Join us in our spectacular home and encounter the wildlife at Treefrog Hill, Coomba Bay, NSW, Australia

Details

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  Description

  Hello!
  
  If you’re a solo traveler looking for a peaceful, safe, nature filled place to stay, we’d really love to hear from you.
  We currently have availability from Monday 15th March onwards. We pause hosting from December to February because the heat and humidity make outdoor work uncomfortable — focusing on the cooler months means your stay is far more enjoyable, relaxed, and productive.
  
  We’re Craig and Yvonne, easy going retirees in our late sixties who’ve built our dream life on a forested acreage overlooking Wallis Lake and the Pacific Ocean. We love welcoming curious, kind, nature loving helpers into our home and creating a safe, calm, and friendly environment — especially for solo travelers who appreciate comfort and respect.
  
  We aim to create a space where helpers feel safe, supported, and at home.
  
  This won’t suit you if you:
  – Need nightlife, crowds, or constant entertainment
  – Prefer sleeping in or staying up late
  – Don’t enjoy nature or quiet environments
  – Need heavy supervision or lots of reminders
  – Are looking for a party house or a social hostel vibe
  - Are a couple or group; we only host solo helpers
  
  
  🌸 Ready to Join Us?
  Send us a message with:
  • Your travel dates
  • A little about yourself and how you can help us
  • Any interests or passions you’d love to bring
  We usually have a constant stream of helpers wanting to stay with us so please confirm your dates early to avoid disappointment.
  We can’t wait to welcome you to our little slice of paradise.
  
  Reviews from other websites.
  
  Cléa
  France
  Apr 28, 2026
  I had wonderful days at Tree Frog Hill. Yvonne and Craig showed me the peaceful area and introduced me to Australian local culture. The tasks were easy, involving painting, washing the veranda floor, and fixing wooden planks for the ground. They helped me improve my English, and we shared many wonderful moments. Thanks Craig and Yvonne ! :)
  
  Jules
  France
  Nov 6, 2024
  I had a great week in this beautiful property which is very quiet and natural. You can see a lot of beautiful animals and birds like parrots every morning :) Craig and Yvonne are very welcoming and friendly. I was well integrated and I was able to accompany Craig and Yvonne in their daily activities (Barbecue, Salling Boat, Beach, Kayak, Bush Walk, Sport exercises). It was a good experience to discover the local culture and improve my English :) I have eaten very well, Yvonne is a good cook! Concerning the work, I painted part of the house, cleaned the roof and gutters and dug trenches. I enjoyed it because it was diversified and comfortable to work with Craig who is in a good mood :) Thanks Craig & Yvonne
  
  Lea
  France
  Mar 4, 2024
  I spent 1 great week with Yvonne and Craig. They're really nice and respectful people. We talked a lot during the dinners (Yvonne is a good chef !) and they gave me really good advice for my trip in Australia. Jobs were cleaning and gardening. They also brought me to several places and cafés, which I really appreciate. I won't forget their kindness. Thanks Yvonne and Craig :)
  
  Silvie
  Netherlands
  Nov 25, 2023
  I stayed with Yvonne & Craig for a week and had an amazing time. They took the time to show me around and have a great experience. I helped out around the house with painting and cleaning. The views are out of this world. Might even come back to this amazing place!

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Self development

  

  Sustainability

  

  Van life

  

  Charity work

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  Photography

  

  Languages

  

  Gardening

  

  Carpentry

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Mountain

  

  Nature

  

  Fitness

  

  Camping

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Travellers staying with us will have the chance to explore the rich variety of native bushfoods we grow right here on our property. Craig is a passionate musician who plays guitar and sings classics from the latter half of the 20th century—though he's always keen to explore new genres and jam with fellow music lovers.
  
  We love taking fair and ethical helpers on relaxed tours to spot local wildlife, visit nearby beaches, and share the natural abundance of our land. These outings often include cultural experiences, like meeting our friendly neighbours at BBQs and enjoying the laid-back rhythm of life in our community.
  
  Each week, you’re welcome to join up to three free exercise classes, and—weather permitting—try sailing or kayaking (in the warmer months) at the local Aquatic Club. You’re also invited to use our bicycles and kayaks to explore the stunning lakes and rivers that surround us.
  
  You’ll get to experience the best of our region:
  • Wildlife encounters: kangaroos, native birds, koalas
  • Bushwalking: our own track connects to the national park
  • Kayaking & sailing (in warmer months)
  • Cycling through the forest
  • Star gazing from our lookout on clear nights
  • Beaches: Blueys, Boomerang, Seal Rocks (20–30 minutes away)
  • Cultural exchange: language practice, guitar jams, cafés, meeting locals
  • Fitness: up to three free self guided exercise sessions per week

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  Help

  We’d like you to help us in the mornings, five flexible half days a week, with tasks you can choose from, such as:
  • Gardening and caring for the property
  • Track building in the bush, general maintenance, small projects
  • Painting, window cleaning, organising living spaces
  • Helping with cooking and sharing meals
  • General cleaning
  • Creative projects you’d like to lead or learn
  No special skills needed — just a positive attitude, some practical experience, a practical aptitude, and willingness to get involved.
  
  Possible tasks include: Gardening, weeding, painting, window cleaning, house cleaning/organising, house painting, clearing undergrowth, mowing, cooking meals, bushwalking track construction and maintenance, or any other ideas you can come up with. We are early risers and ask that you also are an early riser as we would prefer that you work in the mornings and take the afternoons off. We’re not that interested in working in the afternoons.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  Craig learnt French at high school and Uni, has visited a few French speaking countries, is interested in improving his language skills in multiple languages and helping others to improve theirs.
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  Accommodation

  We live at Coomba Bay, NSW in a two storey home in a beautiful forested acreage with views over the spectacular Wallis Lake and backing onto a national park. There are many birds and other wildlife. You will have your own privacy and peace in your own, very comfortable separate room downstairs with lounge area, desk, bedroom and your own bathroom.
  
  Your Accommodation & Meals
  You’ll have your own private, self contained downstairs suite, including:
  • Lounge area
  • Desk
  • Bedroom
  • Ensuite bathroom
  • Fast Wi Fi (great for digital nomads)
  
  We provide all your food, including hearty evening meals. If you enjoy cooking, we’d love for you to prepare and share a few dinners during your stay. It also helps us a lot if you can lend a hand with simple kitchen tasks such as washing up or preparing ingredients. On the nights you’re not cooking, we’ll take care of the meals and make sure you’re well fed with generous, home‑style dishes.

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  What else ...

  The area we live in has an abundant array of bushwalks, a variety of great lakes, spectacular surfing beaches, and sight-seeing opportunities. There will also be opportunities to do 3 free exercise classes per week, and occasionally try sailing and kayaking at the local Aquatic Club. This area is a convenient place to stay if you're on your way between Sydney and Brisbane in your own transport or public transport. It's OK if you don't have your own transport, as there is a bus service to Forster, Monday to Friday, that picks up and drops off near our property once per day and another bus service stop 15 minutes' drive away to access Taree and Newcastle. You can also join us in our car when we usually drive to Forster and Smiths Lake often.
  
  🚐 Getting Here
  No car? No problem. Daily buses run from Newcastle’s Broadmeadow Station or Taree to the Smiths Lake turn off, where we’ll happily pick you up. From Sydney, catch a train from Central Station to Broadmeadow Station. Then catch the bus from Broadmeadow Station to Smiths Lake turn off where we will meet you. You may need to prompt the bus driver to stop at Smiths Lake turn off as he approaches it because it is not a common stop.
  Please note: There are no food outlets between Central Station and Smiths Lake turn-off so you might like to organise some food to take with you before you get on the train at Central.
  If you have your own transport, you’ll have endless national parks and surf beaches to explore nearby.
  
  What We Value
  We cherish peace, privacy, nature’s soundtrack, and early starts. You’ll be a great fit if you’re:
  • A non smoker
  • Positive, fair, ethical, and collaborative
  • A morning person who enjoys a calm home
  • A sociable person who likes to share ideas
  • Practical, fit, and keen to experience rural Aussie life
  • Respectful of quiet evenings
  • A timely communicator. If messages we send you go unanswered longer than 24 hours, we assume you’re no longer interested in coming to stay with us.
  • Able to cook and prepare some meals for us. Please only list cooking meals in your messages/profile if you’re prepared to do this..
  
  Perks & Local Adventures
  You’ll get to experience the best of our region:
  • Wildlife encounters: kangaroos, native birds, koalas
  • Bushwalking: our own track connects to national park tracks
  • Kayaking & sailing (in warmer months)
  • Cycling through the forest
  • Star gazing from our lookout on clear nights
  • Beaches: Blueys, Boomerang, Seal Rocks (20–30 minutes away)
  • Cultural exchange: language practice, guitar jams, cafés, meeting locals
  • Fitness: up to three free self-guided exercise sessions per week

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We have a decent Wi-Fi connection and always are looking to improve our advertising and marketing for a separate rental business that we run part time.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have a 33 acre property and there's plenty of private parking space here.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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