Duck Heaven in Bellingen Shire has a rustic vibe that will suit people looking for a place that’s a bit different.
The four-acre property fronts a paperbark-studded billabong that’s home to many species of waterfowl, including wild ducks, spoonbills, herons, egrets, purple swamp hens, and the occasional jabiru.
Conveniently located a kilometre from the highway and midway between Sydney and Brisbane, Duck Heaven is less than 10 minutes from the gorgeous riverside and seaside towns of Urunga and Mylestom, 15 minutes from bohemian Bellingen with its vibrant festival scene, lively markets and abundant cafes, and 20 minutes from the regional city of Coffs Harbour. You can check out the delights of the local area on this website - LifeUnhurried dot com/bellingen-shire-nsw-australia/
The self-contained, open-plan studio occupies about half of the mud-brick building that was the original home on the property and has its own private, fenced courtyard garden.
There's a queen-sized bed with a comfy mattress as well as a sofa bed that could sleep an extra adult or child. The queen bed is in one leg of an “L” shape, so it has some privacy from the sofa bed in the living room, but there’s no door separating them.
The kitchenette has a microwave, kettle, toaster, coffee plunger and bar fridge, as well as crockery and cutlery. We supply a simple breakfast of cereal, UHT milk, tea and coffee.
The studio and its fenced courtyard are all yours. The studio occupies about half of the mud-brick building that was the original home on the property. The rest is our garage and laundry.
Our own house is down the hill and is fenced to keep our dog confined, so please be careful not to leave any gates open if you need to visit us.
If you follow the driveway through a pocket of rainforest past the main house, you can explore the garden and billabong area and meet our small flock of mixed poultry.
PLEASE NOTE We’re in a rural area so you may encounter some insects, possums, bandicoots, brush turkeys, or a (harmless) green tree snake or carpet python.
We have tank water and a septic system. * the kitchen tap has a filter for drinking water * during a power outage, the pump will not work to supply water * only human waste and toilet paper can go in the toilet * we do not allow pets
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items
Turn off the lights
Please wash and dry any dishes you have used
Please turn off fans and airconditioning
Please close the door when you leave
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number 2454, PID-STRA-37584
Property # 9709894
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
About the area
Raleigh
Located in Raleigh, this apartment is in a rural area and on a river. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Bongil Bongil National Park and Jagun Nature Reserve, while Old Butter Factory and Bellingen Museum are cultural highlights. The Honey Place and Raleigh International Raceway are also worth visiting.
How much does it cost to stay at Duck Heaven in Bellingen Shire?
As of 10 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Duck Heaven in Bellingen Shire on 25 May 2026 start from NZ$223, 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 Duck Heaven in Bellingen Shire?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Duck Heaven in Bellingen Shire?
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Duck Heaven in Bellingen Shire?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Duck Heaven in Bellingen Shire located?
Situated on a river, this apartment building is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Raleigh Winery and 2.8 mi (4.5 km) from Bongil Bongil National Park. Urunga Tidal Pool and The Honey Place are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
The location was perfect for us, we were comfortable and had everything we needed for our stay to visit family.Our host was very pleasant, showing us around the accommodation but also not intruding.
The apartment was very cosy, clean, comfortable and peacful. Lived up to alloyr expectations. Our host was friendly and very professional with a very kind personality.
The cottage was clean and set up as requested, with sofa bed made up for sleeping. Janene was friendly and gave advice on where to eat locally. Beautiful view of lake and loved hearing birds in the morning. Kitchenette was well set up and porridge sachets a hit on cold morning.
Everything was lovely and clean. We didn't want for anything. The bed was super comfortable. The shower, bathroom was very clean and therexwas cereal available for breakfast if we needed it.
We had a lovely stay as two adults and our daughter. The property was exactly as advertised and suited our needs perfectly. Janene very generously gave us beautiful bananas from their crop. Sounds of nature were the only noises we heard which was lovely. Great stay!
We very much enjoyed our stay at Duck Heaven. The property is extremely comfortable, spacious and inviting, and it has everything needed for a short break. We wished there was more time to sit out in the lovely courtyard and enjoy the garden, but hopefully we will visit again and stay longer. Thank you Janene for the extra touches which make the studio so comfortable. We will highly recommend this property to anyone wishing to explore the region.
Janice T.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 14 March 2023
Thank you! You were excellent guests - friendly, thoughtful and left the place wonderfully neat and tidy. Welcome back any time!
A lovely property. Perfect for a single person or couple. Only 7 minutes from family nearby.
Clean and inviting. Bed was very comfortable however pillows were a bit soft.
Easily cooled on hot day and very pleasant to be in.
Sofa could do with replacing. Not good for arthritic knees!! Difficult to get out of.
Bathroom was lovely.
Would definitely book this accommodation again.
Thank you for a great stay.
Lovely outlook.
Frances D.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Lizzy
19 March 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Duck Heaven is a lovely place to stay. Comfortable, cosy (in the best sense), clean. Property is well maintained.The aircon and ceiling fans were much appreciated on a hot and humid night. Our host was easy to communicate with and very helpful. Our only downside, we didn’t see a duck! But I have no doubt they would be on the pond, we just didn’t have time to explore.
Lizzy
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Verified
4/10 Poor
Andrew
27 September 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Communication
The property was misrepresented on the advertisement. The 'Lagoon' was nothing but a mud patch, and the beautiful bush setting was a jungle of weeds. The garden area was completely dead, and the parking area for our car was hampered by wheelbarrows and rock piles. The owners garage door was stated as being silent. In fact the room shook when they entered with their car. Added costs were included by the agent, over and above the advertised price, and after you pressed 'pay'. Were not impressed by the whole experienced. 'Breakfast included' consisted of two sleeves of cornflakes to cover two mornings for two people (about 12 flakes in each sleeve), and a jar of indistinguishable oats - muesli? The one good thing was the fact that the flat itself was very clean, and the furniture (incl the bed) was more than adequate. Below standard.
It was clean and the bed was comfortable.
It was very cold when we stayed here in April 22, but it was sooooo cold inside too as the window in the bathroom doesn’t close and there is no bathroom door. The curtainless windows didn’t help either. It was so cold and we felt awful turning on the aircon as a few seconds after it was off the chill was back in the room. There was a second doona which was great.
Tank water may have been in use for both sinks, which I wish I knew prior to brushing my teeth and having tea.
The bed squeaked the three times I got up in the night and so woke my husband.
I missed having a mirror to see how I looked, there is a small one in the bathroom but I’m not very tall and so could just see my face.
The shower was too low for my husband who is only six foot. We loved the shower look though and the timber benches and shelves were very cool.
While I’m on my rant…plates were wet, bowls were dirty, tea cups stained, there is no light above the kitchenette so I relocated the bedside lamp to make dinner.
Though, only 15 mins to Bellingen and close to the motorway and we didn't hear any traffic noise.
We cancelled our return stay as the cold and the squeaky bed were too much to deal with...
Alison S.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 6 June 2023
Oh dear! Yes, you did stay on an unusually cold night and I wish you’d used the heating. We have solar power and the reverse cycle aircon is an efficient form of heating and cooling. Those stained teacups have been replaced but I do apologise for plates not being properly clean and dry. That’s not acceptable. Lighting in the kitchen is a bit dim but there’s a tall lamp by the table that’s supposed to help with that. Again, I’m very sorry you were uncomfortable and I hope you found somewhere you liked on your return trip.
About the host
Hosted by Janene Carey
I've had multiple careers in IT, academia and journalism. I’m currently working with the state government’s Behavioural Insights Unit. My husband Chris works as an IT professional but his big interest is Aikido and he's been an Aikido instructor for over twenty years. Other interests are reading (mostly sci fi) and gardening.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests