Reviews

Here’s what our guests have to say!

Kylie, Yamba, NSW -Rating 5 out of 5

January 2025

We absolutely LOVED staying at Maria’s place. Highlights included BBQ dinners out the back, spotting native frogs at night in the pond, mineral baths under the stars and storms, bush walks, stunning private creek swims, reading books amongst the clouds and our boys couldn’t get enough of feeding and visiting the farm animals. We were there 5 days and could have stayed much longer. Thanks Maria for being an awesome host and dropping by for a chat with some helpful hints on day of arrival. We’re already looking forward to our next visit.

Zara

Nambour, Australia

Rating 5 out of 5

August 2025

What an absolute little gem in a slice of paradise. Husband and I stayed here for our honeymoon to escape the hustle and bustle of life and find some peace and quiet and we absolutely found the relaxation we were after! The twin mineral baths under the stars is just WOW. The wildlife around is so beautiful to just watch. The property is massive, such a delightful walk down to the river on the property too! Eco cabin with the fire place is so beautiful, absolute best peaceful getaway we could have found. Thank you Maria for opening your place to us. Its beautiful in all aspects.

Everything about the lodge was perfect -beautifully designed, comfortable, immaculately clean in a serene & private forest setting with birdlife to wake us up to in the morning.

— Jennifer Douglas, January 2021

Outdoor dining area on a porch with a table set for four, surrounded by lush green trees and sunlight.

The outdoor baths are so unique to bathe under the stars ~ this is truly. an experience that is special.

— Tanya Costin

Nighttime outdoor scene with stars, trees, and a hot tub illuminated by candles, surrounded by lush greenery.

A beautiful retreat, in a lovely, secluded area. Comfortable & cosy place, with an excellent kitchen and very clean facilities.

— Olivia Hayes, March 2021

Kitchen with wooden countertops, a stove, and a sink. There are windows showing a garden outside. A wooden bar table with six chairs is in the center, and wall-mounted shelves hold various kitchen items.

Spotlessly clean and fully equipped, every detail catered to ~ such a lovely warm and friendly welcome by Maria.

— Telissa Smith

Living room with green leather couches, a black and white patterned rug, a wood stove with a stone surround, a window and a door showing outdoor trees, a TV on a wooden table, and decorative items including plants and artwork.
An outdoor hot tub filled with bubbles, with lit candles on the edge, two glasses of red wine on a tray, and a lush garden with trees and plants at sunset.

Lucas

We absolutely adored our stay! It was serene and peaceful! We loved the outdoor baths. We enjoyed the indoor fire and there was ample firewood for our 3 day stay. We would highly recommend this AirBnB for a peaceful and tranquil getaway. Thank you” Aug 2023

Bliss

Dorrigo Bush Pepper Retreat was the perfect relaxing weekend away. It exceeded our expectations and had everything we could have wanted.…a divine place to Retreat

— Tiffany, June 2021

A dense forest scene with tall eucalyptus trees, green foliage, and grass on the forest floor.

Maria and her quality retreat deserve a top level rating. The property and amenities were exactly as described - beautifully designed, presented and located. The aspect captures the surrounding wilderness and natural sunlight with ample covered and other outdoor areas to enjoy. The interior layout, furnishings and landscaping are superb. The retreat is spotless and well equipped with ample guidance provided via small printed signs to maximise the experience and to maintain sustainable living practices. The location provides the option to ‘retreat’ and/or venture out into the immediate wilderness or to the Dorrigo area. We did some prior planning of a basic menu with supplies which gave us the option to relax and dine at the retreat. The patio BBQ and fully equipped kitchen made meal preparation a breeze. We enjoyed early morning walks along the neighbourhood road and cross country daytime walks down to the creek. Soaking in the outdoor bath tubs on dusk was a fabulous wind-down looking up at the tree lined evening sky and listening to a chorus of bush sounds as the day came to an end.

— Rosemary