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Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay

Photo gallery for Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay

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Property grounds
Living area
Living area
Dining

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Washing machine
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Shoal Bay, NSW
  • Place, Shoal Bay Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Tomaree National Park
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Mount Tomaree
    ‪16 min walk‬
  • Airport, Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown)
    ‪34 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bunk Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Balcony

About this property

Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay

Take a fun and relaxed beachside break with your family in this top-floor unit at Castaways, directly across from beautiful Shoal Bay Beach. With the sand and gentle surf at your doorstep and an easy 200m stroll to the shops, restaurants & cafes that line the foreshore, this is the perfect spot for a great family holiday. The Shoal Bay foreshore offers shaded grassed areas with picnic tables and BBQ facilities, and you can hire kayaks and stand-up paddle boards during the holiday period. When you're feeling adventurous, a 600m walk brings you to the famous Tomaree Mountain where you follow the trail up the summit for spectacular views over the pristine Port Stephens coastline. It's also just a short 3km, or 5-minute drive to Nelson Bay, where dolphin watch cruises depart daily from the marina.

Enjoy magnificent, uninterrupted water views out across the bay and the headlands from the balcony of this top floor, 4-bedroom apartment. Sit out in the delicious sunshine with the fresh ocean breeze and scent of salt in the air, and watch the boats sail by – with views this stunning, you'll never want to leave!

The open plan living area is spacious, light and airy, perfect for relaxing after a day at the beach. High ceilings with open beams, exposed brick walls and a wall of glass facing the sparkling turquoise waters provide unique character and comfort in this original-condition holiday home. The living area has a comfortable corner lounge with flat screen TV and a dining area with modern table and 8 chairs. The kitchen is equipped with microwave, oven, stovetop and a fridge/freezer.

Two of the bedrooms offer queen beds, while the 3rd is fitted with 2 single beds and the 4th bedroom has a set of bunk beds. All 4 bedrooms have freestanding wardrobes. The bathroom comes with a shower (with curtain), a vanity with a full sized mirror and a toilet.

There is also an internal laundry with washing machine and undercover off-street parking for one car, with drive in entry from the back of the units at Lillian Street.

Important Notes:
- Heaters, linen and bedmakes are provided for this property.
- There are 29 exterior stairs to this top floor unit.

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.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Washing machine
Free WiFi
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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
On-site 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 that there is a smoke detector on the property
Property registration number PID-STRA-20635
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

Frequently asked questions

Is Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay?

As of 9 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay on 8 Jul 2026 start from £182, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Castaways 8/17 Shoal Bay Road - The crystal clear waters of Shoal Bay located?

Situated by the sea, this apartment building is steps away from Shoal Bay Beach and Tomaree National Park. Zenith Beach and Little Island are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Check-in

8.4/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

Katy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Amazing views from apartment and location. Towels were provided despite being told they were not. We would come back!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Nov 2025
HI Katy, thank you for your positive review! It's amazing to know that you enjoyed your stay and that is the goal. Until next time!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul C.

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

Great spot

Close to everything beach, food, coffee and shops, no car required just walk & bike ride
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jan 2023
Thank you for the 5-star rating, Paul! We love to have you back.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kylie V.

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

Fun times

View was amazing, lobation was prime spot would come back we had a great time.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Dec 2024
We are grateful for your kind words. Thank you for sharing your review with us and the community.
Archival

8/10 Good

Happy holidayer

Fabulous location

Fabulous location at a great price. Isn't fancy but is everything you need for a family weekend away at the beach. The agents were extremely helpful and always polite.
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jun 2020
Thank you for your review Happy Holidayer! As you said the location is unreal! Since you have stayed the unit has been updated with a brand new lounge and table setting. We hope to see you again one day soon. Kind Regards PRD Holiday Team
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Linda M.

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

Great location . Beautiful view . Very convenient to water , shops and restaurants. Perfect

Family , swim , walks , eats at restaurants and local fish and chip shop . Perfect Beautiful view . No fuss . Leave the car parking at back of unit and walk everywhere
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Dec 2024
Wow, thank you for your fantastic reviews! It's stories like yours we love reading! You and your family are welcome back anytime!
Verified

6/10 Okay

Glen P.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Communication, listing accuracy
No follow up response from complaints made on arrival.Pedestal fans either broken, not working and filthy.Fly screen door with no rollers.No pantry for food, so contents of cupboards were placed in the laundry to make room for food.Out of date electrical tags or out of date.No shelves in wardrobes so have to live out of you suit case. Broken electrical switch.Oven seal completely missing, twice as long to cook a meal, etcComplaints put forward to winning properties with no response thus why they have a 2 star rating.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

David D.

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

Mr

Brilliant
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Jun 2023
Thank you so much for your high star rating, David. We really appreciate it!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie M.

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

Lovely clean apartment with Views, Views & What a View!!!

We had a lovely stay at this apartment, for a weekend getaway with 6 ladies celebrating all of our upcoming 60th Birthdays. The apartment was everything we needed and was close walking distance to restaurants and amenities. The apartment was clean, neat and tidy and the view was just relaxing and lovely to see from the kitchen, dining and lounge areas. The 6 ladies agreed the apartment was a great choice, when we made our booking and when we stayed at apartment, it was the same in the photos.Note for future ppl wanting to stay at this apartment: Steps to the top (Aprx 24) were a bit of an issue, with 2 ladies having some health issues. (But we worked around that) Also, apartment doesn't have an air conditioner, but we were grateful to have pedestal fans in all rooms and the weather was kind to us.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Mar 2025
Thank you for sharing your positive experience at our accommodation. We are delighted to hear that you found the place clean, comfortable, and convenient. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we are pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope to welcome you back in the future for another enjoyable visit. Thank you for choosing our accommodation!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ashley B.

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

Great location and view

Great location right across from the beach. Close to shops, cafes and restaurants. View is spectacular. Very comfortable unit, bedrooms and bathroom a little dark and outdated but was expecting that from the photos. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Jul 2021
Thank you for your rating, we sincerely look forward to serving you again.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

A guest from North Rocks, NSW

A little piece of paradise

Rating Details: The property manager was somewhat unhelpful. The vacation rental was 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: Perfect location, quiet, accessible and plenty of space.
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Jul 2021
We’re glad to know that you had a great time with us, please do refer us to your friends and family for their next destination.
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

A guest from Faulconbridge, NSW

No Linen

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. 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: I booked this property and added linen 6 months before our stay because it was not included, confirmed that the linen would be there 1 week before and again on the day of key pickup. Surprise, no linen on arrival. Made a very poor start to the holiday. Hint: Just add linen to the final price and provide it automatically like other properties from same organisation. The rental was expensive anyway so another $85 would not make that much of a difference.
From a partner site

8/10 Good

Anonymous A.

Lovely Apt, Great Location

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. 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: It's the 2nd time we've stayed at the apt. The place is a little dated but has a great view and location. The keys were available 45mins late for pick-up and could have been longer if we didnt query what was happening. While generally cleaned, it wasnt immaculate with dirt on the floor.
Response from VrboOwner on 17 May 2022
Thank you for sharing! We value your loyalty to our business and are happy to hear you've enjoyed your experience with us. We will look into the issue you are referring to and please rest assured that we have addressed this with our team to ensure we improve on this.
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Lisa B.

Shoal Bay delight

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: Even though it rained every day we still had a fabulous time, with family. We walked and explored and had such fun, can't wait to go back!
Response from VrboOwner on 11 May 2022
This is great to hear! Thank you for your feedback.
From a partner site

4/10 Poor

Krista S.

Not the best experience.

Rating Details: The property manager was somewhat unhelpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was very happy with the location. I was very dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: The view was the best thing about this property.The property is outdated.Needs a good spring clean.Be aware they charge $75 for an early arrival or late departure. All other companies I've dealt with it is complimentary.Not to mention as soon as we arrived to pick our keys up, there were handyman waiting for our key also. They needed to come and repair the balcony. This should have been attended to before our arrival.I did send a reply with all of this stated on the departure email we received, no reply.Wouldn't use Winning Holidays again.
Verified

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

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

Great location

Great location, beach front with walking distance to Shoal Bay shops/restaurants and Mt Tomaree. Living area is light and spacious to suit a family, however bedrooms and bathroom very dated. Safety was a concern with several areas including the balcony as there were large gaps that a toddler could fit through if they tried. Also the front door lock system didn’t work well as the door kept swinging open. Plenty of kitchenware to suit most cooking needs, although would recommend a few more essentials such as Tea bags, sugar, salt/pepper and dishwashing detergents and soap as basics to suit a family size.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Darren S.

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

Awesome would stay again in a heartbeat

Awesome location awesome apartment.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Yvette M.

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

Great weekend!

So nice to get away. Us 4 girls thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Accommodation was excellent. Close to everything and a perfect view to top it off. Asking for a late check out was not a problem. Would love to stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jun 2020
Thanks for taking the time to share your opinion with other travelers. We're overjoyed to receive your compliments and appreciation. We hope to see you here again soon.
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Dec2018

Mixed response

Outstanding location and view, beautiful, well-equipped kitchen, nice dining area, living area and balcony. But remaining areas were disappointing - bedrooms, bathroom, toilet are poorly built and maintained. Would love to come back when rest is renovated.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

john s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Jun 2025
We are incredibly grateful that you took the time to leave us a 5-star review!

About the host

Hosted by Port Stephens Accommodation

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