Shepherds Gully

Words will not do justice to Shepards Gully. Due to my work i travel a lot in Australia at times and this has to be my favorite place I've ever stayed at. Recently renovated everything feels new and very clean.Beds are very comfortable and clean . Couches are too. Very big and spacious. Lots of utensils to cook your own meals. A real coffee machine. Beautiful hand built Mud brick house amongst this beautiful natural environment. automatically feel attached to the house. Looking at coming back with my family. Greats hosts. Great place for upto 13 guests .The list goes on and on

Combining two trails, Shepherds Gully Road and Sternbecks Line, Shepherds Gully circuit offers a gentle loop walk through scenic rainforest. Following historic roads dating from as far back as 1841, you'll have the opportunity to see original sandstone work, retaining walls and the remnants of a bridge.

Starting from Shepherds Gully Road you'll enter the rainforest of Yengo National Park and begin a gradual climb, following a creek. You'll then reach an intersection, with Sternbecks Line branching off as a new trail. From here you can head straight onto Sternbecks Line, or keep following Shepherds Gully Road and join Sternbecks Line at the other end, completing the loop in either direction.

As you walk enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, including striking water gums, grey gums, lilly pillies and grass trees. And keep an eye out for the interpretation signs along the trail that provide a window into the stories and backgrounds of these historic roads.

As a short walk, Shepherds Gully circuit is a great option for families looking for a quick outing. It's also an ideal side track for cyclists, though mountain bikes can only be ridden on Shepherds Gully Road.

A relaxing quiet location.
The place was impeccably clean & whilst is environmentally friendly we never felt we missed out on those modern conveniences that you would expect in any home.
We used this accommodation to attend our sons wedding so never had a chance to try the activities that were offered but going on the friendliness & knowledge of Anne with Freddy their puppy dog their activities offered looked enjoyable for children & their families.
The amenities in the kitchen & bbq area made it so easy to feed a group & entertain.
Beds were extremely comfortable & if you are hesitant about using the enviro friendly septic system, don’t worry there is no problem at all. It was actually a positive talking point amongst our family & friends that stayed with us.
Thankyou Anne for such an enjoyable stay.

Shepherds Gully is a prefect place to unwind. We all loved the house and place very much.. We loved the greenery around the house and wildlife including wallabies ,fox and birds. Kids loved spending time with Freddie , Wilson (friendly dogs) and Alpacas.Kids loved spending time in Kookaburra room. We will be recommending Shepherds Gully to all are friends and family.

We had a superb two-day planning meeting for about 15 people hosted by Anne and her magnificent family! Woke up to birdsong ... had a great moonlit walk up a quiet country lane after dinner. The whole property is kept in perfect order. Great meeting room facility separate to the living area. And fresh ground coffee bean machine ensured a fine start both days. All up, a great two days. I would highly recommend Shepherds Gully.

Fantastic accommodation for a boy's weekend away. 6 bedrooms! Great for exploring bush out the back. Fun games room with table tennis.
The air con saved us in the heat.
The best part was the amazing hosts. Anne was so welcoming and accepted all our flaws.

We stayed at Shepherds Gully for a family wedding and it was a wonderful place to spend quality family time. The house had multiple rooms and catered for several branches of our family. The setting and facilities were outstanding and we very much appreciated them. Of particular interest was the eco toileting system which looked like a long drop (I was never a fan of these as they can be very smelly) which was exceptionally clean and had no bad smells. The whole property was of interest in its building, design and liability which we all found fascinating.

Thank you again, Anne.

We had a fabulous time at Shepherds Gully! Anne and Ian are wonderful hosts and they have everything you need and more to keep every one happy. The mud brick house from the beds to lounges is super clean and comfortable with a great layout, lots of different areas for groups to hang out and a great story behind it. The kids loved the animals and games and the parents loved how easy everything was. Can’t wait to go back!

What a beautiful, tranquil setting, and a perfectly laid out and equipped holiday home!
We couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend our night in the hunter valley, enjoying wine and cheese while the fireplace crackled and kept us nice and cosy.
The house itself is amazing, fully equipped for a decent size group to enjoy comfortably. All amenities, beds, cutlery, etc are great quality. The host is also very friendly and accommodating, adding the extra touches that make you feel very welcome during your stay. We were left with a coffee machine loaded with beans and a fresh jug of milk in the fridge to start our day, as well as freshly laid eggs delivered to the door...
Will definitely be back to enjoy a longer stay next time!

This really is an awesome place! We took a large group of 10 and weren't disappointed with anything.

The accommodation is so homely and spacious for large groups, there are several living spaces with table tennis, dart board WiFi etc.

I personally loved the mud brick house and the 100% eco friendly focus, yet still experiencing that 5 star homestead feel.

Anne is lovely and is happy to talk about all the ideas and work that brought the place together. Thanks Anne, it's an inspiring place :)

We had the privilege of attending my son's wedding in the beautiful hunter region. We were lucky enough to stay at Sheperds Gully homestead. It was everything we expected and more. The mud brick house was so roomy, we had 12 people staying. It was spotless, and very well laid out. We wanted for nothing. Anne is definitely the hostess with the mostest lol, nothing was any trouble for her. I would highly recommend this homestead for a family/friend getaway.

We had a great time at Shepherds Gully. The place was clean and well presented. It proved to be all that we needed considering the comings and goings for of activities. The loft area proved to be a great stand alone are for the young family with us.

What a Beautiful Place. Immaculate. It was a huge place. I loved the Eco setup, and loved drinking the rainwater. We stayed there for the Tocal Field Days which was only minutes away.
We met the Host and were warmly welcomed and shown around. I liked the extra touches with milk etc supplied for a cuppa.
Thanks again.
Barlow Family.

Had a big group and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Spacious, neat and well equipped accommodation. Kids also had a good time with animals and chickens.
Lovely and hospitable owners.
Convenient location as the place is at a short drive from port Stephens and Lake Macquarie

Absolutely loved our stay here in Feb.

The story of the house's construction is inspiring; the owners' ethos for a sustainable lifestyle also.

Great facilities, fun spaces, large house, well kept gardens and wonderful setting.

Would like to return in Winter to sit by the fire / in the fire pit. Will be back!

Amazing! We had a girls weekend & there was everything we needed & more. Such a relaxing place to do so much or nothing at all!
The amenities were beyond expectations - beautiful, clean & plentiful.
Thank you for having us!

Shepherds Gully was perfect for our family stay for a family wedding at Tocal Homestead. Plenty of room comfortable + quiet + very clean great location + great to see all the animals our grandson loved it thankyou Anne very happy visitors

Shepherds Gully is an absolute delight. Plenty of space to accommodate a large group, well equipped, comfortable amenities and eco friendly! Would stay again and highly recommend this quiet sanctuary.

Thank you to our wonderful host Anne for having us. It was such a beautiful home, surprisingly spacious, with lots of nice spots to wind down and relax.

Beautiful home in a lovely peaceful location. Ian and Anne are such friendly, accommodating hosts. We all want to stay again but for longer next time.