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Riversdale Retreat - country escape

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A modern house with a wooden deck, built-in seating, and large windows.
A modern, minimalist house with a flat roof, large windows, and a sloped extension.
A cozy room with a wood-burning stove, a dining table with food and drinks, and a window with bottles and plants.
A modern kitchen with a large window, stainless steel appliances, and wooden shelves.
A room with a wooden desk, two blue bean bags, a small shelf with books and a speaker, and a window with vertical blinds.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Popular amenities

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Onsite parking available
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Chewton, VIC
  • Place, Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, Chewton H86 Bushland Reserve
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Old Castlemaine Gaol
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Airport, Bendigo, VIC (BXG)
    ‪46 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 3)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Chewton

Chewton is home to this holiday home. Boomtown and Bress Winery are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those in the mood for shopping can visit Wesley Hill Market and The Mill Castlemaine. Buda Historic Home & Garden and Victorian Goldfields Railway - Castlemain Station are also worth visiting.
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Map
Chewton, VIC

What's nearby

  • Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Chewton H86 Bushland Reserve - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
  • Old Castlemaine Gaol - 9 min drive - 7.6 km
  • Lake Daylesford - 36 min drive - 52.8 km
  • Bendigo Racecourse - 46 min drive - 56.2 km

Getting around

  • Castlemaine Station - 6 min drive
  • Bendigo, VIC (BXG) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Doveton Corner Store - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Coffee Basics Das Kaffeehaus - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Love Shack Brewing - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Five Flags Hotel - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Railway Hotel Castlemaine - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Riversdale Retreat - country escape pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Riversdale Retreat - country escape?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Riversdale Retreat - country escape?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Riversdale Retreat - country escape?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Riversdale Retreat - country escape located?

Situated in Chewton, this holiday home is within 2 miles (3 km) of Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, Chewton H86 Bushland Reserve and Wesley Hill Market. Chewton Bushland Reserve and Chewton H8A Bushland Reserve are also within 3 miles (5 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. 55 out of 69 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 13 out of 69 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 69 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 69 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 69 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved the energy of the place, well designed and maintained.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 14 November 2025
Thank you for staying at Riversdale Retreat - we hope to see you again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location and a beautiful property. We love this house. A perfect getaway!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Such a relaxing stay

Had a great time. So good to get out of Melbourne and recharge. What a great open fire and Japanese inspired bathroom
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Peaceful hideaway

We were grateful this property was available for the king's birthday long weekend. The fire creates a special ambience and spreads warmth throughout the house. The kitchen was well equipped and user friendly. A very cosy, fun, private and unique space.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

bush house

We had a lovely stay at Riversdale retreat. my only concern was clambering up the uneven stone steps to the front door at 11.00 pm!! A quirky ,well planned holiday retreat.Fire was very cosy & the bed very comfortable..
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

art escape

Long weekend to soak up ambience an dabble in some artistic pursuits. Lovely secluded setting but not too far from Castlemaine and Chewton. Second bedroom a bit small. Probably better for couples.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Check in very smooth - and lovely having the fire Beautiful setting and interesting house However we didn’t realise that the person in the small bedroom has to walk thru the main bedroom to access the bathroom and the toilet which is an issue at night when guests not family members
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Its the perfect location to be away from things in a beautiful quiet bush setting and close enough to go on adventures and do day trips. All of the necessary things have been thought through in the house. Loved the fireplace.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Tranquility

Great location. Very quiet and private. Cosy interior. Great place to get away from the crowds.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Anniversary get away

We had a beautiful stay at this property. The perfect country get away. We loved how isolated the location felt, yet it was only a few minutes drive to Castlemaine. The kitchen was fully functioning, the views were breathtaking and the fireplace made it cosy and warm. Would definitely come again.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relaxing in a perfect country setting

Unique accommodation with everything we needed. Wonderful open fire and deep bathtub! Short drive to Castlemaine. Very quiet with the only sound being the wildlife. We loved it. The only thing I would say is that you need a curtain in the bedroom to keep out the light when wanting a sleep in.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Modern escape

Lovely, clean and and cosy little house for a quiet getaway !
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Nice and Peaceful

The place is really beautiful. We saw many kangaroos around the house. The design is unique. However, there was no curtain so felt a bit uncomfortable. 😅
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Romantic bush block getaway

The property has been very cleverly designed in terms of space, storage, sliding walls doors and levels and blends well into the natural environment . The decorating is incredibly thoughtful, Japanese influenced and minimalist, and yet still cosy. As a curious aside, we’d LOVE to know the meaning behind the random collection of large letters displayed in the kitchen and bedroom! It amused us for hours! We really enjoyed the fire and feeling of being amongst the trees - while settled into the couch opposite the fire as windows on three sides were filled w trees and sky! While the property’s reliance on rainwater makes the request to be sparing with baths and amount of water used if they are taken (a few inches) - it’d be good to know if/when baths are an option - ie. there’s enough in the tank! ! As the pic on the website was an enticing reason we chose the property - but we’d assumed for a soak! And didn’t feel comfortable using it in this way given the instructions. The location is great - as when in it you feel remote, but it’s close to Chewton and a quick drive into Castlemaine and all the region has to enjoy. Would definitely recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Weekend Bliss

We had a wonderful long weekend at Chewton, highlighted by drinking wine by the firepit at sunset as the stars started to light up the sky. With a large mob of kangaroos in the paddock next to the property. A delightful degustation dinner at Bar Midland was delicious, and we took the steam train to Maldon for brunch and then rode back (17km) on the bikes we hired. Lovely place. Lovely experiences.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Japanese inspired design in the Australian bush

A beautifully designed snd furnished house wonderfully sited in the Central Victorian bush. Perfect for our relaxing 2 day stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Beautiful place to wind down

Great experience. Lots of interesting design features and an overall atmosphere of calm and solitude. Kitchen is well decked out and the outdoor areas are great. Had a couple of gnarly run ins with huntsman spiders, but that’s part and parcel of staying in the bush.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Country mini-retreat

Spent three days here on a girls mini-break and it was beautiful. I will be back again, it was really lovely.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Awesome get away

Awesome house and fantastic location - a great way to unwind - didn't turn the TV on once - just walked, read and relaxed in front of the fire.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great Regional Getaway

Riversdale Retreat is an excellent getaway for two. The house has a full kitchen, lounge room with wood heater, bedroom with electric blankets, all within the victoria bush. We found our stay at the retreat very enjoyable. Others have mentioned that it can see that road, and while that's true the road gets about 1 car every 3 hours down it, so its not a big deal. The hosts have placed appropriate signage around to ensure that the place stays clean as well as letting you know the tips and tricks with the house. We had plenty of firewood for the fire (needed in the middle of victoria's winter) and once the fire gets going it heats the lounge room, the spare room, and the bedroom. Both the toilet and shower room have a wall heater in them and had fresh towels. While we cooked basic meals on the Monday and Tuesday (note its a country area and finding restaurants open on Monday and Tuesday night is very hard) and the kitchen had everything we needed (except for a whisky glass, but we made do :p) Over all a very enjoyable experience. Would highly recommend and will return.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 19 July 2021
Hey thanks for your great review Come again soon! Cheers Sharon
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Lovely location

Shame about the huntsman's, however, this is expected in the country side. Very warm and relaxing stay away from the city. Thank you Sharon.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Lovely property

Lovely property, great weekend getaway.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Perfect getaway

What a lovely property to spend a few days in peace & quiet. A very comfortable place to stay, with easy access to Castlemaine. The management team were responsive to requests and communicated clearly. The house was also very clean upon arrival
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Brilliant little getaway

We need a post COVID break, and found this gem. Perfectly located in a quiet bush block (you feel like you're in the trees), with a proper kitchen and lovely wood fire - just what we needed. Found some great walks in the nearby old goldfields and at Mt Alexander - so we know we earned those beers and wines! Loved it.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Loved it!

Beautiful location, wonderful place to stay. Perfect, thank you!!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2020
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