we were fortunate not to have our travel plans disrupted. Many reviews mention Karen’s hospitality and she is certainly a great asset to the retreat. As for the island itself, it is truly magical and had it not been for COVID we probably would have never travelled here. We are already planning to return.