Entire home

Forest Retreat 30 mins from Sydney CBD

Photo gallery for Forest Retreat 30 mins from Sydney CBD

A lush garden with a wooden gazebo surrounded by tall palm trees and dense foliage.
A covered patio area with a dining table and chairs, a sofa, and a decorative glass table.
A cozy living room with a wooden ceiling, a white sofa with dark cushions, a coffee table, and a small dining area with a table and chairs.
A dining area with a wooden table, chairs, and a large window with a view of greenery.
A living room with a sofa, chairs, a coffee table, a TV, and a decorative vase.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
Accommodating 4 guests, this vacation home features 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It offers hiking and biking opportunities nearby. Guests can enjoy the patio and have access to golf facilities in the area. Yattenden Park and Baulkham Hills Library are local attractions.

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Barbecue grill
    A rare find - perfect for a relaxed, outdoor grilling experience.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Baulkham Hills Library
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue grill
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
Baulkham Hills, NSW
  • Place, Yattenden Park
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Place, Baulkham Hills Library
    ‪19 min walk‬
  • Place, Circular Quay
    ‪25 min drive‬
  • Airport, Sydney, NSW (SYD-Kingsford Smith Intl.)
    ‪34 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Sofa Bed

Office 1

1 Large Single Futon

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Office
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Forest Retreat 30 mins from Sydney CBD

Beyond the urban street entrance is an open plan forest retreat with sundeck/exotic Balinese styled pavilion backing bushland. All this, with a rainforest backyard, makes a beautiful leafy escape in Baulkham Hills, which is only 30 minutes by non stop express bus to Sydney CBD. 30 Minutes also will take you out of metropolitan Sydney to the North, South or West on the nearby M2 expressway entrance.

Easy access: Numerous bushland walking trails begin just 300 metres away for healthy morning walks and a mood lift. A local IGA, take away food shops and bus stop are 200 metres from our door. Sporting fields - Tennis, soccer, basketball - are just 400 metres away.

Convenient location: Supermarkets; the Metro to greater Sydney; Castle Towers shopping mall; North Rocks shopping mall; dozens of restaurants... all just a ten minute drive. Parramatta’s restaurant belt is amazing and just 15 mins drive or 20 mins by bus practically at our door.

We also provide:
Third bedroom for additional guest fee
Off street parking for one car.
Air conditioner which covers entire house.
Fully equipped kitchen (no dishwasher) and laundry.
Living room with dining/office/sunroom extension.
Opens to a large Sundeck with weather proof Balinese style pavilion overlooking trees.
All Linen provided.
Big screen smart TV with numerous streaming services.

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House Rules

Check in after 10:00 AM
Check out before 4:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Third bedroom available with additional guest fee
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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
Smoking area is available in rear in the luxurious Bali pavillion over looking bushland
Primary renter must be at least 25 years old and be present for the entire stay.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number PID-STRA-55507, 2153
Property # 9863064
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
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the area

Sydney

Baulkham Hills, a neighbourhood in Sydney, is home to this holiday home. Riverside Theatres and Bella Vista Farm are cultural highlights, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Castle Towers Shopping Centre and Westfield Parramatta Shopping Centre. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Afterpay Arena or Accor Stadium. Break out the clubs and hit the links on a nearby golf course, or seek out an adventure with hiking.
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Map
Baulkham Hills, NSW

What's nearby

  • Yattenden Park - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Baulkham Hills Library - 19 min walk - 1.6 km
  • Afterpay Arena - 21 min drive - 16.5 km
  • Circular Quay - 25 min drive - 31.8 km
  • Sydney Opera House - 26 min drive - 32.2 km

Getting around

  • Castle Hill Station - 5 min drive
  • Sydney Carlingford Station - 8 min drive
  • Sydney Airport (SYD) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪KFC - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Grill’d - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Pourt Coffee - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Little Rock Cafe - ‬2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Forest Retreat 30 mins from Sydney CBD pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Forest Retreat 30 mins from Sydney CBD?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Forest Retreat 30 mins from Sydney CBD?

Check-in begins at 10:00 AM.

What time is check-out at Forest Retreat 30 mins from Sydney CBD?

Checkout is at 4:00 PM.

Where is Forest Retreat 30 mins from Sydney CBD located?

Located in Baulkham Hills, this holiday home is 1 mi (1.6 km) from Baulkham Hills Library and within 3 miles (5 km) of Castle Towers Shopping Centre and Castle Hill Community Centre. Norwest Business Park and Westmead Hospital are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

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

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Bali retreat in the heart of Sydney

Stay was very comfortable and we enjoyed the location and the ambience immensely.
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Booked this for family visiting from overseas. They were delighted, loved it for the relaxed tranquil Bali vibe yet just minutes from an express bus to the tourist highlights of the city. Hosts were most welcoming and helpful. Well worth thinking outside the box of a hotel room especially if one room isn't enough
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 20 Jan, 2026
Thankyou Ernest. We loved hearing the guests enjoy our bush pavillion so frequently. We're happy our place made a lovely memory before returning to a European winter.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We recently spent seven nights at Gary and Rowena's Forest Retreat during a series of business meetings in Sydney, and it was the perfect getaway. The accommodation provided the perfect start to each day in the Balinese pavilion listening to nature, offering a peaceful view of the surrounding bushland and after a hectic day of meetings, the home served as a tranquil haven to unwind. Our hosts, Gary and Rowena, were very welcoming, and we truly appreciated the calming atmosphere throughout the house. The convenience of a small group of essential shops just a short walk away made our stay even more comfortable. We’ll definitely be returning to this little slice of paradise the next time we’re in Sydney.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Best of Both Worlds Sydney

Gary and Rowena’s accommodation offers the best of both worlds for a holiday in Sydney. Their residence provides a truly homely experience with all the necessary amenities. The cleanliness and communication by the host reflects a genuine level of care. Morning coffee with the serene backdrop of the bush was a perfect way to start each day. The home’s location is fantastic, meeting all our itinerary needs. It’s just a 30-minute express bus ride for CBD excursions and serves as a great base for drives to the Blue Mountains for a refreshing nature escape. Our group of three can’t wait to return to this wonderful accommodation.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2024

About the host

Hosted by Gary Notley-Smith

Host profile image
We are both artists in and from Sydney. We use the upper street level house to exhibit our work, as an art studio, and for long stay guests. There is always an audible gasp when visitors enter the back area, someting we love to share. We live below in the separate apartment but will not be present when the upper level is rented so your privacy is assured.

Why they chose this property

The forested environment we have created out the back feels far from suburbia while being just 30 mins from all Sydney CBD's amenities on the astonishingly quick Hillsbus express. Alternatively Sydney’s rail network can be accessed at the Castle Hill Metro station 10 minutes drive . Parramatta’s restaurant street is amazing and just 15 mins drive or 20 mins by bus practically at our door.

Being right near the entrance to the M2 expressway you can drive absolutely anywhere in Metropolitan Sydney easily ... except the beach :( However the Hills region is interlaced with connecting bushland creek gulleys everywhere. These are wonderfully relaxing to explore, and the entrances are just minutes from our door. Make sure you use them!

Go for short jog up the street ... down the bushtrack ... around the soccer fields, tennis courts, baskets ball courts and children's playground and be back in 20 minutes if you're fit.

What makes this property unique

What you will like about our property is the quality of life you can achieve while staying in urban Sydney. We have created a ‘magical’ feeling out the back with the Balinese style and a planted rainforest which descends into a bushland gully. There are many outside eating nooks to enjoy and share with the King Parrots , Kookaburras and Lorikeets.

Languages:

English
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