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Karens Place - Rainforest retreat

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Bliss
Exterior
Exterior
Living area
Property grounds

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 9100 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Spa pool
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Karens Place - Rainforest retreat

We are back after renovations!

Bird Watchers Paradise

Beautifully appointed, modern, clean and quiet house backing onto rainforest with your own private hot tub and fire pit, outdoor lounge and hammocks. Plenty of space inside and out with two living areas, two dining areas and two wrap-around decks. 5 minute stroll to the lake shore and 5 minute drive to three beautiful beaches. Wake up to bird song and a waterfall inside the rainforest. The house is also AIR CONDITIONED upstairs and down, and FREE WIRELESS INTERNET is available for your use.

Enjoy a coffee in the sunshine on the bottom deck or your favourite book in one of the twin hammocks looking out over the trees. Or perhaps you would prefer a beverage by the fire pit and private outdoor hot tub overlooking the rainforest.

You won't have to worry about the kids either, with a large rumpus room downstairs that includes a pool table, huge TV with DVD, Play Station and Wii consoles (games and videos included) and there are board games for your use for those rainy days. Also in the rumpus room is a sit down arcade machine with over 1,000 retro games that will bring back your childhood.

Please refer to the House Rules - strictly no parties

Property Overview:
- Air conditioning upstairs and downstairs
- Free WiFi (The two Smart TV's have YouTube and Netflix)
- Main bedroom: Queen bed with ensuite and walk-in-robe, chest of drawers
- 2nd Bedroom: Queen bed with built in wardrobe, chest of drawers
- 3rd Bedroom: Queen bed with built in wardrobe, chest of drawers
- 4th Bedroom: Queen bed and single bed, chest of drawers
- 3 Bathrooms: Main with spa bath, all with showers, vanities and WC
- Large gourmet kitchen with gorgeous breakfast bar, gas cooktop, wall oven, Expressi coffee machine (limited pods supplied), dishwasher, microwave and large double fridge
- Everything you need for the kitchen is supplied (pots, pans, plates, utensils - the list is huge) + Sauces, Salt & Pepper and range of Spices supplied
- Upstairs lounge with flat screen Smart TV, DVD (dvd's supplied)
- Downstairs lounge with huge Smart TV, DVD, Playstation and Wii console (dvd's and games supplied)
- Child High Chair available upon request
- A third lounge on the downstairs deck with twin hammocks and BBQ facility
- Awesome rumpus room with Pool table and arcade machine
- Small indoor dining table upstairs and huge dining table on the top deck that seats 10 easily
- 5 person outdoor spa and fire pit with log seats overlooking the rainforest
- Double garage and European laundry with washing machine, clothes dryer, sink and bench
- Enough off street parking for at least 5 cars
- Two wrap-around decks upstairs and down
- All clean bed linen supplied but no towels & please bring own soap
- Only a few minutes walk to the lake shore and local shops or a few minutes drive to the famous Frothy Coffee on the lake
- 10 minutes drive to Bluey's Beach, Elizabeth Beach and Boomerang Beach and just half an hour to the centre of Forster

This is not a party house. This is a place of serenity

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

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

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas

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 not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; 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 first aid kit
Property Registration Number PID-STRA-4786, 2428

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Smiths Lake

Located in Smiths Lake, this holiday home is on a lake. Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse is a local landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Bramble's Reserve and Smiths Lake Nature Reserve. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Holiday homes in Smiths LakeOpens in a new window
Map
Smiths Lake, NSW

What's nearby

  • Smiths Lake - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Myall Lakes National Park - 14 min drive - 14.2 km
  • One Mile Beach - 25 min drive - 31.8 km
  • Forster-Tuncurry Golf Course - 26 min drive - 32.6 km
  • Forster Town Beach - 29 min drive - 35.6 km

Restaurants

  • ‪The Beachhouse - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Kembali Cafe - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Pacific Palms Bowling Club - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪The Good Food Store - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Twenty by Twelve Cafe + Foodstore - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Karens Place - Rainforest retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Karens Place - Rainforest retreat?

As of 1 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Karens Place - Rainforest retreat on 10 May 2026 start from NZ$346, 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 Karens Place - Rainforest retreat?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Karens Place - Rainforest retreat?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Karens Place - Rainforest retreat?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Karens Place - Rainforest retreat located?

This family-friendly Smiths Lake holiday home is located on a lake, within 2 mi (3 km) of Smiths Lake and Bramble's Reserve. Sandbar Beach and Blueys Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 27 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.4/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house, great area, had an absolute blast here
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brendan A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great communication from the host.
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Penny C.

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

Relaxing location

Karen's Place is a tranquil place, plenty of room and all in it that you need. Very relaxing with the rainforest surrounds and large balcony.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Annette P.

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

Peaceful treetop serenity

Everything was so easy nothing was an issue would recommend staying there to anyone
Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2023
Archival

10/10 Excellent

JAMIE C.

Fantastic Lake Retreat!

What a fantastic house! This place has it all. Plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Pool table, games, 2 amazing spas and the setting is beautiful. You will not be disappointed.
Verified

8/10 Good

Ian R.

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

We had a great weekend...

This place is a great stay for families and groups of friends... The inside of the property was spotlessly clean, the beds are comfy and there's more than enough things to keep both the small kids and the big kids entertained... The only minor niggle would be the cleanliness of some of the outside futnature. The hammocks coukd definitely do with a wash. And i know you cant stop birsd pooing, but i dont think some of it has been cleaned off the cushions and outside areas on the veranders for a very long time. Not good when theres young children staying. Woukd we stay again...? Yes.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Tamie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication

Spacious and homey

Awesome location, the house was clean, tidy and had a very homey feel, we could’ve stayed another week. Lots of wildlife around, and multiple places to relax and chill. The manual for the house had instructions for tvs that aren’t in the house, had zero communication from the property manager, which may have been handy to not only find out what night bin night was, but that the bins need to be placed at the top of the street, not out the front of the house. Also, considering that the bins get emptied on a Tuesday morning and we arrived on the Wednesday, I would’ve thought the bins would be empty, not 3/4 full.
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Chris H.

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

Great times

Had a great time at this place was lovely. I had a relaxing time in the spa and around the fire pit overall it was a great time with friends for the time that we were there
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bree R.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

WHAT A LOCATION!

If you want to be close to nature then this is the perfect spot for you! We were surrounded by trees that gave us a sense of serenity, we had various birds eating out of our hands, having a spa and just relaxing or sitting by the fire pit it honestly just couldn’t get any better. We were a little disappointed the arcade machine still wasn’t operational and the pool table accessories were missing most pieces (Kelly Pool) white ball is destroyed, but we managed to get around that and we didn’t go there to play arcade games. There are so many areas around to explore HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Veronica B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Bush retreat

This was a lovely house in a pretty setting. Loved the bird sounds! Rooms look more spacious on the photos (especially living room and kitchen). We were very disappointed that we couldn't use the spa bath in the bathroom - one of the things we were very much looking forward to!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robyn C.

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

Relaxing weekend away with friends

Fantastic place to stay with a group of friends for a very relaxed weekend
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Verified

6/10 Okay

Amy E.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Beautiful rainforest, disappointing house

The rainforest & birds were beautiful & it was lovely to listen to the kookaburras. However we were a little disappointed with our stay, the games machine wasn’t working which has been mentioned on other reviews so I don’t think this should still be advertised if it doesn’t actually work & it’s not getting fixed. This was a major selling point for our kids. The indoor spa bath also was not working. The house needs some maintenance. The BBQ was also very dirty & had to be thoroughly cleaned before we could use it. Overall disappointed.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

LYNNE W.

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

Beauty and tranquility

Great stay in a spacious property. Comfy beds, well equipped kitchen stunning outlook.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Naomi W.

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

Jacuzzi in the jungle

We enjoyed our stay and we were comfortable in the house. We loved sitting on the verandah upstairs watching the bird life and we also made good use of the jacuzzi. We couldn’t get the arcade games to work but the kids had more than enough to keep them entertained with the wii games and dvds etc. Would book again in future.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

keone l.

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

staying in the trees with nice features

we had a great time, the price was a little bit more then what we would usually look for, but the added benefits gave great value.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

R&R

Great place to stay, a lot of things to do at the home. Although it could use a little reno in some sliding doors. Apart from that considering your backyard is a rainforest theres always going to be spiders n bugs. Love the spa and games room.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kylee B.

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

Plenty of room and tranquility.

Karen's Place ticked all the boxes for our group of 8 adults. There was plenty of space for all of us and the fixtures in the house were of a great quality. Well stocked kitchen, comfortable beds and clean bathrooms. Unfortunately the games machine was not working at the time we stayed, which left a couple of the men a little disappointed they couldn't relive their youth, however all the other entertainment supplied in the house (spa, fire pit, pool table, tv's and games more than made up for it.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alison S.

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

Upmost Serenity

On arrival we could tell that the house was way beyond our expectations. The bedrooms were big, both living areas were perfect, kitchen was well stocked with everything you need to prepare meals. The spa was the hilight of the trip as well as the firepit - surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest and birds, just so amazing. We were a famiy of Adults, teens and children and everyone enjoyed their time. Would recommend to anyone and would love to return soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Di M.

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

Family getaway

A very comfortable and well equipped house. Beautiful views and abundance of bird life and possums. Despite in climate weather our family of 6 adults had a great time, very relaxing.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Meagan A.

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

Nice little getaway in the trees

The property was very very clean, home was warm, lots of space for the family to relax. Kitchen was well stocked, aldi coffee machine with lots of pods (please note no milk frothing device) spa heated up very quickly. Only used the fire once, it’s very large and needs heaps of wood and time to really get going. Never noticed the neighbors. We walked daily around the streets, down to the waters edge, home is in the Bush few mozzies and spiders around the place. Overall this home is lovely and would definitely recommend it.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tara G.

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

Great house and views

Great house. Our whole family loved it. So tranquil and peaceful
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

zowie w.

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

Peaceful getaway

We really enjoyed our stay at Karen’s place. It is spacious, peaceful and surrounded by nature. We spent christmas day there and the kitchen had everything we needed for our feast. The games room has everything you need to entertain the whole family. Tracy the property manager was so helpful and has excellent communication skills. Would highly recommend staying at Karen’s place; great house, beautiful spot to visit.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Timothy T.

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

Excellent place for some R&R

The property was well-equipped. Great kitchen and extra comfy beds. Thank you to the property owners for making our short stay a pleasant one.
Verified

8/10 Good

Prabhakar D.

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

Wonderful time out

.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Breanna H.

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

Absolutely Amazing

Wow! This property has it all! There is no need to leave. It is so private & tucked away in the middle of nature. We loved watching all the different types of birds from the balcony. The games room has it all & is set up fantastically. The spa bath & outdoor jacuzzi was a hit for us. The kitchen is very well equipped. The whole property is extremely spacious. Thank you to the owner who was kind to leave a bottle of wine for us as we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. Highly recommend this property. We will be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

About the host

Hosted by Phil Wallis

Host profile image
Phil lives in Berowra NSW but fell in love with Smiths Lake and decided to buy a holiday house here. The house has been lovingly renovated by Phil and his family and they would love to share the experience with you.

Why they chose this property

The house is tucked away against a rainforest reserve, so it is very private and no traffic to hear. It is the perfect place for those who want to get away from everything, to just relax and soak up the ambience. There is also a plethora of activities to do at the property itself. So while you can spend a few minutes in the car to go to the beach, you can also spend rainy days playing Wii or Playstation on the massive downstairs TV or watch Netflix or dvd's upstairs. There is also a pool table and even a sit down arcade machine with over 1,000 games from the 60's and 70's. The kitchen is large and fully equipped with everything you could possibly need.

What makes this property unique

Absolute peace and tranquillity. The only thing that might wake you up is the birdlife or, on rainy days, the sound of the creek just 10 metres from the back door.

Languages:

English
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