Lewana Cottages

Lewana Estate is like a wonderland. We got married there in December 2023. The property was a dream.

There’s a lake to swim in. A barnyard for partying in. A tree to get married under that’ll shade 150 people. Alpacas. Playgrounds. Walking trails. Amazing scenery.

The cottages are cute and functional and make life easy for guests and we partnered with Lewanas recommended provider to set up some glamping tents for extra guests - which was such a good vibe!

Lots of gratitude.

Had an amazing wedding… great venue!Friends described it as being “the most Australian wedding ever”. Would highly recommend it. We loved Mark and Jayne. Even saw some kangaroos and they have alpacas

For those of you who are unlikely to read the entire review, I will begin by saying that I cannot recommend Lewana Cottages enough. It is the perfect camping spot nestled in the forests of Balingup, whether it's with family or friends, groups big and small. Mark and Jayne who run the site are super accommodating and are genuinely lovely people to engage and connect with. If you're looking for somewhere to stay in or around Balingup - this is the one to choose and we will definitely be returning. We were already planning our next trip on the drive home.

The campsite was secluded and private, it gave us the luxury of feeling like we were completely disconnected from city life and the digital world whilst having the safety and security of the owners nearby if we needed them and access to well maintained facilities on site. All of the communal areas were clean, tidy and well stocked. We had access to a toilet, shower (hot water) and BBQ. Mark and Jayne run a little shop and coffee cart on site which was delightful to walk down to each day. You are surrounded by nature and animals; from the kangaroos and kookaburras to the alpacas and chickens that you can feed - which was fun for both the adults and kids.

There was a total fire ban during our visit, but there was firewood available to purchase on site too for campfires when they're permitted. Mark and Jayne had knowledge of the surrounding areas and were able to suggest spots to visit during our stay which was super helpful to people like us who were unfamiliar with the area.

I am not getting married any time soon, but if I were I would be highly considering Lewana Cottages as the venue. As a marriage celebrant that has visited many wedding venues - this one is amazing and hopefully I have the opportunity to wed a couple there in the future. The set up for weddings is beautiful, there are so many great spots for the ceremony or photos and the reception area is perfect, with a campfire, dance floor and tables - the perfect blank canvas outdoor venue. And, you could have all of the guests staying on site together before and after the day.

The entire property is so well maintained, whether it be for a little getaway or a wedding, it truly is the perfect spot. The space is definitely a reflection of the hard work, energy and love that Mark and Jayne have put into it.

Thank you for having us, we can't recommend it enough and will certainly be back again in the future but we'll be bringing more people with us next time!

When looking for wedding venues in the southwest, we knew exactly what we wanted... we just hadn't found it yet. After a Google search for "rustic barn wedding with wood cabins" lead us to our perfect venue, we knew Lewana Cottages was the one!! We went for a drive, did a sight visit, asked other brides who were married there, met with the owners and after a walk around we were so so excited, we booked the venue - 18 months out from our wedding!! Mark & Jayne were so incredible. As people, and as owners, they are amazing and helpful, and couldn't do enough to make ours and our guests experience so memorable, special and perfect. Their advice, recommendations, wisdom, help and support was everything we could have asked for and more. Anything we wanted to know/ask - we would put in an email and we would quickly get a response, with a heap more very useful and helpful information than expected, usually within 1-2 days! Our guests all absolutely loved our wedding, and all commented how perfect our venue was for our celebrations, and how much they enjoyed being able to relax for the weekend at Lewana. Being able to have everyone stay on-site for the weekend was incredibly special, and made it feel like more of a weekend event than just a 8 hour wedding reception. We highly recommend Lewana Cottages to anyone wishing to stay, camp, or celebrate their own beautiful weekend / special day with friends and family. We are so so glad we found it and booked it when we did - as it is not so much the "hidden gem" anymore, as the word is getting out ! We couldn't recommend them enough and we look forward to family holidays here in the future, we are so glad we locked our love at Lewana. Thank you Mark & Jayne, from the bottom of our hearts. Love, the Dodge's.

We had our wedding at Lewana Cottages last Saturday. We stayed for the entire weekend with our loved ones and could not have been happier. Not only is the location absolutely breathtaking, Mark and Jayne are the best hosts. Their communication during the planning process was impeccable, always answering our questions we had quickly and professionally. The cabins are cosy and homely. Our guests kept asking “how did you find such a beautiful venue” - needless to say we recommend Lewana Cottages to anyone who wants a scenic wedding with a rustic vibe. It was perfect. Thank you for everything Mark and Jayne xx love the Gearys

We had our daughter's wedding here - ceremony under the oak tree for 130 guests and reception/dinner at the barn with Smokin' Bull BBQ as caterers. Great setting and location. Not intended as a 5-star hotel, but instead has an authentic forest cabin atmosphere and lots of peace and quiet. Very little 4G reception, which is a positive in beautiful surrounding like this ;-) Highly recommended, kudos to Mark and Jayne !

Our hiking group have stayed at Lewana Cottages for a number of years now and each time is better than the last. Mark and Jayne have really upped the standard and always make us feel so welcome and part of their family. They are friendly, generous and so accommodating. If you love nature, peace and beauty then this is the place to book. It is also the best setting for a wedding. I can't wait to go back next year. Thank you Mark and Jayne for sharing your home with us.

Mark and Jayne run a spectacular venue. We chose to hire Lewana for our wedding and we could not have been happier with our choice. The cottages are incredibly cute and being able to have all our friends and family stay onsite for the whole weekend made everything much more special.

The weather was very wet, which turned all our plans upside down, but this not a problem as the oak tree provided the perfect wet weather ceremony spot and the reception inside the barn was very cosy.

Mark and Jayne really went above and beyond to make sure the grounds were immaculate and really went the extra mile in every possible way.

We spent four nights at Lewana cottages, 6 families in 3 different cottages. The place was amazing and all of us enjoyed our stay. Biggest hit for us was feeding Lamas, emu, peacock and chickens. Kids never got tired of feeding them. Play grounds were decent and kept us busy .
Cottages were clean and presentable.
Beds were large. Kitchen fully functional.
Mark (owner) was very helpful and attended us really well.

We have been coming to Lewana for years as a group. Jayne and Mark make all cabins available solely to us so as not to disrupt any other visitors looking for the peace and quiet that Lewana is so good for. The facilities are amazing for groups. The cabins have seen improvements every year. The owners are very accommodating and friendly. Obviously we respect the space which has a rich heritage and common sense and appreciation of Lewana doesn’t make it hard to have an amazing visit. A number of improvements further protect visitors which is also appreciated. We at the HOGS wish Mark and Jayne everything of the best for Lewana.

Great place for a family getaway. Charming old cottages were very comfortable. Kids had fun running around feeding the animals and playing in a safe and shady environment. Would be best in cooler weather where you could have the fire and better conditions to hike/mountain bike etc. No phone reception was nice, but easy to get if required with a quick drive up the hill.

My partner stumbled along Lewana Cottages online and we decided to spend a little weekend away here to get out of the city. Everything was perfect. The accommodation was so clean and welcoming with an indoor fire with wood supplied, electric blankets and fully working kitchen. The owners Mark and Jayne were so hospitable and willing to assist in whatever way possible. Was a much needed restful stay with absolutely beautiful scenery and history. We will definitely be back and are now hoping to one day get married there! 🤭👰🏼 Thank you so much for looking after us. We can’t wait to come back!

We absolutely loved our stay at Lewana Cottages - the kids had animals to feed, playgrounds and freedom to run around, the wife got a warm cosy cottage with great facilities and I was only a short drive away from the downhill mountain bike trails! On top of that Mark and Jayne were wonderful hosts serving up fresh coffee each morning and they were happy to assist when required. I even got to try out the brand new bike wash station which worked a treat. We'll definitely be back and I wish Mark and Jayne good luck in getting the Blackwood Bike Park off the ground.

I could not recommend Lewana Cottages more! I have stayed there three times now and hosted my wedding there over the weekend. It was the most perfect location for a relaxed bush wedding, with special and perfect touches that truly added charisma and charm to our day. The owners were extremely supportive and communicated exoectionally well throughout the whole process of planning our wedding. I honestly cannot fault the location or quality of service at all. If anyone is looking for a relaxed weekend get away or a perfect wedding destination filled with fairy lights, fire pits and charm, then Lewana Cottages should be at the top of your list!

Lewana is a perfect place for a relaxing getaway. The cottages are cozy and well appointed with everything you need, including a log fire for the cooler winter nights. The owners, Jayne and Mark, are really lovely and ensure an enjoyable stay. The extra touches such as the coffee cart, little shop, waterfall and barn set up add a little something special. Our daughter especially loves feeding the alpacas, chickens and Bunnings the emu. The playground is also a hit for those with kids. It’s a perfect place to reconnect with nature. We’ve stayed many places around Australia but Lewana is definitely a favourite and we’ll continue to come back here for many years to come.

From early in the initial booking and enquiry stage to the morning we left, Mark was an excellent host. We had ambitious plans for a large event on his property and they were friendly and accommodating at every stage.
The property is spectacular and fun to explore and the dam was a beautiful refuge from the few hotter days we encountered. The cottages are quaint, comfortable and very well kept.
The kids had a blast with all the animals (wild and tame) that live on the property and the adults could relax and enjoy the multiple vista's.
WIll be back to experience this place in winter for sure.

We stayed at Lewana Cottages for a big bash 40th last weekend. The place was perfect for a large group of adults and mass of kids. The kids were about to run wild - looking at animals, riding bikes around the property and - supervised of course - paddling in the dam. Mark and Jayne were awesome hosts, helping find everything we needed on the site and letting us know where to source things in the local community. Phone reception is patchy so it's the perfect place to disconnect and be in nature and with friends. We'll be back for sure!!!

Upon arriving at the property we were greeted by Jayne at the quaint little reception, and gorgeous gardens with the most magical feel. Jayne is a lovely host who was so welcoming and hospitable but still maintaining our privacy. The property is fantastic and our teenagers (who initially moaned about the lack of internet coverage when we embarked on the road trip to get there) absolutely loved the comical and friendly animals who reside at the property. My 14 year old son spent so much time with the resident emu and he had so much fun (his words) that he didn’t even miss not having internet for two days!! The cottage is very clean even though it is older, but we found the bedding immaculate and the kitchen supplies very good. The bbq area is magical and has been painstakingly lit with beautiful solar lighting so at night it has a very whimsical barn feel and is so atmospheric to spend time eating with friends in this area.
We also took advantage of some tips Jayne gave us as to where to find hidden spots at Hegarty creek to enjoy and spent long days camped out by the water which our kids loved! All in all our stay was fantastic and highly recommend visiting. We will be back!!

This is hands down by far the BEST family accommodation we have ever stayed! We loved being in the middle of nature, exploring, playing and enjoying our family time. No devices or screen time necessary. I will be recommending lewana Cottages to everyone. And when I get married, it will definitely be here.
Next time we come we are bringing our kayaks and dogs and staying for more than two nights. When you get to Balingup, stay on the main roads, no need to be exploring in the pine plantations or gravel roads... GPS played silly buggers with us. 🤣 but was a wonderful adventure. The rain didn't bother us, we loved playing in it, chopping wood, getting muddy and roasting marshmallows in the fire. We found fairy sparkles in the stream which looked like gold. The anaimas were all friendly, especially the chooks who tried sneaking inside for a snack!! The peacocks loved showing off their feathers and the alpacas didn't spit.
We came in September, beautiful and green everywhere our hosts were so welcoming and friendly. I honestly wish them and lewana all the best for the future as this will definitely be our new holiday go to place. I can't wait to go back. Would give this place 10000 starts if I could. P. S. Bring slippers in winter as your toes may get cold on the late night toilet run. 😉

What a wonderful weekend! Lewana Cottages is a little piece of heaven hidden away in green tranquility beside the Blackwood river. A beautiful scienic valley setting echoing the sounds of nature. The hosts Jayne and Mark are welcoming, knowledgeable and couldn't have been more helpful. The heritage listed cottages are clean and comfortable and a living tribute to the history of the region. There's plenty to do with coffee shop, BBQ facilities, lake, animals to feed, fire pit to congregate around at night and local walks. Thank you for a great weekend and we will be back.