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The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage - Very Private - Muskoka

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A wooden dock extending into a lake, with chairs and a table under umbrellas, surrounded by trees.
Property video
A living room with a high ceiling, a large window, a sofa, two armchairs, a coffee table, and a rug.
A modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a built-in oven, and a dining area with colorful chairs.
A garden with a variety of plants and flowers, including white blooms and yellow flowers.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Walk to Lake Muskoka

Popular amenities

  • Balcony or patio
  • Toys
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View in a map
Bala, ON
  • Place, Lake Muskoka
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Place, The KEE to Bala
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Bala's Museum
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Airport, Muskoka, ON (YQA)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

2nd Floor Bedroom (blue room)

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

2nd Floor Bedroom (yellow room)

3 Single Beds

Forest level bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Master bedroom (main floor)

1 Queen Bed

TV / family room

1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Lower bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Main floor bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

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About the area

Bala

Located in Muskoka Lakes, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The Port Carling Wall and Gravenhurst Narrows Lighthouse are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Bush's Watersports Park and Muskoka Lakes Winery. Consider The KEE to Bala for a night out or Muskoka Sports and Recreation if you're travelling with kids. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, or try out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and ice skating.
View more Cottages in BalaOpens in a new window
Map
Bala, ON

What's nearby

  • Lake Muskoka - 10 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Bala Falls - 10 min walk - 0.8 km
  • The KEE to Bala - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Bala's Museum - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Long Lake - 5 min drive - 1.0 km

Getting around

  • Gravenhurst Station - 26 min drive
  • Muskoka, ON (YQA) - 36 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Don's Bakery - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Hook and Ladder - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Bala Falls Pub - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪The Pearl - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Jack And Stella - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage - Very Private - Muskoka pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage - Very Private - Muskoka?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage - Very Private - Muskoka?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage - Very Private - Muskoka?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Hideaway - Waterfront Cottage - Very Private - Muskoka located?

This family-friendly Muskoka Lakes cottage is located on the waterfront, within a 15-minute walk of Long Lake and Lake Muskoka. Jaspen Park and Bala Falls are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

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. 20 out of 23 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 23 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 23 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had the lake all to ourselves, cottage was spacious and well equipped. Bala is only a 5 minute drive away, and there is lots to do in the area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great trip and lovely stay. Quite beach and lots to dining the area.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Another great visit!

Our family enjoyed a wonderful week on this private lake oasis. This was our second consecutive year at this cottage and can't wait to return again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug, 2024
Thanks Tawny. So glad that you enjoyed your stay! We hope to see you again soon.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved the location and all the amenities provided. The house was well supplied with all the necessities and more. Contact with host was smooth and getting access on our first day was hassle free. The only issue we have was an infestation of ants which were with us throughout of stay. Cleaners did come on the Saturday to assist and for a couple of days things improved but eventually things regressed again. I would suggest some treatment for the infestation as although I understand we were in Cottage country the size of the issue was so distracting from the wonderful stay we had. Over all it was a 8/10 experience but could have easily been a 10/10.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Jul, 2026
Hi Robert, Thanks for your review, and I'm glad you had an overall good stay at 8 out of 10. I'm sorry about the ant problem you mentioned, thanks for alerting us to this earlier. After the cleaners did their work we also brought in the professionals as fast as we could book them, and came up ourselves to check the work ... now there is nary an ant to be seen anywhere. Would of course welcome you back anytime for more sun and swimming. Gillian & Steve
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful and quiet

Beautiful
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful Stay with Family and Friends

We had a beautiful week. Property was exactly as described. Clean and well-appointed with everything we needed. Loved the dock, the lake, the kayaks and canoes. The beds were comfy and there were lots of nice places to sit. Loved the location and would return again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Private and peaceful

Beautiful lake for swimming off the spacious dock with lots of water toys for use. We had perfect weather and enjoyed lawn games and bonfires at night. A huge bonus was having the firewood provided. The week went by too fast!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Aug, 2023
Thanks Tawny! We’re so pleased you enjoyed your stay at the cottage.
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Family time

Lovely dock and lake area. Wonderful family time. A/C is only in one area of main floor. Apart from leak and power failure was a successful stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Aug, 2023
Thanks Heather. We’re very glad that you enjoyed your stay at the cottage.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful vacation on a quiet lake!

Hideaway Cottage is a lovely spot on a very quiet lake (no motor boats). The cottage is comfortable and well equipped, and is particularly suited to young families as there is a wide assortment of toys and games. The location is very close to Bala and a short drive to Port Carling, making shopping convenient, and there are lots of things to do and places to explore in Muskoka. We had a great week and hope to be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Jul, 2023
Many thanks, Barbara. We hope you'll join us as guests again soon.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Little piece of paradise

This cottage was perfect for our family! Beautiful views from balcony! Everything was provided as far as entertainment ,water sports, yard games! The owner was great friendly and very responsive when we need help! Thank you Gillian and Steve for everything! Highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Aug, 2023
Thanks Fran. We're so pleased that you and your family enjoyed your stay. We hope that you will consider returning again. Best wishes for the rest of the summer!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relaxing family getaway

We had a wonderful time with our family at this cottage. Gillian and Steve were so welcoming and helpful with anything that we needed. The cottage was completing stocked with anything and everything that we needed and was especially great for our toddler (lots of toys, games, and books). The Lake was perfect for swimming, fishing and relaxing. Most of our days were spent on the dock! We had such a great family vacation and look forward to returning in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Jun, 2022
Glad you had a good week! We always love it when we are there. Looking forward to your return next year.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Superb in all aspects

Had a great time here. Both the adults and children in the group were able to find so much to fall in love with. The design of the house really lends itself to a more social atmosphere and proves itself well in handling a higher number of guests. The amenities were a welcome change to what we have experienced at other rentals and really helped allow more people to commit to coming on our trip. The property itself was easy to find and navigate and is a great location that was close for us but still gave the vibes you want from a Muskoka getaway. We'd all love to come back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Summer Week: 4 Adults & 4 Kids

We rented this cottage for the first week of July. Our group was two families incl 4 Adults and 4 Kids ages 5 - 11. Proximity to Bala is great for access to anything you'd need/want, or to take in a show at the Kee, but at the lake it feels like you are very secluded. Small/quiet lake with 3 docks, and no boat launch so no motor boats which we found very quiet and safe for kids paddling on their own. Very large property, with so much distance from neighbours you won't see anyone else if you don't want to. It was a great week and we will very likely be back next year.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Jul, 2023
Thanks very much, Michael. We hope you and your family will return again next year!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Thank you so much for opening your beautiful cottage to our families. We truly enjoyed our stay! The cottage was clean, cozy, well-maintained, and had everything we needed for a relaxing getaway. The location was perfect, and we made so many wonderful memories together. Thank you for your warm hospitality and for making us feel so welcome. One small suggestion would be to add air conditioning upstairs, as it can get quite warm during the summer. Other than that, everything was wonderful. We would definitely love to stay here again one day and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful and memorable escape.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great memories made!

A group of 8 adults and 4 small children under 5 years of age - we had a great time! The only thing we were unclear on was the path down to the water and how steep that would be - but we made it work. The lake was so quiet and private, the long driveway made some fun walks and bike rides, the fire pit and green space were amazing for the kids to run around. The sun room / play room was well equipped with lots of toys and books for the kids. There is no AC in the children’s rooms at the top level but tons of fans available for air circulation. Kitchen was pretty well stocked. The view of the lake was so peaceful. We would definitely recommend this place again!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Amazing property & cottage, only 3 cottages on the lake, we saw no one else the entire week.

Amazing! & Extremely well equipped, the extra fridge is a life saver!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Sept, 2021
We're so pleased you enjoyed your stay. We hope you'll consider booking with us again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

great family cottage

This cottage was very private on a quiet lake with a great dock for sunbathing and relaxing. The amenities were bountiful, with lots to do on site. Cute little town of Bala close by.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Aug, 2021
Thanks for your review! We're so glad that you enjoyed your stay. We hope that you will consider booking with us again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful cottage and a relaxing stay

We had a wonderful vacation at Gillian's cottage. Gillian was great with communications and provided the most comprehensive list of things available we’ve ever seen for a rental, which really helped with packing. Check-in was seamless and the cottage was very well-kept and clean. The kitchen was well-stocked with tools and dishware, so we had everything we needed for meals. The cottage came with so many books, toys, games and sports equipment that it was easy to keep our 4-year-old son entertained and we got lots of quiet time while he played in the Muskoka room. The lake was small and quiet and perfect for canoeing and kayaking. We also had a lot of fun fishing and swimming off the dock. We would definitely book here again and recommend this rental, especially for families with kids.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul, 2021
We're so pleased that you enjoyed your stay! We hope you and your family will return again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A great cottage getaway

We greatly enjoyed Gillian and Steve's marvelous cottage. Near all conveniences, but set away on a serenely peaceful lake with no motor traffic and distant neighbours. Well-equipped, comfortable, tons of toys and books for the little ones. And lots of space for sleeping. Really great for a family stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Family holiday

We just finished a week stay at the Hideaway cottage. We had a wonderful week and very much enjoyed our time in Bala. The lake is absolutely beautiful for swimming, very quiet and private. The cottage has with everything you would need and more. Our kids enjoyed the endless toys and books, they were a big hit. Communication with owners was efficient and easy and they were very helpful especially leading up to our stay. We hope you enjoy this cottage as much as our family did.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great experience

The property was everything described and more. Very private and lots of space to explore. Can get a little buggy but that’s part of the experience. Gillian as a host was great, all the necessities and more was provided. The lake was especially nice to swim in and great spot for fishing. We truly enjoyed our stay and love to come back in coming years.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

Fantastic

This property was incredible! It checked off all of our boxes, and even the boxes we didn't anticipate. I would definitely recommend this property to others, and I would stay there again next time I'm in the area.
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