Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12
Popular amenities
Spa pool
Kitchen
Washing machine
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
Explore the area
Bindera, via Barrington, NSW
Rocky Crossing Reserve
Place, Rocky Crossing Reserve
12 min drive
Billabong Native Garden
Place, Billabong Native Garden
27 min drive
Barrington Tops National Park
Place, Barrington Tops National Park
40 min drive
Rooms & beds
4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 1
1 Double Bed
Bedroom 1
+2
6 Single Beds
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
2 bathrooms
Bathroom 1
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Bathroom 1
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area
About this property
Water Gums Retreat, Barrington River, Barrington Tops area, perfect for groups
Love the wilderness but can't do without the comforts of home? Then Water Gums is for you. This unique four-bedroom fully self-contained mudbrick and cedar house is right next to the Barrington River, only a short drive from Gloucester. The property enjoys a 320m frontage to the Barrington River. The house is in a secluded sanctuary, surrounded by trees and bushland which are full of birds and other wildlife. A place of peace and tranquility. There is a billabong just below the house where platypus and other aquatic life are commonly sighted. Two of the bedrooms have queen-size beds, one has a double and one has three single beds, plus some mattresses for the extras. Two of the bedrooms are downstairs where the main bathroom and two-person spa are located. The other two bedrooms are upstairs along with a second bathroom. Linen is not provided but can be arranged at an additional cost if required. Satellite wi-fi is available for guests. Water Gums Retreat is the ideal getaway for couples, families and small groups seeking a secluded natural retreat within easy range of the Barrington Tops. It features beautiful billabongs - one with an outlet to the river, wonderful wildlife and secluded bushland charm. Platypus are commonly seen in the early morning and around dusk. The slow combustion log fire keeps the house lovely and warm during winter and the large covered deck is an ideal spot for summer outdoor dinning. Fully equipped kitchen and BBQ on the deck. The house was largely built from locally made mudbricks and features timber slab detailing fashioned from trees felled and milled onsite. Platypus, wallabies, echidnas, goannas, bats, waterfowl and many other creatures are commonly seen here.
Abundant wildlife Water Gums is a bird-watcher's paradise, with the pre-dawn chorus an amazing daily treat. Nestled among the treetops the house looks out into the branches and greenery, with glimpses of the billabong and river in between the dense branches.
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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 no carbon monoxide detector on the property, but there are gas appliances; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
About the area
Bindera
Located in Bindera, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Saint Clements Historic Park is a local landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Rocky Crossing Reserve and Barrington Tops National Park. Discover the area's water adventures with water tubing, rafting and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking.
Gloucester Farmers Market - 28 min drive - 24.5 km
Barrington Tops National Park - 40 min drive - 39.8 km
Getting around
Gloucester Station - 26 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Water Gums Retreat, Barrington River, Barrington Tops area, perfect for groups pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Water Gums Retreat, Barrington River, Barrington Tops area, perfect for groups?
As of 14 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Water Gums Retreat, Barrington River, Barrington Tops area, perfect for groups on 19 May 2026 start from NZ$431, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Water Gums Retreat, Barrington River, Barrington Tops area, perfect for groups?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Water Gums Retreat, Barrington River, Barrington Tops area, perfect for groups?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Water Gums Retreat, Barrington River, Barrington Tops area, perfect for groups?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Water Gums Retreat, Barrington River, Barrington Tops area, perfect for groups located?
Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is 2.9 mi (4.7 km) from Rocky Crossing Reserve and 9.4 mi (15.2 km) from Barrington Tops National Park. Gloucester Folk Museum and Saint Clements Historic Park are also within 16 miles (25 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
I celebrated my 25th birthday at water gums in Barrington Tops. I had the most amazing experience surrounded by the most beautiful nature and wildlife.
Victoria M.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 19 January 2026
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at Water Gums. Greg ad Sylvia
Instructions for direction is bang on. Data drops out about Glouster so make sure you have all of your access info. All of your household needs are catered for. Take enough food for your stay because when you arrive you don’t want to leave. Our children, 6,9,14, were occupied the whole time. Did’t miss TV. We left relaxed and appreciative of our choice of stay. Would return. The house is so spacious, clean, comfy. Thank you Sylvia and Ray.
Amazing Property, everything you could need for a family getaway
We had a wonderful time at Water Gums. The house was beautiful and had everything we needed.We spent our time swimming, floating down the river on lilos and playing games in the cool of the house.We will definitely be booking again.
We had a fantastic catch up with our children (some visiting from Canada) and their friends. They loved being close to the Mountain Bike Park, they could even ride home for lunch. We also had a dip in the river, did some platypus, possum and bird watching and enjoyed relaxing in the evening around the slow combustion fire. The comfy warm beds were a luxury, no wet tents to pack in the morning.
We had the most relaxing and lovely holiday at Bindera. the house was so well appointed with everything we could ever need, tucked away in the treetops, right next to the river. Having no TV was an added bonus - we played games from the game cupboard, read books, drank wine on the hysteria covered deck and just really enjoyed being away from it all and in nature. Thank you for such a perfect holiday!
Odette T.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 February 2022
So nice to hear you enjoyed your visit to Water Gums. Thank you for the lovely review.
Watergums is a pleasant place to relax. Staying there felt like being in a treehouse, a very comfortable one, and this is a nice experience even if one does nothing else in the area. It is a great place to stay out in nature, with the sound of the river flowing, yet it is not too far from the town of Gloucester, which was handy for us to get supplies for dinner and also enjoy a pub lunch the next day.
The only negative was the fact that linen was not included in the cost of the accommodation, but in our case we had one guest that was not able to join us and the hosts kindly refunded us for this at short notice, and the refund covered the cost of sheets.
I would recommend this place for anyone that needs some time out from their hectic life, regardless of whether they want to explore the region or just sit back and relax.
It is set in a sort of valley, surrounded by trees, with this huge veranda which would be heaven sent in summer, sadly, this is mid-winter.The river is such a short walk away, and if you are with children in Summer, they will have such a wonderful time.The place is very roomy with three single beds in one room and a very comfortable queen, I think in the other, I wish I had seen the phone charger sooner :)Downstairs, there are two huge bedrooms (to me) with a queen bed in each. They do seem bigger than double.There was all the usual "stuff" such as cooking utilities, glasses, cups and the like.There is one downside, my wife is who is 86 and has trouble walking, found some stairs a problem, I was warned that some sections would cause problems, but I really, really wanted to look at the place for a summer stay :)So to sum up, a young family, in summer, would have such a great time, there is so much to do if it was not cold haha, oh also a family reunion would go down well there.I am not going to add photos, as we just treated the place as an RR holiday, there are many photos on the site for this place :)
Water Gums is a real slice of paradise, quiet and peaceful with lovely pockets of nature to explore around the property. Very comfortable and cosy no matter what the weather. The evidence of past floods is quite remarkable, seeing the debris caught so high in the trees. The river was flowing extremely rapidly so unsuitable for swimming, but listening to its sounds at night was very relaxing. No platypus seen on this trip as the billabong was very murky due to recent heavy rains, although we did spot quite a sizeable eel. Water Gums is a great way to detach from the hustle of the city, we only had a few days but feel re-juvenated by the tranquil break. Sylvia answered every enquiry promptly and we would definitely recommend Water Gums.
Such a lovely, beautifully built home and in a great location. We loved seeing all the birds and the platypus, turtles, eels and fish could be spotted at dusk while quietly sitting on the hidden bench near the billabong.
Olga K.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 29 January 2022
So glad you and your group enjoyed your visit and you where lucky enough to experience the wildlife. Thanks for visiting Water Gums.
Greg and Sylvia
Lovely property that forces you to relax. Beautiful vista, great exploring to do with young kids. We were only there for 3 nights but came back to the hustle all refreshed.
Naomi C.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2021
We are so glad you and your family where able to relax and rejuvenate at Water Gums. Thank you for visiting and you are welcome back any time.
Regards
Greg and Sylvia
Lovely house nestled in the trees with just the sound of the river and the birds. Very peaceful! We enjoyed canoeing in the billabong, exploring the property, swimming in the river and when it rained there was a fascinating selection of books for both kids and adults and great games. Nice big kitchen and amazing balcony. Such a beautiful area! Thanks for having us!
Location was perfect for a much needed getaway. After the shock of the 4 klm unsealed road to arrive at such a beautiful spot was well worth it. Bonus of air conditioning on the 40 degree day much appreciated. We survived 4 days of no TV by playing games, bushwalking, swimming and fishing. Explored the area and a quick trip to Barrington Tops. Loved it.
Lynne S.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 18 November 2020
Hi Lynne,
Thanks for visiting Water Gums. Great to hear you enjoyed your stay and we are so glad you got to see the platypus!
Cheers Greg and Sylvia
What a wonderful place with lots to do. We loved Bush walking and exploring. The house was perfect for our family. Greg and Sylvia were very helpful and quick to respond to emails.
Kristy N.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 4 October 2020
Thank you Kristy we are so pleased you and your family enjoyed your visit to Water Gums.
We wanted a quiet and relaxing break from it all and this gorgeous property was just the thing. We loved the extensive surrounds, covered verandah/deck, wood burner and tastefully rustic decor. Thank you Ray and Sylvia.
Hayley S.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 22 March 2020
Thanks Hayley, we are glad you enjoyed your stay at Water Gums.
Verified
10/10 Excellent
luke a.
17 January 2019
Hidden gem!
This was an amazing little getaway over the holiday period, lots of swimming and such a cute house and deck to relax and share time with friends. I would recommend for anyone wanting to enjoy nature and a wholesome homely vibe.
luke a.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 22 March 2020
Thanks for the nice review Luke, we are glad you and your friends enjoyed your stay.
Greg and Sylvia
About the host
Hosted by Greg and Sylvia Ray
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests