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Island Paradise | Private Waterfront Retreat

Photo gallery for Island Paradise | Private Waterfront Retreat

A bedroom with a large window, a bed, a desk, and a view of a lake and hills.
A waterfront property with multiple houses, a dock, and a staircase leading to a hill.
A marina with multiple docks and boats, surrounded by lush greenery and hills in the background.
A spacious living area with a high ceiling, wooden flooring, a sofa, a dining table, and a kitchen area.
A bedroom with a bed, curtains, a window with a view, and hanging plants.

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 Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Balcony
  • Massages in spa

Explore the area

View in a map
Scotland Island, NSW
  • Place, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    ‪5 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 6)

Living Room 1

2 Double Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Number of living rooms
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Island Paradise | Private Waterfront Retreat

Escape to paradise!
Cosy open plan waterfront fisherman’s cottage on beautiful Pittwater.
Clean, private and peaceful with full north aspect providing sun all day throughout the whole year making it a perfect escape in all seasons.
Private deep water jetty with sandy beach for swimming.
Stunning 180 degree unobstructed water views.
Child friendly and pet friendly.
Kayaks, paddle boards and fishing gear provided.
Fire place inside the cottage and fire pit on the waterfront.
Lorikeets, cockatoos, king parrots, currawongs and kookaburras visit regularly.
Ku-ring-gai national park is at your doorstep with beautiful nature and wildlife, bush walks and indigenous heritage sites.
Many extras can be arranged locally including catering, local tours and boat trips, massages, fishing charters, whale watching etc.
Rest, relax and reset in a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle, yet only 45 minutes from the city.

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 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
Small gatherings fine but no big loud parties
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Pets

Pets allowed
Dogs must be on leash when in public spaces.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking allowed on deck but not in house

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number 2105, PID-STRA-15643
Property # 7838732
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
Note from host: small gatherings fine but no big loud parties
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Scotland Island

Scotland Island is home to this cottage. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Manly Beach and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, while Ettalong Beach and Manly Art Gallery and Museum are cultural highlights. Travelling with kids? Consider Governor Phillip Park and Crommelin Native Arboretum.
View more Cottages in SydneyOpens in a new window
Map
Scotland Island, NSW

What's nearby

  • Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park - 5 min walk - 0.5 km

Restaurants

  • Bilgola Deli
  • Zubi Bar
  • The Newport
  • Cocoa Bar
  • Seafood Market

Frequently asked questions

Is Island Paradise | Private Waterfront Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Island Paradise | Private Waterfront Retreat?

This property doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at Island Paradise | Private Waterfront Retreat?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Island Paradise | Private Waterfront Retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Island Paradise | Private Waterfront Retreat located?

Set in Scotland Island, this family-friendly cottage is steps from Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

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. 16 out of 18 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 18 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 18 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 18 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 18 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ashleigh R.

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

Beautiful Getaway

We loved our stay on Scotland Island. The house is set amongst the most tranquil surroundings and has everyone you need and more for a comfortable stay! We can’t wait to come back.
Stayed 1 night in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Frank W.

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

Weekend away

Good time relaxing, walking on island, ferry trip around island and to Western Pittwater shore.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Sam S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a great stay! Pity about the paddle boards but it was an experience nonetheless.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jason T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Communication

Loved the place nice and quiet out of the way.

Due to weather I was unable to take my boat to dock we took the ferry and met some of the locals that was a fun experience and very friendly. Even Zoe the lab. Loved the experience. The deck might however need a bit of attention. In general fantastic place to relax and enjoy. In total 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Marcelle T.

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

Sooo relaxing

We had a wonderful couple of days at this property. It's a simple, but well equiped and relaxing home with the most gorgeous views. We enjoyed a great mix of doing "nothing" (dinner and family on the deck) and being active on the water, taking advantage of the free kayaks and paddleboards. 2 nights definitely felt longer and I can't say when I last felt this relaxed! Sophie is a wonderful host and we can't wait to return.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

monika m.

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

Thank you

Beautiful spot and lots of fun. thanks sophie!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Julia B.

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

Great place for a get away

Am excellent place for a quick get away from Sydney
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Maya P.

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

Oasis on Pittwater

My husband stayed on the property to Celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary. Sophie was a wonderful host and her property on Pittwater was relaxing and gorgeous. Felt like we had left Sydney! Will definitely come back again!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Helen B.

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

Absolute Paradise

We stayed at Sophie’s place with our family of four, and had an absolutely amazing time at the property, there were lots of kayaks and paddles boards to use. There was a huge deck which was fantastic to sit out and eat dinner and watch life on the Pitt Water. The property itself was the perfect size for our family.. will absolutely be returning. Sophie was very warm and friendly, gave us lots of tips prior to arrive and checked in to how we were going and if we needed anything during our stay..
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Nov, 2021
Thanks so much Helen for the wonderful feedback ! It was a pleasure to have you and your family stay and you will always be welcome!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Peter C.

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

A thousand miles from care

We thoroughly enjoyed staying at this property on Scotland Island. Didn't stay very long but it felt very restful.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2021
Verified review

8/10 Good

Bertha V.

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

Excellent location loved our stay. Weather was perfect most of the time. Activity were so much fun.

Will most certainly return. Thank you.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nigel S.

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

Sophie’s Place

We had a great time at sophie’s place she was extremely helpful and the view couldn’t be beat. thanks for being so accommodating to us and our puppy.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Katie G.

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

A hidden gem which feels liek you are a millions miles away!

I cannot recommend this property enough and can honestly say, this was truly like paradise. It was just a short 5-10 minute boat ride to the island and it felt like we were in a completely different country. We had a beautiful cabin to stay in, complete with a wood burner, ample cooking utensils, BBQ and outdoor furniture! It even came fully equipped for lots of water sports.... Kayaks, paddle boards and a boat! However, the best bit about our stay has got to be the host- Sophie is incredible and couldn't be more helpful. Me being a stress head, meant Sophie had numerous questions from me before we stayed and she couldn't have answered me quick enough. She spent the time to get to know me and my partner and even joined us on the deck for a few glasses of wine. Sophie has a lot of passion for the island and she couldn't have been a better host, tour guide and friend. Sophie even organised her friend to pick us from Taylors point and drop us off, so we didn't even have to jump on the ferry to reach her place. It amazes me how little people know about this remote paradise and I am already so excited to plan our next trip and visit again. I would highly recommend you go on a Sunday so you can kayak to the mainland (15 minutes) and take in the sunset/live music. I surprised my partner here for his 30th birthday and it couldn't have gone better. I would highly recommend you visit Sophie and her place. I still can't believe we were only 45 minutes away from Sydney CBD. Thank you so much Sophie!!!!!!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Brendan B.

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

Great location, fantastic host

Really enjoyed our stay here. Came with my wife and two boys (7 and 12), and had a great time. Probably the best part was the access to the shore with the jetty - boys tracking the various wildlife (small stingrays, jellyfish, squids, fish) and gnarly relaxing with nature. Great part is the isolation as well. And really well catered for by Sophie - very welcoming and made our stay worthwhile. Could highly recommend! Brendan
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

RAGNAR B.

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

Perfect location

Beautiful setting, overlooking Pittwater
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Cathy h.

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

Lovely Scotland Island

We had a beautiful weekend at Sophie’s place. It was an adventure getting on water taxis’ and exploring the island and the house was very comfortable in a perfect location. All in all a lovely and very relaxing time. Thanks again Sophie
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Vladimir S.

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

Staying in Paradise for my husband's 60th

The best view you can wish for. Sophie went out of her way to accommodate and make things happen for us the way we wanted and more. Can't wait to come back to Sophie’s property again. Kira As the recipient of this gift; I was very impressed. Sophie went out of her way to make us welcome. David
Stayed 1 night in May 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar, 2020
Thanks Kira and David it was wonderful to meet you and a pleasure to have you stay. come back soon!

About the host

Hosted by Sophie Haythornthwaite

Host profile image
I'm a long time local (born and raised in beautiful Pittwater), and can never be away for long. I love the offshore life, boats, bushwalks, fishing, swimming, sailing, having a glass of wine by the firepit and watching the world go by.
I'm a painter and specialise in portraits, but also exhibit still life, landscapes, and figurative works. I'm an avid reader and love travel. I love hosting. I enjoy sharing this beautiful place and meeting the amazing people who stay at my place. I've made many lifetime friends among my guests.

Why they chose this property

Scotland Island is one of only two residential islands in Sydney. It's a stunning area of natural beauty and we have a wonderful warm, welcoming and vibrant community.

What makes this property unique

I am incredibly lucky in that my property is waterfront and faces full north, giving it sunshine year round and incredible views across Pittwater to the national park. The view is panoramic and the sunsets and sunrises are stunning. I have a private deepwater jetty and a beautiful sandy beach that is perfect for swimming. I get lots of friendly wildlife and the native birds visit daily.

Languages:

English
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