Kath's View Retro Beach House, Wye River

Great guests and would happily recommend to any host.

Always great to hear when guests love the retro vibe of the house because that’s what it’s all about plus the view. Appreciate you leaving the house so tidy. Welcome back anytime. Thank you Jason for your booking and review. Louise

Thanks for your review Tamara. Pleasure having you stay and welcome back anytime. Best wishes, Louise

Thank you Matyur for taking time to post a review. It’s great to hear when guests appreciate the attention to detail and care that has gone into making a stay at Kath’s View unlike anything else available in Wye. Would happily have you and Jasmine stay anytime. Warm regards, Louise

So lovely to hear you really enjoyed the house and thanks for taking the time to post your review. Just to clarify with regards to the bedrooms. How the rate for the house is structured is by the number of guests. If you are one couple you are paying to rent main house master bedroom only, if you are two couples you have access to the main house master and bungalow both of which are on separate parts of the property and with their own tv. You did not pay for use of the 3rd bedroom hence it wasn’t available. The master bedroom is in an open plan space to allow you to enjoy the ocean and bush views from your bed. All these details are explained and shown in the multiple images on the listing. From the sounds of your stay this really wasn’t an issue but I urge potential guests to fully read the listing and view all the images before booking as the house is truly unique. It’s perfect for a group of couples as you’re all located in bedrooms on separate areas of the property giving you significantly more privacy than you would ever have with a traditional home with all the bedrooms located in one building. Thank you for leaving the house so tidy and would happily recommend your group to any host. Warm regards, Louise

Thank you for your kind words. It’s lovely to hear when guests appreciate the effort that’s gone into making the house a true vintage retro experience. It’s not for everyone as it is a unique experience. And as you mention, the kitchen is small but unlike other new house, I love to cook so it’s equipped with everything you need to cook up a feast, including things you wouldn’t find in other holiday rentals. I’m glad the boys enjoyed their Wye break and Christmas at Kath’s View. You left the house so clean and would happily recommend or welcome you back anytime. Happy New Year. Warm regards, Louise

The house is not for everyone. This is clearly spelt out in the listing. I had a lengthy conversation with you about the fact that the listing also clearly states the house is not suitable for children under 5 years. All this along with guests are required to supply linen and towels are also outlined in the listing. The house is a unique experience and it’s priced at the lower end for Wye River, and inaccordance with not having guests pay an extra cost for the Colac linen service to supply linen but provide their own. Had you communicated your displeasure at this I would have refunded your booking. Kath’s View has 3 bedrooms on separate parts of the property and is ideal for adult groups or those with teens especially. As a couple you booked and paid for the use of the master bedroom only. Again, the listing also clearly states it’s an open plan bedroom along with multiple images of this set up online. Couples love it…..lying in bed watching the open fire and the ocean/bush view. It’s very cosy and unique not being boxed in by 4 walls of a traditional bedroom. It’s disappointing to receive your review as we spoke before you arrived and you raised none of these concerns prior. Unfortunately, I have no control if guests choose to book without fully reading the listing before doing so.

Thank you Daryl for your glowing review, as stated its an original 50s beach shack where the layout hasn’t been changed but the interior has been renovated in keeping with the 50s vibe and is more than comfortable with all the original 50s furniture but to clarify, just in case possible guests are mislead by your review, the bathroom is downstairs but it is accessed completely undercover and enclosed so you are not weathering the elements when entering and exiting the bathroom unlike the situation of an old school outside loo! Love your analogies of what makes it unique, old cars over a Lexus, vinyl over Spotify and I love Lucy over Married at First Sight. Very apt although I think you’d agree that modern turnaround smart tv in the main house is Gold. I’ve been searching for an original 1950s wooden cabinet record player in working order but am yet to find something special in perfect condition. It’s a big ask…. But if anyone has one please and doesn’t require please get in touch. Would love guests to be able to bring their vinyl down and enjoy. Pleasure having you and your family stay and appreciate you taking the time to post a review. Welcome back anytime. Warm regards, Louise

Thank you Laura for your review. Was a pleasure hosting your family. Your review sums up the house perfectly and the essence of what it offers. Lots of love has gone into making it so uniquely 1950s. I’m assuming your two adult boys got a kick out of the blast from the past and enjoyed being in separate bedroom quarters with space to themselves, and yes, off the grid is often a blessing. Warm regards, Louise

Dear Lane, I can only assume from your review that you booked Kath’s View without having fully read the description or viewed the multiple photos online. With regards to not being value for money, it is slightly more expensive as you booked the peak week of New Years Eve which anyone would expect, but it is still priced low to mid level for Wye River. I have gone to a great deal of attention to detail with photos and description because the house is unique. This includes explaining that the master bedroom is in the open plan top floor to allow you to enjoy magnificent ocean views, watch the fire and turn the tv around to also enjoy. To put a wall up and box this bedroom off from being able to lie in bed and enjoy the ocean view would be wrong in my opinion. The house is a beach that has been furnished with original 1950s pieces that I have specifically chosen over many years to remain authentic to the decade the shack was built. In terms of out dated appliances, I can on.y assume you are referring to the 1950s New World oven in the kitchen. This oven is in immaculate condition for its age, works perfectly and I have cooked some amazing slow roasts in it over the years. Furthermore, there are multiple alternative cooking options of a large BBQ on the deck and brand new microwave/convention oven in the kitchen. No guest in the 10 years I have rented the property has ever raised an issue with safety on the floor outside the bathroom. It is not uneven nor unsafe, it’s just a concrete floor which is how they built holiday shacks in the Fifties. I do not list that the property has a washing machine and if this was an essential requirement then perhaps a modern beach house and completely different holiday experience would have suited better. Overall the years I have offered the house for holiday rental, I’ve had nothing but appreciation from guests who have enjoyed a very unique retro holiday experience and the property’s stunning ocean view. Regards, Louise

Lovely to hear when guests enjoy the house’s trip back in time, especially youths experience for your teenage daughter. A great deal of effort that has gone into making it a time capsule and it’s not for everyone but I’m happy to offer the house for with those who wish to enjoy such an experience. My nephew is the photographer, aidanbphoto and I’ll pass on your compliments on his work. However, we didn’t intentionally mean to portray the space as bigger than it but to translate in images that the top floor main house level is one open space combining kitchen, living room, dining room, powderroom and master bedroom with no walls as also part of that open plan. Good to hear Optus now have reception at Wye as Telstra has had a monopoly on service in Wye for years. Thank you for your honest and unbiased review. Would happily recommend you as a guest or have you stay anytime.

Pleasure hosting you and your friends. Welcome back anytime. Louise

Thank you for your review Deb. From the sounds of things the girls really got into the retro spirit of the house and enjoyed Wye’s wildlife. Wye is a pretty special place. Pleasure hosting you and thrilled you had a lovely family break. Welcome back anytime. Best wishes, Louise

Hi Jo, thank you for your feedback. Great you 21 yr old loved staying the Port-hole bungalow and you all enjoyed the retro ambience of the house. The downstairs bedroom does lock, it has a deadlock on the door. I’d suggest that the cleaner has just forgotten to snib it after cleaning. While both the downstairs bedroom and bathroom are under the house accessed by the external verandah, they are completely undercover, so guests won’t be subjected to the elements when heading downstairs to either. One of the design quirks of how they built shacks in the 50s. There’s also the newly installed loo inside the main house, so no need to go downstairs if sleeping in the master or just all hanging out in the open plan top floor living areas. Was a pleasure having you, Ken and the kids stay. I’m thrilled to hear when guests really enjoy and appreciate the effort that’s gone into restoring it. Warm regards, Louise