Curlew Hill Sanctuary Adelaide Hills review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

If you need an escape from the bustle of city life, this place has you sorted. I can’t remember a time I felt so relaxed.

If you need an escape from the bustle of city life, this place has you sorted. I can’t remember a time I felt so relaxed, after soaking in the large spa bath, then curling up in front of the open fireplace with a glass of wine.

After spending our morning exploring the beautiful Belair National Park and hiking its trails, we took the short drive to this guesthouse at Ironbank.

It is just a half-hour journey south from the city, but you’ll feel like you’re a world away on this huge, 4ha bush property.

Right from the start you feel yourself in nature with western grey kangaroos in the bush beside you as you drive down the long driveway to the accommodation.

The owners of this Airbnb live off a separate turn on the driveway. Our place is an old, sturdy, and cosy farm cottage complete with a mezzanine floor. It features recycled timber, iron and concrete. There’s not much on the top floor, though, and everything you need is on the ground level.

Curlew Hill Sanctuary on Airbnb, stay for SA Weekend. Picture: Tara Nash

With binoculars, jackets, hats, an umbrella, an information guide and even tips on how to spot their cries, you’ll find this is the perfect spot for animal and bird watchers.

As detailed in the welcome letter, you can spot koalas, ring-tailed possums, boobook owls, blue wrens, red brow finches, yellow- tailed black cockatoos and more.

The place has regular visitors, too, including a friendly emu “Ivanka”, the magpie “Wings”, and the odd bearded dragon you’ll find sunning itself on the driveway.

From the spacious outdoor areas we listen to the birds sing while watching the sun set over the greenery, before we fire up the barbecue for dinner. There’s also a washing machine out here, too.

But if you’d prefer to go out, there are plenty of places nearby, including The Crafers Hotel, The Duck and The Stirling Hotel.

At night, the cottage was very cosy, with a large open fireplace in the middle of the lounge room which is ready for lighting, with extra firewood provided.

Curlew Hill Sanctuary on Airbnb, stay for SA Weekend. Picture: Tara Nash

There are two comfy chairs with plush blankets to sit and watch the wood crackle. With no Wi-Fi access for online distractions, it is the best place to read a book or drift off into a pleasant snooze.

This spacious room also has a dining room table, TV and couch, a few magazines, and intimate lighting from kerosene lamps. There are small vases of flowers, candles and pictures of the Australian Outback and animals scattered throughout the place.

Just next to the fireplace is a room for more relaxation where you can soak in the big two-person oval spa.

The living area spills into the character kitchen. Made from recycled jarrah from police barracks stables, there is a hanging sign reading “The Kelly Bros Bar” and a figurine of Ned Kelly, with two bar stools.

The farmhouse stay includes all you’ll need to make breakfast with bread, milk, eggs, bacon, tomatoes, butter, jams, honey, oranges to squeeze juice and a coffee machine.

Next to the kitchen is a simple bathroom with a shower and towels, soap, shampoo and conditioner.

There are three bedrooms, two with single beds, one with the queen. While they’re quite small and simple, they’re decorated well with wooden feature walls, pictures of animals and lantern light fittings.

After a slow, relaxed breakfast in the morning, we make our way home refreshed and rejuvenated.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in January 2021

• 277 Pole Rd, Ironbank
• Airbnb.com.au
• LOCATION Ironbank, in the Adelaide Hills, about 22km southeast of the Adelaide GPO.
• ACCOMMODATION Three-bedroom guesthouse, on the same property as the owner.
• FACILITIES Queen-sized bed, two single beds, two-person spa bath, shower, indoor fireplace, airconditioning, TV, coffee machine and pods, full breakfast provisions, BBQ, fire pit and outdoor setting, self check-in. No Wi-Fi. Dogs and children welcome.
• PRICE Starts from $191 a night, excluding service fee.