Wanderers Retreat

Your environmentally sustainable alternative for accommodation in Port Stephens is Wanderers Retreat. Our Eco Cottages and Treehouses are situated in the midst of the Tomaree Peninsula at One Mile Beach just 7km from the marina in Nelson Bay. For environmentally friendly accommodation in Port Stephens there is not a large selection - Wanderers Retreat is one of the pioneers in the area and are proud to have won multiple New South Wales Tourism Awards. These effectively say the winner is the best in the state. We have been finalists into the Australian Tourism Awards in 2005 and in 2009.

At Wanderers Retreat we aim to be environmentally sustainable, and socially and culturally responsible. To this end Wanderers Retreat has been planted with over 1000 trees and shrubs, most of which are indigenous.

The accommodation at Wanderers Retreat has been purpose designed to be eco friendly. 

During the construction and planning stages the old growth maleleuca trees were identified and preserved. With only 11 cottages on the 2 hectare site guests can experience not only a peaceful and secluded retreat they can appreciate the resulting minimal human impact on the site.

The Treehouses and cottages are situated amidst native plantings which provide cool shade during the summer months. Each dwelling is constructed with renewable quick growth timbers to further insulate against heat.  Most  also face a north easterly aspect to maximize the benefit of the sea breeze.

The bush land setting which makes Wanderers Retreat a unique facility offers a diverse and unique addition to the local ecology. It is a haven for local wildlife and makes the retreat carbon offset positive, giving back more to the environment than it takes away.

Throughout this bush land setting there are several naturally formed roads and paths, using minimal man made materials, further minimizing on the impact on the environment. Since the retreat was founded additional trees and shrubs have been planted which have been specifically selected to compliment the ecology of the site with the subsequent provision of habitat and food sources.

The cottages are fitted with instantaneous gas hot water which create low emissions, only heating the water actually used. They also feature dry composting toilet waste management an odour free alternative which further minimizes the footprint of Wanderers Retreat.

1. All waste on the site is separated into recycling, waste and compost.  A worm farm is used to assist in providing additional nutrients to the plants on the site.

The vision of the team at Wanderers Retreat is to give back more to the land than they take away while providing guests with a choice of luxury Treehouse and Bush Spa accommodation or a high quality Eco Cottage experience, inspiring them to embrace being eco friendly in their day to day lives.