John’s River Retreat, located just outside Bright, was our chosen destination for our annual five-day winter family get-together. The house, with its three bedrooms that comfortably sleep five, boasts a unique layout with bedrooms at each end. It also features two living areas and two TVs, allowing for diverse entertainment options. The house’s pet-friendly policy and enclosed garden were key factors in our decision. (Note: The presence of ‘free-range’ chickens in the neighbouring property requires dogs to be leashed beyond the garden. )
Our stay at John’s River Retreat was a good experience that met our needs, despite a few minor issues that needed attention.
John’s River Retreat is situated between Porepunka and Bright, away from the hustle and bustle of the town. The house is situated down a quiet lane but is shared with about eight other houses; we had assumed ‘Retreat’ meant more isolated. Also, the river access is to the left or right of the property but not directly in front of the house.
Upon arrival, you’ll need to collect the keys in Bright at/after 15:00. (The house managing agents are in Bright—there is no key box at the house. Check-in is after 15:00, and out is before 10 am in Bright—we found this onerous, and unlike any other rental we’d used prior.)
This means that in winter, the house may be chilly and require heating as soon as you arrive after 15:00.
We had more to say but that exceeds the text box word count!