“What an absolutely delightful place, and so restful for the soul. We loved our stay. Thank you.”

“Thank you for an awesome stay Elizabeth and John. It was homely, comfortable. Kids loved the collection of books and CDs.”

“Enjoyed my second stay here for 2021. Great stay, ‘home away from home’ with no adult children. Looking forward to returning.”

“Thank you for a great stay. Wish we could stay longer. The bath products for the twins were super helpful and one less think we had to worry about. We appreciate you going the extra mile.”

“Thank you so much Elizabeth and John for creating such a special home. So beautiful and thoughtful! We will certainly come back.”

“Cosy, comfortable, homely, warmth-filled environment. One night is not sufficient to explore this beautiful home. Will visit this place again!”

“A delightful stay and such a pretty location. Thanks indeed.”

“Absolutely amazing place. Beautiful home away from home. Thank you so much, wish we have stayed longer. We will be back!”

What a beautiful place to stay! I only wish that next time we stay we have more time to explore the garden and maybe in the summer so we can use the beautiful pool. I loved all the extras you provided including the milk, bread, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner etc – it all made it a really relaxing stay. So beautiful here, can’t wait to come back hopefully one day. PS It was so nice to wake up to the sound of laughing kookaburras.”

I like this place because it is comfortable. Love you.”

“After a year and a half of exile from Werekataba it was truly wonderful to be able to return again – felt like coming home, as it has so often before. We never tire of the peaceful serenity of this place, the beauty of the gardens, everything we could possibly need ready to hand. And of course it’s so convenient for us with family only a couple of minutes away. We leave with regret and are already looking forward to our next stay. Once again, John and Elizabeth, many many thanks!”

“Wonderful time at Werekataba. Thank you John and Elizabeth. It was very relaxing and the little homey touches were wonderful. It felt like we were staying with family. Beautiful property. Will stay again.”

“We were have a good time. Was here so beautiful and lovely place. We want to come again. Thank you for give us such a lovely place. I hope other visitors feel the same like us. Thanks again and love here, love.”

“We were wanting to visit again after we left and so grateful to be able to stay again on our way home. Such a lovely space in a beautiful area and your little touches are so thoughtful. Thanks once again.”

“Thank you for providing a beautiful family-friendly place to stay. Your property/home is a beautiful place, we wish we had longer, a reason. We will return. Thank you.”

“Wonderful stay, so rested. Well-appointed home with all the comforts of home. Thank you for your hospitality and the care you extend to your guests. We will be visiting again.”

“Such a lovely place to stay. Thank you for having us in this beautiful sanctuary and thank you for your hospitality, it feels like a home away from home. We hope to visit again soon. And what a fabulous library …. Loved it.”

“Thank you for having us for staying in this quite amazing place. Lovely nature takes you, kookaburra voice calling you to listen to his music. Kids had wonderful time playing with dogs. Very friendly place and we had good relaxing time. Hoping to visit again. Love from all of us.”

“Absolutely lovely set-up. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Thank you for helping us enjoy our anniversary (37th!).”

“Yet again another lovely relaxing stay here in your little piece of paradise. Thank you. PERFECTION. xx”

“What a beautiful place! We all enjoyed our short stay and will be back! Thank you.”

“Had a lovely, peaceful and wonderful stay. Thank you!”

“What a home away from home! We had a very comfortable stay and will be back one day for sure. Despite the rain we still managed to keep the kids busy, there is always something to explore and look at. Thank you for hosting us.”

“Thank you so much! We had a wonderful time with our son. What a beautiful part of the world!”

“Beautiful x 3! Can’t wait to come back in more sunny weather. Kids and I love the garden and house.”

“Perfect in every way. Thank you. We will definitely recommend this gorgeous place and our hosts John and Elizabeth.”

“Wow! What a beautiful place. Gardens are so lovely. Reminded me of my father’s place – all the memorabilia and books. 16mths-old Myles was fascinated with everything. Wonderful hosts that think of everything to make your stay better than home. We would love to return. Thank you so much John and Elizabeth.”

Thank you John and Elizabeth for a great service. God bless your souls.”

“A lovely place to stay; everything that you need in a beautiful location with great hosts. We’ll be back for sure.”

“Thank you so much for a lovely stay. It was more than what we expected, a beautiful location and an absolute gem. Lovely and quiet, just what we wanted, we hope to return one day.”

“What a beautiful sanctuary, oasis, paradise.”

“Great place to stay, fantastic environment, great conversations. A home away from home.”

“Thank you very much for a lovely stay. The set up is lovely and your property is beautiful. We had everything that we could have wanted and more. Next time we can hopefully stay longer so we have a proper chance to explore. Thanks again. We loved it.”

“Home away from home. Everything you need and a beautiful home. So soothing on the soul. Thank you.”

“Thanks so much for a lovely stay. Your property and house are so beautiful and such great attention to detail. We loved it.”

“Thank you for such a lovely place to stay. What a beautiful and amazing place. My kids really enjoyed!!”

“Wow!! What an absolute delight. It was such a serene and peaceful place to stay. I will try and stay longer next time. Thanks for making us feel so welcome. Take care xx.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, Well, what can we say! You guys are special people who have excelled in an ambience of peace and tranquility created with love and elegance. We are truly privileged to share this experience in our journey of life! We say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, As promised, we came back, this time with my hubby in tow. Like us, he absolutely loved your place. When he was a kid, he grew up on 5 acres, so being here was very nostalgic for him. Life has been a bit stressful for us with renovations, work commitments and the disruption to normal schooling, so staying here was a welcome relief for all of us. Here’s to more visits! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“What a beautiful, homely oasis. Thank you for the lovely welcome, the beautiful touches. Celebrating 45 years of marriage, this was one of the most perfect spots, quiet, clean, comfortable and just outstanding, from the welcome, to the banana slices waiting to the surprise oranges and lemons left at the door. Thank you and we will be back.”

“Alas, too short a stay! Thank you for your hospitality and sharing your wonderful property. This will be our first choice to stay when visiting family at Eleebana Shores in the future. Best wishes!”

“Great value, spacious and private. We liked all the little touches. The unit was complete with everything we needed: butter in the fridge, a DVD collection, bath salts, cooking oils, Glad Wrap; absolutely everything. The accommodation is spacious, well lighted, garden views, but private.”

“Above expectations, felt at home, highly recommend. Very friendly and accommodating hosts, beautiful gardens on a nice quiet block close to everything. Clean and well kept accommodation with great facilities and homely touches to make you feel welcome and at home as soon as you arrive. If we are ever back in the area we hope to stay here again.”

“This was a lovely place and I loved how many beautiful plants there were! We felt so welcome. Thank you!!”

“Another lovely stay in this beautiful place. Every home comfort is supplied and we have felt so welcome. We went back to the Blackbutt Nature Reserve to see the koalas again and also found the lovely little Art Gallery near Speers Point – a good place for a wet day – free entry and a good café!”

“I wish we had known about your property last year and will definitely be back! It is perfect for our trips to Newcastle soccer training and matches. The best place we have stayed.”

“Thank you for sharing this amazing property with my family. Everything was just perfect. Thanks Elizabeth and John.”

“Warm reception. Careful arrangement. Many books etc deeply attracted us. Just like coming back home. I like a book “Learn to be an Optimist” on the shelf very much, which gave me encouragement! Thanks a lot! We hope to come again in the future.”

“Thank you so much John and Elizabeth for making this absolutely idyllic place available to stay. I don’t think we could have found a better place to stay, with such pleasant hosts, in all the Newcastle area! It was exceptionally comfortable and had a very homely feel with the amazing library of books and DVDs, toiletries available for use, milk and other cooking ingredients provided… not to mention the home-made brownies… thank you!! With full days out for Hamish’s cricket carnival each day and Big Bash and Aussie Open to watch at night we didn’t get to make much use of the books and DVDs but they added to the ambience of the place. Coming back from long hot days of cricket it was awesome to be able to relax in the air-conditioning and enjoy the pool. Our stay really couldn’t have been better in any way!! We hope to have a reason or opportunity to come back again sometime and would DEFINITELY recommend this oasis to others!!! Many, many thanks.”

“Thank you John and Elizabeth for your warm welcome. The brownies were delicious. It felt like home. A relaxing place to stay.”

“Thank you so much for a welcoming, relaxing time at your beautiful property. Like a home away from home. We didn’t want to leave. Will definitely be recommending you to family and friends.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, It’s a really comfy property amongst nature’s beauty and serenity. It was truly relaxing and we enjoyed a dip in the pool. Thanks so much for your warm hospitality. We will be recommending to our friends and workmates from Sydney. Looking forward to returning again with our family in the future. Have a Happy New Year!”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, Thank you so much for your hospitality – tea, coffee, milk, banana bread on arrival was so welcoming. John, your funny but helpful emails prior to our arrival put us at ease before we arrived. We have thoroughly enjoyed our nine days here close to some fabulous beaches. Thank you.”

“What an idyllic location. Had a relaxing breakfast enjoying a wonderful view of the garden and wildlife. Thank you John and Elizabeth for providing such a well appreciated HOME! We really appreciated the extra touches. The cake was yummy!

“Dear John and Elizabeth. Thank you so much, we had a wonderful stay in your piece of paradise. Thank you also for the biscuits – they tasted wonderful; kids loved them too. You also have a beautiful little doggie, she is just gorgeous, so friendly. You guys do have a beautiful place. Don’t change a thing.”

“What wonderful place – something new around every corner. A collector’s paradise.”

“Thank you for sharing your beautiful and tranquil haven, brimming with wildlife.”

“Such a beautiful, relaxing place to stay. The care and attention to even the smallest of details makes it feel like a home away from home. Everyone loved the carrot cake. May you be abundantly blessed always.”

“Just a wonderful stay, very special. Thank you for taking care of us all. Wish we could stay longer. John and Elizabeth, you are a blessing. Thank you for having us.”

“Yet another wonderful, relaxing stay at this beautiful property. It has become a home away from home for us over the past few years. Thank you again John and Elizabeth, we hope to be back again soon.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, Thank you very much for the opportunity to rummage through your excellent library, print and visual. Unfortunately we have not had time to explore your impressive gardens. Werekataba certainly is an oasis.”

“Thanks again John and Elizabeth for yet another wonderful stay. We never tire of the serenity here and hope to keep returning for many more visits. Until next time.”

“Thank you for our stay in your lovely home. It gave us time to recharge our batteries before carrying on to Queensland.”

“This home was spectacular. After a while on the road, laundry was welcome. We enjoyed our stay and the kids loved the movie library. Wished we could have stayed longer. Thank you!!”

“No words can describe this place….. awesome, cool, off the chart, relaxing, fun, lots to do and welcomious.”

“What a great place to stay with my family, and the air mattress was very comfortable.”

“What a beautiful, peaceful place to stay with my baby. Thank you.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, Thank you or your warm welcome and generosity of spirit! I can’t believe the number of times we have stayed elsewhere in Newcastle, when this place is such a gem. Thank you for opening up your home to us! I really appreciated you taking my car for a test drive and allaying my fears after I scraped my tyres. You truly are very special and we definitely want to come back again.”

“We loved the stay. The accommodation was exactly what we wanted and we got to explore the amazing Lake Macquarie and surrounds. We love coming to places that provide the extra things, like jams, cereal, moisturiser etc. Thanks.”

“It has been wonderful to be back to stay at Werekataba again. Such a relaxing and peaceful place to recharge our batteries and catch up with family. To our hosts, John and Elizabeth, thank you and we hope to be back soon.”

“Thank you John and Elizabeth, you have been wonderful! I feel like Werekataba ‘found’ me – such a beautiful place. All the best.”

“Thank you for a lovely (short) stay in your beautiful and cosy home. If you can’t find Nina, she could possibly have been borrowed by our children! What a lovely, tranquil spot that you have here. And the Anzac biscuits went down well too!”

“What a find! Will be letting others know… perfect place to stay! Thank you. Love your book collection!”

“Thank you for a wonderful stay. The property and gardens are fabulous, very peaceful, quiet, accommodation excellent and you provided exceptional, thoughtful amenities away from home, very generous provisions, bathroom products, comfortable and clean accommodation. Beds were great. Kind regards.”

“Thank you for such a lovely place to stay. So many lovely little touches – very welcoming! The kids particularly enjoyed exploring the beautiful grounds and your native animal plush toys! Wish we could have stayed longer!”

“Nobody wants a dental emergency while on holiday, but the serenity of Werekataba was just what I needed to help me get through the dark time. I’ve lost count of our visits here, but never get tired of coming back and hope to do so for many more years. Thanks John and Elizabeth for your wonderful hospitality and your care and concern for an ailing guest! Until next time!”

“Alas, our stay is too short to exhaust your wonderful library! We were so glad that we could be your guests again, and we will take warm memories back to Canada with us.”

“Thanks for the great hospitality. Was comfortable staying here and it feels a million miles from anywhere but so close to all. Treats on arrival were tasty and Jesica loves the décor! Thanks again.”

“Dear John, It’s a very comfortable home away from home. Thank you very much for the delicious sultana cake. Best in the world. We are thankful for the kind gesture that make us feel welcome. Best wishes to you and your family. Luke loves little Nina. Very cute and lovely dog! Oh yes, the DVDs collection is great and we enjoy home theatre service every evening. Wonderful!”

“Thank you for your hospitality. The accommodation and facilities were terrific especially for our grand-children. Hopefully we will meet Elizabeth next time. Great secret little gardens.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, Thank you very much for letting us stay. Nina is adorable and very fluffy. It was very fun. We’re probably going to go in the pool or maybe not. I know we are going on a bush walk.”

“From the moment we drove up the driveway we were impressed. It is exactly what we look for in a home away from home stay. Relaxing, comfortable, clean, welcoming and charming! Especially love the bookcase, it makes the home feel cosy, and the gardens are amazing. You have thought of everything and more. We will be recommending your little hideaway retreat to everyone we know. If we come back this way we will be sure to visit again! Al the best, till we return, take care. Happy Valentines!”

“First we wanted to stay for two nights, but we ended up staying four nights. A really warm welcome, with discreet, pleasant extra benefits (such as the delicious cake) and John took the time to explain things that are important for a pleasant stay. We enjoyed the stay here so very much. We have travelled a lot and we can feel that Elizabeth and John also travelled a lot and know what you need when abroad. Thank you very much for making us feel at home - and for all the simple things that made us believe we are in the jungle.”

“Blown away by all the thoughtful details to make a weekend visit totally enjoyable! Jamie commented in his own way: “I’m gonna miss this place when we leave”. Great accommodation for someone with disabilities: quiet and safe. Your discretion in moving around is lovely. Thank you.”

“Thank you for the beautiful experience away from home. Such a lovely relaxing and comfortable place to stay. My brother and husband really enjoyed the pool. The collection of music was really nice. I loved each and every thing about your home. Everything was clean and comfortable. Thank you so much Elizabeth and John.”

“Thank you again for a wonderful experience at our ‘home away from home’. It is always a pleasure. See you soon!!”

“Thank you for a fantastic stay at your beautiful property. The boys absolutely loved your yummy slice, exploring, swimming in the pool and playing with the dogs. They are already asking when we can come back!”

“Always a pleasure to stay with you again. Thank you John and Elizabeth. Hope to see you again soon.”

“I love Nina and Sasha and the swimming pool. Lovely garden, love to play in the garden. Thanks for everything. I am going to miss it. Greetings from Josy from Holland.”

“We all had a great time at this stay and we loved the cake. We all gave this stay a ten out of ten. But the best thing about this stay was the pool because it was private.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, Thank you for preparing everything to let us stay comfortable. We love it. Very comfortable bed and relax house. We enjoy and feel warm for every little things. Much appreciated. Great place and location. We will be back soon!”

“As the year coming to the end, we would like to wish all of you a Happy New year! We are very pleased to have the opportunity to come to your house and appreciate your beautiful big garden. We would also like to wish all of you good health and happiness.”

“Great location, very quiet! Well equipped with everything needed! Will be back!”

“Dear John and Elizabeth. Thank you very much for your warm welcome and hospitality. The chocolate brownies were very thoughtful (and delicious). You have created a haven of natural beauty, by way of your sheer hard work. Werekataba has been such a great and relaxing place to stay. The apartment is so well equipped and very spacious. Again, thank you for your kindness and generosity.”

“Once again lovely stay. Thank you for your help and see you again same time next year.”

“Thank you John and Elizabeth. We had a very relaxing stay and great ‘Christmas’ lunch. Thank you for your generosity. We will be back.”

“Thank you once again. It doesn’t get much better than this!!”

“Dear John and Elizabeth. Thank you for the family oasis you have created and shared. The books, toys, CDs, laundry powder, composting, to choc biscuits and condiments. Small things add up to great things. With kindness.”

“Spacious, delightful, tranquil. Loved the garden. Hope to be back soon.”

“Once again the perfect place for a comfortable, relaxing mini-break. We all want to come back again soon!!”

“Beautiful location, quiet, relaxing, home away from home. Owners have thought of everything we might need to make our stay more enjoyable. Very comfy beds; slept well each night. Would not hesitate to recommend to other travellers. Thank you John and Elizabeth.”

“Beautiful spot! Feels like you’re in the country but only minutes from everything. Peaceful, quiet, charming! A lot of thought and generosity planned by John and Elizabeth and their “babies” (dogs). Thanks for a comfortable stay. Loved our stay – be back soon.”

“What a wonderful place you have here. It has been a fantastic stay – I wish we were staying for longer. I loved exploring the gardens and the accommodation is really nice and welcoming. This is probably the nicest place we have stayed in during our time in Australia. It is a fabulous spot.”

“Lovely stay. All the little touches make it feel homely and very enjoyable.”

“Wonderful stay with a great location. Thanks for a warm welcome and hope to be back soon.”

“We spent three days with a young family and we really enjoyed our time here. Truly a home away from home! We will certainly come back!”

“What a fantastic find! A real pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Thanks for sharing your home with us. So many little touches that help weary travellers. Will definitely be recommending.”

“We stayed for a halfway point on a family road trip and what we got was a home away from home. Thanks John and Elizabeth for your wonderful hospitality!”

“Considering Carly was here to recover from major surgery, we still had a wonderful time and don’t want to leave the beautiful surrounds. You guys have thought of everything! It has felt like “home away from home” and the brownies upon arrival were amazing. Thank you John and Elizabeth for having us!”

“Thanks for your unusual surroundings which were superb and enjoyable. Well worth recommending, so thanks for your hospitality.”

“We cannot thank you enough! This perfect place is certainly a home away from home. Thank you for all your effort to make our stay as gorgeous and comfortable as possible. We will be returning many more times!”

“What a delightful spot. Lovely comfy beds, every modern facility and a tranquil garden that doubled as an adventure playground for the children. We will definitely be recommending Werekataba.”

“Wonderful peaceful and tranquil setting with all the little things taken care of. Simply a home away from home! Thank you.”

“Thank you John and Elizabeth. It was a nice stay in your lovely place. In one word, it is outstanding. We will back in next holiday.”

“Thoroughly enjoyed the stay!!! Thanks to John and Elizabeth for the warm welcome and amazing facilities. Little things were taken care of which is appreciated. Our toddler also had a wonderful time and wanted to stay longer in the ‘bean-bag home’. Best ever Easter stay.”

“We are disappointed because we just stayed for a night, we would love to stay here for good. From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank the hospitality and generosity of John and Liz. The thoughtfulness is unmeasurable. This is the right and best description of ‘home away from home’. A luxury for us who came from the countryside. Thank you again John and Liz for welcoming us humbly in this grand accommodation. We will be back!!! longer….”

“Wow! Beautiful place, felt like a home away from home. We will be back (brownies again please).”

“It is a warm and fantastic house to stay. We love and enjoy to be here. Thank you John and Liz to provide such a wonderful house.”

“Beautiful house, garden and location. We loved our stay at Werekataba. Just wish we could have stayed longer. Thank you for your hospitality, John and Elizabeth.”

“It was so nice, we had to stay another day. Thanks for the book. PS we loved the vanity unit.”

Great attention to detail – a library! Very nice style, of antique days. Very homely. Nice outdoor area!”

“Truly a home away from home, just beautiful. Thank you for allowing us to stay here. We’ve had a wonderful time, what a beautiful place to be. We will be back some day.”

“Thank you again for such a relaxing, peaceful place to stay. We are so glad we found this beautiful accommodation. And thank you for allowing our family to join us here and enjoy some time in your swimming pool. Hopefully we will be able to book in here soon on our next visit to Newcastle.”

“Thank you for a lovely stay! A relaxing place to stay and we enjoyed the pool each day. Thanks for the little extras like the chocolate slice and providing condiments and washing liquid. The shower and bath are amazing! Lounge comfortable. Kids enjoyed the toys. Thanks!”

“Well, you came recommended and you did not disappoint! We absolutely loved our stay. The accommodation, surroundings and facilities are perfect. You have thought of everything and we will be back for sure. Everything was clean and comfortable, what more could we ask for….. Thank you so much. All the best.”

“We absolutely loved staying here! Thank you John and Liz for providing such a well equipped, warm, friendly environment for our family. We’ll be back!”

“We really enjoyed our stay here, it’s just like home and has everything you could possibly want. The garden is stunning, we hope to be able to visit again soon. Well done John and Elizabeth (and thanks for the yummy slice).”

“Once again, another peaceful and rewarding stay at Werekataba. It’s like coming home! Thank you so much.”

“Was a warm and friendly place to stay. It’s a shame we didn’t have enough time to look around your wonderful home, but the V8 Supercars and Cold Chisel were awaiting us. Thank you again (maybe this time next year for second year of V8s).”

“We very much enjoyed our stay – very relaxing and well provisioned, a lovely area to explore. Thank you for your hospitality, much appreciated. We had a marvellous time, definitely coming back! Thanks for the biscuits!”

“Such a lovely place, everything you need is here. Thanks for having us!”

“Werekataba, I am so grateful I found you! Thank you John and Elizabeth. We had such a lovely time at your beautiful cottage. Even with the rain! We’ll be back for sure!”

“Our home away from home. Thanks for another wonderful stay.”

“Another wonderful stay at Werekataba – so convenient for us with family close by. Little Amye could scarcely be torn away from the playground equipment. Thanks again to John and Elizabeth for the wonderful hospitality.”

“Thank you John and Elizabeth. We had a great few days here again.”

“Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. You go the extra mile for your guests and we so appreciated this. The place is so well equipped, so relaxing and peaceful. We will come again!”

“Always a pleasure to stay here again with John and Elizabeth. Thanks for a great stay as always. See you next year.”

“We thought ‘there’s no place like home’ until we came here! All the little things mean so much, both inside and out. The more you look, the more you see! From the games and entertainment, to the creativity and wonder experienced through taking a stroll through the grounds, we found the wardrobe but couldn’t go to Narnia. You don’t just think of this as a job, you give backstory to areas and get involved, it’s very welcoming and makes the place feel even better! 10/10 totally coming back, thanks for such a wonderful experience.”

“Thank you for a lovely stay. We had everything that you could possibly want and more. A big thank you to our hosts John and Elizabeth.”

“Spectacular garden, spacious bedrooms and home. Comfortable couches and beds, and awesome brownies we got from you. Our whole family loved it. It was tremendous. Thanks heaps John and Elizabeth. A wonderful four days, cosy house – everything we needed was there. The garden – an experience.”

“We absolutely love your beautiful home, the kids have felt so comfortable and we’ve wanted for nothing! We only wish we’d arrived earlier to spend more time relaxing here. Will be sure to tell anyone coming to LM (Lake Macquarie) of your hospitality. Many many thanks.”

“Thank you for the beautiful stay, it was so peaceful and is a home away from home. Hope to be back soon. So grateful to John and Elizabeth.”

“Beautiful, didn't want to leave. Our hosts were very friendly, the house was very well furnished with wonderful inclusions such as a library for adults and children, cd's, dvd's, reclining lounge chairs. The kitchen had everything we needed plus things we like such as a cappuccino machine. It was spacious and comfortable and very clean. I could not ask for better accommodation for my family of two adults and two children.”

“Thank you. Your home and hospitality is such a blessing to all who stay here.”

“We enjoy staying here, a lovely place like home. The beautiful garden, the comfortable bedroom and sitting room….. Everything is fine. Thank you John and Elizabeth.”

“Super – all our needs taken care of, and thanks John and Elizabeth for your great hospitality. A lovely setting and will be back. Thank you.”

“Spent six days here and it was an absolute delight. John and Elizabeth have gone the ‘extra mile’ to make the leap from ordinary to extraordinary. Well done! A very special house! Our grandchildren had a ball also….thanks!”

“One of the nicest places we have stayed. Truly a home away from home, in a beautiful setting. Only regret is we had just one night. Would love to come back for a week. Thank you Elizabeth and John.”

“Thank you very much for sharing your lovely space and making our stay so lovely and comfortable. Kids loved the books collection. Will definitely come back to enjoy your lovely heaven.”

“Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. We really appreciate all the little touches and the addition of everything we needed for Serene. This will be our home away from home when we are back for sure.”

“Thank you John and Elizabeth for another wonderful stay. Always so homely and much easier to travel with the kids when everything is so well set up for us here.”

“A wonderful place. Really clean, neat and tidy. Quiet at night. Very spacious – two bedrooms, One large shower room, a kitchen and a dining room, one large bookshelf with a variety of different books like a small library, free wifi with unlimited data, one living room and a really beautiful and spacious garden with a swimming pool. And an extremely kind host. Where else can be more perfect than here??”

“After many weeks spent here in recent years, Werekataba has become a “home away from home” for us and we love it here. John and Elizabeth are perfect hosts! John always selects something from his recent reading for me to read, and amazingly never seems to miss the mark. We’re already looking forward to our next visit.”

“I am here again! The beauty of Werekataba displays the care, thought and warm hospitality of John and Elizabeth. All who visit are privileged.”

“A big thank you to both of you for a very enjoyable stay, for your welcoming, to the accommodation provided. Wonderful place to stay in a peaceful land.”

“Such a lovely relaxing and comfortable place to stay. Felt like a home away from home. Convenient access to so many places, Saw some good movies and read books. Relaxed on that comfortable lounge. Thank you. Hope to be back.”

“What a lovely place! Thanks for your friendly hospitality. It would have been nice to stay longer!”

“Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful place. We have had a fantastic stay here and have greatly appreciated everything extra you have done to make this happen.”

“Thank you for a wonderful clean and comfortable home for us to stay in – all the little extras like soap, cream, brownies, milk etc… do not go unnoticed and were much appreciated. Thank you – SKZ World Tour 2017.”

“Thank you for providing a tranquil oasis and your great welcome (and cake). Our every need was anticipated and catered for. The garden is a wonderland and the kookaburra was a frequent visitor. Thank you again.”

“Loved that pool!! The garden – inspirational! What a hidden treasure you have here. Loved the home-made eats on arrival and appreciated all the care you have both (Elizabeth and John) put into providing such a beautiful, restful location to share with those fortunate enough to have stayed here.”

“We had a lovely stay here again. Thanks John and Elizabeth for your kind hospitality and all the extras, they were appreciated. I’m sure we’ll be back one day.”

“Thanks for a relaxing and enjoyable time away with family. Very kid-friendly. Our girls had a blast. Very hospitable.”

“What a beautiful, restful location. Thanks so much for everything – it was an excellent stopover with our large extended family celebration nearby.”

“One month later we are here again. Just like a friend’s home, nice!”

“Again a most comfortable, relaxed stay. Hospitality here knows no bounds. Thanks John and Elizabeth, will return. Thank you both.”

“Thank you so much for making us ‘soooo’ welcome, and for looking after us. Beautiful place, so tranquil, just what we needed after the last few months – our long journey.”

“Very homely and relaxing. The atmosphere was tranquil. The property is located at the rear of the owner’s home, which means that they are very close if you need them. They made us some delicious brownies, which we enjoyed immensely.”

“Truly a home away from home. Rustic, quaint, cosy, inviting and oozing charm. A pleasant change from the sterile “modern” feel of most accommodation. Every need and more accommodated, thank you. The brownies on arrival were delicious!! John is very welcoming and immediately on our meeting you sense his love of this beautiful, tranquil oasis. 10+/10. Thank you.”

“We come from a picturesque location but we really enjoyed your property. The attention to detail and welcoming touches were most appreciated. A home away from home. Thank you.”

“Glad to have discovered this lovely place. The reviews on Google are very accurate, you have everything covered here and exceed expectations. My daughter loved the ducks and rabbits and chickens.”

“To John and Elizabeth, thank you for making our first family holiday memorable. The cake was delicious, and very friendly service on arrival. Thanks.”

“Thank you both for a great stay! It lived up to all our expectations. The brownies were a lovely treat after a long drive. We would love to return one day and check out the ‘new’ additions to the garden.”

“We loved being welcomed by the owner who made us feel right at home. We loved the home made brownies upon arrival, they were yummo, and the provisions provided so we didn’t have to rush out and buy things straight away. It felt like home, we loved our stay and will definitely come again and tell all our friends.”

“Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. If we had known about your wonderful “piece of paradise” we would have stayed here earlier. We certainly felt at home.”

“Thank you so much for such a warm and welcoming place, especially for little Beatrice! She loved the swings, chickens and of course kookaburras. We had a wonderful stay here at Lake Macquarie and hope we can return again to explore more of the gardens. Huge thanks again.”

“An amazing place to stay and so close to everything. Loved the cottage, everything you could want and so much to look at. Many thanks, we will be back.”

“Thank you for a wonderful stay – everything was perfect and was certainly great travelling ‘light’ with the kids. We hope to come and stay again one day.”

“Just a wonderful, peaceful place to stay. All we could want and more in the house. Thank you Liz for the “birthday” cup cakes. How thoughtful. We would love to stay again when we come this way.”

“Lovely place to stay with great facilities and a wonderful host. Nicholas loved the gardens and we loved the peace and quiet.”

“Dear John. Thank you for everything. We like this place. It just like home: warm, lovely, clean, comfortable… thanks again.”

“John and Elizabeth, thank you for your hospitality. Most wonderful stay! The kids loved the place and begged to stay longer (I wish we could do that – next time I hope). Thanks for the toys, and biscuits were absolutely delicious!”

“Absolutely delightful! Had a lovely time in a gorgeous setting. Thank you for your hospitality. Would definitely come again.”

“Tranquility within a bushland garden. A time for me to relax and enjoy the birdlife and ponder on life’s journey. Loved my stay, even though I was not far from home I felt at home here. Thank you and the cupcakes yummy.”

“We only stayed one night on our way to Brisbane from Sydney, but we wanted for nothing here – you have thought of everything! Loved the garden with all its wildlife. We all want to come back for a proper visit. Loved the Anzac biscuits!”

“Had a fabulous time here – so peaceful. Loved the personal touches, especially the welcoming cupcakes, we couldn’t ask for anything more as you’ve thought of everything we could possibly need. So close to all the attractions yet you feel you are in the middle of the bush.”

“Thanks for a lovely stay – really appreciated the attention to detail – up-to-date magazines, the hand-picked selection of age-appropriate kids toys, the library with something for everyone. Thanks also for the tips about Speers Point Park – the kids loved it!”

“We are from Sydney and stayed a week, to relax from city life and explore. A fabulously peaceful stay. Thank you for the great cake Elizabeth and both your hospitality and helpfulness. I enjoyed your library.”

“Beautiful place, nice biscuits and chocs and coffee. Got to talk together alone! Therapeutic. Thanks.”

“Just 20 hours of pleasure – peace, quiet, beauty and comfort. Hopefully there will be a next time. Thank you.”

“Thank you for all your help John, it was greatly appreciated. The slice was delish Elizabeth. A wonderful place to come back to and recharge after medical appointments etc.”

“We spent the weekend here and we cannot fault it at all. Attention to detail was outstanding and there wasn’t anything you needed whilst staying here. Literally bring your clothes and you’re set. There was fresh milk, and all the pantry essentials, there was even a beautiful baked slice awaiting our arrival. Beds were comfortable, and our children loved the toys and books. Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. By far the best holiday accommodation we’ve ever stayed at. We’ll definitely be back.”

“Thank you for the most beautiful, blissful stay and for your incredible generosity.”

“Another wonderful stay at what has become a “home away from home” for us. Great hospitality and great conversations in great surroundings. We look forward to our next visit.”

“What a privilege to be able to enjoy the serenity of this place and the warm and caring hospitality of John and Elizabeth at every turn. Literally, we wanted for nothing and would love to return one day, if only for more interesting conversations with John and Elizabeth.”

“All we can say is that we will be back and thank you for making our stay fantastic.”

“John and Elizabeth (good names!) – if we’d known how good your hospitality is, we’d have booked to stay longer! You have a truly beautiful facility here and we’ve enjoyed staying here immensely. Thank you for the welcome brownies and for the cumquat and ginger jam – both delicious. Thank you, John, for your lift to Newcastle and for your personal tour on Australia Day.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth, Thank you for creating this awesome place to stay. You are terrific hosts. We appreciated your warm welcome and yummy cookies. We liked the well-equipped library of books, DVDs, CDs and games and also the enchanting garden. All the little extras were so thoughtful. The pool was nice after a hot day out exploring. We really enjoyed our stay and would love to come back one day. Would definitely recommend to others. Thanks for your hospitality.”

“Thank you for sharing your little piece of paradise with us. As regular visitors to Newcastle we have found our favourite place to stay. We immediately felt welcome and at home, wish we could have stayed longer……. Next time.”

“Wonderful stay, thank you! Beautiful place, loved the peace and quiet and friendly welcome.”

“Thank John and Liz for a great week. Your friendly hospitality, together with all the personal touches and the magic yard with the swings and play areas for the children are greatly appreciated.”

“Thank you for creating such a relaxing and welcoming haven with all the comforts of home in a delightful and serene setting. We immediately felt welcome as you knew all our names and were very warm and cheerful. The stocked pantry and home-made brownies are a true traveller’s delight. We also loved the bookshelf and art work around the house and could go on…… It all is absolutely wunderbar and we will be raving about it to anyone who’ll listen! Danke!”

“Sadly we could only stay one night in your lovely place – hopefully we’ll be back and able to stay longer and explore the area. Thanks for providing such a lovely homely setting and to Elizabeth for the cookies.”

“What a beautiful place to stay on our last day on the road. John and Elizabeth, thank you so much for letting us stay at your beautiful home. We would definitely love to come again.”

“After being on the road for two weeks driving from Cairns, this was by far the most welcoming and comfortable stay we had. We were going to leave early but we were so relaxed and happy we couldn’t move. Wonderful stay and we only hope we can come back again someday to stay longer. Thank you!!!”

“Thank you so much John and Elizabeth for your wonderful welcome and delicious food. This place is really awesome and great. We really enjoyed this quiet place and love your organised cottage. Hopefully see you next time. Thanks again.”

“Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. Your attention to detail is magnificent. It was so good to have condiments and staples available in the kitchen. Beautiful accommodation! Thank you. We will stay longer next time.”

“Absolutely brilliant. Erica wants to move in but it is too far to travel from the UK! We had an excellent welcome from John who explained everything to us – and those shortbread biscuits were delicious.”

“We have loved everything about our stay, from the home-made cupcakes, to the beautiful gardens, to the toys left for the kids to play with. Everything has been thought of. This is an amazing place. We will definitely be back! Thank you!”

“Fantastic accommodation! Enjoyed the library and fantastic shower and bathroom. Superb all round! You can pay a lot more for a lot less! John and Elizabeth are great hosts and very accommodating. Much appreciated!”

“Wow, we love your house. Thanks for letting us stay and for being so understanding. Loved the biscuits and all the small touches around the house. John, you were a delight and thank your lovely wife. Thank you!”

“We are delighted to have discovered your peaceful oasis. We feel so refreshed and enjoyed every moment of our brief stay. We won’t forget the hospitality and warmth. Our daughter had a blast playing and exploring. Thank you for all the special extra touches, the cot and the cake! We will be back.”

“We again had a memorable stay. Thank you so much for making our time here so memorable. The gardens are magnificent! Well done”

“Thank you so much John and Elizabeth for all the special things you provided for our comfort and enjoyment in this enchanting place. PS: the jam was scrumptious.”

“All the comforts of home – plus more! Very quiet and peaceful. Would recommend to friends and family. We appreciated all the little things that made our stay enjoyable.”

“Dear John and Elizabeth. Once again! Thank you!! For this home away from home, for the treats you left us, for the books, DVDs….so much – the garden and trees, the serenity of the place. Thank you and see you next year.”

“Thank you! A beautiful, warm and homely feel. Your warm and friendly welcome. The thought put into every aspect was superb… the Nepali script “welcome”, everything simply beautiful. We really appreciate it all.”

“John and Elizabeth, this accommodation is just beautiful. There is nothing we could want for. You have thought of and provided every need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. Thank you. P.S. We really enjoyed John’s chocolate brownies and the chocolates.”

“We all love this place and the kids don’t want to leave. Thank you for letting us be part of this warm and unique place. ♥”

“Thank you for a warm welcome, a good night’s sleep and a long warm bath. I’m sure we’ll be back.”

“Had a wonderful stay. Many thanks to John and Elizabeth for their fabulous hospitality. Will be back. ”

“Great quiet location. You won’t find better value on the East Coast of Australia.”

“From the moment we received our brownies, this place felt like another home in Australia. Thank you John and Elizabeth for providing us hospitality and a wonderful experience. The unique loungeroom, beautiful bath, cozy bedroom and well-kept compound was a highlight to our trip.”

“Thank you for the most wonderful stay! We were thrilled to discover such a gorgeous bath after a hard day of mountain biking! Your hospitality is superb! We will be back!”

“Thank you for your amazing hospitality, friendship and memories and you can’t find a better brownie (thank you Elizabeth). Words can’t place how wonderful this house is, how much appreciation we have for you have let us stay in such a wonderful house. Thank you John and Elizabeth ♥”

“Came for a wedding on the beach at Nobbys. That was wet but fun. We really enjoyed a good night’s sleep here instead of the drive back to Sydney at 10.30pm! Love to come back and explore on a sunny day.”

“Wonderful. Thank you for your hospitality. Our boys loved your cupcakes. The yard was great for our boys to explore and I dearly enjoyed our time. You have the perfect home away from home – next time in Newcastle we will be staying here. Thank you, our time was great.”

“Absolute perfect parent's retreat. Beautiful home with tonnes for the kids to do. Cannot wait to come back”.

“Amazing hosts! John and Elizabeth have thought of everything – even the cupcakes on arrival! Yum! Loved the peaceful surrounds and the home is beautiful! We all loved it! Thanks so much for your chats and hospitality!”

“Every possible wish catered for, great welcome and some lovely touches such as the brownies and toiletries supplied in the bathroom to make you feel really at home. We should have booked for longer! Thank you.”

“This was such a lovely place to stay, a ‘home away from home’. It rained madly so we weren’t able to get out, so we were really grateful for the kids’ toys and DVDs to keep the kids happy. Thank you!”

“John and Elizabeth, thank you so much for your hospitality. This is such a beautiful place to stay. It is so well set out, cosy and welcoming. We love the décor and there is everything here a person would need. PS: The slice was to die for!!!”

“What a beautiful, fantastic place! Such great hosts who truly went above and beyond, such great personal touches. So thoughtful remembering our daughter’s birthday!! Thank you so much!”

“Welcoming and very well appointed. Very comfy bed, loved the library, attention to detail - first aid kit, to homemade biscuits. Thank you.”

“Comfortable, peaceful and welcoming. Exceeded by far our expectations with extra items and facilities generously and thoughtfully added for our convenience. Loved the butcher bids serenade and the bushy backdrop. Wonderful house. ‘We will return’.”

“What a wonderful weekend. Everything you could possibly want and all the fine touches from the brownies when we arrived to the directions. Five star service. Thanks John and Elizabeth, we will be back and recommend to all our friends. Until we meet again in the hopefully not too distant future. Thanks for a wonderful stay.”

“Another wonderful stay at Werekataba! Extraordinary accommodation in a beautiful, quiet, tranquil setting. Every smallest need catered for! Our Canadian visitors loved it! Until next time……”

“***** Absolutely perfect, best accommodation we have stayed in. John and Elizabeth are the perfect hosts, very thoughtful and happy to make your stay excellent. Thank you. We look forward to coming back.”

“Thank you for providing us a home away from home – it was perfect. We loved the pool and beautiful gardens. Evan loved the play equipment too. Thanks for the treats on arrival. Very relaxing setting.”

“Absolutely perfect! The children loved the pool, play equipment, the chooks and especially the ‘Happy Birthday’ sign and treats on arrival. A wonderful place to stay. My only wish is that we could stay longer – maybe next time. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and thank you for sharing your wonderful home with us.”

“Wonderful hospitality, wonderful facilities (just right for two adults, two children), lots of attention to detail and comfort in the large and the small things and wonderful warmth. Better than any B&B or apartment we’ve ever stayed in. Wonderful atmosphere…. and wonderful books! Thank you.”

“A fantastic place to stay – you thought of absolutely everything to make our stay comfortable. Definitely the best place of its kind I have ever stayed. First rate, everything one could want. Beautiful bush, tranquil. What a treat. Thank you.”

“Definitely five stars here – no expense spared along with impeccable hospitality. Free range of 2.5 acres. What a dream.”

“Many thanks for your warm hospitality yet again. It’s so lovely waking up among the birds and nature, and in a home away from home.”

“What an amazing place and outstanding hospitality. We had such a wonderful time here. Will definitely be back.”

“Wow! What an excellent time we have had here. Wonderful accommodation and lots to see and do. Thank you to John and Elizabeth for making us feel so welcome.”