Entire home

Gum Valley Quarters: perfect for large groups and families

Family-friendly holiday home in Western River

Photo gallery for Gum Valley Quarters: perfect for large groups and families

Exterior
Exterior
Interior
Property grounds
Room

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
8 bedrooms8 bathroomsSleeps 25

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View in a map
Western River, SA
  • Place, Snelling Beach
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Place, Flinders Chase National Park
    ‪34 min drive‬
  • Place, King George Beach
    ‪47 min drive‬
  • Airport, Kangaroo Island, SA (KGC-Kingscote)
    ‪67 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

8 bedrooms (sleeps 25)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 7

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Bedroom 8

1 Queen Bed and 1 Single Bed

8 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 4

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 5

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 6

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 7

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 8

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Gum Valley Quarters: perfect for large groups and families

Struggling to find affordable self-contained accommodation for your large group of friends or family?

Gum Valley's old Shearer's Quarters provides a relaxing, modest farmstay that is ideal for bigger groups on an extended stay and looking for a base near KI's best attractions at the western end.

Located on the North Coast Road between Snelling Beach and Western River Cove, it's a 5 minute drive to these two amazing beaches and not far from Stokes Bay, voted second best beach in the world in 2023 and 2024.

The Quarters has 8 bedrooms, each with its own ensuite, sleeping up to 25 guests.
There's a large open plan living/dining room, an all-weather bbq & entertaining area plus a games shed offering plenty of usable space.
The commercial kitchen is well equipped for the catering needs of many mouths with a gas cooktop/ electric oven, dishwasher and a sizable walk-in pantry.

The Quarters has its own fenced yard, an expansive open area for vehicle parking and a firepit looking down the valley out to Investigator Strait for use in the cooler months.

A supply of basic bedding, linen and towels are available; the laundry also has a large washer & dryer available.
Hire includes basic linen, firewood for the combustion heater and additional refrigeration if needed for all the fish and crays you catch...

Please note: this listing displays default distances incorrectly; it's a short drive to both Snelling Beach and Western River Cove (7kms), not the default 20+ minute drive suggested.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:30 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
We love kids.
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Pre-approval needed, min nights still req'd.
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 25 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Pre approval: Outside only. No chasing livestock.
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

Important information

You need to know

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 40
Note from host: Pre-approval needed, min nights still req'd.
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

About the area

Western River

Western River is home to this holiday home. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by Parndana Soldier Settlement Museum, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Flinders Chase National Park and Lathami Conservation Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Western River, SA

What's nearby

  • Snelling Beach - 20 min drive - 9.9 km
  • Flinders Chase National Park - 34 min drive - 18.0 km
  • King George Beach - 47 min drive - 20.2 km
  • Parndana Soldier Settlement Museum - 48 min drive - 43.6 km
  • Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary - 59 min drive - 59.3 km

Getting around

  • Kangaroo Island, SA (KGC-Kingscote) - 65 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Fig Tree KI - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Gastronomo The Enchanted Fig Tree - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Hannaford & Sachs - ‬16 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Gum Valley Quarters: perfect for large groups and families pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 25 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Gum Valley Quarters: perfect for large groups and families?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Gum Valley Quarters: perfect for large groups and families?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is Gum Valley Quarters: perfect for large groups and families located?

Set in Western River, this family-friendly holiday home is 4.8 mi (7.7 km) from Snelling Beach and 9.6 mi (15.5 km) from King George Beach. Stokes Bay Beach and Flinders Chase National Park are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 3 out of 5 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 5 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 5 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 5 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

William B.

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

Great place

Great accomodation with plenty of private bedrooms and bathrooms and a ton of space.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Jomon A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Gum Valley Quarters was very spacious, with many bedrooms and bathrooms, to host large groups of people. There are many movies to choose from, and the drive there is scenic. There is plenty of space outside and the firepit always has wood stocked. All rooms were very clean and had fresh bathroom towels ready, as well as a room heater for the cold. Overall, this is a ideal place for large groups to stay when coming to Kangaroo Island.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Victoria R.

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

A great family hideaway - so much fun. Open fires, all the amenities you need.

We had the best time, so close to fishing and we caught heaps of marron and enjoyed our stay on the property. So many beautiful day trips out in glorious wildlife and countryside. The kitchen was all stocked and we could cater for all our guests for our party with the huge oven, glasses, coffee machine, cutlery and platters to boot.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris T.

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

Perfect for our big family!

A room for everyone with and en-suite, a place for everyone at the table, everything you could possibly need in the kitchen. We had a wonderful stay excellent for a large group with kids. Definitely would recommend to anyone headed to KI in a group. Thanks again.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lekh K.

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

Satisfactory stay

We have booked the accomodation for our 5 days stays for KI adventure with our extended family .With out a doubt the accomodation was best and accomodated our needs.The host was very accessable for any information.Strongly recomend Gum Valley stays for larger family or smalley ones.Regards
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

About the host

Hosted by Will Chapman

Host profile image
Gum Valley Quarters has long been available for group bookings for many decades and the property has been in my family for many more. Our family originally hosted teams of shearers and local workforce which has since extended to volunteer groups, education programs, plus families and friends who want to stay together and enjoy the best KI has to offer. The people we've met, the stories these walls could tell and the many laughs along the way make it all worthwhile.

Why they chose this property

Our family forebears first started farming this particular land in the early 1860s and can be traced back on Kangaroo Island to before the proclamation of Adelaide. Once upon a time, everything was hard; a rugged coastline was the only access for supplies, no roads, absolute isolation. Today, the rugged beauty remains but there is great access to all the top KI destinations and there's a more welcome sense of isolation from busy lives. Plus the fishing is amazing...

What makes this property unique

Gum Valley Quarters allows many people to stay together in one of the best locations on Kangaroo Island, at an affordable price.

After the 2019 fires ravaged the western half of Kangaroo Island, there were so few accommodation options left (including most local's homes) but despite the odds, ours survived. Of the newer coastal holiday homes that survived, they are sparcely located and unavailable (and unaffordable) for larger groups. Whilst we still have local shearing teams stay, we want people to enjoy what we have to offer: a relaxed farmstay that's not too precious and is perfect as a base to tour around.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests