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River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage

River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage

Photo gallery for River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage

shady in summer and sun spot in the winter
view to the deck from the garden - perfect breakfast spot
gardenscape
deck detail
tin sculpture in the tree

Overview of River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage

Reviews
9.6 out of 10 Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 490 sq m

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Outdoor spaceOutdoor spaceOutdoor space

Enjoy the area

Map
Federal, NSW
  • Popular LocationCrystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens18 min drive
  • Popular LocationMain Beach28 min drive
  • Popular LocationBelongil Beach30 min drive
  • AirportLismore, NSW (LSY)38 min drive

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage

This is the secret hinterland hide away that has up til now been word of mouth only. The cottage is an eclectic mix of style and comfort. And feels like you're staying in your own holiday house

The 10 acre property has been planted with a variety of tropical fruits - perhaps a grapefruit for breakfast, mango for lunch and a pomegranate for dessert!
The star attraction is the privacy and the beautiful Wilsons River that provides an excellent swimming hole and a regenerated rainforest to wander through or have a picnic lunch.

The layout of the cottage includes combined kitchen and dining room, lounge, main bedroom with double bed and second bedroom with a double bed and a trundle bed, bathroom and covered deck.

You're in the hills but we do have everything a modern holiday maker could want - Electricity, cold and piping hot running water and will be turned on prior to your stay. We have an upright gas stove & oven, fridge, dishwasher, wood burner and cd/radio/ipod dock, tv and dvd, basic furniture, cutlery, crockery, blankets and dooners for all beds + a CD library and some games and cards. Outside you can cook on a great wood barbeque or on the gas barbie. Plus we have an iron, electric blanket and all the kitchen appliances you’ll need to whip up delicious meals.

The Federal Store: The store is the only shop in the village and is a meeting place for the locals for anything and everything. It acts as the supermarket, bottle shop, post office, newsagent and eftpos outlet.

All you need to bring are sheets, towels and provisions.
Optional linen hire service: @ $60/bedroom – let me know if you wish to take that up and I’ll add it to the reservation.

Some tips: A torch for night time spotting, gum boots for wet weather and table linen for glamour dining.





Trips in the area

Within the region can be found a number of attractions.

Byron Bay:
Eastern most point of Australia. Lots of restaurants and shops in this rapidly growing tourist spot. Beaches such as Wategoes, Broken Head, Tallow and the Pass are well worth a visit. A pleasant walk and picnic can be had from Wategoes to the lighthouse. There is a golf course on the south side of town.
Ballina:
The home of the big lobster, movie theatre and airport.
Bangalow:
A ‘pretty’ town and now bypassed by the highway. The town has been restored to it’s former glory and hosts galleries, second hand/antique stores and cafes. Try the Woods and visit the country market on the last Sunday of the month.
Minyon Falls:
15 minutes by car from Federal is a 300m cascading waterfall into the valley of the palms. Picnic grounds, look outs all set in rainforest. A number of walks, including a 5km walk to the bottom of the falls.
Brunswick Heads:
10 minutes up the Pacific Highway from Bangalow. Great pub for a counter lunch and lots to discover.
Lennox Heads:
Best right hander on the coast, but watch the rocks.
Nimbin:
Hippyville!
Lismore - Lizard ville:
Bustling regional centre 30km west of Federal. Supermarkets, cafes, airport and University.
Mount Warning:
A day trip for the more adventurous.
Mullumbimby:
A 10km drive from Federal along the Coorabel ridge, giving breathtaking rural and coastal views. ‘The biggest little town in Australia’
The Channon:
30 minutes west, tricky to find but worth the trip for the monthly market (2nd Sunday) great variety of plants, food and crafty produce. Along with the sights and sounds.
The Gold Coast:
Only an hour up the highway to glitz, glamour and gluttony. Casino, Pacific Fair and airport.

Just some suggestions, but you can discover the rest yourselves.

Check out our Instagram account for more images on Federal Hilton #federalhilton



Property manager

Louise Bickle
Premier Host
Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill
Fireplace

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
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 and a first aid kit
Property registration number PID-STRA-29120

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Federal

Located in Federal, this cottage is in a rural area and on a river. Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature Reserve and Goonengerry National Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens and Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving and snorkelling nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain climbing and hiking.
Map
Federal, NSW

What's nearby

  • Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens - 18 min drive
  • Bangalow Market - 21 min drive
  • Main Beach - 28 min drive
  • Belongil Beach - 30 min drive
  • Wategos Beach - 36 min drive

Getting around

  • Mullumbimby Station - 31 min drive
  • Ballina, NSW (BNK-Ballina - Byron Gateway) - 38 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Farm Byron Bay - 22 min drive
  • The Empire Cafe - 22 min drive
  • Mullumbimby Bowling Club - 21 min drive
  • Punch and Daisy - 22 min drive
  • The Bangalow Hotel - 20 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is River House (aka Federal Hilton) - Byron Bay Hinterland holiday cottage located?

Situated on the riverfront, this cottage is within 9 miles (15 km) of Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature Reserve, Goonengerry National Park and Snows Gully Nature Reserve. Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 57 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 57 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 57 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 57 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 57 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lisa D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
short escape from the city
A peaceful spot, with a friendly community near by. The artwork was aspiring to curious little minds, as was the art deco furniture pieces and the older cutlery. We look forward to visiting Federal again....hopefully for a bit longer next time.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

David E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Federal Hilton
Relaxing, peaceful, restful, cozy winter break
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

8/10 Good

Richard B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Federal
Beautiful grounds and river.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A great family destination
A great family venue to relax and have the kids unplug and enjoy the outdoors. Louise was especially helpful and the cabin was tidy and well stocked. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andrew K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A secluded hide-a-way
Having travelled from Sydney over a few stop-overs with Canadian friends and after enjoying two relaxed days in Federal Hilton I asked the friends what was the highlight of the trip. Their enthusiasm was for Federal. Arty, the solitude, the environment and thanked me for finding such an amazing place. Loved it Louise. Aileen Kelly
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022

About the host

Hosted by Louise Bickle

Host profile image
We live in the inner city suburb of Redfern and this is our much loved holiday escape. We like to share this beautiful hideaway with other like minded guests (although not at the same time of course). We try to get up to the hills as often as possible so our house has that homey feeling rather than your usual holiday let, we are always updating something or making things more comfortable.

Why they chose this property

Before the original European settlers arrived, the Federal Valley was a rain forest & bush area called the ‘Big Scrub’. The settlers were afraid of the ‘big scrub’ so they cleared all areas of the land. The land was then used mostly for the running of livestock.We bought the property in 1978 & at that time there was only one tree on the entire 10 acre block, (it’s the one to the left of the deck, the Red Apple Tree). All the other trees & shrubs have been planted by us or spread by birds or the elements. The rain forest at the creek edge has slowly regenerated by it self.From 1979 to 1986, the top paddock was planted as an orchard of avocados. These unfortunately were slowly killed off by phitopherous (a root disease).The Federal Valley was also a proposed dam site, a 10 year battle was fought & won by the community in 1995. The dam would have flooded the valley entirely, our property would have had water to the top gate. All the wild life & trees would have been lost.Our 10 acres now hosts many interesting trees & shrubs, among them we have grapefruit, limes, oranges, tung oil, pecans, black bean, mango, custard apple, macadamia & coffee as well as a huge range of gums, cedars and pine trees to name a few.We are slowly creating a beautiful garden, there are both fragrant & colourful species that do their thing at different times of the year.At the creek we have turtles, a platypus family, a kingfisher family & hundreds of other birds, butterflies & reptiles.We hope you relax & enjoy your stay!

What makes this property unique

Our back grounds are in textiles, theatre and interior styling - so you'll find an eclectic mix of furniture and furnishing. We like cooking and eating at home so the kitchen is very well equipped for the holiday chef. We have a teenage son who has spent his growing up years, holidaying on the property, so we have a very child friendly environment and lots of books, CDs and DVDs to keep all ages entertained + a trampoline! AND we have no wifi. Internet and mobile coverage is a very recent addition to the area - but try to stay off grid for 100% relaxation. Read a book on the deck, relax in the butterfly chairs, swim in the swimming hole, spot wildlife and enjoy the sunshine.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

Premier Host
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