Riverfront Luxury | Couples to Groups of 14 | Tea Gardens | Pets ✅ | ⛳🎣🐬🍺🚙

Welcome to Drift at Limekilns Riverfront. Wild. Designed for people who gather.

Drift sits directly on the Karuah River opposite Corrie Island — part of Myall Lakes National Park — and the view from every main living space and most bedrooms is permanently protected. No rooftops. No development. Just water, national park, and sky as far as you can see.

Five minutes from Tea Gardens — ferry to Nelson Bay, the Tea Gardens Hotel, Two Fat Bakers sourdough, cafes, boat ramps, fishing spots and an ice cream shack the kids will never let you walk past.

This is a rare kind of waterfront. Serene, undeveloped and largely undiscovered — even by many locals.

Built slowly during Covid by a Northern Beaches family who fell in love with this stretch of river after 15 years of holidays here, Drift opened in May 2024.

Every detail was designed with one thing in mind: bringing people together in one of the most quietly spectacular places in NSW.

Who Drift Is Perfect For
* Golf groups — Hawks Nest Golf Club is minutes away
* Lawn bowls weekends — Tea Gardens Country Club is around the corner
* Kayaking and paddleboarding crews — launch straight from the property
* Hunter valley trips - 40 mins to the vinyards
* Sports team weekends - end or off season events
* Fishing trips — cast a line from the backyard, fish off the jetty or head up the river
* Birdwatching and wildlife groups — one of the richest biodiversity pockets in Port Stephens
* Corporate team retreats — fast 500Mbps WiFi, large open plan living, river views
* Triathlon and fitness weekends — 2.5km waterfront path to town, bikes provided
* Kids sports team getaways — space, fresh air and river adventures
* Milestone birthdays and girls/mates weekends
* Family reunions — when the main house is full, Drift handles the rest beautifully
* Silver surfers
* Overseas travellers — we can help curate your entire stay
* Couples who want space, luxury and a river view to themselves

House rules apply and will be reiterated when confirming your booking

Just Show Up — Everything Is Done

* Beds are made, linen is fresh, towels and toiletries stocked, kitchen ready to go.
* No linen to pack, no beds to make.
* Arrive, pour a drink and find your spot on the deck.

All stays include:

* Freshly made beds with quality linen
* Bath towels, hand towels and face washers per guest
* Beach towels and table linen
* Toiletries - shampoo, conditioner, hand and body wash
* Dishwashing tablets
* Clothes washing detergent and softener
* Fast WiFi with QR login on the fridge

Bedrooms & Sleeping Arrangements
* Sleeps up to 14 across five bedrooms on two levels.
* Bedroom 1 (upstairs): Queen + portable single
* Bedroom 2 (downstairs): Queen
* Bedroom 3 (bunk room): Queen + 2 singles
* Bedroom 4 (riverside): Queen
* Bedroom 5 / Study (upstairs): Queen sofa bed and dedicated workspace
* 3.5 bathrooms.
* Bedrooms prepared to confirmed guest numbers.

The Property
* 300sqm across two levels
* Open-plan kitchen, dining and living opening to the riverside balcony
* Full ducted climate control — or open every door and let the river breeze do the work
* Two outdoor firepits with river views
* Smart TV wall mounted in Living 2 and small TV in Living 1
* Free parking for cars, boats and campervans in the driveway and directly opposite
* Gourmet Kitchen
* Built for groups — lazy breakfasts to long shared dinners with the river glowing at dusk.
* Electrolux French door fridge with water and ice
* Inalto 90cm oven and 5-burner gas cooktop
* Inalto full-size dishwasher
* Nespresso coffee machine (pods supplied to get you started)
* Blender — ice ready for smoothies and cocktails
* Microwave, toastie maker and all the essentials
* Beach & Outdoor Gear — All Included
* 2 x SUPs (fibreglass 10'6 and inflatable 10'6)
* 1 x Kayak
* 2 x foam surfboards and 2 x boogie boards
* Snorkelling gear
* 2 x hybrid bikes and helmets
* Beach accessories for Hawks Nest and Bennetts Beach
* Family sized Cool Cabanna
* Crab pot — drop a pot or cast a line from the backyard
* Dart board
* corn toss
* badminton
* croquet
* hammock
* Multiple BBQs and outdoor dining areas
* Two firepits

BYO boats — ramps in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest

BYO caravans — street frontage only

Tents permitted in back garden with prior approval

A Wildlife Lover's Paradise

Limekilns is a biodiversity hotspot. Guests are regularly astonished by what appears without any effort.
* Eastern Grey Kangaroos grazing at dawn and dusk
* Swamp Wallabies at night
* Echidnas wandering through the garden
* White-bellied Sea Eagles soaring overhead
* Ospreys — a breeding pair at the end of Bayview Road
* Black swans, pelicans and migratory wading birds
* Tawny frogmouths, Black Cockatoos and fruit bats
* Rare coastal seabirds most Australians have never seen

With patience and a little luck:

* Dingoes moving quietly through the area
* Koalas in the surrounding bushland

Corrie Island & Myall Lakes National Park

Directly opposite Drift lies Corrie Island — recently listed as part of Myall Lakes National Park and a true bird-watcher's paradise. Paddle across by kayak or SUP for a full-day adventure with a packed picnic. Truly unforgettable.

The forest across the river is permanently preserved as a wildlife corridor — never to be developed. Uninterrupted bushland views and the seclusion that makes Drift so unique are here to stay.

What To Do
* Swim at Bennetts Beach (surf flags) or Jimmy's Beach (calm, perfect for kids)
* Fish from the backyard, the jetty opposite the pub or up the Myall River
* Hire a boat from The Boatshed or paddle to Corrie Island
* Sand dune sliding — natural dunes at Dark Point (Aboriginal heritage site) or the epic man-made dune at Winda Woppa where you slide straight into the water at the bottom
* Sundowners at Hawks Nest Surf Club — BYO nibbles, epic views from Friday to Sunday during summer months and check for off season opening
* Pub trivia at Tea Gardens Hotel
* Bingo and meat tray raffles at Tea Gardens Country Club
* Golf at Hawks Nest Golf Club
* Lawn bowls at Tea Gardens Country Club
* Walk the 2.5km waterfront path into Tea Gardens
* Yoga, pottery and gallery visits in Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens

Day Trips
* Ferry to Nelson Bay — spot dolphins, pass Corrie Island
* 4WD to Little Gibber Beach in the national park (permit required)
* Drive the Myall Lakes — picnic and put your car on the punt
* Hike Mount Yaccaba — best views of Port Stephens
* Snorkel at Fly Point Sanctuary Zone
* Tomaree Head Summit Walk
* Seal Rocks and Sugarloaf Lighthouse
* Mungo Brush Road — koala spotting at dawn or dusk
* Hunter Valley wineries — easy day trip
* Tea Gardens Growers Market — 3rd Saturday monthly

Your Host
After 15 years holidaying here we bought this block in 2020 and spent four years building the home we always dreamed of. We know this place deeply — the best fishing spots, hidden swimming holes, restaurants worth booking ahead and the ones you can always walk into.

On request we can help with:

* Restaurant bookings and courtesy bus coordination
* Arrival seafood platters — $85 (feeds 4–6) or $150 (feeds 8–12)
* Supermarket delivery and unpack to fridge and pantry — $45
* Fresh flowers from $35
* Guided dingo and dolphin tours
* Curated itineraries for longer stays
* Midweek Extension Deal

Book any Friday or Saturday night and add the night before or after at 50% off. Available August to November 2026. Subject to availability.

Quiet Hours
Music indoors with doors closed after midnight. We love hosting people who love life — just respect the street and the environment. Full house rules in your booking T&Cs.

Pets

Pets are welcome - maximum 2 (council regulations) and we do ask for guests to disclose full information about the pets who will be staying during the booking.

* Pets must be kept off carpeted rooms and furniture and supervised outdoors given the extraordinary local wildlife.
* Cats must be kept in doors and guests need to BYO kitty litter
* all other pets need to be notified with the host due to council regulations

Good to Know
* Check in 11am
* Check out 4pm
* Quiet hours 10pm to 7am

Your Riverside Escape Awaits

Romantic retreat, family holiday, fishing trip, golf weekend, corporate retreat or big group celebration — Drift offers space, comfort, everything supplied and an extraordinary connection to the natural world.

Just show up. We've got the rest covered.

We look forward to welcoming you to Drift and we look forward to answering questions and helping shape your time at Drift to suit your groups needs.