Portland West is home to this cottage. Bats Ridge Wildlife Reserve and Tarragal Education Area reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Discovery Bay Marine National Park and Portland Maritime Discovery Centre. Portland Arts Centre and Portland Cable Tram Depot Museum are also worth visiting. Take the opportunity to explore the area for water adventures such as fishing.
Powerhouse Motor & Car Museum - 19 min drive - 16.8 km
Cape Nelson Lighthouse - 26 min drive - 29.9 km
Budj Bim National Park - 42 min drive - 60.5 km
Restaurants
Bridgewater Bay Cafe - 12 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Bushland Retreat - experience nature pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Bushland Retreat - experience nature?
As of 29 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Bushland Retreat - experience nature on 31 Oct 2026 start from £273, 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 Bushland Retreat - experience nature?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Bushland Retreat - experience nature?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Bushland Retreat - experience nature?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Bushland Retreat - experience nature located?
Situated in Portland West, this cottage is steps from Bats Ridge Wildlife Reserve and 1.9 mi (3 km) from Tarragal Education Area. Mount Richmond National Park and Bridgewater Bay Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Thank you too Ian, wonderful to have you stay! We enjoy people experiencing Bushland Retreat, where they can forget about their busy lives, and relax in
a peaceful setting.
Bushland Retreat is the perfect place to enjoy a break. It is peaceful and quiet with beautiful views over the lake. The house was comfortable and warm for our winter holiday. We enjoyed watching the kangaroos and sunrises.
A nice cabin overlooking a lagoon with black swans and paddocks filled with kangaroos, both close to Portland and Cape Bridgewater and beautifully isolated. Recommended.
Had a lovely time staying here. A beautiful and peaceful spot with kangaroos and koalas at your doorstep. Only a short drive to Portland and Cape Bridgewater. Thanks to Helen for being so welcoming and helpful.
Bushland Retreat is just that..the perfect place to relax and enjoy the peace while the weather was cooler... then as the weather warmed up we were able to swim at the beautiful Cape Brigewater beach.
Wonderful place for nature-lovers. Koalas, a big mob of kangaroos and many different waterbirds were in residence during our stay. Cottage was very comfortable, despite the cold, and the large deck was well suited for living in nature. Host welcoming and very helpful. This place exceeded our expectations for a great nature-based holiday.
Beautiful location. The luxury of this accommodation is the large covered deck set amongst native trees and flowering shrubs. Wonderful bird and marsupial watching. Indoors is clean, very minimal fuss living that offers a peaceful base to explore Portland area or to read and walk.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Svetlana
10 Nov 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The property was clean and the Host was wonderful. It’s pet friendly but you need to keep your dogs on lead as the wildlife is close by. We had an enclosure with us to put around the patio. Would have loved to have a toaster for toast.
Location was great, but the house needs an update. Lots of unnecessary clutter.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Feb 2026
Glad you liked the location. The property is per photos on the website and set up for those getting away to experience the tranquility of nature, it is not intended for those seeking a modern city experience. Not sure what you mean by clutter, most contents have a functional purpose, with only the bookshelf containing items gifted by visitors, books to reference(nature and a few novels) etc.. Thank you for staying and wish you well.
Our 4 night stay was filled with nature walks, birdwatching, Koala spotting, reading and painting. The accommodation was clean, comfortable and oh-so delightfully quiet. Helen was the perfect host - friendly, attentive and full of local knowledge. The location is ideal; easy drive to both Portland and Bridgewater. On top of all that we were able to bring our dog; what more could one want?! We love visiting Portland and are thrilled to have found Helen and her property. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review
10/10 Excellent
Michelle F.
23 Jan 2019
Wonderful natural experience
This property is perfect for nature lovers! On our night walk we spotted 4 koalas in the gums, including a mother and her baby, possums, and of course kangaroos. We did some stargazing and we listened to the frogs. Helen was very lovely and helpful, giving us great suggestions for dinner and sightseeing nearby. This little gem is a peaceful slice of heaven.
This is our second time staying here and we just love it. Our dog can come and we thoroughly enjoy sitting on the verandah watching the birds, roos and wallabies do their thing. Koala in tree outside the house was the icing on the cake! Highly relaxing! Easy drive into Portland or to the beautiful beach at Cape Bridgewater. Highly recommended.
Wonderful experience relaxing with complete privacy in an eco environment. There was an inquisitive koala in the tree overhanging the deck and kangaroos at the steps. We were serenaded by the birds during the day and the koalas at night. 15 minutes to Portland and 8 mins to the beach at Cape Bridgewater. Loved it !
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review
8/10 Good
Christine B.
27 Feb 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location
Absolute peace and quiet
Bushland Retreat is off the beaten track and is wonderful for total peace, quiet and relaxation. There are so many birds and it is a refreshing change to see so many stars at night The property is located not very far out of Portland.Some items in the property were a little outdated. The host was very helpful and her directions excellent.If you want to get away from it all and don't mind no internet, this is the place to be.
No neighbours, no noise (except birdsong), just nature and tranquillity. We had a wonderful stay with our 2 dogs (who we kept on lead when outside due to the prolific wildlife).
The cottage had everything we needed (shower was glorious), and it was an easy drive to all the local attractions
Phone reception was minimal, and the driveway uneven, so this wouldn't suit a sports car or those who need internet, but for anyone looking for peace and quiet in comfort and gorgeous surroundings it is just perfect.
When we arrived at this property we instantly felt relaxed, what a beautiful secluded location. The home is clean, has all requirements and is perfect. There is a large pergola, kangaroos roaming freely and a beautiful view. Helen the owner is kind, easy to make contact with and really accommodating. We had a fantastic 2 night stay and cannot wait to return. Thank you.