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Shoal Bay Beach Retreat

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A spacious living area with a large wooden dining table, comfortable seating, and a view of the outdoors through large windows.
A modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a stainless steel dishwasher, and a microwave. There are two windows with blinds, a hanging plant, and a bowl of fruit on the counter.
A wooden deck with a table and chairs, a grill, and a covered area with a view of trees.
A modern living room with a sofa set, a coffee table, and a bookshelf.
A modern kitchen with white cabinets, a wooden countertop, and a sliding door.

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Entire home

4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Nelson Bay, NSW
  • Place, Shoal Bay Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Nelson Head Lighthouse
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, West Nelson Bay
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown)
    ‪35 min drive‬

Room options

About the neighborhood

Nelson Bay

This vacation home places you within a 10-minute stroll of Shoal Bay Beach and Tomaree National Park. The vacation home includes a balcony, a private yard, and a refrigerator.
View more Vacation Homes in Nelson BayOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Shoal Bay Beach - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Nelson Head Lighthouse - 9 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • West Nelson Bay - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Fly Point Marine Reserve - 16 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • d'Albora Marinas Nelson Bay - 2 min drive - 1.0 mile

Getting around

  • Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown) - 33 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Zenith Cafe, Restaurant and Bar - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Dolphin Watch Cafe - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Magnolia. - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Atmos - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Essence on Donald - ‬3 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Shoal Bay Beach Retreat

This 4-bedroom, beach-themed holiday home offers the ideal base for your family's next Port Stephens holiday. Located in a quiet cul de sac, it is an easy 300m stroll through the leafy reserve onto the soft white sand of Shoal Bay Beach. This pristine stretch of coastline offers great swimming, a beautiful foreshore reserve and your choice of scenic walks, with endless exploring to be done.

This welcoming home features a spacious, air-conditioned living and dining area with TV, DVD player, comfortable lounges and a dining table. Preparing meals will be a breeze in the generous kitchen which offers a dishwasher, oven, cooktop, microwave and full size fridge/freezer. The family room opens onto the covered entertaining deck with a BBQ and outdoor setting, overlooking the backyard which has an outdoor shower and a fantastic kids cubby house offering hours of fun. It's the perfect space to unwind with a chilled drink and snacks after a day out adventuring, before setting up for an easy alfresco dinner.

There are 4 bedrooms with ceiling fans, 3 of which also have a built-in robe. The master bedroom has a queen bed and ensuite with shower and bath, while the second and third each have a queen bed and the fourth bedroom has a bunk bed and a single bed. The main bathroom has a bath, separate shower, and toilet.

The internal laundry offers a washing machine and ironing facilities, and off-street parking is available for 2 cars or a small boat.

Important Notes:
- Linen and Towels are provided with beds made ready for your arrival.
- Garage is for owner use only, off-street parking is available for guests.
- The backyard is not fenced.
- wifi is not provided at this property

"Respectful Stays (The Not-So-Fine Print)
We want you to fully enjoy your time away, and we also ask that guests help us look after the home and the surrounding community. To keep things comfortable for everyone:
- This is a no-party property
- Quiet hours are between 9pm - 8am (as per council regulations)
These guidelines help ensure Port Stephens Accommodation homes stay available for future escapes (yours included) and that local neighbours remain welcoming to visitors."
The vacation home is air-conditioned and features a balcony or patio and 2 bathrooms, and there's space to spread out with 4 bedrooms. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a private yard, and a microwave.

Similar properties

Front of property - evening/night
Hotel Nelson
Nelson Bay
  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, 1,004 reviews
$101 nightly
The price is $101
Aug 30 - Aug 31
Total with taxes and fees
Hotel Nelson

Property amenities

Parking and transportation

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Shower

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Porch/lanai
  • Yard

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Fan
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near the sea

Things to do

  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Swimming nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • This property doesn't allow pets

Children and extra beds

Children allowed: ages 0-17

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
  • Check-in: 3:00 PM
  • Check-out: 10:00 AM
Property Registration Number PID-STRA-21165

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
  • Onsite safety features include a smoke detector.

Property is also known as

Gretel Cl 4 Nelson Bay House
Gretel Cl 4 House
Gretel Cl 4 Nelson Bay
Gretel Cl 4
Private vacation home Gretel Cl 4 - Nelson Bay Nelson Bay
Nelson Bay Gretel Cl 4 - Nelson Bay Private vacation home
Private vacation home Gretel Cl 4 - Nelson Bay
Gretel Cl 4 - Nelson Bay Nelson Bay
Gretel Cl 4 Nelson Bay
110_312

Frequently asked questions

What's there to do near this vacation home?

This vacation home in Nelson Bay is within a 10-minute walk of Shoal Bay Beach, West Nelson Bay, and Tomaree National Park. You'll also find Nelson Head Lighthouse and Fly Point Marine Reserve less than a mile away.

Will I be able to park at Shoal Bay Beach Retreat?

No, there isn't parking at this vacation home.

Is this vacation home next to a casino?

No, this vacation home is not connected to a casino.

Is there an indoor pool at this vacation home?

No, there is no indoor pool at this vacation home.

Is Shoal Bay Beach Retreat a good place to stay for couples?

Amenities at this vacation home that appeal to couples include a kitchen and a garden.

Are there hot tubs at Shoal Bay Beach Retreat?

No, this vacation home doesn't have a spa tub.

Does this vacation home provide breakfast?

No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.

Does this vacation home allow pets to stay free of charge?

No, pets aren't allowed at this vacation home.

Are there connecting rooms at Shoal Bay Beach Retreat?

No, there aren't connecting guestrooms at this vacation home.

What is the closest airport to this vacation home?

The closest major airport to this vacation home is Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown), which is 22.7 mi away (33 minutes by car).

Can I book a room with a balcony at Shoal Bay Beach Retreat?

Yes, every house at Shoal Bay Beach Retreat comes with a balcony/patio.

Shoal Bay Beach Retreat Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 7 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

7.6/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Trinh T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, clean
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Mark S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
great location
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Pamela W.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication
Very disappointed with the lack of essential items not provided for a home stay. Only 1 roll of toilet paper provided for 2 x toilets. Very penny pinching not to provide toilet paper. House needs a good clean. Filthy under beds. We would not stay again. And this is an annual tripwe do.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

David W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Modern spacious property

Property suited us well. Modern, clean. spacoius. A little out of town, but Nelson Bay is just such a wonderful place.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Frank B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness

Birthday get together

Left details with property manager. Someone is not doing their job. Should state details of steps. The property is a delightful family stay.(my wife and I are 80+)
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Yiota K.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness

Quest

Property was not very clean. A bit of a walk to get to the beach. No backyard fence so I wouldn’t recommend if you have young children
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Stacey K.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great space for the kids and close to beaches

The house was a great space for adults and kids. No back fence means watching little ones at all times but a very quick walk to shoal bay beach and a short drive to little beach.There was no washing up supplies provided at all and I left a message with no response. Also I would have assumed some salt and pepper and maybe cooking oil would have been provided?Unfortunately the lady working at the holiday rental office was also rude upon collection of keys which put a stain at the start of our weekend.May want to also refresh roach baits as a few were around at night, but with all of the wet weather they would have retreated inside. A lovely weekend all around.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Bruce M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday Weekend

Lovely house, close to dinner , beach
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Freddy V.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent location and spacious house

The location was excellent and the house was very spacious even with 6 adults two teens and 2 infants. The only things we were somewhat disappointed about were the cleanliness of the oven and in/under furnitures (wardrobes, sofa’s, beds, dusty and cockroaches) and the basic kitchen amenities. The soaps provided were in little sachets barely enough to make it through the 5 days and also the soap for the dishwasher was a very low quality powder in a single use sachet (only 1 provided) it makes no sense to save on little things like these as there are very affordable alternatives that would create a much better customer experience. There are also some possums in the roof, so you will hear some funny noises at night.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Jill C.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy

Disappointing

The location and size of this property was fantastic. HOWEVER - the floors weren't clean (we even found a condom when we swept up on arrival); 2 rolls of toilet paper for 7 people for 2 days; no handsoap; no basics in the cupboards (glad wrap, cooking spray etc); air con wouldn't work; dishwasher was hopeless; doonas look like they haven't been washed in a really really long time (found dry blood on one of them!). I've tried contacting the property agent to discuss, but I keep getting told that someone will get back to me!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Michelle F.

Great location

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Terrific house in a great location. Perfect for a group of friends (like us)or a large family with three queen sized rooms and another with three single beds. Two bathrooms and a great outdoor area.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Anonymous

great location and house for family

Rating Details: The property manager was very unhelpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: I found Winnings hard to deal with. Got very sick of all the messages. I did not like the call centre approach at all. The house itself was ok. Had stayed there twice before.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Rachel W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Would be perfect just needs some tweaks!

Lovely spacious family house in great location. Back deck perfect for enjoying a wine or meal in the cute garden. Would have been perfect had the air conditioner filtered into the bedrooms and these were very hot! May need upgrading. Also would have appreciated to have some loo rolls available. Lucky I packed one as an emergency as there were none when we arrived. Likewise a few extra tea towels and dish washing liquids wouldn’t have gone astray. Otherwise a very accomodating space for a large family.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021
Verified review

6/10 Okay

John B.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in

Great place but needs a little work

The place was good and in a great position. But when we arrived there was no linen even though we made a extra $ to have the beds made up. It took three phone calls to have things fixed up. The last lady was very helpful and she solved the linen problem. Also I think it’s time for a new Air con it took awhile to get it working. No lights in a couple of rooms but at least there were lamps. We would stay there again as it’s a great size and position. Hopefully no more problems.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Raja

Great Accommodation

Great Accommodation. Clean and tidy. Cosy and comfortable just like home close to shops beaches and cafe/restaurants. Fantastic for families.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Anonymous

Hidden beauty

Great house. Much bigger than it looks in the pics. Great lay out too. Nice big airy lounge room, huge kitchen and good-sized yard. Easy walk to town, beach, shops, skatepark, coffee shop…. It’s the perfect, multi-family beach house. That dream we all have of cooking big dinners then enjoying them over long lazy arvo’s while the kids run around the yard is very achievable here. Great place
Archival

8/10 Good

sunseeker

Nice house, spacious and clean.

The house is close to the beach and walking distance to both Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay. House has nice feel to it,has large kitchen and rooms with comfortable furniture (rooms are bigger then it looks on the pictures) and ideal for kids - there are books, dvd's and games in the house. One point of improvement:provide sun umbrella for the garden.
Archival

8/10 Good

Rosa

Spacious place

Rented this place a week ago, was wonderful, clean big, great for the baby, loved the tree house. Lounge was very uncomfortable!!!
Verified review

8/10 Good

Amanda T.

Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2020