Boutique retreat for Couples | Groups on request | Pet friendly

Welcome to Drift – Limekilns, Port Stephens just out of Tea Gardens and 5 mins drive to Hawks Nest.

Drift is not just a holiday home — it is a front-row seat to one of the most untouched and quietly spectacular corners of Port Stephens.

Perfectly positioned on the river directly opposite Corrie Island — part of Myall Lakes National Park — the view from Drift is forever protected. No rooftops. No development. Just water, sky, and national park as far as the eye can see.

This is a rare kind of waterfront — serene, undeveloped and largely undiscovered, even by many locals of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest.

If you are seeking quiet luxury immersed in nature, this is it.

Designed for Connection — Couples, Families & Friends

Every detail at Drift has been thoughtfully designed and built to enhance connection — with nature and with each other.

Whether you are a couple seeking stillness or a larger group gathering for something special, the home’s layout and spaces invite long lunches, sunset drinks, shared stories and slow mornings.

Open the doors and let the river breeze flow through — or enjoy full cycle air conditioning / heating throughout for year-round comfort.

Drift gives you the choice: complete immersion in nature or climate-controlled retreat.

Waterfront Living – Your Private Adventure Playground

The river is your backyard.

We provide:

* Out door firepit - and extra cooking pit
* Picnic / camp chairs
* Hammock
* Kayak
* Stand-up paddleboard
* Crab pots for catching your own fresh mud crabs

Launch straight from the property and paddle across to the sandbanks of Corrie Island. Explore the pristine waterways of the Myall River system spotting some of the most endangered seabirds. Drop a crab pot in and return later to see what the river has gifted you.

This is slow living at its best — simple, authentic and deeply memorable.

A Biodiversity Hotspot

Limekilns is one of the most ecologically rich pockets of Port Stephens.

Daily sightings often include:

* Eastern grey kangaroos grazing nearby
* White-bellied sea eagles soaring overhead
* Ospreys breeding at the end of Bayview Road
* Pelicans, black swans and migratory wading birds
* Echidnas wandering through the garden
* Koala's and Dingo's if you're extra lucky

The birdlife alone is extraordinary — from majestic raptors to some of Australia’s rarest wading seabirds.

For nature lovers, photographers and those craving reconnection, Drift is something truly special.

Limekilns is known for one thing above all else — peace.

* No traffic noise.
* No crowds.
* No streetlights interrupting the stars.

At night, the sky opens up. During the day, you hear birds, wind through the Casuarina's and gentle water lapping at high tide.

Yet you’re still only a flat 2.5km walk (5km return) along the waterfront for your morning coffee — perfect for a sunrise stroll, marathon training run or scenic cycle. We provide two bikes and a yoga mat so you can start your day exactly as you wish.

Despite its serenity, Drift is only minutes from fantastic local hospitality — and many venues offer courtesy buses so you can truly relax.

Local favourites include:

* Tea Gardens Country Club
* Hawks Nest Golf Club
* Tea Gardens Hotel
* Mumm's on the Myall – exceptional seafood on the water
* Tea Gardens Fishermen's Co-Operative – fresh local seafood to enjoy at home
* Jimmy’s Smash Burgers – the perfect post-beach indulgence
* Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club – sundowners overlooking the ocean
* The Boatshed Tea Gardens – one of the most unique waterfront dining experiences in the region
* Two Fat Bakers – our absolute favourite for coffee, breakfast and artisan treats

You can be immersed in nature all day and enjoying fresh seafood and sunset drinks by evening.

Drift at Limekilns is not just accommodation — it is an experience of a part of Port Stephens that remains beautifully, intentionally under the radar.

Once you discover it, you’ll understand why guests return again and again.