Castaways 8 Shoal Bay Beachfront Retreat

Photo gallery for Castaways 8 Shoal Bay Beachfront Retreat

A twin room with two single beds, a small bedside table, and a window with curtains.
An aerial view of a coastal area with a beach, boats, and buildings.
A kitchen with a stove, microwave, and refrigerator. There is a dining area with a table and chairs.
A covered parking area with a car parked, a building with a brick facade, and a clear blue sky.
A modern living room with a sectional sofa, a wooden coffee table, and a dining area with white chairs.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Highlights

  • On the beach
    A rare beachfront property in the area - enjoy direct access to the beach and sea.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Shoal Bay Beach

Popular amenities

  • On beach
  • Balcony or patio
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine
  • Garage parking available
  • Non-smoking

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, Zenith Beach
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown)
    ‪37 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 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony

Add dates for prices

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Living area
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About the area

Shoal Bay

Located in Shoal Bay, this apartment is on the beach. Point Stephens Lighthouse and Nelson Head Lighthouse are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Tomaree National Park and Boondelbah Nature Reserve. Fly Point Marine Reserve and Toboggan Hill Park are also worth visiting.
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Map
Shoal Bay, NSW

What's nearby

  • Shoal Bay Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Tomaree National Park - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Zenith Beach - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Mount Tomaree - 3 min drive - 0.8 km
  • Nelson Head Lighthouse - 5 min drive - 3.1 km

Getting around

  • Newcastle, NSW (NTL-Williamtown) - 34 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Magnolia. - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Cafe on the Bay - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Aussie Bob's Fish & Chips - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Zenith Cafe, Restaurant and Bar - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪The Home Interior - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Castaways 8 Shoal Bay Beachfront Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Castaways 8 Shoal Bay Beachfront Retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Castaways 8 Shoal Bay Beachfront Retreat?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Castaways 8 Shoal Bay Beachfront Retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Castaways 8 Shoal Bay Beachfront Retreat located?

Situated on the beach, this apartment building is steps away from Shoal Bay Beach and Tomaree National Park. Zenith Beach and Wreck Beach are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

8.4

Very good

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 10 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Check-in

8.0/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

8.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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.
Archival

8/10 Good

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in, communication
Being familiar with the area, property was in great location and suitable for our needs. Nothing too flash and basic. The downside was several pieces of broken furniture and the check-in process was painful receiving emails 4 times to online check in and not receiving actual details of how to access. Tried to call the office and was greeted by a Chat Bot, when asked to speak with office was sent to an offshore call centre. Went to office to pick up keys and shared my experience, the staff were very pleasant and somewhat embarrassed stating that a new system had been introduced. Unless the office review this change, remove the o/s call centre as a minimum, Probably won’t be using them again sorry. Give me the real people!!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Oct 2026
Thank you for your honest feedback. We’re glad the property’s location suited your needs, but we sincerely apologise for the broken furniture and the frustration you experienced with the check-in process and communication. We understand how important it is to have clear access instructions and timely assistance from our team. We appreciate your comments about the new system and will share them with the relevant team for review, along with the maintenance concerns you raised. - PSA Team
Verified review

8/10 Good

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Location excellent….bedrooms would benefit from ceiling fans as the bedrooms were very hot.There were pedestal fans in the bedrooms that worked poorly. Three of the dining room chairs had pieces missing from the the back of the chairs making them unusable and dangerous. This was reported in November 2025 on Bookings.com but nothing was done about it ????? One toilet for 8 people is not really adequate there is room in the laundry for another one this has also been reported previously. The Shower is terrible It’s ancient and needs updating.I feel the owners have neglected this property.The renovations in the kitchen/dining are is done very well ….. the lounge area is very nice and relaxing.Thank You for asking for our review, Kind Regards
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 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

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

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

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

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 review

6/10 Okay

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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!
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